Good, Bad, No Dad?
A Biblical Reflection on the Father Deficit in Contemporary Society
"Fatherlessness matters because it is such a big issue in Britain and around the world."
"At the heart of the Bible is the message that God is Father."
There are no quick fixes for Fatherlessness. For those who feel hopeless because of their experiences, this book points to the hope and help found in the God of the Bible, the perfect Father to the fatherless.
What Does this Book have to Say about Fatherlessness?
Those who experience Fatherlessness know it is like a constant shadow cast over the whole of life. Fatherless people can feel a lasting wound in their lives and may experience an identity crisis that robs them of significance and security. They lack a blueprint for manhood, relationships, and parenthood. It forms a deficit in human society.
This book explores various forms of fatherlessness and seeks to hear what the Bible says about human fathers and God the Father. The book opens a window on what it feels like to be fatherless through a range of personal stories, including that of the author.
There is also a challenge for churches to consider how they can better care for the fatherless. There are no quick fixes for fatherlessness and the gaping hole it leaves in our society, but this book shows how the gospel can transform relationships. For those who feel hopeless because of their experiences, this book points to the hope and help found in the God of the Bible, the perfect Father to the fatherless.
Are You Dealing with Fatherlessness in Pastoral Ministry?
On 10/03/25 a free companion resource to Good, Bad, No Dad? containing two shorter texts: Preaching with Fatherlessness in the Rear-View Mirror and Applying the Principles: Sermon on Luke 11:1–13 ~ There’s More! will be available for download.
What are the issues that may affect how we preach about fatherlessness or the fatherhood of God? What are some helpful guidelines for preaching sensitively on this issue? What does this look like in practice? See how John Woods, author of Good, Bad, No Dad? and experienced in pastoral ministry and in training preachers, addresses these questions in this valuable companion resource.
About the Author: John Woods
John is married to Anne who is a nurse and they have three grown-up children and four grandchildren.
He is an East Anglian, growing up there, becoming a Christian, and serving for fifteen years in his first pastorate in Suffolk before moving to serve in West Sussex from 1997 until 2020. For more than a quarter of a century, John has also had close links with the Baltic state of Latvia, where he is involved in teaching preachers at the Latvian Biblical Centre, and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors