

Mission Focused Men for Christ
Gary Yagel
This 20-minute weekly podcast is for Christian men who want to hear, “Well done,” from Jesus, after running the race marked out for them. Its goals are to: 1) EQUIP men to better understand from Scripture their mission, 2) ENCOURAGE men because we fail often, 3) ENERGIZE men because our spiritual tank is often on "empty," 4) EMPOWER men to stay focused on honoring Christ with their lives. The podcast presenter, Dr. Gary Yagel, is known for his practical biblical teaching and encouraging heart. A former church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America, Gary is the founder and Executive Director of Forging Bonds of Brotherhood. He is the author of Got Your Back, and Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, (available on Amazon) and has taught Making Missional Disciples as a guest professor at Reformed Theological Seminary DC. For further information about Gary’s ministry, go to forgingbonds.org or gotyourback.info.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 4, 2026 • 26min
Qualities of a Leader Others Will Follow
Summary: As we return to our pre-Christmas study of I Timothy, we come to chapter three, where Paul lays out the qualifications to serve as an elder in the church. In doing so, he gives us a portrait of not only the character required for spiritual leadership, but of leadership that even the secular world acknowledges attracts followers. For Further Prayerful Thought:How does Paul’s insistence that fulfilling a spiritual leadership position is a “noble task” affect your perspective about such positions?How can we better remember that fulfilling the leadership positions assigned to us by Jesus with excellence brings honor to Him?Which of the six virtues most stood out to you 1) above reproach, 2) a one-woman man, 3) sober-minded, 4) self-controlled, 5) exhibiting an ordered life, 6) demonstrating love for the outsider.Which of the above six do you most need to focus upon building? For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Dec 28, 2025 • 29min
Re-Energized to Use Prayer as a Weapon in 2026
Episode Summary: One of the habits of Jesus that is often overlooked, but extremely powerful is his habit of regularly withdrawing to a secluded place to intercede for his loved ones. This episode investigates the biblical evidence for believing Satan cannot stand against prayer made in Jesus’ name for the growth of kingdom righteousness in our own hearts and over the earth. For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Dec 21, 2025 • 29min
Why Jesus' Title PRINCE OF PEACE Is Both Encouraging & Challenging
Episode Summary. If you are disheartened, battered, discouraged or weary from fighting the good fight because of all the heartache and spiritual bruising my hope is that this episode will give such a clear picture of the colossal triumph of Messiah Jesus—and our part in that victory, that in some small way the pain is lessened, because we GRASP the ENORMITY of our WIN. For Further Prayerful ThoughtHow does Jesus’ title Prince of Peace reinforce the truth that the gospel has four chapters, creation, fall, redemption, restoration and not just two, fall and redemption?What stood out to you about the meaning of the Hebrew word, shalom? Why would it be biblical to say that shalom is the answer to all the levels of poverty in the world?Why would you support the argument that one of the highest callings of Christians is to spread the kingdom of righteousness in their vocations?What aspects of kingdom righteousness in the workplace stood out to you?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Dec 15, 2025 • 27min
Why Jesus’ Messianic Title Everlasting Father Matters Corrected
Episode Summary. In producing this episode we inadvertently uploaded a Dec 14th episode from a past December 14th, not 2025. This is the corrected version recorded two days ago. Sometimes a single word can be loaded with meaning: Mom, Dad, Darling, Champion, Failure. Single words can be so important that Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As we continue our series on the titles of Messiah Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, both of words that make up this title are loaded with a wealth of meaning, encouragement, and hope. The title is EVERLASTING FATHER.For Further Prayerful ThoughtWhat are the differences that a person would normally have in his relationship with his king and his father? Is it overstating the case to say that Christianity is best summarized by saying that Christ did to pay for our sins so that the guilt that blocks us from a relationship with the Holy One of Israel could be removed so that we can have an eternal personal relationship with him?Why would a compassionate leader be easier to follow than one who is not?What is the worst part of being a vessel that Jesus the Potter is cutting into? What is the best part?How would you persuade a non-believer that holding the opinion that Jesus was a great teacher is logically untenable?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Dec 14, 2025 • 24min
Why Jesus' Messianic Title EVERLASTING FATHER Matters
Episode Summary. Sometimes a single word can be loaded with meaning: Mom, Dad, Darling, Champion, Failure. Single words can be so important that Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As we continue our series on the titles of Messiah Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, both of words that make up this title are loaded with a wealth of meaning, encouragement, and hope. The title is EVERLASTING FATHER.For Further Prayerful ThoughtWhat are the differences that a person would normally have in his relationship with his king and his father?Is it overstating the case to say that Christianity is best summarized by saying that Christ did to pay for our sins so that the guilt that blocks us from a relationship with the Holy One of Israel could be removed so that we can have an eternal personal relationship with him?Why would a compassionate leader be easier to follow than one who is not?What is the worst part of being a vessel that Jesus the Potter is cutting into? What is the best part?How would you persuade a non-believer that holding the opinion that Jesus was a great teacher is logically untenable?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Dec 7, 2025 • 28min
