A Father’s Day bulletin and bookmark with the same message quotes Oswald Chambers:

“The destiny of every human being depends on his relationship to Jesus Christ. It is not on his relationship to life, or to his service or his usefulness, but simply and solely on his relationship to Jesus Christ.”

So often men tend to find their worth in achievements and how well they fulfill their roles or positions in life  … like fatherhood.  This quote emphasizes that what matters most is that you know Christ.  That leads me to the next message I came across on another bulletin and bookmark which only makes sense if the father has that relationship with Jesus. 

“The greatest gift a father can give his children is to walk in the footsteps of God.”

The father’s example will leave a much greater impact on his children than words alone could ever do.  A Pass It On Card provides an acronym for what it will take: 

D.A.D. – Dedicated And Devoted

When fathers are first and foremost dedicated and devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ they will be to their children what they should be.  What greater gift could a father give?

God places responsibility on both children and parents:

• Children – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother” (Eph. 6:1-3).
• Parents – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 provides a good pattern for the consistency with which a parent is to nurture children in the ways of the Lord.  Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp looks at parenting as more of a discipleship process than merely a caretaking role.

The church should not be usurping the responsibility of parents for instructing their children in the ways of the Lord.  Rather, the church should be holding them accountable and training them to do their God-given part.

What are we doing in the church to encourage healthy parent-child relationships?

There are many good resources for family life.  

What are some you have found to be effective?