Mission Focused Men for Christ

Episode Summary: A few years ago, while having lunch with a Marine Corps officer at Quantico, he said, “My 12- year-old daughter just told my wife and me that she is transgender. What do you think I should do?”  This episode answers the question, “As Christian men, how do we protect the rising generation from the harm they experience through gender confusion while, at the same time, sharing Christ’s love with those seeking to promote this the transgender delusion.”For Further Prayerful Thought: As you listened to the reasons, Gary wrote Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, which ones stood out most to you?What stood out to you about the birth and growth of the Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria that started since 2012?What would you say to a Christian father who said, “My kids are Christians. They need to learn about masculinity and femininity at church or youth group?”Which of the seven take-aways seems most relevant to you.Resource Used for this Episode:Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused CultureFor 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)

This is the fourth episode in our summer series, Meeting the Worldview Challenges in a Broken Culture, in which we repeat past episodes that are vital for men leading their families in 2023. This original episode was published on Easter Day of 2021. This summer we continue to experience an unprecedented assault upon God’s design of gender, with Christianity being blamed for adhering to so called “oppressive patriarchy” which, it is alleged leads to both toxic masculinity and the social construct of gender that says it is binary. This assault presents Christian men today with an unparalleled opportunity to show the glory of God’s original design of strong, self-sacrificing, protective MANHOOD while pointing to Jesus and his resurrection power as the only antidote to our masculine selfishness. This episode calls Christian men to show the world the glory of God’s design of manhood as it should be, because we know how to draw upon the same power at work in us that brought Jesus back from the grave. For Further Prayerful Thought: Why do you think Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians to understand immeasurable greatness of Christs power toward us who believe?Why do you think that many in our culture blame God’s design of male and females to be different for the evil inflicted on society by men instead of human sinful nature?Which part of the evidence for the resurrection did you find most compelling?Why do you think that when you have finished the race marked out for you and look back, having lived out God’s design of manhood will matter so much 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)

Summary: Many weary Christians are disheartened as they try to battle for truth in our culture. The thought crosses our minds, “Why battle for truth in a world that hates you? After all, Jesus was clear to his disciples, If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.Why bother trying to shape our culture’s thinking about gender by speaking up to combat Satan’s lies with the biblical worldview? Since the world hates us, why would they listen? Why don’t we just withdraw into our own Christian cocoon, and await Christ’s return? This episode addresses these questions.For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you explain the paradox that John commands us NOT to love the world, but in another sense, Christ-followers are to follow Jesus example who did love the world so much that he came into this world to fix everything broken by sin?What do you think are the 3 best reasons why Christians should not withdraw from the battle to shape culture?Why is it important to not think of non-Christians, secular schools or the social media as “the enemy?” 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)

Episode Summary: One of the arguments your family is hearing this summer is that the biblical teaching about gender and gender roles reflects the oppressive patriarchy of the OT culture as well as Paul’s patriarchal, abusive views of women. Paul and the OT, it is argued, also reflect unenlightened, culturally determined views of homosexuality as sinful and gender as binary. This argument is leading many of the rising generation down the path towards Progressive Christianity, which rejects so many biblical truths that it is not Christianity at all but a false religion. This episode explains why Christians trust the Bible as the inerrant, uncorrupted revelation of God to us—the God-breathed Word of God.   For Further Prayerful Thought: What would you say to someone who says, “I think it tells spiritual truth, but the events it records are not always real historical events”?How would you answer the objection, “We don’t even really know what the original writers of the Bible really said. Bible translations disagree”?What is your biggest doubt about whether the Bible is really God’s Word? 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)

Summary: Fighting words are words that arouse a visceral response in people, making their gut churn and their hands ball into fists. As we have all observed, in the past few years fighting words have been flying all over twitter and Facebook in the political clash over our nation’s future. This episode looks beneath this political fight to a deeper, even more significant war, the battle by which Christians are to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Christian men as leaders of their homes and churches are to lead the way in this fight. That is the reason for this current series, “Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth.” Today’s culture is marinated in the idea that tolerance is the highest virtue in the land. Therefore, Christ’s words, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by me are FIGHTING WORDS for many. Saying your religion is right and all the others are wrong is the epitome of intolerance. So, how do we help our loved ones survive this assault on their faith and winsomely challenge others to investigate the claims of Christ? That is today’s topic.For Further Prayerful Thought: Can you think of an instance when you heard the “Christianity is too narrow and intolerant argument?” What do you think are the hidden assumptions of those who say that?Which argument for Jesus claim to deity stood out most to you?Many in the culture believe Jesus was just a great moral teacher, even though a primary tenet of his teaching was his claim to be God. Why do you think Christians have not challenged them with Liar, Lunatic, Lord argument, when it is so logical? 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)

