Mission Focused Men for Christ

Episode Summary: This June 19th episode, being both Juneteenth and Father’s Day gives us an opportunity first to consider the pain in the hearts of so many African Americans who live in our cities because of the increasing violence there and perhaps ponder what we can do to help decrease the fatherlessness that is at the root of the problems in our cities. It is also an opportunity to continue our June series, Loving Our Kids with the Fatherly Love of God, but examining the way God models teaching his children the way they should go.For Further Prayerful Thought What thoughts come to your mind as you think about the four biblical ways that God has ordained to restrain human evil mentioned, and the current crime wave in our cities?When you think about the biblical responsibility that Christian fathers have to teach our children the way they should go following the example of Joshua, David, and Solomon, what thoughts come into your mind? Our podcast wants to give a correct (big enough) vision of masculinity; but does this responsibility seem overwhelming?As you considered various starting places the podcast mentioned for where a father or grandfather might think through the content (curriculum) he needs to pass on, what thoughts came to mind? Resources in Today's PodcastLink to Character Development Training Plan PDF on My WebsiteLink to Children's Shorter Catechism.Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.This Week’s Past Episode Highlight:   Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20For 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.

Episode Summary: Both Solomon, and later the author of the book of Hebrews appeal to the obvious creation principle that they assume everyone knew in their era, loving fathers don’t allow their children to persist in selfish, wrong behavior; they discipline their children out of love for them. In our own day, a weird time in history when cultural voices are denying what every other culture in history has affirmed—that there are differences between fathers and mothers—it seems necessary examine this creation principle of fatherhood. It is also important because, today, so much child-rearing advice is rooted in a fear of stifling a child or harming his self-esteem instead of recognizing that by nature a child wants to be the center of the universe--dad giving him what he wants when he wants it, and the rest of the world catering to his wants and demands. This episode examines how fathers must protect their child from the child’s worst enemy, the main person who can ruin his life—HIMSELF, because he comes into this world with self-centered, sinful natureFor Further Prayerful ThoughtHow would you answer a husband who said, “My wife is so much better with the kids, I leave the discipline of the children to her?”How would you explain to someone that loving a child requires disciplining them but that letting them go their own ways is a form of hatred for them? Which of the 6 reasons parents don’t discipline their kids as well as they should stands out to you? Which of the 6 principles from Hebrews 12 for administering discipline that is like God’s discipline of us stood out most to you? Why do you think that is important?Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.This Week’s Past Episode Highlight:  Becoming Great Dads Who Discipline Their Kids WellFatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E #32 6/14/20Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E #34 6/28/20Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E #35 7/5/20Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E #36 7/12/20For 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.

Episode Summary:  The Apostle John gives us the secret to consistent, powerful, life-changing love for others. The man who knew Jesus the best wrote, “we love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). How do we fill our tanks so consistently with God’s love for us, that we have an abundance of it to lavish on those we care most about? That is the question we seek to answer in this episode.For Further Prayerful Thought How would you try to persuade a Christian friend that we need to take be taking regular big gulps of God’s love ourselves in order to be able to love our wife or kids consistently over the long haul? How can knowing that you are delighted in by God free you from being preoccupied with what others think?Which of the 5 ways to more fully abide in God’s love is the one you need most to focus on in the weeks ahead? This Week’s Resource Highlight:  Our Daughters and the Transgender Craze: Responding with Grace and Truth—48 page mini-book now in our bookstore. In 2018, my denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America published a book I wrote to equip parents and church leaders to celebrate God’s gender design while loving those in the LGBTQ life well. It was entitled, Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture: Helping Our Children Embrace Their Calling to Godly Manhood or Womanhood, and a special edition was published by D. James Kennedy Ministries.  Unfortunately, in the last 5 years since compiling the research for this book, there has been an unprecedented explosion in teen girls coming out as transgender, including many from our churches. These teen girls are experiencing a new category of transgender dysphoria never diagnosed in girls before 2007 called rapid-onset gender dysphoria. Our ministry put together this 48-page mini book to equip parents, grandparents, youth leaders, and elders to understand the world in which our daughters live, providing 1) a clear picture of what is happening, 2) biblical perspective on this phenomenon, 3) a strategy to reduce the likelihood that our own daughters or granddaughters will embrace a transgender identity, 4) practical suggestions for loving those in the LGBTQ life well, and 5) a game plan for being light to the secular world in the fields of pediatric medicine, public education, government policy, and women’s athletics. This 48-page mini book is only sold in our online store as a KEEP 1/GIVE 1 WAY TWO PACK, GRANDPARENTS FIVE PACK, or SMALL GROUP STUDY EIGHT PACK. This booklet overlaps about 95% with the material from last month’s May series Gloriously Feminine.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.

