Father's Day sermon - Lessons from Andy Griffith.

1. What Fathers can Learn
from Andy Griffith
Today is
Father's Day.
Let's talk about
some things we
can learn from
this TV father.

2. Andy Griffith Show
●
Even if you were not born then, you have seen the re-
runs of Andy Griffith. There were 249 episodes which
ran from 1960 to 1968.
●
Today we can watch this show and be reminded that
there is some value in the old ways.
●
God calls men to the “old paths” - Jeremiah 6:16a
Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, And
ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk
in it.

3. 1 – Take their rightful place
●
Remember the episode where the older boy taught
Opie how to throw a temper tantrum to get his way?
But Andy did not buy it.
●
Fathers must not be manipulated by the child
●
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your
children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and
admonition of the Lord.
●
Part of the training is to “honor father and mother”
(Exodus 20:12)

4. 2 – You don't have to be filthy
●
Today many shows use filth, profanity, vulgarity and
immorality for their humor.
●
You can be a father without the filth
●
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of
your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification,
that it may impart grace to the hearers.
●
Ephesians 5:3-4 3 But fornication and all uncleanness
or covetousness, let it not even be named among you,
as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks.

5. 2 – You don't have to be filthy
●
Matthew 12:34-37 34 Brood of vipers! How can
you, being evil, speak good things? For out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth good things, and an evil man
out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men
may speak, they will give account of it in the
day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will
be justified, and by your words you will be
condemned."

6. 3 – Integrity matters
●
Andy Griffith tried to do the right thing, live with
integrity.
●
Job lived with integrity.
●
Job 2:3 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have
you considered My servant Job, that there is
none like him on the earth, a blameless and
upright man, one who fears God and shuns
evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity,
although you incited Me against him, to destroy
him without cause."

7. 3 – Integrity matters
●
Job 27:5 Far be it from me That I should
say you are right; Till I die I will not put
away my integrity from me.
●
Not many examples like that on TV today.
●
Our name (reputation) must be earned.
●
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be
chosen rather than great riches, Loving
favor rather than silver and gold.

8. 4 – Don't think too highly of self
●
Andy Griffith was humble.
●
Big city police would need Andy's help. But
Andy was not arrogant or boastful.
●
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace
given to me, to everyone who is among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has
dealt to each one a measure of faith.
●
James 4:6b Therefore He says: "God resists
the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

9. 5 – Respect is better than fear
●
Andy didn't carry a gun. “When a man carries a
gun all the time, the respect he's getting might
really be fear. So I don't carry a gun because I
don't want the people of Mayberry to fear a gun.
I'd rather they respect me.”
●
God must be respected because of His great
love for us.
●
God must be feared because of his power and
might.

10. 5 – Respect is better than fear
●
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His
commandments, For this is man's all.
●
The lesson of respect must be learned by:
– Those in government and all in authority
– Christians
– Preachers and elders
– Fathers and mothers

11. I Miss Mayberry
●
Song by Rascal Flatts
●
As you look at TV and see movies today
many of these things are missing.
●
We can't unwind the clock of time
●
But we can still ask for the old paths.
●
They are still available today.

12. Ask for the old paths
●
Jeremiah 6:16a Thus says the
Lord: "Stand in the ways and
see, And ask for the old paths,
where the good way is, And
walk in it.