When it comes to preaching, I find Fathers’ Day to be something of a mixed blessing. On the one hand, the occasion and its associated themes don’t necessarilyfit into the lectionary. And unless one has chosen to do a summer message series on family (which I haven’t done this year), preaching on fatherhood on Fathers’ Day ‘stands alone’–with nothing to connect the message to what comes before or after. On the other hand, offering biblical guidance on parenthood and other significant relationships seems to be almost continually relevant, and a ‘fatherhood message’ certainly meets the expectations that many people bring to church on a day like today.
Since my schedule this year has developed in a manner that has me out-of-town on the Sundays before and after Fathers’ Day, I decided that a fatherhood message would be an excellent fit. I can’t claim that my framework is particularly original (this approach to John 3:16 was borrowed from Steve May at PreachingToday.com), but the content reflects my own struggles with being a faithful father in today’s challenging times.
A Framework for Fatherhood (& Other Relationships that Matter)
Alex, I stumbled across your blog back in February and have come back to it at random intervals over the past few months. I have found your sermons thought provoking and an interesting, grounding perspective. I’ve thought a few times about leaving a comment and each time moved on to some other task.
Your “Framework for Fatherhood” sermon is the one that ultimately pushed me over the edge. I read it this evening, 2 days after the birth of our third child. As you state in your sermon, love comes in many different flavors, and our first son introduced me to a love that is so strong, so raw, and so pure that, 4 years later, it continues to amaze me on a daily basis. When my wife was pregnant with our second child, I was afraid that I would never feel that same intense, awesome love for another child. How could I split my love? With the birth of our daughter, I discovered that my capacity for love actually expanded and added new dimensions. I had the same fears as the birth of our third child approached. With our second son, I have once again experienced an exponential growth in my capacity for love that reaches into all corners of my life.
I was sorry to read that your father passed away 10 years ago – I remember him as a smart man with a great voice (attributes which you inherited) who liked to play classical music. I am truly fortunate that my father is still around and that I have been able to thank him for the many things he did that helped me become the person I am today. Your sermon will be the fodder for a future father/son chat.
Please continue publishing your sermons. They are being read – and appreciated.