Episode Summary: The word, “discipleship,” causes most Christians to default to Matthew 28:19—Jesus’ great commission--Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. But the calling to disciple the nations doesn’t begin in the NT; it begins in the very first chapter of the Bible—in Genesis 1:28 where God said to Adam and Eve, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. From the beginning of creation, Adam and Eve were commissioned to disciple the developing nations, to subdue the earth, to shape the emerging culture according to God’s moral law written in their hearts as God’s vice-ruler (often called the cultural mandate). Nowhere do western nations need to be discipled in this cultural moment more than in regard to their deconstruction of God’s design of gender. This episode looks at how to winsomely refute radical gender ideology.For Further Prayerful ThoughtWhy do you think Christians in Western nations are not speaking up to counter the influence of destructive radical gender ideology?Why is it critical to distinguish between how Christians respond to a transgender adult, a teen girl, and social activists about the transgender worldview?Why do you think it is valuable to think through separate strategies to influence those in the medical profession, public education policy setters, government policy setters, and those who set policies in women’s athletics? Which of these fields has God put on your heart to seek to influence? Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission. This Week’s Past Episode Highlight: Two Requirements of Dads for Daughters to Flourish S1 E #28 5/17/20. This episode examines the answers I heard from Christian women I interviewed asking what their dad did right.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.

Episode Summary: It’s been said, “all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” This statement seems to be an apt description of the evil devastation which radical gender ideology brings into teen girl’s lives every day. The question, in my mind is whether good Christian men will do something or nothing. This episode describes the anguish of one teen girl who was taken captive by radical gender identity thinking. We look today at her story, which reflects the stories of thousands like her, and then propose a 4 part strategy to respond. For Further Prayerful Thought  What did you find most gripping about Keira Bell’s story?What did you find most disturbing about the role of Tavistock Gender Clinic?Does Lisa Littman’s finding that rapid-onset gender dysphoria in teen girls is caused by intense immersion in the social media, and peer contagion make sense or not make sense to you?Which of the four steps to prevent our daughters from embracing gender ideology do you think are most important?Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.This Week’s Past Episode Highlight: Two Requirements of Dads for Daughters to Flourish S1 E #28 5/17/20. This episode examines the answers I heard from Christian women I interviewed asking what their dad did right.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.

Episode Summary: Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. The victims we consider in this episode are not just girls who end up in the trans life, but our wives, daughters, and granddaughters who don’t experience the confidence, wholeness, emotional health and spiritual flourishing that come from embracing Gods design of womanhood because Satan’s assault upon God’s gender design in our culture has made them doubt that design.For Further Prayerful Thought Describe what the classic cases of gender dysphoria looked like over the past one hundred years.How should Jesus be an example to us of disapproving one’s lifestyle, but still treating them with acceptance?Why do you think Jesus did NOT say, to the prostitute at Simon’s house, “I disagree with your lifestyle,” before receiving her expressions of friendship?Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.This Week’s Past Series Highlight: Examining God’s Design of the Heart Passions That Drive MenThe Hunger for Approval: A King to Honor S1 E #41 8/16/20The Hunger for Impact: A Sphere to Impact S1 E #42 8/23/20Called to Be Protectors and Warriors: A Battle to Fight S1 E #43 8/30/20God’s Design for Fulfilling Romance: A Beauty to Love S1 E# 44 9/6/20Strategic Friendship: A Brother to Labor and Fight Beside S1 E #45 9/13/20Impact that Outlives Them: A Heritage to Pass On S1 E #46 9/20/20Responding to Toxic Masculinity S1 E #47 9/27/20For 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.

