Following in Father's Footsteps
Pastor Tan Thai · Jun 21, 2020
This Father's Day sermon contrasts the paths of Abraham and Lot to show that every father leaves footprints and a legacy for his children. A father who walks according to God's Word leaves a precious spiritual inheritance, while a father who follows worldly ways leaves painful consequences for future generations.
The sermon opens with a humorous story about a husband who insists on bringing his wife's body back home from Israel rather than burying her in the Holy Land — fearing she might rise again like Christ — which leads into the central theme: the father-child relationship between God and His people is unique among all religions. The pastor cites Romans 8:15-16 to establish that the Holy Spirit himself bears witness that we are children of God, and therefore earthly fathers bear the responsibility of reflecting the heavenly Father in their own lives.
The heart of the sermon examines the contrasting lives of Abraham and Lot from Genesis. Abraham obeyed God's call by faith, built altars to the Lord at every stopping point, and oriented himself toward Bethel — the house of God — rather than Ai, the place of ruin. Lot, by contrast, never once built an altar to God, chose the fertile plains near Sodom because they looked good to his eyes, and gradually moved his entire family into the sinful city. The result was total ruin: Lot lost his property, his wife, and his family ended in deep shame and disgrace.
The pastor reinforces this with a well-known historical study of two families: Jonathan Edwards, a godly 18th-century pastor, whose 900+ descendants included pastors, professors, judges, lawyers, and civic leaders; and Max Jukes, an atheist who lived without moral restraint, whose 1,000+ descendants were largely criminals, addicts, and those dependent on public welfare. Two fathers, two paths, two radically different legacies across multiple generations.
The sermon provides practical guidance for fathers: follow the narrow road that God's Word prescribes (Matthew 7:13-14), love and respect one's wife, avoid provoking children to anger but raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and model faith as Paul urged — "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Personal integrity is especially emphasized: a father cannot teach his children honesty if he himself lives dishonestly in small or large matters.
The sermon closes with a call for every father to reflect on the spiritual legacy he will leave behind — not material wealth, but faith, character, marital faithfulness, and love for God. The pastor quotes Charles Spurgeon: "A good character is the best tombstone," and reminds children that Scripture calls them to honor their parents, for God will reward those who show filial piety toward their father and mother.