Father’s Day - 2023
Fathers: The Real Superheroes
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
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This Document is a Sermon Outline. You may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this and other Full Sermon Audios. For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org or Truth Digest on Facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on Facebook at House of Faith Church.
INTRODUCTION
Happy Father’s Day!
Today we look at fathers and honor them and their position in the family. Whether you had a father, stepfather, or grandfather, today is the day we thank God for family, especially those in charge of bringing us up in the way we should go!
Kids generally see their fathers as superheroes. Able to fix anything, make anything, and do anything that needs to be done. Fully capable, all-knowing, and the pillar and rock of their childhood.
The father’s role paints a picture of God the Father in heaven to a child. The importance and responsibility of this position are not to be taken light-heatedly.
Today we will learn about how important this role is and why all young men should be training themselves for the day they, too, will be an image of God to their children.
Fathers are children's superheroes.
Today we look at fathers as the real superheroes in the world.
SCRIPTURE READING
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
I. GUYS DESIRE TO BE HEROES
a. We know this from the stories that have been told through time
i. In fables, mythology, and action movies
1. Stories of morality and men fighting and winning against all odds
2. Aesop’s Fables, Clash of the Titans, The Odyssey
3. Superman, The Avengers, John Wick
ii. In music and poems
1. Tales of heroic travels and defending their true love
2. Many classical operas were about heroes
iii. In novels and magazines
1. Stories of men overcoming all odds, 100 against 1
2. Comics evolved from these pocket-books
3. Which then evolved into graphic novels
4. Which are now being turned into movies and TV series
iv. Movies and video games
1. In modern times, one guy can take out an entire army of evil-doers
2. This is why so many young men are drawn to video games, where they can be the hero who overcomes all odds and saves the day
v. I know some think games make kids violent.
1. I grew up in a time when video games were first invented, played them my entire life, and became a pastor.
a. So I could argue they make men pastors
i. But that seems unlikely.
b. Therefore, one can only conclude it is, as the bible says, that we have free will to choose the narrow or broad path in life.
c. Games, books, etc., do not make people evil. People choose to turn their backs on God and righteousness in pursuit of fulfilling the desires of their flesh.
b. It is in a guy’s nature to be a hero, save the day, protect the weak
i. Why? Because God created us that way
ii. Avengers End Game grossed $2.79 billion in 2019
iii. The top 12 superhero movies grossed between 1-2 billion each!
1. All of them were Marvel except one DC at the bottom of the list…just saying.
iv. This is NOT just today's society loving superheroes.
1. In 1987 Superman IV made $36.7 million (almost $100 million in today’s currency)
v. The Phantom comic strip series began with a daily newspaper on February 17, 1936, followed by a color Sunday strip on May 28, 1939; both are still running as of 2023. In 1966, King Features stated that The Phantom was being published in 583 newspapers worldwide. At its peak, the strip was read by over 100 million people daily.
1. This comic is not only in the U.S., but the Nordic region, Australia,
New Zealand, India, and other countries.
vi. The Popeye comic strip in 1929 made $100,000
1. That’s $1,778,520 today!
vii. We can keep going back!
viii. Why have superheroes been so popular over time? Because people want heroes to save the day, and guys want to be heroes, we all have a deep desire to be powerful enough to put an end to evil and the wrongs of the world.
c. Well, most do anyway.
i. We can’t say all because if that were true, there would be no bad guys to fight
ii. But for the most part, we want to save the day.
II. SCRIPTURE TELLS US ABOUT THESE THINGS
a. About being a great hero, or what I call the true definition of a man
i. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.” - I Corinthians 16:13-14
ii. “Likewise urge the younger men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be a model of good works, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in word which is irreproachable, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.- Titus 2:6-7
iii. “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things.” – I Corinthians 13:11
1. What childish things should we do away with as men?
a. For me, and for most, this is simple to answer
i. Remember how you behaved when you were young and stupid.