Why It Matters That Our Messiah Is the Mighty God
Episode Summary. Why did the long-awaited Messiah of Israel have to be the MIGHTY GOD—and what does that title mean for our everyday walk with Jesus today? That is the topic of today’s episode.For Further Prayerful ThoughtHow would you support the idea that the overall teaching of the OT is that the real oppression of Israel was done by foreign military powers but by SIN? Why might this point to the fact that the deliverer would have to be God, himself?Paul commanded Christ-followers to abhor evil. What stood out to you in this episode about the awfulness of sin?When it comes to being strong in the Lord and the strength of his might, which aspects of appropriating Christ’s power to fight spiritually stood out to you?Which piece of spiritual armor do you most need to start putting on?How does the depth of evil to be driven out by prayer motivate us to persevere in prayer? Resources Mentioned in Today’s PodcastCheck 6 Wallet Card comes in a 5 PackThe Check 6 tool is designed to go with the book, Got Your Back: Helping Christian Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need.For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Nov 30, 2025 • 27min
Delighting in Jesus The Wonderful Counselor
Episode Summary. For the next four weeks, our focus is on the first and most foundational part of our mission—deepening our love relationship with Christ. We will do this by zooming the camera in on four titles of Jesus given in the Isaiah 9 prophecy of the coming Messiah Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What do these titles tell us about Jesus and what difference these descriptions of our Commander in Chief make in our everyday lives? This episode examines Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.For Further Prayerful ThoughtDo you agree or disagree that every man has a little of Pat Tillman in him—a capacity to be inspired by a great mission.How would you argue that the most foundational part of our mission as Christ-followers to deepen our love relationship with Jesus?What stood out to you as take aways from the truth revealed to us by God the Jesus the Messiah would be the Wonderful Counselor?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Nov 23, 2025 • 30min
Is Critical Theory Corrupting Our View of I.C.E. and Gender
Episode Summary: Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. This episode examines the impact of critical theory aka cultural Marxism, upon some Christians' thinking today in their view of ICE, law-enforcement, and gender roles. For Further Prayerful Thought:How does “cultural Marxism” sound like what you’ve heard about (economic), i.e. regular Marxism?If justice means there must be no disparities of money, ability, or power in society, why does it logically follow that the “have nots” will be hostile to the “haves?” Why might they be able to justify a revolution as Mao did in China?Why would it be tragic if the legitimate enforcement of the law were seen as authoritarianism? Knowing that holders of authority can and do use it unjustly, why do you think God takes such a strong stand (in Rom 13 and I Pet 2) requiring Christians to obey authority.What do you think of the argument that the biblical teaching about gender roles and church leadership is so clear that to deny it strongly suggests Christians are being shaped by culture and not Scripture? For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Nov 16, 2025 • 30min
Answering the Call to Fight
Episode Summary: As the Apostle Paul issues a direct charge to his young protégé, Timothy, the charge is not, “preach the Word,” “preach grace and not the law,” “care for those under your care,” or even “be faithful to your call.” His charge is to fight the good fight. This episode explains what Paul means by this and practically speaking how Christian men today can answer this call to fight for those under their care. For Further Prayerful Thought:If I am called to fight the good fight for those God has sovereignly place around me, and I desert from the battle line, what does it mean for those I’m called to fight for?How does Paul’s statement that God desires humans to be saved from sin and come to a knowledge of the truth related to Jesus’ teaching that we are to seek to dispel the kingdom of evil and darkness from our lives and the world and replace it with the righteousness and light of his kingdom?Why battle for people to see truth?Why are a good conscience and faith prerequisites for successful fighting?How might the things we ask for in prayer for ourselves and others, be impacted by realizing that the good fight is for the fruit of righteousness to be formed in us and others as well as for Satan’s lies to be torn down? For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Nov 9, 2025 • 30min
Is Devotion to God's Law Legalism?
Episode Summary: In Psalm 119:97, David cries out, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” But Paul wrote to the Romans, “You are not under law but under grace,” (6:14) and to the Galatians, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (5:18). So, for Christians, which is it? Are we called to live free from the Law or devoted to the Law? As we continue our study of I Timothy we realize that the question of the place of the law for Christians was an issue that Timothy and other church leaders at Ephesus were wrestling with. This episode examines what Paul said to Timothy as well as what the rest of Scripture says about whether a believer should try to be righteous, i.e. keep the law.For Further Prayerful Thought:How would try to explain to a new believer that when Paul said that Christians don’t live “under the law” he was referring to how we are SAVED, not how we are TO LIVE.What stood out to you about the three categories of biblical law?Look back at the 8 texts and reasons that pursuing righteousness is NOT legalism. Which ones seemed most persuasive to you.In David’s Psalm 119 cry, “O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” why might he associate loving God’s law with meditating on it?For the printed version of this message click here.For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)


