“Two Imperatives for Effective Fathering”
Luke 10:25-29
June 21, 2026
John G. Paton was a missionary to the New Hebrides in the mid-1800s. One of the greatest influences in his life was his father who after almost every meal would go to a “closet” where he would pray —
“Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, were blotted from my understanding, my soul would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, ‘He walked with God, why may not I?’ (Autobiography, p. 8)
“How much my father’s prayers at this time impressed me I can never explain, nor could any stranger understand. When, on his knees and all of us kneeling around him in Family Worship, he poured out his whole soul with tears for the conversion of the Heathen world to the service of Jesus, and for every personal and domestic need, we all felt as if in the presence of the living Savior, and learned to know and love him as our Divine friend.” (Autobiography, p. 21)
Godly fathers emulate their heavenly Father. And as imitators of Him, they give immeasurable blessings to their families. One writer has well said, “The very heart of Christian nurture is this: to bring the heart of the child to the heart of his Savior.” [Hendriksen] He’s exactly right. How will we do that, dad?
The passage before us today isn’t about fatherhood. Or marriage. Or anything directly related to family. But as is often the case in Scripture, there are profound implications from this passage on many topics, including fatherhood. These verses instruct us about the nature of eternal life — and some implications of eternal life and our salvation.
When we love God, we will love our neighbors (even those in our homes).
The Law of God and salvation can be simplified into the principle of loving God — and from the overflow of loving God, also loving others. As we come to this passage about eternal life, listen carefully to the Q&A on eternal life…
- Two Questions About Eternal Life (vv. 25-26)
- “What can I do to have eternal life?” (v. 25)
- “What does the Bible say?” (v. 26)
- Two Answers About Eternal Life (v. 27)
- Love God fully, and above all else (v. 27a)
- Love others lavishly because you love God (v. 27b)
- Two Implications About Eternal Life (vv. 28-29)
- Two Implications for Fathers
Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 10:25-29.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.
Words of Grace 