Welcome Home – Father’s Day at RockCreek

Pastor Bryan – What’s the point – WELCOME HOME

“To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

¹³ “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. ¹⁴ About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. ¹⁵ He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

Luke 15:11-20

BEING A DAD: WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU

• They will do , not what you say.
• There will be .
• Kids are seriously .
• You will get more .
• It will be your favorite .

“By profession I am a soldier and take great pride in that fact, but I am also prouder, infinitely prouder, to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the

father only builds, never destroys.” – General Douglas Macarthur

“I’m not writing all this as a neighborhood scold to shame you. I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up.”

1 Corinthians 4:15

“WHAT’S THE POINT: Everyone needs a .

GODLY FATHERS…

1. Set the tone in their .

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming.”

Luke 15:20

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

Ephesians 6:4

2. Teach their kids to be TOUGH and TENDER.

“My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”

Proverbs 3:11-12

“Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20-21

3. Model the GOSPEL to their kids.

“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.”

Luke 15:21-22

Religion says: I messed up, Dad is going to kill me.

The Gospels says: I messed up, I need to call my Dad.

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”

Proverbs 22:6 

4. their kids even when it’s .

“And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.”

Luke 15:22-23

“The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.”

Proverbs 23:24

5. Extend GRACE when none is deserved.

“We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”

Luke 15:32