Episode Summary: In some school districts in America Mother’s Day has been targeted by the cancel culture crows. Some schools have decided to have a gender-neutral Parents’ Day or Family Day instead. We might laugh at this extreme or get angry, but this episode examines how the gender-neutral movement is harming the daughters of our homes, churches, and nation.For Further Prayerful ThoughtWhy does the gender-neutral movement and devaluing of motherhood harm a teen girl today?In the struggle of women to balance their call to use their gifts vocationally and use their gifts to nurture their children, how would you explain the role of the Industrial Revolution? How can this knowledge prevent us from the legalism that a woman should not work outside the home, or the worldly ide a that she must have a career outside the home to be fulfilled?In your circles, how can you support women who are wrestling with both the calling to be at home with their kids and good stewards by using their gifts outside the home? How might honoring mothers but also women who are not—for their incredibly precious nurturing hearts warm the hearts of single and childless women?Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission. 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.

Episode Summary: The assault by God’s enemy upon God’s gender design of male and female, differently, to complete each other in a union of love, IMAGES the very nature of the Triune God. Make no mistake about it, the assault upon God’s gender design taking place at this cultural moment is an assault against God, Himself. Today’s episode launches a 5-week May series, asking the question, “what are we—the men of the Church of Jesus Christ going to do about it?” This episode examines five ways the rising generation of woman hear the biblical view of gender and gender roles being assaulted in today’s social media.For Further Prayerful ThoughtHow do you think the glory of God’s design of femininity is being lost today?What do you think it costs teen girls to reject God’s design of womanhood?Why assaults upon what the Bible teaches about gender roles do you hear most often? Which do you find most difficult to refute?What is God calling you to do to offset the idea that a wife’s calling to fully partner with her husband assigns her the lowly task of being a mere helper?Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.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.

Episode Summary: Have you ever heard the expression, “Keep your friends close to you and your enemies closer to you?” I don’t agree with that, but I do think that if I am devoted to loyalty to Jesus, giving some thought to how his enemy, Satan, tries to undermine our allegiance to Jesus makes sense. This episode identifies from Scripture some of the tactics Satan uses to get us to betray our Lord.For Further Prayerful Thought:Which of Satan’s names seems to you to most reveal his tactics and purpose?What did you learn about how Satan tries to undermine our confidence in God’s goodness?Which of Satan’s temptations to Jesus did you identify with most. How can you learn from how Jesus responded? Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission. This Week’s Past Series Highlight:  Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons (cont’d)Protecting Ourselves from Satan’s Fiery Darts S2  E #16  2/21/21How the Helmet of Salvation Protects Us in Spiritual Battle S2 E#17  2/28/21Using the Sword of the Spirit to Stay on the Path of Life S2 E#18  3/7/21Why Prayer Releases Spiritual Power S2 E#19  3/14/21Studying How Lust Defeated David S2 E#20  3/21/21Serving King Jesus is Awesome S2 E#21  3/28/21 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.

Episode Summary: Throughout the history of the church, it has been easy, at any given cultural moment to feel like Christ and his church are losing. This cultural moment feels that way too. Sometimes we need a fresh blast of wind to blow away the clouds of doom and darkness—a fresh wind of FACTS. This episode seeks to be that wind by pointing to THE FACT OF THE WORLDWIDE IMPACT of the headline, “He is Risen.” For Further Prayerful Thought:What arguments against the resurrection have you heard? Which ones are the hardest to refute? What would you say to one who says the story of the resurrection was a legend made up by his followers?What stands out to you about the way the mustard seek of Christ’s kingdom has grown geographically?What stands out to you about the way that Christ’s kingdom of righteousness has spread over earth by his followers being salt, light, and leaven? Feedback to the Host: Pease feel free to contact me at gyagel@forgingbonds.org with push back, questions about resources, other resources or additional ideas about how to help Christ’s men better be equipped for their mission.This Week’s Past Series Highlight: Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S1 E #48 10/4/20Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E #49 10/11/20Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S 1 E  #52 11/1/20 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.