Text: Romans 1, Deuteronomy 6, Malachi 3

SERMON NOTES

Title: Reflecting the Fatherhood of God: A Call to Biblical Masculinity for our Homes, Church and Nation.

Thesis: Biblical masculinity is the glad assumption of sacrificial responsibility. Men reflect God’s masculine Fatherhood when they provide, protect and pastor their families by embracing the sovereignty of God and overflow with thanksgiving to God in all of life.

Our hearts, homes, churches and nation are experiencing “Father Hunger.” The brokenness of our world is due in large measure to our broken understanding of fatherhood. Marriage and family were created by God and bear his image. When we suppress this truth we can be certain that God’s wrath is coming.

Romans 1:18-20

1. God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts. (1:24) They dishonored their bodies (created to image forth their Father).

2. God gave them up to dishonorable passions. (1:26) They abandoned heterosexual marriage (created to image forth the love of the Son for his Bride).

3. God gave them up to a debased mind. (1:28) Theyrebelledagainst moral authority (created to image forth God’s holiness).

In Deuteronomy 6 we see an important connection between the indispensable office of earthly fathers in the home, the church and in culture and a warning about the consequence of abdicating this role.

1. What does it mean to be a Man according to the Bible?

a. Masculinity is the Glad assumption of Sacrificial Responsibility, first for yourself and then for your wife, then for your children.

b. Masculinity is authoritative and the Scriptures teach that authority flows to those who take responsibility and it flees from those who seek to evade it. (Gen 1:26-31)

Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus’ Authority is tied to his sacrificial responsibility

How can we aim our boys toward biblical manhood?

•Lords: Man was created to exercise dominion (Gen 1:26-28) Boys should be learning to be adventurous and visionary.

•Husbandmen: Man was created to discover, conquer and establish new worlds (Gen 2:15) boys should be learning to be patient, careful and hard-working.

•Saviors: Man was created with a deep desire to rescue, deliver or save. (Gen 3:14-15) Boys must be learning to be strong, sacrificial, courageous and good.

•Sages: Man was created to learn the fear of God (Wisdom - Proverbs 1). Boys must learn to be teachable, studious and thoughtful.

•Glory-bearers: Man was created to bear the glory of God (1 Cor 11:7, Eph 5:23) Boys must be taught to be representative, responsible and holy

2. What does it mean to be a Husband according to the Bible?

a. A Husband is made to provide for his wife.

b. A Husband is made to protect his wife

c. A Husband is made to be a Pastor to his wife.(Eph 5:25)

3. What does it mean to be a Father according to the Bible?

a. We represent the Fatherhood of God. (Matthew 3:16-17, ESV)The principle way you represent the Fatherhood of God is to delight over your children.

b. We represent the Fatherhood of God by embracing and exulting in the sovereignty of God over all things.It is a Christian father’s duty to train their children in the nurture and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)

c. We represent the Fatherhood of God by overflowing with gratitude to him for all things. (Eph 5:3) Giving thanks with faith has sin-killing power.