Fatherhood is a complex topic that has been discussed for centuries. Louie Giglio’s Bible study, Seeing God as a Perfect Father, takes a unique approach to fatherhood by exploring the concept of God as a Father figure. In this listicle, we’ll dive into some of the key themes from Louie and how they can inform and inspire us as fathers in our roles as caregivers and mentors.
Fatherhood is a calling
Fatherhood is not just a biological role but a divine calling. Fathers have the opportunity to reflect the love and grace of God in our relationships with our children. Understanding this calling can provide a sense of purpose and intentionality in fatherhood, leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling experience.
Forgiveness is key
Central in the role of fatherhood is the idea of forgiveness. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of extending grace and forgiveness to our children, as well as modeling forgiveness in all relationships. This is a difficult task, but it is essential for building strong and healthy relationships, especially with our children.
Words matter
The words we as fathers use with our children can have a profound impact on their sense of worth and identity. It is imperative for fathers to use words that affirm and encourage our children, rather than tearing them down. Along the same line, listening to and validating our children’s thoughts and feelings is vitally important.
Fatherhood is a partnership
Fathers cannot parent all on our own. We desperately need to partner with spouses, family members, and friends to support and care for our children. By working together, we can create a strong and nurturing environment for our children to grow and thrive.
Love is sacrificial
In the Bible, God the Father models that the nature of love is sacrificial. Fathers can learn from this example by putting the needs of our children ahead of our own desires and ambitions. This kind of sacrificial love can have a profound impact on the lives of children and help them develop a strong sense of security and trust.
While fatherhood can be challenging at times, it is also an opportunity for growth and transformation, both for fathers ourselves and for the children we care for.
Remember, too, that you are a child of God and no matter what type of father you had or you have been, failure is not final. As fathers, we will inevitably make mistakes and fall short of our own expectations. But failure is not the end of the story! Instead, we can make it an opportunity for growth and learning. It sends a strong and necessary message for us to seek forgiveness when we fall short and to continue striving to be the best fathers we can be.
Louie Giglio is pastor of Passion City Church and the original visionary of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Since 1997, Passion Conferences has gathered college-aged young people in events across the United States and around the world. An Atlanta native and graduate of Georgia State University, Louie has done postgraduate work at Baylor University and holds a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Louie and his wife, Shelley, make their home in Atlanta.