Berea Update for June 19, 2026

For decades, the media has given us two primary versions of a dad: either the bumbling, incompetent sitcom father who is the butt of every joke, or the distant, authoritarian figure. More recently, the world has tried to convince us that the distinct role of a father isn't even necessary—that family structures can just be mixed, matched, and redefined according to whatever feels right at the moment. But a fascinating trend caught my eye recently. In the midst of all the cultural noise about dismantling traditional family roles, a growing body of secular social science research and articles have been coming out highlighting the irreplaceable impact of a present father. Researchers are "discovering" yet again—with great alarm—that the absence of a father is one of the single greatest predictors of youth crime, behavioral issues, and mental distress. They are realizing that when a father is missing, a specific type of security vanishes from a child's life. It makes me chuckle a bit. The world spends decades trying to rewrite the rules of humanity, only to accidentally stumble backward into biblical truth and say, "Hey, look what we found!" They are waking up to the reality that fatherhood isn't just a social construct we made up; it’s part of God's design.

In Ephesians 6:4, Paul writes, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." It’s a straightforward command, but it runs entirely counter to how the world operates. The world tells fathers that their primary job is to be a provider of material goods, a pal, or a passive bystander who lets children "find their own truth." But Scripture places a heavy, beautiful weight on a father's shoulders. Dads are called to be the spiritual thermostat of the home. They are meant to reflect the character of God the Father—providing a solid anchor of both unwavering truth and deep, sacrificial grace.

In being completely honest with you, when I look at that high calling, I see just how woefully short I fall as a father. I look back at moments where I lacked patience, where I was distracted and absent, or where I didn't model Christ the way I should have. And in reality, if we are being transparent, we all fall short. Every single one of us. There is no such thing as a perfect earthly father, and the weight of trying to be one can feel entirely paralyzing. But hear me on this: we cannot, and should not, let the past define our pathway forward. If you have been messing up, if you have been passive, or if you have allowed the culture to raise your kids instead of taking up your mantle, the answer isn’t to wallow in guilt or throw your hands up in defeat. The answer is the Gospel. We must repent, turn back to God, and assume our responsibility today. Repentance means a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. God’s grace is big enough to cover our past failures, and His Spirit is powerful enough to change our trajectory right now.

Last week, we talked about Charles Spurgeon’s lecture on how the loudest, most confident voices will capture the masses. If Christian fathers are silent, passive, or timid in their homes, do you know who will step in to do the shouting? The culture. The smartphone. The peers. If a dad doesn't confidently model what it means to bow the knee to Jesus, his kids will find a louder, worldly authority to follow. True biblical fatherhood isn't about being the loudest boss in the room; it’s about having the spiritual confidence to say, "Follow me as I follow Christ." It’s about standing firm in a culture of shifting shadows and being a visual aid of our Heavenly Father's love.

This ties right back into our ongoing series in Mark, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" Fathers, the way you answer that question with your life is the very blueprint your children will use to form their own answer. They are watching to see if Jesus is just a Sunday morning routine, or if He is truly the Lord of your time, your money, your passions, and your speech. Your stance on Truth shapes their reality.

Father's Day can bring up a mixed bag of emotions for many of us. Some of you had wonderful earthly fathers, and Sunday is a sweet remembrance. Others carry deep wounds from fathers who failed, abandoned, or hurt you. And to the men of Berea—whether you are a biological dad, an adoptive dad, a grandfather, or a spiritual mentor to the young men in our church—the calling is immense. But our ultimate model is not an earthly one. We have a Heavenly Father who never slumbers, never abandons, and never fails. Earthly fatherhood, at its absolute best, is just a faint whisper of His perfect love. And where we fall short, His grace is more than enough.

So here is the point this week. The world is starting to realize that its version of the family is breaking, even if they won't admit why. They are looking for something solid. Let’s not offer them a "close enough" version of fatherhood or family. Let’s live out the real thing. Dads, men of Berea, step up to the plate. Lead with humility, love sacrificially, and anchor your homes in the Word.

Come ready this Sunday as we dive into what God's Word. Berea, let’s encourage the men in our lives, point our children to the perfect Father, and let His Truth shape everything we do.

You are loved! Keep pressing on!

Upcoming Events

• Q: Why do fathers take an extra pair of socks when they go golfing?   A: In case they get a hole in one.
• Q: What did the buffalo say to his son when he dropped him off at school?    A: Bison.
• Q: Why did the man fall into the well?    A: Because he couldn’t see that well.
• Q: What do you call a fake noodle?    A: An impasta.
• Q: How do you make a tissue dance?     A: You put a little boogie in it.
• Q: I told my doctor that I broke my arm in two places.     A: He told me to stop going to those places.
• Q: My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo.    A: I had to put my foot down.
• Q: Why don't scientists trust atoms?     A: Because they make up everything.
• Q: What do you call a factory that makes okay products?      A: A satisfactory.
• Q: How does a penguin build its house?       A: Igloos it together.
• Q: What’s the retail price of a chimney?      A: Nothing, it’s on the house.