Every Dad can be a Superdad with God’s help. Learn how to be a good father by following these verses from the Bible.

Proverbs 17:6 

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;

And the glory of children are their fathers.

There is just something special about dads. As the Bible says so eloquently, “the glory of children are their fathers.”

Proverbs 17:6 explains that children look to their dads with awe, much like we look to God. It seems that God intended man to be His physical representative in the family and shared a bit of His glory with dads.

Your only hope to be a good father is to commit yourself fully to God and live in the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Share on X

To young children, it seems like dads are invincible. They know how to do almost everything. They are super strong. Many of us heard a young boy yell on an elementary school playground, “Oh yeah. My dad can beat up your dad!”

Apparently, as children get older, parents get dumber. (Or so some children think!) Consider the following progression that many people appear to go through as they age.

• A child thinks parents know everything.
• A pre-teen thinks parents are weird.
• A teenager thinks parents are dumb.  
• In their 20’s children think they can do things better than their parents.
• In their 30’s children find out their parents were pretty smart.
• In their 40’s children start saying the same things as their parents.
• In their 50’s children realize their parents were rather special.
• In their 60’s and beyond, children wish their parents were still around so they could ask their advice.

Christians don’t need to go through that progression of foolishness to understanding. We have the benefit of God’s wisdom to guide us through the years. Parents are a gift from God. Don’t waste part of your life before you figure that out!

Young people must learn to grow into adults without rebelling against their parents and despising them along the way. A wise child embraces godly parents and seeks guidance as they get older. Parents have walked your path. Seek their wisdom.

Godly fathers are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, Satan has effectively diminished the number of godly fathers and the respect of men in general.

Manhood is under attack today. It seems to be harder than ever to find godly men to step into their God-given roles. Foolish diatribes about “toxic masculinity” and “the patriarchy” are destroying our culture. God Almighty created men to fulfill a vital role in humanity. The answer is for men to accept their role by faith, trusting God to empower them for the task.

Many factors have contributed to the decline of respect for fathers.

• The cultural attack on manhood. Feminism and woke-ism work to diminish the respect and role of men in society. When is the last time you saw a television show that showed a loving and wise father?
• The spiritual attack on fatherhood. The Devil has targeted men spiritually. Most churches are filled with women. Where are the men? They are wrapped up in sin and have embraced lies that limit them spiritually. 
• The sinful abuse of wicked fathers. Sinful men have hurt those they should have been protecting. Every abuser should be called out and punished. If you have been hurt, don’t perpetuate the sin to those in your life. Neither should you throw all men way as bad.
• The casual absence of unengaged fathers. Some dads live at home, but they are not committed to the family. Too many men believe they have done their job by going to work and bringing home a paycheck.  
• The dishonorable abandonment of ungodly fathers. Some dads aren’t around at all. The damage of this rejection can only be healed by the Heavenly Father.

Every Christian man should seek to break this cycle of destruction by becoming the man God made you to be through His grace and power. You can be a godly man in this wicked world. Trust Christ alone as your Saviour. Commit your life to Christ fully. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

My parents were divorced before I could remember. I got to see my Dad every other weekend on visitation. I know he loved me, and I loved Him. Nevertheless, we never had the relationship that we wanted. I wanted things to be different for my children. I’m not the man that I want, to be but praise God, I am not the man that I used to be. By God’s grace, my children have a different experience with their dad than I had with mine.  

Regardless of your relationship with your dad, you should strive to parent supernaturally with God’s help.

Our text verse reminds us that adult children can still look up to their father if he is righteous and just. A godly father leaves a legacy of righteousness and a heritage worthy of honor.

Being a father is a hard job. An understanding child makes the job a lot easier and brings joy to a dad’s heart.

Proverbs 15:20 

20 A wise son maketh a glad father:

But a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Being a parent is a lot harder than it looks. Nevertheless, God can empower you to be Superdad to your children.

How To Be A Good Father…

The Bible has a lot to say about being a good father. Put the following habits into practice and become a good father who is still the glory of older children.

