Hello, friend. Welcome back to Authorized Sword Ministries.

We're so glad you're here again.

In Lesson Two, we saw how Jesus grew "in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Today we're talking to the dads. This lesson is about fathers and sons.

A boy learns what a man is by watching his father. That's a big job. But God doesn't leave us to figure it out alone. Let's open the Bible and see.

Our Key Verses

"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live." — Proverbs 4:1-4 (KJV)

These are the words of Solomon. And notice what he says. "For I was my father's son." His father, David, had taught him. "He taught me also." Now Solomon is passing it on to his own son.

That's how it's meant to work. A father teaches his son, and that son grows up to teach his own.

A Gift and an Arrow

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." — Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV)

We looked at verse three in our Training Up a Child course. But look at verse four. "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man."

An arrow doesn't stay in the quiver forever. One day it's sent out. Dad, your son will be sent out into the world one day. Your job is to aim him well, toward God.

Give Him Your Time

You can't aim an arrow you never pick up. Sons need time with their fathers. Not just being in the same house, but being together.

Work together. Fix something together. Go fishing. Throw a ball. Some of the best talks a father and son ever have happen side by side, doing something ordinary.

Give Him Your Example

"The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." — Proverbs 23:24-26 (KJV)

"Let thine eyes observe my ways." Your son is watching you. How you talk to his mother. How you handle money. What you do when you're angry. Whether you pray. Whether you go to church.

In our Fathers Who Lead course, we looked at Genesis 18:19, where God said Abraham would "command his children and his household after him." Abraham led by walking with God first. Your son will learn far more from your life than from your lectures.

And when you fall short, and every father does, say so. Tell your son, "I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" That teaches him how a godly man handles his mistakes.

Give Him God's Word

Near the end of his life, King David gave his son Solomon this charge:

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever." — 1 Chronicles 28:9 (KJV)

"Know thou the God of thy father." David didn't just want Solomon to know about God. He wanted him to know God for himself. That's the goal. Not a son who borrows Dad's faith, but a son who has his own.

Give Him Your Blessing

Paul described how he cared for the young believers he led:

"As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children," — 1 Thessalonians 2:11 (KJV)

Exhorted. That means encouraged him to do right. Comforted. That means stood with him when he was hurting. Charged. That means gave him a mission.

Sons need all three. Tell your son you're proud of him. Tell him you love him. Put your hand on his shoulder and pray for him. Many grown men are still waiting to hear those words from their fathers. Don't make your son wait.

Turning Hearts

The Old Testament ends with a promise about fathers and children:

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." — Malachi 4:6 (KJV)

God cares about the hearts of fathers and sons. If there's distance between you and your son, ask God to turn your heart toward him. Then take the first step. It's never too late.

Simple Steps for This Week

First, plan one block of time with your son, just the two of you.

Second, tell him one specific thing you're proud of.

Third, pray for him out loud, with your hand on his shoulder.

Know the God of Your Father

Friend, every father needs a Father too. God loves you and sent His Son for you.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

Jesus died for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day. Trust Him today.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." — Romans 10:9 (KJV)

Next Time

In Lesson Four, we'll talk about fathers and daughters, and how a dad can show his girl her worth in God's eyes.

A Prayer

Before we go, let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this friend who is listening right now, and for every son You have given.

Turn the hearts of fathers to their sons, and the hearts of sons to their fathers.

Help every dad to give his son his time, his example, Your Word, and his blessing. Help him aim his son toward You.

And help every son to know You, not just as the God of his father, but as his own God.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

We'll see you in Lesson Four.

From all of us at Authorized Sword Ministries, God bless you.