Cornerstone Ver 2
Gen 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Gen 2:24
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 3:16
16 To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”
Luke 6:47-49 “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who vdo not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
Ephesians 5:22-33
2 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Scripture: Proverbs 20:3–7
It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.
The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
Introduction: Though our culture is in moral trouble!
God has given children someone whose power and prestige is greater than all the influences of society put together.
One person, more than any other, can make a difference in a young person’s life: his or her father.
The importance of a godly dad can’t be overstated.
But how do we become warm and attentive fathers?
How can we improve our parenting skills?
In our passage today, we find five facts for fine fathers.
A good dad must be:
1. A Patient Man (v. 3). A wise father must be patient.
Have you ever been around an irritable dog that growled and showed its teeth?
By the same token, have you ever been around an easily irritated dad who is always growling at his kids?
A good dad cultivates a pleasant, patient, positive personality.
When you feel yourself getting angry, instead of cursing or counting to ten, try saying one of these verses to yourself: Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 29:11—or Proverbs 20:3.
Make up your mind to be patient, and learn to make a strategic exit whenever you find yourself losing control.
Ask God to help you control your temper, and learn to smile more at your children.
2. A Hard Worker (v. 4). A good father is also a hard-working man, not lazy
One of the causes of troubled children hahas been fathers that were too passive, and one of the characteristics of weak, passive fathers is laziness.
I’m talking about the man who drags home from work, flops in front of a television, pops open a beer, and stays there all night.
That man is setting a sad example for his children.
The world is lost, the work of the church is great, the days are short, the opportunities are big.
The Bible tells us to redeem the time, because the days are evil.
A good dad is a diligent man whose schedule includes time for his wife and children.
3. A Good Listener (v. 5). A good dad is also a good listener.
“The thoughts in a child’s heart are like deep waters, but an understanding father draws them out.”
A child’s heart is not a spigot, but a well. Good conversation can’t be turned on and off at will, you’ve got to let it bubble up.
We’ve got to spend time together in a relaxed setting, giving our children lots of informal opportunities to open up.
4. A Faithful Friend (v. 6). A good dad is also a faithful friend.
A lot of men say, “I love my wife, and I love my children.”
But does he take time to be with them?
Does he meet their emotional needs?
Is he their companion? Does he confide to them his thoughts and feelings?
Does he fulfill his role as spiritual leader of the household?
Is he really faithful before God?
5. A Righteous Soul (v. 7). A good dad is a righteous man.
He leads a blameless life of high character and caliber.
He is committed to Jesus Christ, to His Word, to prayer, and to His church.
He is honest, modeling integrity for his children.
Conclusion: The promise at the end of verse 7 says that the children of such a man will be blessed.
Happy is the child whose father is a patient man, a hard worker, a good listener, a faithful friend, and a righteous soul.
Happy are the children of the dad whose God is the Lord!