Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,

Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

8 8 They would not be like theirThey would not be like their forefathers— forefathers—

a stubborn and rebelliousa stubborn and rebellious generation, generation,

whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose hearts were not loyal to God,

whose spirits were not faithful towhose spirits were not faithful to him. him.

8 8 They would not be like theirThey would not be like their forefathers— forefathers—

a stubborn and rebelliousa stubborn and rebellious generation, generation,

whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose hearts were not loyal to God,

whose spirits were not faithful towhose spirits were not faithful to him. him.

Psalm 78:1-8Psalm 78:1-8

Number One Duty of Number One Duty of Fathers:Fathers:

Make Disciples of Their Make Disciples of Their ChildrenChildren

Ephesians 6:1-4Ephesians 6:1-4

Patria potestas Patria potestas

““Hilarion to Alis his wife heartiest greetings, and Hilarion to Alis his wife heartiest greetings, and to my dear Berous and Apollonarion. Know that to my dear Berous and Apollonarion. Know that we are still even now in Alexandria. Do not worry we are still even now in Alexandria. Do not worry if when all others return I remain in Alexandria. I if when all others return I remain in Alexandria. I beg and beseech of you to take care of the little beg and beseech of you to take care of the little child, and, as soon as we receive wages, I will child, and, as soon as we receive wages, I will send them to you. If - good luck to you! - you send them to you. If - good luck to you! - you have a child, if it is a boy, let it live; if it is a girl, have a child, if it is a boy, let it live; if it is a girl, throw it out.”throw it out.”

William Barclay - Eph. 6:4William Barclay - Eph. 6:4

Being a father is not for Being a father is not for sissies…sissies…

God and fatherhoodGod and fatherhood

Why is it right to obey parents?Why is it right to obey parents? Eph. 6:1Eph. 6:1

Bring them up in the nurture and Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lordadmonition of the Lord

““provoke” - provoke” - παροργίζωπαροργίζω; ; provoke to anger, provoke to anger, exasperate, make angry; irritation or resentmentexasperate, make angry; irritation or resentment ; ; make resentfulmake resentful

““nourishnourish” - ” - ἐκτρέφωἐκτρέφω rear, bring up, educate; To rear, bring up, educate; To nurture, rear, to bring up to maturity such as nurture, rear, to bring up to maturity such as childrenchildren

““discipline”discipline” - - παιδείαπαιδεία instruction and discipline instruction and discipline

““teaching” - teaching” - νουθεσίανουθεσία; ; admonition and warningadmonition and warning

““Provoke,” Why Anger?Provoke,” Why Anger?

““Fathers, do not provoke your children toFathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” anger.”

Why not, Don’t discourage them? Or Why not, Don’t discourage them? Or pamper them? Or tempt them to covet or pamper them? Or tempt them to covet or lie or steal? Or why not, Don’t abuse lie or steal? Or why not, Don’t abuse them? Or neglect them? Or set a bad them? Or neglect them? Or set a bad example for them? Or manipulate them? example for them? Or manipulate them?

Two ReasonsTwo Reasons

Anger challenges authority - Dad Anger challenges authority - Dad embodies authority; anger is the most embodies authority; anger is the most common emotion of the sinful heart when common emotion of the sinful heart when it confronts authority. it confronts authority.

Anger kills other emotions; It deadens the Anger kills other emotions; It deadens the soul. It numbs the heart to joy and soul. It numbs the heart to joy and gratitude and hope and tenderness and gratitude and hope and tenderness and compassion and kindness. compassion and kindness.

What Might “Provoke” Anger?What Might “Provoke” Anger?

Excessive demandsExcessive demands Inconsistent parenting (example; Mom Inconsistent parenting (example; Mom

says one thing, Dad says another)says one thing, Dad says another)Always finding faultAlways finding faultBreaking promisesBreaking promisesAbusing and violating childrenAbusing and violating childrenAlways being a “don’ter” and never a Always being a “don’ter” and never a

“doer”“doer”Never giving positive reinforcementNever giving positive reinforcement

Be a role model of the person you Be a role model of the person you want your kid to be. There is no want your kid to be. There is no

stronger messagestronger message

Be a living, day-to-day example of your Be a living, day-to-day example of your value system. Show the compassion, value system. Show the compassion, honesty, generosity and openness you honesty, generosity and openness you want your child to have. want your child to have.

Know that there is no such thing as “do as Know that there is no such thing as “do as I say, not as I do.” I say, not as I do.”

Examine your own behavior. Be the Examine your own behavior. Be the person you want your kid to be. person you want your kid to be.

EVERY FATHER IS GIVING A EVERY FATHER IS GIVING A MESSAGE TO HIS CHILDREN MESSAGE TO HIS CHILDREN ABOUT GOD THE FATHERABOUT GOD THE FATHER

Fathers recognize Fathers recognize theirtheir responsibility to their responsibility to their children.children.

Fathers provide for their children.Fathers provide for their children. Fathers talk with their children.Fathers talk with their children. Fathers protect and build up their children.Fathers protect and build up their children. Fathers encourage their children.Fathers encourage their children. Fathers set boundaries and enforce them.Fathers set boundaries and enforce them. Fathers are slow to anger and quick to forgive.Fathers are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Fathers train and instruct their children biblically.Fathers train and instruct their children biblically.