- Recalls the previous Mother's Day sermon on how hard it was for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to watch her son at the cross.
- Shifts focus to Father’s Day, emphasizing: "Being Daddy is Hard Too."
- Notes there’s no instruction manual for being a dad—everyone starts out learning as they go.
Abraham: An Example of a Tested Father (Genesis 22:1–19)
- Reads and summarizes Genesis 22:1–19—God’s test of Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac.
- Emphasizes that Abraham’s character and faith made his family (and all families) better and impacted generations.
Lessons from Abraham’s Example
1. A Father’s Love
- Biblical Reference: Genesis 22:2 — “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…”
- Dads are capable of deep love, even if they show it differently than moms.
- Abraham’s love is seen in his:
- Obedience: He immediately obeys God’s command, even when it’s hard.
- Preparation: He prepares everything needed for the sacrifice, showing care and responsibility.
- Endurance: The journey took three days—Abraham persisted even though it was difficult.
2. A Father’s Presence
- Highlights the repeated phrase, “Here I am,” from Abraham (to God, his son, and the angel).
- Explains that “Here I am” means giving full, undivided attention—being present.
- Applies this to modern fathers: It’s possible to be physically present but emotionally or mentally absent. Families need fathers to be truly present.
3. A Father’s Faith
- Key Point: Abraham tells his servants, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
- Shows Abraham’s trust that God would keep His promises, even when the situation looked impossible.
- Applies to dads: Sometimes you don’t know how things will work out, but faith and confidence in God are essential.
4. The Role of Fathers as Leaders
- Notes that being a leader doesn’t mean knowing everything—instead, it means being the first follower of God.
- The greatest lesson kids learn may not be from formal Bible studies, but from watching their dad live out his faith.
- “More is caught than taught.” Kids pick up on honesty, integrity, and faithfulness from a dad’s actions.
Personal Story: Integrity in Action
- Shares an anecdote about being pulled over for speeding and choosing to tell the truth about not wearing a seatbelt, even when it could have been easier to lie.
- Son noticed the honesty, reinforcing the lesson that actions often teach more than words.
Encouragement and Invitation
- Acknowledges Father’s Day can be hard for some—maybe due to loss or absence.
- Reminds everyone of the love of our Heavenly Father and the family of God’s people.
- Extends an invitation for anyone needing help, support, or prayer.
Main Takeaways:
- Being a dad is hard, but Abraham’s example shows us:
- Love is shown through obedience, preparation, and endurance.
- Presence matters—be available and attentive to God and your family.
- Faith and trust in God guide fathers through uncertainty.
- Leadership is about following God first and letting your actions teach your children.
What is West Side Church of Christ - Elkton Ky?
This podcast includes Sermons and other content for the West Side Church of Christ located at 725 W. Main St, Elkton KY. We hope that you can join us for services. We have bible class on Sunday mornings at 9 am and Worship at 10 am. We meet again at 5:30 pm Sunday Evenings, and Wednesday at 6:30 pm. If you are not able to join us then please enjoy our content. :-)