Ephesians 6:4

Focus on the Family-Part 5

Duties of a Daddy

Introduction:  The command in this passage was totally new concept for Paul’s day, especially in such pagan strongholds as Ephesus.  Most families were in shambles, and mutual love among family members was almost unheard of.  A father’s love for his children would be hard even to imagine.  By the Roman law of patria potestas as father had virtual life and death power not only over his slaves but over his entire household.  He could cast any of them out of the house, sell them as slaves, or even kill them—and be accountable to no one.  Paul is speaking to Godly, spirit-filled fathers.  The purpose of this sermon is to look at some duties of daddy’s. 

I.                  Provoke…to anger

·         Suggest a repeated, ongoing pattern of treatment that gradually builds up a deep-seated anger and resentment that boils over in outward hostility.

·         Causes of resentment in children

o       Well-meaning overprotection

o       Favoritism

o       Pushing achievement beyond reasonable bounds

o       Discouragement

o       Parents’ failing to sacrifice for their children and making them feel unwanted

o       Failing to let children grow up at a normal pace

o       Using love as a tool of reward or punishment

o       By physical and verbal abuse

II.                Bring them up

·         Nurture (discipline)

o       the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body

o       instruction which aims at increasing virtue

o       chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)

·         Discipline involves setting standards and boundaries and reproving the children when they cross those boundaries or break those standards.

·         Discipline involves understanding that it is an act of loving your child.

·         Discipline is acting like God.

·         Admonition (instruction)