The Pursuits of a Wise Father

 

What things should a godly man, husband, and father pursue?

1. Pursue God

Know God

Be Saturated in God’s Word

The Environment in which you pursue God:

The Church. The relationships that God has placed you in the midst of. 

2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 4:15-16

This is something we do together.

Pursuit Requires Discipline

2. Pursue your Wife

The condition of any marriage is primarily a product of the spiritual walk of the husband

Proverbs gives us wisdom in how to love our wives:

1. A Wise Husband Listens

Proverbs 12:15

2. Don’t Be Quarrlesome

Proverbs 20:3

3. Hold Back

Proverbs 29:11

4. Learn from Your Mistakes

Proverbs 26:11

5. Discipline Your Children

Proverbs 13:24

6. Love Sacrificially

Read Ephesians 5:25-33 on the day you were married every month.

Saturate yourself in that passage as you strive to love your wife.

Love your wife as Christ loved the church.

You will never arrive, but that is the goal for which you must strive. 

3. Pursue your Children

The perfect pattern for raising your children is found in Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Discipline and instruction begins with the heart 

(Proverbs 4:23, Luke 6:45).

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 provides guidance in how to do this:

Teach them:

• About God: The Lord our God

• To Love God

   with all your heart soul, might

• To Obey God: a product of knowing & loving

Teach them by showing them.

They need to see you love God with your heart, soul, 

and might.

Teach them by telling them. 

Don’t just show them - you just also tell them.

Bottom Line:

How will you take the next step to:

1. Pursue God

2. Pursue Your Wife

3. Pursue Your Children

Two suggestions:

• Read a Chapter of Proverbs Daily

search for the wisdom

find one passage that stands out to you

write it out on a post-it note or card

meditate on it throughout the day

• Dig into your role as a Father

Get one of the books on the list below and read through it. Use one of the devotional books to lead your family in regular devotions. 

BOOK LIST:

Books on being a Godly Man/Father

In a day when the church needs men to be men, these books lay a biblical foundation on the role of men in the family, the church, and society.

1. The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men

    by Richard Phillips  ($12 on Amazon)

2. Family Shepherds

    by Voddie Baucham  ($15 on Amazon)

3. Being a Dad Who Leads

    by John MacArthur

Family Devotional Guide Books

One thing you’ll hear consistently is that men need to lead their family in “family devotions.” These books are easy guides to help you do that. Gather your family around, open up the book, and walk through these family devotions together. You’ll be glad you did.

1. Wise Up 

    by Marty Machowski ($15 on Amazon)

2. A Guide to Family Worship -

    by Ryan Bush ($6.00 at mediagratiae.org)

3. Long Story Short & The Gospel Story Bible

    by Marty Machowski ($20 each on Amazon)

4. Jesus Storybook Bible

    by Sally Loyd-Jones ($11 on Amazon)

Central Truth: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Never forget the significance of church.

This passage has several wonderful reminders:

1. Relationships

Our fundamental identity is family.

The Church is a family. A network of relationships. 

Paul and Timothy’s relationship was significant. It was, Father/Son, Discipleship, and a Ministry Partnership. Reminds us that relationships and discipleship are part of the DNA of church relationships.

2. Proper Conduct in the Church.

This was not merely instruction to Timothy, but also a reminder to the church to support their pastor as he leads the toward God’s Design. 

This letter teaches us:

How we are to interact with one another. 

How we are to behave 

How to conduct ourselves.

This letter is a

Guidebook for Church 

Structure and Behavior

Theological Foundation 

& Practical Application

3. What is the Church? (v. 15c)

The word “church” (ekklesia) means: gathering.

So fundamentally, church is a gathering.

An in-person, physical gathering. 

• The Household of God

God’s Possession

It’s God’s church. 

He owns it. 

He designed it

He rules it

He has the right to define every detail.

• It’s a Household

a family

with the structure of a family

• It’s the Dwelling place of God.

• The pillar and support of the truth.

Pillars are the columns that support the top of the building. It’s an architectural term.

