There's an old song by a music artist named Toby Mac that's entitled "Lose My Soul." The chorus of the song is rooted in Mark 8:36 and declares: "I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul." The song's verses go on to take the ideas from Mark 8:34-38 and do a beautiful job of explaining the concept of taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus and hold tightly to a personal relationship with Him. For those who are curious, click here to see a video of the song.
Men, especially fathers, are battered with the cultural idea that chasing after the things of this world and acquiring the newest, best, and biggest is what life is all about. There's a unique stress that they face as the family provider and protector and meeting every need (and sometimes wants) that can leave them feeling like a failure if they aren't able to make things happen. But it's only Jesus who can do this perfectly. That being said, the things of this world pale in comparison to the importance of healthy relationships within the family. Dads are important. They matter -- especially for the emotional and spiritual well-being of their family.
A ministry called Manhood Journey asked 6000 men to complete a questionnaire called Godly Father Assessment, according to the Christian Newswire. The questionnaire found the following information regarding the way Christian dads are living out their faith at home:
• 83% of Christian fathers do not pray regularly with their families.
• 42% read the Bible only occasionally.
• Nearly 80% lack accountability relationships.
• Over 75% do not discuss Scripture regularly with their children.
• Almost 40% do not serve in their local church.
Here are 5 ways the church can come alongside dads and help them in the challenging task of fatherhood.
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1. Provide Mentors for Young Dads to Share Wisdom
1. Provide Mentors for Young Dads to Share Wisdom
Not everyone comes from a Christian home. And a young, first-generation Christian dad likely has a tougher task in front of him than a young dad who had the benefit of living with a good example. USA Today notes that 41 percent of first marriages end in divorce. That statistic is even higher for second and third marriages. Therefore, the wisdom and knowledge of those who have managed to figure out how to work out their differences and stay together is desperately needed. Older married men need to make themselves available to mentor younger men. This could be done through one-on-one mentoring, a weekend church seminar in which the older men are invited to share their knowledge and wisdom, or a small group that's facilitated by an older man in which the group is going through study material about fathering and marriage.
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2. Equip Fathers with Resources for Leading Their Families Well
2. Equip Fathers with Resources for Leading Their Families Well
There are a lot of great ministries out there with wonderfully insightful material that's aimed at helping men become better fathers and husbands. Focus on the Family has some excellent resources in the form of books, blogs, podcasts and more.
Another great ministry to pull from for resources is Family Life Today. This ministry also has some great resources for stepparents and navigating the challenges of blended families.
A third ministry, Manhood Journey, offers churches an incredible library of resources, including four video-based courses, father-son Bible studies, and customizable fatherhood events. Additional information can be found at Manhood Journey Sharing Tools.
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3. Promote Marriage Retreats That Fortify Strong Family Foundations
3. Promote Marriage Retreats That Fortify Strong Family Foundations
Strong marriages are important to the health of a family and raising children. Marriage retreats can be a great way to encourage husbands and wives to gain new insights to strengthen their marriage and family. Some really great ones to consider include Weekend to Remember, New Life Ministries Intimacy in Marriage Weekend, and Hope Restored.
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4. Create Opportunities for Men to Build Deep, Faith-Filled Friendships
4. Create Opportunities for Men to Build Deep, Faith-Filled Friendships
Men usually have a harder time building deep and meaningful friendships than women do. So the church may want to consider organizing multiple events over the course of a year in which dads can come together and just fellowship together. A few ideas include a camping outing that provides for hanging out around a bonfire and enjoying a cookout, a day-long hiking trip to a state park, a sporting event, or perhaps a visit to a museum followed by dinner afterwards.
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5. Inspire Family Devotional Time to Leave Lasting Spiritual Legacy
5. Inspire Family Devotional Time to Leave Lasting Spiritual Legacy
Perhaps one of the most challenging tasks for a dad is to try to have a family devotional time with the family. The father is supposed to be the spiritual leader in the home, encouraging the family to attend church, spend time in the word, and encourage kids to attend youth group. Family devotionals are an important way to leave a legacy for the kids and even plant the seeds to lead them to Christ. Focus on the Family suggests starting with an object lesson that can be tied to a spiritual principle. Of course, family devotions are going to change and deepen as the kids grow. Focus on the Family also offers a "Devotions on the Go" devotional that can work really well for busy families, allowing for devotionals to be done while traveling in the car.
Our Daily Bread offers a Family Bible Devotional that includes 52 short Bible readings and ties them in with open-ended discussion questions. The questions help facilitate discussion about the Bible and the way the Bible applies to life.
Another family devotional to consider is Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family.
This book includes a Bible reading, devotional thoughts, meditations, and discussion questions.
For those who are able to get the family together for meal times (or maybe a bed time snack time), Dinner Table Devotions offers one year of devotions that a family can share together.
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Originally published June 03, 2025.
