Father’s Day is one of the most celebrated events not just in the United States but also all over the world. According to a recent study, about 76 percent of Americans plan, love, and celebrate Father’s Day. This means that there are a great number of families, wives, and children who appreciate and express their love for their fathers during this day.
This special day allows us to celebrate the God-given men who have been patient with us, shaped us, invested in us, loved us, helped us mature, and become what we are today.
As we go through this topic, we will discover what the Bible says about fathers and some of the most awesome Father’s Day sermon ideas you can use in your ministry.
What does the Bible say about Fathers?
Throughout the Bible, there are lots of passages that best describe what a father should be. We need to understand and reflect upon what the Bible says to enrich our appreciation of our fathers and figures who helped us become the people we are today.
Fathers are Lifetime Guides
Fathers want the best for their kids. With this in mind, they show their offspring how to make wise decisions. They teach their sons how to become strong and to protect their siblings and family. They teach their daughters how to excel in every good way.
In other words, fathers are meant to guide their children and the entire family. But this doesn’t mean they must be geniuses to do so. It simply means that God designed it this way, and in response, we should appreciate and lean into this resource.
Fathers are Leaders
Aside from being a lifetime guide, fathers are tasked to lead their families in loving one another, respecting neighbors, and, most especially, in devotion to God. Throughout the Bible, God appoints men to be responsible and lead their households in devotion and service to God.
Genesis 18:19 says, “For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
This passage clearly says that fathers should always direct their children and the entire household to follow and serve God, not just for the current generation but for future generations.
Fathers are Living Examples
More often than not, we learn by copying those that we see. And copying our fathers is no exemption. We might not notice it, but we’ve been copying what our parents do most of our lives. That is because, as mentioned earlier, fathers are our lifetime guides and leaders. That is why we grow and learn not just by our own experience but also by looking at our fathers and copying what they do.
1 Kings 15:11 says, “And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done.”
This means that fathers are responsible for setting a good example for their families, bringing their children and household closer to God. Just as David set an example to Asa, fathers must also be the first doers to serve God so their families can see and follow.
Understanding the Significance of a Father’s Day Sermon
When one thinks about preparing a sermon, particularly a Father’s Day sermon, it’s essential to draw a connection between the word of God and the real-world experiences of fathers. This connection fosters a more profound understanding and resonates well with the congregation.
Much like the day, Father’s Day sermons celebrate fatherhood, reflecting on the biblical teachings and principles about fathers and father figures. As such, a sermon on Father’s Day isn’t just another sermon; it’s an opportunity to express gratitude, acknowledge sacrifices, and inspire fathers.
Why the Need for Special Father’s Day Sermon Ideas?
Given the day’s significance, it’s only fitting that a special Father’s Day sermon be prepared. With many families celebrating, pastors and ministers often look for unique Father’s Day sermon ideas to resonate with their congregations.
Different fathers come with varied experiences and stories. Thus, Father’s Day sermon ideas ideally encapsulate the diverse roles, challenges, and joys of fatherhood while anchoring in the biblical understanding of the role.
Father’s Day Sermon Ideas
Now that we’ve discussed some Bible definitions of what a father should be let us now go to some of the most awesome Father’s Day sermon ideas and Bible passages.
David’s command to Solomon
1 Kings 2:1-4
1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
Nearing his death, David commanded his son Solomon to be strong and act like a man. Not just that, he also told him to walk in obedience to God and keep his decrees and commands. Likewise, you can preach this passage to encourage fathers to obey God and keep his commands.
The Father disciplines those he loves
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
In this passage, God tells us that discipline and rebuke also express His love for us. With this, we shouldn’t be downhearted if we receive any form of discipline, for it is done with love by the Father.
Father’s love for his prodigal son
Luke 15:11-24
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So, he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.
This passage is one of the most famous passages in the Bible. It talks about the love of a father to his sons and that God is a loving father who is always waiting for us to go back to Him.
Encouragement for fathers and young men
1 John 2:12-14
12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers because you know him who is from the beginning, I write to you, young men because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
This passage encourages fathers and young men to always be strong in the Lord. And in response, we should do what the Bible says, for it is right.
Abraham’s faithfulness in God’s command
Genesis 22:1-18
Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
We know that God, the perfect Father, sacrificed his only Son to die on the cross and pay for our sins. But before that event, God tested a certain father in the Old Testament. Abraham, a loving father to his son Isaac, was tested and commanded to sacrifice his only son for God.
Abraham continued his faith in God and followed His command without any resistance or doubt. Abraham’s faith was so big that he told his servant, “Stay here, while I and the boy will go to the mountain and worship but WE will come back to you.” He told his servant by faith that he and Isaac would come back. Aside from this, he also told the supposed burnt offering, his son Isaac, that God would provide for the burnt offering.
Likewise, we should follow Abraham’s example that no matter what circumstances we are in, we should always follow what God’s command is
Other Father’s Day Sermon Ideas
- Preach Ezekiel 22:30 on how God looked for a man to stand in the gap, but couldn’t find one. Challenge fathers to stand in the gap.
- Preach the blessings of a man who fears the Lord from Psalm 112:1-10.
- Preach the blessings of a man who fears the Lord from Psalm 128:1-6.
- Preach the legacy a father leaves using Joel 1:3.
- Preach Christian family principles from Colossians 3:18-21.
- Preach Christian family principles from Ephesians 5:23-6:4.
- Preach from 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 on how a man can learn to be a good father even when they didn’t have a good example growing up.
Ending Note
Fathers are God’s gift to us. We should honor them and celebrate with them through this special day. And as we honor our fathers, let us share with them what God wants to say through His Word.
Give the fathers in your congregation a kind recognition or a card. Use these Bible passages and verses to preach to the fathers what God says about them. Children and family members can also use these Bible verses to help them express what’s in their hearts.
Preparing a Father’s Day sermon requires a deep dive into the scriptures and a genuine understanding of the emotions and responsibilities tied to fatherhood. But the impact of a well-delivered sermon on Father’s Day is unparalleled. It can uplift, inspire, and offer solace. Whether it’s a story of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, or faith, the Bible is brimming with Father’s Day sermon ideas that can leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the congregation.
As churches prepare for the special day, weaving in these Father’s Day sermons can be a way to acknowledge the biblical fathers who showcased exemplary qualities, draw parallels to contemporary fatherhood, and honor the father figures in our lives.
So, whether you’re a pastor, a lay leader, or someone simply looking to understand more about Father’s Day sermons, remember that the essence of any good sermon lies in its ability to connect the divine teachings to the human experience. On Father’s Day, this connection is a beautiful reminder of God’s purpose for fatherhood and Father’s impact on our lives.