As the church, we are to hold Jesus High and put Him on display. 

Support - the foundation - God’s Word

The Truth is found in the Word.

What is your real, actual, practical, daily commitment to the Word? Are you committed to:

Hearing

Reading

Studying

Memorizing (Psalm 119:11)

Meditating (Joshua 1:8)

Verse 16 - the central truth:

4. Mystery Made Known

The Central Truth of the Church

Common Confession - this is what we believe.

The Center Circle

• He who was manifested in the flesh,

The glorious God, who created everything, became a man in Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree,

• Vindicated by the Spirit

The resurrection was the vindication of Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God.

• Seen by Angels (or Messengers)

Angels were messengers and accompanied Jesus through His life. They were present at the birth, in the wilderness, strengthening Him before the cross, and were witnesses of the Risen Lord. Angels were messengers of Jesus.

The Apostles were His first earthly messengers. Their testimony, their proclamation would take that message around the world. 

• Proclaimed Among the Nations

After having seen the resurrected Christ

The apostles took that message to the world.

• Believed On In the World

From the very beginning the gospel was believed. John, the first disciple to arrive at the empty tomb, believed. There probably hasn’t been day go by without someone somewhere believe in the gospel. 

• Taken Up In Glory

This short hymn - this gospel song

It’s about the glory of God.

These six short phrases summarize the central truth of the Bible. 

The Central message of the church.

The Big Question:

What’s the Central Truth of your life?

What is it that everything else really revolves around? What drives you? What is the goal?

Is the gospel really the central truth of your life?

When was the last time you invited someone to come to church?

When did you last tell someone about how Jesus Christ changed your life?

(Those two things are connected)

We need to re-center | re-calibrate our lives on the Central Truth. To Jesus

Whatever your profession

The Gospel must be your obsession

May we all constantly re-center our lives around the Gospel.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

God's DESIGN: Deacons & Serving

The primary purpose of the church: The Glory of God.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. We are most satisfied in Him when we pursue Him according to His design.

Acts 6:1-7 shows God’s design for the church: pastors & deacons working together. 

God’s Design:

• Pastors serve by leading

• Deacons lead by serving

The big question: how does this point us to Christ? How does it draw our attention to the gospel and make much of Jesus?

Deacons point us to Christ with their very lives

They’re servants who are reflections of Jesus, the ultimate Servant who gave His life as a ransom for His children.

What are the marks of a Deacon?

These are not only qualities to look for in deacons, but also characteristics we should all strive for as we continually seek to be Christlike. Ultimately, these are reminders of and pointers to the gospel.

Mark 1: A Love for God

This is the starting point for everything.

The first and greatest commandment:

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

• How do you cultivate a love for God?

• Saturate yourself in Scripture

• Be passionate about prayer

• Sit under sound preaching

• Be engaged in the Body

Mark 2: A Love for Others

Genuine salvation will result in us loving others

Titus 3 tells us that before we were saved, we were spending our life in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.

The gospel turns that upside down and inside out

When you’re transferred into the kingdom of God, your soul is re-wired to love others. 

How do we love others?

1. Be happy to see them!

It will show in your eyes, on your face, and in your words. 

2. Serve them

3. Encourage them

There’s no better way to serve others than to be an encourager.

4. Invest in them

Don’t just do it when it’s convenient or falls in your lap, pursue it intentionally.

Mark 3: Humility

James 4:6, Proverbs 29:23, Luke 14:11

What does pursuing humility look like?

1. Pursue Christ.

2. Help others help.

3. Gentleness in Convictions

4. Trust God (in Our Ever-Changing World)

Mark 4: Hold Tightly Rightly

Hold Tightly to what the Bible commands

Hold loosely to 

Traditions

The Practical (what works)

Preferences

Truthfully, we tend toward the opposite.

We’ve never done it that way.

I don’t like that

It’ll never work…

What matters more than any of those:

What does Scripture say?

What does God have to say about it?

Mark 5: Live Sacrificially

Living sacrificially is the outworking of

Loving God

Loving people

Pursuing Humility

Holding Tightly Rightly

What does it LOOK LIKE to live sacrificially?

