More Than Socks: Making Father’s Day Count for Discipleship
I still remember the Father’s Day when our church handed out fun dress sock’s for Fathers Day. It was a nice gesture, but as I watched men file out after service, socks in hand, I couldn’t shake the feeling we’d missed something bigger. These weren’t just dads needing recognition—they were men hungry for direction, drowning in the weight of raising kids in a broken world, wondering if they had what it takes to lead their families well. That’s when it hit me: Father’s Day isn’t just about celebrating dads. It’s about calling them up. The Gap Between Recognition and Transformation Most churches treat Father’s Day like Mother’s Day’s awkward cousin—a necessary acknowledgment that feels obligatory rather than transformational. We give the nod, share the stats about fatherlessness, maybe tell a heartwarming story, and move on. But what if we’re sitting on one of the year’s greatest discipleship opportunities? The men in your congregation aren’t just waiting for applause. They’re wrestling with questions that keep them up at 2 AM: Am I screwing up my kids? How do I lead when I feel lost myself? What does biblical fatherhood even look like when my own dad wasn’t around? These aren’t surface-level concerns that a pat on the back can address. They’re soul-deep longings for biblical mentorship, authentic community, and practical wisdom. Father’s Day gives you permission to speak directly into this hunger. Five Ways to Transform Recognition into Discipleship 1. Preach to Their Hearts, Not Just Their Roles Skip the generic “fathers are important” sermon. Instead, look these men in the eye and speak to their fears. Acknowledge that fatherhood often feels like flying blind. Share how the gospel meets them in their failures—not with condemnation, but with the grace that empowers change. Tell the story of the dad who thought he’d ruined everything when his teenage son walked away from faith, only to watch God redeem their relationship five years later. Talk about the single mom in your church who’s also carrying the father role, and how the church family steps in. Make it real, make it hopeful, make it about God’s faithfulness in the mess. End with an invitation, not an illustration. “If you walked in here today feeling like you’re failing as a dad, I want to talk with you after service. Better yet, I want to connect you with other men who’ve been where you are.” 2. Launch Something That Lasts Use Father’s Day as the launching pad for a summer men’s initiative—not another Bible study that fizzles by August, but something designed for busy, skeptical men who are tired of surface-level spiritual conversations. A great resource is from author Pat Morley, whose books have helped Men’s Ministry leaders for over 25 years. His Man in the Mirror bible study speaks to those late night questions dad’s have, and it provides the teaching for you. I personally know many church leaders who have used this resource to launch new Men’s Bible studies in their church. Keep it early morning (6 AM works for many dads), keep it honest, and keep it practical. Men will show up for authenticity faster than they’ll show up for another theological deep-dive. 3. Create a Challenge Worth Accepting Instead of asking dads to add more to their plates, give them a focused 21-day challenge that integrates into life they’re already living: Week 1: Listen FirstBefore offering advice or correction, spend 30 seconds really listening to your kids. Ask one follow-up question that shows you heard them. Week 2: Share Your StoryTell your kids about a time you failed and what you learned. Let them see that growing up never stops. Week 3: Pray Out LoudPray with your kids before meals, bedtime, or car rides. Don’t worry about eloquence—just talk to God like He’s listening. Text daily reminders and weekly encouragement. Create a private Facebook group where dads can share wins and ask for prayer. Make it easy to succeed and normal to struggle. 4. Mobilize Fathers and Children Together Plan a quarterly “Dad & Me” service project that gets fathers and kids working side by side. Not complicated—raking leaves for elderly church members, assembling hygiene kits for the homeless, or helping another family move. Discipleship happens naturally when hands are busy and hearts are engaged. Kids see their dads serving others, dads experience the joy of generosity alongside their children, and the church benefits from engaged families living out their faith. 5. Equip with Tools That Actually Get Used Forget the lengthy reading lists. Curate resources that fit into a dad’s real life: Hand these out on Father’s Day, but also text them throughout the summer. Make spiritual leadership feel accessible, not overwhelming. The Long Game Here’s what I’ve learned after watching this approach work in multiple church contexts: fathers don’t need more shame about not measuring up. They need vision for who they could become and a community to help them get there. The dad who feels like he’s failing needs to hear that God specializes in using imperfect fathers. The man who grew up without a dad needs other men to show him what biblical fatherhood looks like. The father whose kids are grown needs opportunities to mentor younger dads walking the path he’s already traveled. Father’s Day can be the moment you stop talking about dads and start talking to them. Stop celebrating their role and start calling out their potential. Stop giving them gifts and start giving them what they really need: biblical community, practical wisdom, and the encouragement to keep growing. Your Next Step Before this Sunday, choose one thing—just one—that your church will do to help fathers go deeper than they are today. Maybe it’s changing how you pray for fathers during the service. Maybe it’s announcing the summer men’s group you’ve been considering. Maybe it’s simply making time after service to have real conversations with the dads who need encouragement. The men in your church are already fathers. The question is: will you help them become the fathers their
