West Side Church of Christ - Elkton Ky

• Recalls the previous Mother's Day sermon on how hard it was for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to watch her son at the cross.
• Shifts focus to Father’s Day, emphasizing: "Being Daddy is Hard Too."
• Notes there’s no instruction manual for being a dad—everyone starts out learning as they go.

• Reads and summarizes Genesis 22:1–19—God’s test of Abraham, asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac.
• Emphasizes that Abraham’s character and faith made his family (and all families) better and impacted generations.

• Biblical Reference: Genesis 22:2 — “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…”
• Dads are capable of deep love, even if they show it differently than moms.
• Abraham’s love is seen in his:
  • Obedience: He immediately obeys God’s command, even when it’s hard.
  • Preparation: He prepares everything needed for the sacrifice, showing care and responsibility.
  • Endurance: The journey took three days—Abraham persisted even though it was difficult.

• Highlights the repeated phrase, “Here I am,” from Abraham (to God, his son, and the angel).
• Explains that “Here I am” means giving full, undivided attention—being present.
• Applies this to modern fathers: It’s possible to be physically present but emotionally or mentally absent. Families need fathers to be truly present.

• Key Point: Abraham tells his servants, “We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
• Shows Abraham’s trust that God would keep His promises, even when the situation looked impossible.
• Applies to dads: Sometimes you don’t know how things will work out, but faith and confidence in God are essential.

• Notes that being a leader doesn’t mean knowing everything—instead, it means being the first follower of God.
• The greatest lesson kids learn may not be from formal Bible studies, but from watching their dad live out his faith.
• “More is caught than taught.” Kids pick up on honesty, integrity, and faithfulness from a dad’s actions.

• Shares an anecdote about being pulled over for speeding and choosing to tell the truth about not wearing a seatbelt, even when it could have been easier to lie.
• Son noticed the honesty, reinforcing the lesson that actions often teach more than words.

• Acknowledges Father’s Day can be hard for some—maybe due to loss or absence.
• Reminds everyone of the love of our Heavenly Father and the family of God’s people.
• Extends an invitation for anyone needing help, support, or prayer.

• Being a dad is hard, but Abraham’s example shows us:
  • Love is shown through obedience, preparation, and endurance.
  • Presence matters—be available and attentive to God and your family.
  • Faith and trust in God guide fathers through uncertainty.
  • Leadership is about following God first and letting your actions teach your children.