1. A Good Father Teaches the Bible.

Psalm 78:1–4 

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law:

 Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

 2 I will open my mouth in a parable:

 I will utter dark sayings of old:

 3 Which we have heard and known,

 And our fathers have told us.

 4 We will not hide them from their children,

 Shewing to the generation to come

 The praises of the Lord, and his strength,

 And his wonderful works that he hath done.

Fathers in this passage of Scripture told their children about God’s victories. They taught the Bible to their children as well. The Jews took seriously their responsibility to teach the Law of God to their children.

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The Lord knew that cultural religion was not sufficient. It is possible to live in a godly environment with heavenly blessings only to forget the God Who makes it all possible. Likewise, the same danger exists for children who grow up in Christian homes today. A good father must continuously connect the dots between God and good for His children.  

Deuteronomy 6:10–14 

10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Make the Bible the foundation of your life and family. Repeat its truths often. Use every opportunity to teach God’s Holy Word to your children.

2. A Good Father Displays Compassion.

Psalm 103:13

13 Like as a father pitieth his children,

 So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

The word “pitieth” in this verse means “to love” or “to have compassion.”  

Men tend to focus on work and discipline while women tend to promote love and acceptance. A good father will do the former while practicing the latter. A good dad displays love and compassion for his children. He accepts them as they are while lovingly encouraging them to become the best version of themselves.

3. A Good Father Offers Instruction.

Proverbs 1:8 

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

 And forsake not the law of thy mother:

A good father is engaged. He seeks to instruct his children on how to live and how to make a living. Tell stories of your experiences. Apply the Bible to everyday life. Teach them how to be live in such a way that they will enjoy life by putting God first.

4. A Good Father Gives Correction.

Proverbs 3:12 

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth;

 Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Every child needs correction. Children are born with sin and rebellion in their hearts. A loving, but firm hand is required. Love corrects. The Bible says it is a form of hatred to let your children go without correction. Prisons are full of people who never learned to submit to correction.

A good dad corrects children today so they can be happy tomorrow.  

5. A Good Father Sets Boundaries.

Proverbs 22:28 

28 Remove not the ancient landmark,

 Which thy fathers have set.

A parent that does not set boundaries for their children is derelict in their duty. Set up landmarks of sin and righteousness. Teach the kids what is right and what is wrong.  

Erect landmarks of family history so children know where they come from. 

Establish landmarks of behavior so your youngsters know how to please you.

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6. A Good Father Worships God.

John 4:20–24 

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Even the lost Samaritan woman in this story found comfort in the worship of her ancestors. Jesus explained that the time would come for people to worship God in Spirit and truth. Now is that time!

Worshipping God is one of the best things you can do for your children. It gives them a godly example to follow. It leaves a legacy of salvation so that your children have confidence you will be in Heaven when you die.

Sit by your children in church. It is a priceless gift. Pray with them often. Praise God in their presence. Ask forgiveness in their presence. Tell them how much Christ means to you.

Compare the opposite approach.

Acts 7:51 

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

The pull of a father’s influence is strong. An ungodly man can pull children away from God despite the influence of a godly woman. 

What legacy are you leaving for your children? Are you teaching them to be stubborn and hard-hearted toward God? Or are you showing them how to live a life of sweet surrender and worship?

For generations, your children will be blessed or cursed by your decision.

7. A Good Father Prays.

Mark 9:17–25 

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. 20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

In this heart-rending account of Scripture, a father begs Jesus to help his demon-possessed child. Christ showed mercy and delivered the young boy in answer to his father’s prayer.

A good father prays for His children. He prays to be a better father. He prays for them to be saved as soon as they are old enough to understand. He begs protection from sin and satan. He asks for their heart to be soft and tender toward the Lord. He prays for their future spouse and family. He requests money to care for their needs.

There are so many things to pray for our children!

One of my guiding philosophies of parenting is “Do the best you can and beg God to make up the difference.” Pray as if your children’s lives depend upon it. They do!

