Expertise vs. Experience
Old Guys Know.
Today, more than 120 men gathered to glean wisdom from over a century of combined fatherly and grandfatherly experience. Kingdom Dads hosted a powerful event for fathers and sons, centered around one simple but profound goal: learn from those who’ve walked the road ahead of us.
Three “sages”—seasoned leaders of businesses, ministries, churches, and, most importantly, families, shared from the well of their lives. What stood out most wasn’t their expertise, but their experience.
So often, when we attend panels or conferences, the draw is someone's niche expertise. And that’s valuable. Tactical insights matter. But when it comes to fatherhood, there isn’t a formula. No manual can tell you how to handle the curveballs that come with raising a family. There's no perfect calendar to balance work and family, no app to pre-program intentional moments of love, correction, or legacy.
Because God didn’t make robots. He made people. And each one of us is different. Different kids. Different parents. Different stories.
That’s why experience matters so deeply.
Being a dad is about leadership. And leadership is best learned not just from theory, but from those who have lived it well.
Here were the three biggest takeaways from today’s panel:
1. “You will never have more energy than you have today.” – Sam Koon
The point? Invest now. Take the time now. Have the conversations that matter, while you still can. Be playful, be present, be all-in.
As life progresses, our children’s energy drifts toward their own pursuits—and ours naturally fades. Sam reminded us: don’t wait to engage. Today is the most powerful day you have.
2. “Family Together Nights.” – Doug Franck
Doug shared a brilliant tradition—nights set aside with one goal: be together.
No distractions. Just games, cooking, dinner, and conversation. One idea especially stood out: he’d sneak hand-written questions under each kid’s dinner plate. During dinner, they’d reveal and answer them as a family.
Simple. Intentional. Unforgettable.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s connection.
3. “You cannot lead farther than you’ve gone.” – Tyler Flynn
Tyler, a pastor of nearly 30 years, has preached thousands of sermons. But what mattered most wasn’t his ministry—it was that his family never took second place.
He shared a recent story of walking through a health crisis with his wife. A brush with death that tested everything. Through it, their children and grandchildren witnessed living faith. Unshakable trust.
Tyler’s challenge was simple but strong: keep pursuing Jesus daily. Your spiritual growth isn’t just for you—it becomes a path others can follow.
Experience vs. Expertise
Both matter. Sometimes we need laser-focused advice to solve a specific problem. Other times, we need a wide-lens perspective to navigate something as sacred and nuanced as raising a child.
Today, we were blessed by experience.
And I believe every man in that room left changed. Sharpened. Strengthened. Inspired.
Not just to become better fathers—but to become better Kingdom Dads.
-Mark
