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Fathers...

Fathers. ~ Godly Men ~ Household Heads ~ Spiritual Leaders. Royce P. Bell 2005-1007 HB Church, H’Beach CA. Preliminary Perceptions.

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Fathers...

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  1. Fathers... ~ Godly Men ~ Household Heads ~ Spiritual Leaders Royce P. Bell 2005-1007 HB Church, H’Beach CA

  2. Preliminary Perceptions “A large and increasing number of children are being raised without the continued presence of a father. Fatherhood historian Robert L. Griswold, notes that while the number of American families since 1970 has risen 20 percent, the number of mother-only families has increased by 51 percent...” www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt2000-08.html

  3. Quantity • Unprecedented number of children who are growing up without continual father involvement. • Acceleration • From 1950-1998, percentage of American children in mother-only families, from 6% to 23% • Concentration • Unprecedented lack of male presence | high proportions of unwed mothers in inner cities. • Repetition • In one study of fathers who were behind on support payments, one half had grown up in father-absent homes. Statistically, fatherless sons will be absent fathers. op. cit., citingJames Levine, The Fatherhood Project

  4. Interesting Conclusions “The absence of fathers in early life appears to be a more significant risk factor for girls' early sexual activity and adolescent pregnancy than previously believed, researchers at Duke, Indiana and Auburn universities and in New Zealand have found.” www.dukenews.duke.edu/2003/06/dodge605.html

  5. Educational Upshot... • Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1993) • Children living with a divorced or a never married mother are more likely to repeat a grade. (Dawson, 1991) • Children of divorced parents, especially boys, tend to score lower on reading and math tests. (One Parent Families, 1980) Cited by Ron Klinger, Ph.D., http://www.fathering.org/documents/ImpactAbsentFathers.pdf This does not consider crime, welfare-dependency, other social issues

  6. Biblical Maleness Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ~1 Corinthians 16:13 • Creation and effects of temptation: For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. ~1 Timothy 2:13-14

  7. As a godly man • A father’s unique functions as a man: “A symmetrical and beautiful picture of the duties and character of the ideal human father may be built up from the Old Testament, with added and enlarged touches from the New Testament” (ISBE, “Father”). • The exemplary nature of manhood: • The example of life-style, industry • The example of headship, leadership • The example of discipline, concern • The example of sacrifice, provision

  8. As a head-of-household But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ~1 Timothy 5:8 • He loves • He commands • He instructs • He trains • He rebukes • He restrains • He punishes • He chastens • He nourishes • He is considerate • He is proud • He is pained

  9. As a spiritual leader • Important principle: Mutual-submission “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord... 25 Husbands, love your wives...” ~Ephesians 5:21-22, 25 • What submission shows: • It shows respect for God who is over all (Ephesians 4:6) • It shows respect for that which God has entrusted to stewardship (Luke 12:42ff)

  10. Submission and leadership • Role-based leadership is defined by God, draws authority from submission: • No man can be a leader who is not first submissive to authority over him • He may claim autonomy, but... • No man can be a leader who does not first possess the requisite qualifications imposed by the Authority over him • He may claim to be “self-made,” but... • No man can be a leader whose authority is not capable of being delegated • He may claim invincibility, but...

  11. Spiritual leadership imposes obligations • Recognize imperatives of mastery • You cannot be what you will not be Q: When are you going to start applying the qualifications for oversight? • Accept the good with the bad • How can you accept the good, without acknowledging the bad? Cf. Job 2:10 Q: If not, how will you know the difference or be able to handle it? • Pass the torch, 2 Timothy 2:2 • Whoever is “under” you will be “like” you (Luke 6:39-40) Q: If your son is “like” you, what kind of father will he be?

  12. Fathers... • Preliminary perceptions • Interesting conclusions • What has gone wrong? • Biblical maleness • Godly men • Household heads • Spiritual leaders

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