The sermon by Brian Birdow emphasizes God's command for fathers as outlined in Ephesians 6:1-4, highlighting the importance of nurturing children without provoking them to anger. It discusses how fathers can unintentionally harm their children through negative behavior and the necessity of loving discipline. The sermon also draws parallels between godly fathering and God's own example as the ultimate father, encouraging faithful living and trust in God for spiritual prosperity.

1. A Godly Father
by
Brian Birdow
Sermon text: Ephesians 6:1-4
www.cmcoc.org

2. Objective of Lesson
1. God’s command for Fathers
2. An example of a Godly Father
3. God the Father the ultimate example.

3. God’s Command
Fathers, Do not provoke
your children to WRATH.
Ephesians 6:4

4. Ways a father provokes his
children
1. Children only hear negative and never positive.
2. Using physical size to intimidate.
3. Emotionally . . . . . a b s e n t.
4. Public humiliation!
5. Never apologizing when wrong.

5. God’s Command
Bring them up in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:4)

6. Nurture and Admonition
• Nurture (training or discipline) covers the whole
process of training. Ref. 1 Cor. 9:27
• Instruction (admonition) Lit. means to put sense in
the mind!
• This is done by encouraging words and
reassurances or admonishment if needed.
• Admonish—to counsel, to warn, of danger. To urge
or exhort, to remind, reprove.

7. Nurture and Admonition
• Proverbs 19:16 Chasten your son while there is hope
(because there is hope or confident expectation), and
do not set your heart on his destruction.
(destruction literally means to put him to death)
• Discipline must be an act of love because it is life
saving!
• We want our children to happily obey us!
• Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

8. David a Godly father
1 Kings 2:1-4 …turn with me please…
• Formula for success (Deut. 11:1; Gen. 26:5)
• Walk in His ways, to keep His statues
• Keep His commandments, His Judgements
• His testimonies..That You May PROSPER!!!
• If…walk before God in truth—faithfully!

9. We too should charge our
children
• Proverbs 3 …turn with me please
• Matthew 6:25-34 …turn with me please…
• Matthew 6:19-21 …turn with me please…
• If we trust in the Lord then there is no need to
worry. If we lay up treasures in heaven then our
hearts will always be content!
• Paul charged Timothy (2 Tim. 4:1-5)

10. God the Father
• John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that HE
gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes
in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world but the world through Him might be saved
• Romans 5 …turn with me please…
• Ephesians 1 …turn with me please…