SERMON - THE IMPACT OF A FATHER

In this message from May 29th, 2022 at Bethel Church in Redding CA, Kris Vallotton shares how many of the issues in culture today are connected to the lack of fathers in the home. He provides statistics surrounding the importance of fathers being present in their children’s lives and identifies six side effects of fatherlessness we face as a result of fathers abandoning the family. He reminds us that good fathers help their children discover their identity and know their Heavenly Father. 

- Men and women are equally powerful but distinctly different. Today we will focus on the impact of fathers. 

- What happens when you remove fathers from homes? 

- We know that:

• 70% of all inmates grew up without a father.*
• 63% of all youth suicides are from fatherless homes.*
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.* 

- Fatherlessness is driving violence through lost identity and disconnection.

- Disconnection with the Heavenly Father creates a distorted identity.

1. Men are being feminized because mothers are raising them without the presence of fathers. The result? Gender confusion within men being raised by single moms is helping to perpetuate homosexuality. In other words, young boys do not have a male role model to learn from. 
2. Abortion is another major side effect of fatherlessness because women are being impregnated by men, not fathers! True fathers protect, provide and promote their offspring.
3. Men lack confidence in their ability to lead and provide for a family because it’s never been modeled for them. Therefore they delay or reject marriage relationships.
4. Fatherless men tend to be players instead of leaders. Men invite boys into manhood through the rite of passage. The rite of passage is the process in which men acknowledge that a boy has become a man.
5. Men relate to women as mothers and sisters, not wives and lovers because they’ve never observed how a husband relates to a wife. Consequently, they don’t pursue lovers, they pursue mothers…someone who will care for them instead of someone for whom they can provide, care for and promote.  
6. In a fatherless society, authenticity is being redefined as being true to your feelings instead of being true to your purpose. 

1. Conquer their fears and not negotiate with their enemies.
2. Provide for a family: this gives men purpose, meaning and identity.
3. Compete for the prize and fight for the promise. 
4. Build for the future.
5. Discover their identity.