Scriptures: Malachi 4:6, Deuteronomy 6:1-15

We are living in a world where real heroes are scarce. Our young people settle for substitute heroes such as overrated movie stars, over-paid athletes, under-talented rock singers, and over­sexed politicians. Many people are finding it more difficult than ever to discover somebody you can call a hero. In Malachi we learn simple biblical principles for every father to live as a hero to his children. God makes a plan from the beginning of Scripture that holds the father responsible for decisions in the family and for the destiny of the family.

Even though Eve sinned first, God went to Adam first and held him responsible as the head of the family. God knew what he was doing when he put the man at the head of the home. Today we know that when the father is an active believer, there is about a 75% likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer this likelihood is reduced to 15%. We have a tremendous problem in the home today, and a great part of that problem must be laid at the feet of fathers who have abdicated their place of responsibility to be the spiritual leader in that home.

In this message, Dr. Merritt details not only the biblical role of the father, but how dads can lead godly families.

"Your number one responsibility as a dad or a granddad is to see to it that your children and your grandchildren establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What good does it do to raise your child in the finest home; to give your child the finest education; to see to it he gets the finest job; to help him marry the finest girl; to help him have the finest career; to help him reach the finest position in life; to bury him in the finest casket; to give him the finest funeral; to lay him in the finest grave; and then to stand in eternity and watch him rise in the judgment to meet a God he does not know? Dads, we need to show by the way we live, by the language we use, by the places we go, by the television programs we watch, by the books that we read, that we fear the Lord." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: father, fatherhood, Malachi, 1988 Olympics, Dwight L. Moody, Athens, inspire, influence, revere, instruction, parenting, father, dad, Moses, propaganda, materialism, hedonism, intellectualism, humanism, secularism, headship, Charles Swindoll, Father's Day