––> Look to the gospel!

If you’re not continually meditating on the sacrifice Jesus made for YOU when He died on the cross and took the punishment that you deserve for your sinful words, sinful actions, and sinful attitudes, You’re not going to serve like you should.

Remembering Christ’s sacrifice for vile, wretched sinners like we are will drive all faithful God-honoring service. 

The ultimate act of sacrifice, 

the ultimate act of service 

was Jesus Christ hanging on the cross.

We need to be reminded of the gospel daily because we forget the gospel daily 

When you think of serving, or see someone serving others in some way, let it be a reminder of what Jesus did for you and then, in response to that, serve someone else!

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

God’s Design for the Church

God designed the Church. His plan is laid out in  The Instruction Book. 

Always keep in mind:

1. The Goal of the church is the glory of God

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him and we are most satisfied in Him when we are pursuing Him the way He designed. 

2. Two Leadership Roles

Pastors, who serve by leading

Deacons, who lead by serving

1 Timothy 3:1-13

On Pastoral Qualifications.

The central issue is character. It’s not about what he DOES, but who he IS

God gives pastors to the church as practical examples of the qualities that should exist in every Christian.

It Is a trustworthy saying - Of great importance. A foundational issue. 

If any man - First requirement: a man

The role of pastor/elder/shepherd/overseer is restricted to men.

 …aspires to the office

It’s an outward pursuit in response to an inner compulsion God places in you.

He desires a good work

It’s worthy, honorable,, eternally significant.

It’s daunting and a burden but truly a joy for those called to it.

a good work 

It’s demanding, lifelong, and never-ending. It’s not a 9 to 5 job. 

Remember:

1. These qualities are those that every single Christian should pursue themself. 

2. It’s not about perfection, but direction. 

• Above reproach

The overarching quality. Not sinless, but blameless. It’s about integrity.

• Husband of One Wife - 

This is about sexual purity. He’s fully committed to his wife. In contrast to the immoral culture he lives in.

• Temperate -.

Not rash or erratic, but balanced 

• Sensible

self control, balanced judgment, real discernment.

• Respectable

Well mannered, not rude, a gentleman.

• Hospitable

Open home, open heart. He loves people both inside and outside the church. (The Gospel Comes with a House Key)

• Able to teach

This is of central importance. While all believers teach in certain contexts, a pastor must be gifted in this area.

• Not addicted to wine

Not known for drinking. Standing in contrast to the culture.

• Not Pugnacious

Not argumentative, quarrelsome or violent (physically and verbally). 

A pastor must contend for the truth

without being contentious

• Considerate

Not a bully - doesn’t, maneuver, or manipulate or continually push to get his own way. 

• Peaceable

Gracious, kind, considerate, tolerant, tender, forbearing, sympathetic, & patient. 

• Free from the love of money

Pastors don’t have to be paupers, but they’re not in it for the money. Prosperity preachers are the very definition of “love of money” and inherently DISqualified.

• Leading His Own Household well

A family man. He loves his wife, his children, and has an obvious unwavering commitment to them.

This is important because there’s a distinct parallel between:

governing and caring for the biological family and

governing and caring for the spiritual family

The last two are protections

• Not a Recent Convert

He must be spiritually mature

Pride is a struggle for everyone, but even more so for the spiritually immature man prematurely placed in a leadership role.

• Good reputation with those outside the church

Well thought of both inside and outside. He should be known as loving, kind, generous, and good

This is how we all should be known in the world:

Philippians 2:14-15 – Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

There’s also a reminder of your pastor’s greatest need:

Because pastors are more vulnerable to the enemy’s attack, they desperately need the prayers & support of their flock. 

The Bottom Line:

1. Hold your leaders to these standards.

2. Pursue them yourself with greater intensity.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP:

Which one of these characteristics is the biggest struggle for you?

Pursue that today with ferocious intensity. 

Ask someone to hold you accountable.  

So that you make the gospel more attractive and appealing to the world by how you live your life.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob