Father’s Day 2025 isn’t just a celebration for dads—it’s a time for all of us to reflect on the kind of lives we’re living and the kind of legacies we’re leaving. While today’s message is especially focused on men, the truth is these lessons from Scripture are for everyone who wants to live with purpose, conviction, and impact.
So grab your outline and follow along as we look at four biblical men and the four powerful life lessons they teach us. Some of what follows might not be politically correct—but it is biblically true. And in a world where the lines between right and wrong are often blurred, we need bold clarity rooted in God’s Word.
Lesson 1: Joshua—Stand for God in Front of Other Men
Key Verse: Joshua 24:15
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua wasn't afraid to take a stand. After leading Israel into the Promised Land, he gathered the tribal leaders and made one of the most courageous declarations in the Bible: “Choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua didn’t whisper his faith—he proclaimed it in front of his peers, in front of other leaders. He stood firm, not because it was popular, but because it was right.
Real men don’t just go with the cultural flow—they swim upstream like salmon fighting the current.
Today, we need men who are bold enough to say, “This is who I am. I follow Christ.” Even when the world mocks. Even when it’s hard.
Lesson 2: Abraham—Stand for God in Front of Your Family
Key Verse: Genesis 12:1–5
Abraham’s story starts with an incredible step of faith: leave your home, your comfort, your extended family—and go to a land you've never seen. And he did it. At 75 years old, he packed up his household and said, “We’re following God.”
That’s not easy. It’s one thing to take a stand among strangers—it’s another to stand tall before the people who know you best. Your family sees your flaws, your failures, your bad days. And yet, that’s where leadership matters most.
The husband is called to be the head of the home, the wife is the heart, and the children are to honor them both.
Leadership at home isn’t about control—it’s about consistent, God-honoring direction. Abraham wasn’t perfect, but he led his family by faith.
Lesson 3: Joseph—Stand for God When You’re Tempted
Key Verse: Genesis 39:9
"How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"
Joseph had every excuse to compromise. He was young, successful, good-looking—and alone in a powerful man’s home. But when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph didn’t flirt with temptation. He fled.
He understood something we need to recapture today:
Sin is first and foremost an offense against God.
It’s also a betrayal of others—your spouse, your family, your own body.
Joseph’s response is a masterclass in integrity. He refused to be alone with her. He ran—literally—out of his shirt to avoid sin.
Modern Application:
Don’t get in the car alone with someone who isn’t your spouse.
Don’t go to lunch with a coworker if it opens the door to temptation.
Watch what you let in through your earbuds or your screen—garbage in eventually becomes garbage out.
Culture glamorizes immorality. But Joseph teaches us that real strength is found in restraint.
Lesson 4: Zacchaeus—Stand for God at Work
Key Verse: Luke 19:8
"Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor..."
Zacchaeus was a tax collector—a wealthy, corrupt businessman. But when he encountered Jesus, everything changed. He climbed a tree just to see Him. And when Jesus noticed him, Zacchaeus responded by publicly repenting and changing the way he did business.
He didn’t just confess with his mouth—he made it right with his money.
Faith isn’t real until it reaches your workplace.
Maybe you’re not perfect (none of us are), but like Zacchaeus, you can say, “I’m not going to live for money or status anymore. I want to honor God in how I work, how I lead, how I do business.”
My dad was like that. He was a used car dealer—he wasn’t perfect, but after he gave his life to Christ, he went back and repaid people he’d cheated. He wrote the names of people he led to Christ in his Bible. He stood for Jesus at work, and people noticed.
The Challenge
So here’s the big question:
Men—will you stand?
Like Joshua, will you stand before your peers and declare your loyalty to God?
Like Abraham, will you lead your family even when it's hard?
Like Joseph, will you resist temptation with integrity?
Like Zacchaeus, will you let your faith shape your career and influence?
At the end of the day, God’s not looking for perfect men—He’s looking for willing ones.
Let this Father’s Day be more than a celebration—let it be a commitment.
Will you take a stand?
