1. THE SCRIPTURES ON FATHERHOOD Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20-21

2. Ephesians 6:1-4 (NASB) - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

3. Colossians 3:20-21 (NASB) Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

4. Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. NASU

5. Genesis 2: For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. NASU

6. Proverbs 5: Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love. NASU

7. Ephesians 4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3: Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

9. “Fathers," Paul admonishes, “Do not aggravate your children
“Fathers," Paul admonishes, “Do not aggravate your children. Do not provoke them to anger. Do not deal severely with them to the point they become desperate and frustrated and dispirited.”

10. Now for the positive side: the Scripture says that we are to bring our children up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
The two sides of this admonition mean to “educate by discipline” and to “educate by instruction.”

11. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - 4 "Listen, O Israel
Deuteronomy 6: "Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Holy Bible, New Living Translation

12. Two suggestions about living out the Christian life before our children:
Be sure they know you love them.
Determine in your heart right now if you haven’t already, that after Jesus Christ, your family will have first priority in your life.