Great Parenting
June 15, 2025
Pastor Jim Danielson
Opening Illustration
Father will be angry.
Introduction
Fathers, yes sometimes they get angry…but always for a good reason. Right dads? Or so we think. What makes a good dad? It’s as simple as just showing up and being there to shape and guide children…oh, and loving them and their moms.
Three Attributes of Great Parenting
1. Great parenting brings its needs to Jesus.
“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid.” Mark 9:15-18
Jesus had just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration and there was a crowd waiting for Him. In the crowd was a father and his demon-oppressed son. This demon continuously tormented his son and he was worn out trying to keep his son alive from the demon’s abuse.
Luke describes the father’s weariness in that moment.
“Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” Luke 9:38-40
His son was his only child. How he could endure such nonstop torment of a child is hard to fathom. He was like the woman who suffered for twelve years and only got worse.
“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” Mark 5:25-26
We face difficult moments as parents in raising our children. We do our best, but we make mistakes. This father cared deeply for his son but he felt helpless, yet he never gave up.
When you face trials that come your way, what do you do? Do you face them in your own strength? Or do you bring them to Jesus? Let me encourage you to bring them to Jesus as your first option, not your second, third or last.
Illustration
Team Hoyt
2. Great parenting asks for help when needed.
“I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.” Mark 9:18b-20
This father asked for help from Jesus’ disciples, but they couldn’t help him. Their faith was weak, and they were powerless in Jesus’ absence.
When Jesus said, “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? He was speaking primarily to His disciples. The cause of their inability to cast out the demon was their failure to believe. Some translations have, “O unbelieving generation” The letter “O”, expresses the pain Jesus experienced because of their weak faith.
After all the time they spent with Him, their lack of trust was inexcusable. Their faith was shallow while this father’s faith, though weak itself, brought him to Jesus to ask for help.
How hard is it for you to ask for help? Many men are of the John Wayne school of manhood. Be tough, independent and strong. But this isn’t what Jesus wants. He wants us to ask for His help. To admit we need Him and what He offers us.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10
It’s what Jairus did when he came to Jesus. He was a leader of the synagogue but at that moment, he was a desperate dad seeking help for his dying daughter. He came to Jesus as his last hope and he would not be disappointed.
“Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” Mark 5:22-23
Great parenting is willing to admit that you don’t have all the answers, you can’t solve the problem, so you’re willing to come to Him and give Him your burden that’s too heavy to bear.
Illustration
Asking Mr. Johnson for help.
3. Great parenting is honest with my weakness.
“Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:21-24
The weight of his desperation came out in his cry for help. “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. His son’s suffering was his suffering as he watched him get worse.
How. many parents have faced those pain-filled trials with their children. They’ve tried everything but the problem, the illness, the suffering continues, and the feeling of helplessness weighs heavy on our hearts.
When Jesus arrived, he begged and pleaded. “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. Jesus immediately focused on the father’s “if” clause. The question was not whether Jesus had the power to heal the boy but whether the father had faith to believe Jesus could. “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” The father responded with an honest declaration of faith. His faith was weak and he wanted more. “Help me overcome my unbelief!”
Each of us has our faith tested and we can admit that it isn’t as strong as we thought. Do you give up in those moments, or do you cry out to the Lord to for help? Like him, Jesus wants you to cry out, “help me overcome my unbelief.”
Jesus then did something that would strengthen his faith. He cast the demon out and gave the son back to his father.
“Jesus…rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” Mark 9:25-26
In this poignant moment, Jesus took the son by the hand, lifted him to his feet, and gave him back to his father, whole and healed. The father’s faith soared as he wrapped his arms around his son and wept for joy. Now, he truly believed in Jesus.
Closing Illustration
A winning father.
Thoughts to consider this week: Parenting 101
1. What is a favorite memory you have of your father? If your relationship with your father wasn’t so good, or non existent, what would you have liked to have had in that relationship?
2. Read Mark 9: 14-18. What had Jesus and His three disciples just experienced on the mountaintop? What had the father come hoping to happen? What did Jesus discover about His disciples who were arguing with the Pharisees? Why was the father disappointed with Jesus’ disciples? What could they have done differently? Have you ever experienced someone’s disappointment with your faith?
3. Read Mark 9: 19-24. Who was Jesus most upset with, His disciples, the crowd, the Pharisees? How did Jesus respond to the demon’s actions? How did His question to the father allow the father to respond? Why might the father have had doubts about Jesus’ ability to heal his son? When have you felt like the father? How does faith relate for you in those times? Do you ever doubt God’s ability to do something in your life? What can you do to strengthen your faith in God?
4. Read Mark 9:25-27. What did Jesus do to the demon? What did He do for the son? What did He do for the father? How do Jesus’ actions reveal His intense love for the father and his son? When have you experienced Jesus’ care and compassion? If you could take one truth from this story to apply to your life, what would it be? How can you live your life this week in the confident assurance that Jesus cares for you and will act on your behalf when you desperately seek Him and bring your needs to Him?
5. Pray for an honest faith to bring your deepest concerns to Jesus.
© 2025, Jim Danielson