UncommonSample

Toughness devoid of the intention to grow and empower in Christ is bullying.

Honoring is significant in the Kingdom of God. The Ten Commandments are about honoring God, your marriage, your parents, your neighbors, and even yourself. As a result of sin and compromise, honor and respect become two different ideas when they should have been embodied in one idea.

Paul doesn’t stop with children honoring their parents. He flips the coin and brings a new ‘status quo’ to fathers. It’s not just the kids' job to honor their folks. He stresses a mirrored principle that makes the previous principle work just like he did with his marriage advice.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:3-4 ESV

This instruction is directed at men because we think of masculinity as an expression of strength, not empowerment. Toughness devoid of the intention to grow and empower in Christ is bullying. Whether it was Paul talking to the husband as head of the house or dads with the honor of their children - power should always make your family feel safe.

Power should never be allowed to intimidate your family. Sometimes, as dads, we bully…not necessarily abuse, but exasperate our loved ones. All biblical authority intends to train, teach, and tend (nurture). Dads are to convey the discipleship and instruction of the Lord - not their vision of how life should be. Dads are to use the authority and wisdom of God to empower their families.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. We need dads. We need men. Strong men. How does scripture model a man of godly strength and character?
2. Pick a man in scripture and describe what makes him set apart from the culture around him.
3. What makes our heavenly Father such a GOOD father? How can we implement those characteristics into our fatherhood?
4. I realize the topic of fatherhood is challenging for many, myself included. If your earthly dad failed you (which is true for all of us in one way or another), use this time to reflect on how good your Heavenly Father is. Allow Jesus to fill up all of the spaces your earthly father lacked. It’s a journey.