Head, Priest, Husband, Father: God's Four Roles for the Man at Home

Sermon outline

God has made the man the head, priest, husband and father of his home, and he fulfils those roles by becoming like Christ: serving, interceding, loving his wife as Christ loved the church and being a ladder his children can climb to the Father above.

1. God's chain of command in the home

   Paul sets out the order God, Christ, man, woman and children, and being the head carries great responsibility. A married man is the priest of his home, leading his wife, children and extended family. Satan knows this order and looks for a door when it is not kept, because he wants to destroy the home, but Christ came to give abundant life.

   “If you are married, understand that you are the priest of your house.”

   • 1 Corinthians 11:3
   • John 10:10

2. Number one: he is the head of the home, like Christ

   The head is not a dictator ruling with a rod of iron or living to please himself; he must be like Christ, giving his family the love of God that has been poured into his heart. Christ is the Saviour of the church, laid down His life for it, cares for it, serves it rather than lording over it, and makes wise decisions for it through scripture. In the same way a man provides for and protects his family, serves, and makes wise decisions led by the Word and the Holy Spirit.

   Illustration: Children are watching how their parents praise, study the Bible and pray, and one day they will say their grandpa taught them to pray, go to church, tithe and worship.

   “Man must not be like that. Man must be like Christ.”

   • Romans 5:5
   • Ephesians 5:23
   • Acts 20:28
   • John 15:13
   • Ephesians 5:29
   • John 11:35
   • Romans 5:20
   • Matthew 20:25-28

3. Number two: he is the priest of the home

   Jesus is our perfect example as the great intercessor at the Father's right hand, and fathers can likewise intercede for their families. Family members will not always see eye to eye, but a godly father looks at decisions and people through God's eyes, and his intercession brings grace that keeps and sanctifies his family. Many South African men grew up without fathers as role models because the system kept fathers away from home, so this role is vital.

   Illustration: He grew up without a dad and Pastor Zubeda grew up without a mom, yet God has made them a father and a mother to so many. They hoped for a boy and a girl and had two boys, but God has given him many daughters and mothers in the church.

   “You may not be perfect, but you are the priest of your home.”

   • Hebrews 7:25

4. Number three: he is the husband of the home

   A husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church and as his own body, which means caring for, providing for and protecting her and never hurting her on purpose. You cannot change your spouse's personality; where one is weak the other is strong, so a married couple is a team that complements rather than competes. A woman needs to know she is loved, and a husband must learn to honour his wife, the theme he plans to preach on Sunday.

   Illustration: The world says the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but loving a wife is not just about food.

   “We are not in competition with each other.”

   • Ephesians 5:25
   • Ephesians 5:28

5. Number four: he is the father of the home

   God is the true Father from eternity to eternity and made us image bearers who copy Him by reading, studying and doing His Word. A father should be a ladder his children can climb to the Father above, and he should want them to outdo him. Every decision a father makes is for the generations to follow.

   “The father should become a ladder by which a child can climb to the father above.”

   • Genesis 1:27
   • James 1:22