ii. Stop doing that
iv. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24
b. A real superhero, a real man, is an honorable husband
i. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;” – Ephesians 5:25-28
1. A real superhero, a real man
a. Loves his wife (I Corinthians 13)
b. Gives himself up for her
c. Sanctifies (approves, sees no flaws) her
d. He sees her in all her glory, with no spot or wrinkle
e. She is flawless, holy, blameless
f. Love her as your own body, as yourself
2. Shame on those who say the scripture is misogynist or anti-woman
Did you ever read 1 Peter 3:7? “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel
(What is a weaker vessel? Something that breaks easily. Having more emotions than a man, and can be hurt easier.),
since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life (EQUAL), so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
ii. “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered (estranged or alienated) against them.” – Colossians 3:19
c. About being a father
i. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4
1. The Greek word (parorgizo) “Provoke” means trigger or “make” your children angry.
2. How would bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord trigger their anger?
a. If we, as fathers, do not help them accomplish these expectations
We can have discipline and instruction from God’s Word without setting them up for failure.
We can teach our children as well as help them accomplish these things in life.
ii. There are many scriptures about being a father, a husband, a man
iii. I am here to tell you, men, that today, you COULD be a superhero!
iv. A real, evil-fighting superhero
ILLUSTRATION
Right NOW, you, young men and fathers, have the power to fight crime, prevent drug and alcohol abuse, stop mass shootings, stop suicides, and save runaways!
I am NOT exaggerating one bit.
Do you know what
a. 63% of youth suicides
b. 90% of runaways
c. 85% of behavioral disorders
d. 71% of high School Dropouts
e. 70% of Juvenile Detainees
f. 75% of Substance Abusers
g. And 26 of the 27 deadliest mass shootings have in common?
They all originate from fatherless homes.
In 2020, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Consequently, an absent father factor exists in nearly all social ills facing America today.
Fatherless children have
a. 4x more significant risk of poverty
b. 7x more likely to become pregnant as a teen
c. More likely to go to prison
d. More likely to commit a crime
e. More likely to use drugs and alcohol
f. 2x more likely to suffer obesity
In 2022
· 7 million American dads were absent from the life of their children
· Divorce is one of the leading causes of fatherless homes
· 17.4 million children lived in fatherless homes in 2022 (making them vulnerable to the social ills previously mentioned.)
So how can you be a real-life superhero and fight these evils?
By being a real- man, a man as defined by holy scipture, a godly husband and a godly father.
III. STATISTICS DO NOT LIE
a. God knows the troubles and risks to children
i. Therefore, God instructs men on how to be men, husbands, and fathers
b. These evil social ills (statistics/facts) are only primary data
i. Secondary data goes even deeper into mental health, emotional, and relational issues, taking the sins into the next generation, etc.
c. But men can stand up and be the heroes the world needs
i. Be an honest, good, biblical man
1. The good man brings out of his treasure what is good – Matthew 12:25
2. A righteous man falls seven times, and rises again – Proverbs 24:16
3. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children – Proverbs 13:22
4. A good man will gain favor from the Lord – Proverbs 12:2
CONCLUSION
The mark of a real superhero man, husband, and father is this
Be your child’s “first teacher” Proverbs 22:6
Exemplify a good life 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
Provide for your family I Timothy 5:8
Discipline your children. Proverbs 13:24
Spend time with your children. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Be doers of the word James 1:22
Never give up on your kids. Luke 15:20-24
You can be superheroes! And when you get that coffee cup, hat, or tee-shirt that says “world’s greatest dad,” it will be true because you put God and His Holy Word first so everything else could fall into place and be blessed.
So, what can we “do” to help in all of this?
Everything I spoke of on this Father’s Day is precisely why The House of Faith Church and I are working closely with the Iosco Ministerial Association in developing and putting into action free workshops for
· Family God’s Way
· Pre-marital counsel
· Marriage Enrichment
· Programs for young men to foster more meaningful and deeper relationships.
And much more.
I am working closely with Stewart Carver, and this is just the beginning of many great things that will be taking place in our county because of the ministerial association in cooperation with local churches taking a stand.
So enjoy this day with your family, and remember the Word of God. Bless your Father in heaven on this and every day.
With that, Happy Father’s Day to all!
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