Fathers and Sons: Forgiveness, Peace, and True Value

Welcome back to the podcast, men! Today, we're continuing our "Fathers and Sons" series, talking about forgiveness, peace, and teaching our sons where to find their true value.

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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.

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Raising Sons: Forgiveness, Peace, and True Value

Raising godly sons isn’t just about teaching discipline and work ethic—it’s also about shaping their hearts. In this conversation, we explore three essential values every dad should intentionally pass on to his sons: forgiveness, peacemaking, and knowing their true source of value. These character traits don’t just happen—they’re modeled, discussed, and prayed over.

1. Teaching Forgiveness: Give It and Receive It

One of the most powerful lessons we can give our sons is the ability to both ask for forgiveness and offer it to others. Paul encourages believers to "make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you" (Colossians 3:13 NLT). That means we need to expect that others will let us down—and decide ahead of time to respond with grace.

• Forgiveness starts with us. Model it by saying, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you”—not “It’s okay.” Sin is never “okay,” but it is forgivable.
• Own your mistakes. There's nothing weak about asking for forgiveness. It shows maturity, strength, and humility. Some of the most memorable moments with your kids might be the ones where you admit you blew it.
• Forgive freely. Whether or not someone apologizes, we forgive because Jesus forgave us first (Ephesians 4:32). Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and restlessness (Matthew 6:14-15), and that’s not the kind of legacy we want to pass down.

2. Raising Peacemakers in a Divided World

Jesus said, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 NLT). In today’s world of constant division and outrage, men of peace are desperately needed—in homes, churches, and workplaces.

• Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean compromising truth. It means doing everything possible to maintain healthy, godly relationships.
• Train your sons to be good listeners. Teach them to practice reflective listening and avoid always preparing their rebuttal.
• Reconciliation starts with us. Especially in marriage, encourage your sons to be the ones who lead with humility and take the first step toward peace.
• At our church, one of our core values is: We work hard at healthy relationships. We assume the best about one another. That’s a value worth passing on.

3. Helping Sons Know Their True Value

The world tries to convince our sons that their worth is tied to what they earn, own, or accomplish. But Jesus points us to a different standard:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth... Store your treasures in heaven…...