Fatherhood & Raising Boys
Listen in for biblical teaching on the good of parenthood that is part of a course developed by pastors, shared with churches without copyright, and revised by our pastors for teaching in our church. Click "More" to use the handout notes while listening and discussing this teaching with others.
INTRODUCTION
• Does the sex of our children, or our sex as parents, make any difference in the substance of our parenting?
• Not focusing on description, but prescription.
I. WHAT IS GOD’S BIG PICTURE ON GENDER?
• God intends to display His image differently through men and women, who are created equally in that image.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
• Men and women are not interchangeable. Instead, the biblical idea is that they complement one another.
Often this complementary design is discussed in terms of headship and submission. We see this in marriage, where the husband is described as the head of the wife (Eph. 5:23), and in the church, where only men are authorized to teach (I Tim. 2:12-15).
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
1 Timothy 2:12–14
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Genesis 2:20–24
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
• God’s complementarity design of men and women is shown in headship and submission, but it is also fleshed out in their activities and roles.
II. WHAT ROLE DOES GOD INTEND MEN PLAY, AND HOW DO WE CULTIVATE THIS ROLE IN BOYS AND LIVE IT OUT AS FATHERS?
“At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships.” BMW, p. 35.
• “Mature Masculinity”
- Sons
- Fathers
• “Sense”
- Sons
- Fathers
• “Benevolent Responsibility”
- Sons
- Fathers
• “To Lead”
Leadership involves service and sacrifice .
Leadership does not presume superiority, but cultivates and mobilizes the strengths of others.
Leadership does not have to initiate every action, but feels the responsibility to provide a general pattern of initiative.
- Sons
- Fathers
• “To Provide”
Deuteronomy 10:18
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Jeremiah 31:32
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Colossians 2:19
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
- Sons
- Fathers
• “To Protect”
- Sons
- Fathers
III. SUMMARY OF METHODS: PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
• Embodiment (or, Example)
• Instruction
• Rehearsal
• Inspiration
CONCLUSION