8. A Good Father Takes Steps Of Faith.

Romans 4:12 

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Abraham is the earthly “father” of the Jews. His steps of faith changed a family and defined a nation. Your steps of faith are just as important to your family.  

Put God first. Make decisions based on faith rather than fear or pragmatism. Teach your children how to make wise decisions based on God’s Word. Let them know why you make faith-based decisions. Then, remind them of God’s goodness when it all works out for good.

Lay aside your doubts and need to be in control. Experience the sweet peace of living as a surrendered man in the will of God.

9. A Good Father Provides Needs.

Luke 11:11 

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

One of a father’s primary duties is to provide for the needs of the family. A wise man must discern the difference between needs and wants. Don’t kill yourself spoiling your children. They will only despise you for it as they grow older.  

Work hard enough to provide youngster’s needs, but not so much that you are disengaged from their lives. Provide your presence, love, and acceptance. Be there. Provide your ears to listen. Provide your mouth to speak love and instruction. Provide food, shelter, and clothing. Provide the means for them to go to church and spiritual activities.

As our Heavenly Father provides for our needs, so a godly father works to provide for his family.

10. A Good Father Lives Righteously.

Father’s set a powerful example for children to follow. Make sure your example leads them to righteousness. Even our Lord Jesus explained that He followed the example of His Father.

John 8:38 

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Years ago, a couple came to me about their young son. “He loses his temper, throws things, and cusses like a sailor,” they explained. After speaking to them for about ten minutes, it became clear that the father had the same habits. He looked stunned as the light bulb turned on in his head. “This is my fault. He is mimicking me.”  

“Children are a mirror for the parents,” I said. “Often, when we see problems in their lives, we can find them in our own. “We must live righteously if we expect our children to do the same.”

As I said earlier, a father’s example is exceedingly powerful. God has given dads a special place in the heart of children. Use it to spur them on to God and a righteous life.

11. A Good Father Renders Comfort.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

According to this verse, a godly father gives comfort to his children. The word “comfort” in this verse means “to console.” Fathers are known for a proclivity towards discipline and duty. However, a good father is quick to render comfort as well. Discipline is most effective when wrapped in unquestioned love.

Draw bold lines and set strong boundaries, but be generous with comfort when children fall short. Provide the consolation of acceptance when they fail. Give them a stout shoulder to cry on. Provide strong arms to hold them up when they are weak. Be their cheerleader for excellence and their nurse when they fall.

Love your children unconditionally and comfort them in their afflictions. That is the example of our Heavenly Father.

12. A Good Father Leaves A Charge.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

This verse gives us a final and essential duty of good fathers. A good dad leaves each child with a charge.

What is a charge? It is an old English word that means a witness or a testimony.

A charge is a burden or a mandate. It is a solemn command with a burden to be fulfilled. Each dad should provide a charge for his children.

A godly father will charge his children to live for God. Much like Joshua how charged the children of Israel to serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:14–15 

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The goal of every godly parent is for their children to serve the Lord. While each adult child must choose to serve the Lord for themselves, there should be no doubt that Dad expects them to love the Lord with all their heart and serve Him with their lives.

CONCLUSION

Fathers are the physical representation of God in the family. Your responsibility of massive. Your influence is undeniable.  

Your only hope to be a good father is to commit yourself fully to God and live in the power of the Holy Spirit within you.

Focus on the following habits of good fathers found in the Bible, and God will bless your family for generations to come.

1. A Good Father Teaches the Bible.

2. A Good Father Displays Compassion.

3. A Good Father Offers Instruction.

4. A Good Father Gives Correction.

5. A Good Father Sets Boundaries.

6. A Good Father Worships God.

7. A Good Father Prays.

8. A Good Father Takes Steps of Faith.

9. A Good Father Provides Needs.

10. A Good Father Lives Righteously.

11. A Good Father Renders Comfort.

12. A Good Father Leaves A Charge.

One day your children will start their own family. Leave them an example of godliness to follow.

Mark 10:7

7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;