Summary: Historians tell us, Ideas have consequences. One idea that has invaded the human heart is responsible for more human destruction than any other idea—the falsehood that God’s goodness can’t be trusted. When this wrong idea captured Eve’s heart, she rebelled, Adam rebelled with her, and humans have been rebelling against God and his law ever since. Satan’s chief strategy to inspire rebellion in Eve’s heart was to make her doubt God’s goodness. Our calling as men is to “Surround our loved ones with the belt of truth,” which is the title of this podcast series. This episode helps our kids build confidence in the GOODNESS of God and in their ability to answer those who assert that suffering proves there can’t be a good God.For Further Prayerful Thought: Can you think of some recent times when the thought has jumped into your mind, “I can’t trust God’s goodness”? Why does logic not support the contention that human suffering proves there can’t be an all-powerful, all-good God? How can you best explain to those under your care that non-believers probably need to experience our compassion for their pain more than our explanation of how to reconcile that pain with the goodness of God?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)

Episode Summary:This episode is the first in the July and August series, Meeting the Worldview Challenges in a Broken Culture. It equips the rising generation to confidently respond to the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD argument.For Further Prayerful Thought: Which of the four arguments for the existence of God do you find most compelling? Which do you think has the power to be the most persuasive? What do you think of this idea: The reason for knowing the evidence for our faith is not give us the amo to fire a non-believers, but rather to fill us with confidence, so we can listen well to lost folks, asking good questions, and planting some wise seeds. 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)

Episode Summary. This episode gives four biblical foundations upon which a father needs to build his plan for training his child in the way he should go. For Further Prayerful Thought. How would you support the argument that the starting point for training a child is to help his heart learn to hate evil because he experiences painful consequences from bad choices and love righteousness because he experiences benefit from making good choices?In the portrait of eight character qualities that we must instill in our children, which ones stood out?What insight stood out in 4-step process of helping kids internalize the Word of God? Why do you think so many young parents are using the New City Catechism with their children?Is it overstating the case to say that dads who send their kids out into the secular world, after being cocooned in the Christian sub-culture with no training in worldviews, are sending out lambs to be slaughtered?Resources.Foundation # 1: Heart Trained by ConsequencesBoundaries with Kids, Henry Cloud & John TownsendRaising Great Kids, Cloud & TownsendFoundation # 2: Character Expressed in Godly AttitudesCharacter Development Training Plan (Pa 132 Focus Notebook)Foundation # 3: Word of God InternalizedThe New City Catechism CurriculumThe Topical Memory SystemFoundation # 4:  Biblical Worldview EmbracedThe Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims, Rebecca McLaughlinA Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, John Stonestreet & Brent KunkleMama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, Hillary Ferrer, Editor.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

Episode Summary. This episode gives seven ways that fathers and grandfathers can pour love into their kids to regularly replenish them with the unconditional love thar kids need.Special Fathers’ Day Note: More and more organizations are declaring June National Fatherhood Month. What would happen around our nation and the world if every Christian business owner had a sign in his window celebrating National Fatherhood Month that said, “Every kid needs a great dad,” or worker had such a plaque on his desk. I believe most businesses would love to celebrate FATHERHOOD in June a lot more than they enjoy being pushed into celebrating Gay Pride.  For Further Prayerful Thought.What stands out to you about Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly father?Looking back at your relationship with your father, which of his actions made you feel most loved and close to him?Of the seven ways to fill a child’s love tank as father or grandfather, which ones stood out to you the most?Moving forward as a granddad, dad, or future dad, which of the seven do you most want to not forget?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)

 Episode Summary. One of my favorite memories as a dad was the way my kids, if they were playing in the yard and saw me drive up, would run to greet me. That always made me think of Proverbs 17:6, the glory of children is their father. Fathers don’t deserve it, but God has designed into our children a natural tendency to admire and want time with us—despite our many imperfections. That is reassuring as we continue our series, “How God Uses Imperfect Men to Impact Their Kid’s Lives.” I can’t count how many times I have said to God, “If you need me to be a perfect dad to work in my kids lives, they are in deep weeds. Thank goodness you do NOT!” This episode looks at the starting point for parenting well, thinking biblically about what our goal is. For Further Prayerful Thought.How would you answer the question, “What is the goal of parenting?”What stood out to you about what Paul taught fathers about effective parenting in Ephesians 6:4?It has been argued that either parents teach their children self-control through a small degree of pain now for wrong behavior, or life will teach them self-control later through experiencing much greater pain for wrong behavior. Do you agree or disagree? How would you support your argument?How have you learned to take ownership—responsibility for your own feelings, attitudes, and behavior instead of blaming other people or circumstances? 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)