FATHER’S DAY SERMON, 6/21/26
POWERFUL WORDS OF A FATHER
Mark 1:11, 9:7
Solomon writes, “The tongue has the power of life and death…” (Proverbs 18:21). Our words are powerful! They can build up or they can destroy (Ephesians 4:29). And this is especially true of the words that fathers and mothers use in speaking to their children.
Specifically addressing fathers, the Apostle Paul writes, “Fathers, do not exasperate [to frustrate or provoke to anger] your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). As a father, I know how easy it is to get upset with our children and say things that are hurtful and harmful. That’s why we must choose our words carefully when speaking to our children whom God has entrusted in our care.
Have you ever considered the words that the Heavenly Father spoke to and about His Son? There are only two occurrences in Scripture where we have the recorded words of God the Father speaking in regards to His Son Jesus. They are when Jesus was baptized at the beginning of his ministry (Mark 1:11) and when He was transfigured toward the end of His ministry (Mark 9:7). They were just a few words, twenty-three words in all, but they speak volumes about the relationship that the Father had with His Son.
This Sunday for Father’s Day, I want to glean from these few words three phrases that we Dads should be liberally saying to our children young and old, and even to our grandchildren.
Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
