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.--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. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected] Now --Raising Sons: Forgiveness, Peace, and True ValueRaising 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 ItOne 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 WorldJesus 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 ValueThe 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… Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)“You cannot serve both God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24 NLT)Hard work is good, and we should absolutely teach our sons to value it. But career, money, and possessions can easily become idols.Help them resist materialism. Talk about wise stewardship, avoiding debt, and aligning financial habits with biblical values.Value comes from Christ. Build their identity in who they are in Jesus—not in what they own or how much they make.These aren’t just nice ideas—they’re kingdom values. And if we want our sons to live them out, we need to plant them early and water them often.