TITLE: 5 P’s of Patering
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 4:12-17 ¹²And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. ¹⁴I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶Therefore I urge you, imitate me. ¹⁷For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

PROPOSITION: Fathers can have great impact on their children.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Essentials
SCRIPTURE READING:

INTRODUCTION:

1. Father’s Day –

   1. Mother’s Day – sweet thoughts

   2. Father’s Day – club them over the head

2. Patering = Greek word for “father” is “pater”

3. Here are 5 P’s important for being a father

Prayer

1. For many – father is a spiritual stumbling block

2. Kids need to know that you:

   1. Honor God in your life

   2. Show gratitude – meal time

   3. Pray about important matters

   4. Live like a Christian

3. 1 Corinthians 4:12 – bless not curse

4. 1 Corinthians 4:15 – be a spiritual father to them

Patience

1. Challenge and urge your kids to do their best

2. But don’t demand perfection

3. You aren’t. Why demand it of them?

4. Proverbs 19:11 – “A man’s wisdom gives him patience”

5. Our reaction does more damage than their infraction.

Play

1. Kids learn social skills through play

2. Obey rules of the game – don’t change as you go

3. Play with them – by the rules

4. Take them fishing, hunting, play catch, kick a ball, swing and slide

Praise

1. There is a power in acceptance – just tell them they did good

2. Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. (Message)

3. Be more positive than negative

4. Like a checking account – more deposits than withdrawals

Purpose

1. Husbands cannot abdicate leadership

2. There are many demands on our time – work, social, personal, church, recreational, home

3. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

4. There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: (Message)

Conclusion: Legacies are forever

1. Stuff doesn’t matter – kids do

2. Stuff can get lost, broken, replaced – kids can't

3. A spiritual legacy will last past your lifetime