Mission Focused Men for Christ

Episode Summary. How would you answer your teenager who said, “I think American capitalism is based on evil greed and that socialism is more biblical?” This episode examines God’s design for economic flourishing, identify the biblical principles that might be important in giving him or her an answer.For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you answer someone who said that the Bible teaches socialism, especially in the New Testament?Do you think that those you are responsible for guiding realize that between 85 and 100 million people died in the 20th century where the experiment of socialism was tried?Why might our sons and daughters be attracted to the socialist ideologies they hear about online or at universities?Resources Used for This Episode:When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself, Steve Corbett & Brian FikkertMoney, Greed and God, Jay Richards. 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:  RULING OVER OUR SEXUALITY FOR GOD’S GLORYUnderstanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E#13 2/2/20Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual Sin S1 E#15 2/16/20For 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. As North American Christians, our wealth presents us with an enormous responsibility, for throughout Scripture, God’s people are commanded to show compassion to the poor. This episode presents some foundational principles for building a biblical worldview about poverty and how to alleviate it. For Further Prayerful Thought:  What are some of the thoughts that come to your mind as you think about what our responsibility is to the poor, since we live at such a high standard of living.Why is defining poverty as income inequality wrong? Why is it destructive?Since the church is best equipped to take a holistic approach to helping the poor overcome poverty, does that mean Christians should support no government help for the poor? Defend your Podcast Series Highlight:  Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable In God’s Design of Humans. Season 1 Episode 32 6/14/2020.Resources Used for This Episode:When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself, Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert, Should We Try to Erase Economic Inequality? Colson Center, What Would You Say, Brooke McIntyre 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. This episode puts the concept of tolerance that is often promoted today under the spotlight of Scripture so that we can help those we influence to think carefully about accusations of intolerance leveled at Christians in this cultural moment.For Further Prayerful Thought:  What thoughts from the podcast stimulated your thinking about how Christians project intolerance?How would you summarize the way the meaning of the word, tolerance, is being misused by many today.How would you winsomely argue against defining tolerance as accepting everyone’s truth claims as equally valid. Why is such tolerance actually unloving?  Podcast Series Highlight:   Guiding Our Loved Ones Into a Biblical Worldview:  This series begins with Season 2, Episode #46, 9/7/2021. You might say this series begins with God, and his idea of the most foundational worldview principles—because it identifies 11 worldview principles revealed from Genesis 1:1-Genesis 3. Feedback to the Host:  Feel free to email me 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.Recommended Resource:  https://whatwouldyousay.org/videos/ 

Episode Summary. The rising generation of Christians is rightly concerned about the link between Christianity and the oppression of racism. The problem is that many ideologies claiming to overthrow oppression are based upon destructive, anti-biblical worldviews. As the leaders of our homes and churches, how can we guide those under our care to oppose racism passionately, but be discerning enough to reject ideologies, that are not only false but have proven to be destructive? That is our goal as we examine Critical Race Theory in this episode.For Further Prayerful Thought:  As you have seen aspects of Critical Theory being promoted in your experience, why do you think that Christians might unthinkingly buy into it?What part of Critical Theory do you think contradicts the teaching of Scripture most severely?Which principles for arguing against the Critical Theory worldview in the public arena stood out to you? What additional ideas do you have? Link to FBI Report on Ferguson Podcast Series Highlight:   Guiding Our Loved Ones Into a Biblical Worldview:  This series begins with Season 2, Episode #46, 9/7/2021. You might say this approach to worldview begins with God, and his idea of the most foundational worldview principles—because it identifies key worldview principles revealed from Genesis 1:1-Genesis 3.  The current series is topical. Feedback to the Host: Today, we begin a new feature, inviting you to email me 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. Mother Teresa once made a startling statement about war and peace in our world. She said, “The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion because it is a war against the child, and if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another.” As men who are created to protect our families and to exercise dominion over the culture, how can we best persuade the rising generation and those who surround us to protect human life by ending abortion? This episode gives some practical suggestions. For Further Prayerful Thought:How can you “train” to remember how to phrase wise, persuasive arguments when abortion and the pro-life movement come up in discussions around you?Which statement about abortion do you hear the most often?Which of the five winsome, persuasive arguments stood out most to you?Resource Used for this PodcastThe Image Restored, Glenn Sunshine and Timothy PadgettRestoring All Things, Warren Cole Smith, John StonestreetWhat Would You Say, Colson Center Video PowerPoints 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. As we begin a new year, barring our death this year, you might say God has deposited another 8,760 hours in our 2022 bank account. Those hours really are the measure our lives; when the bank account hits zero, the race marked out for us is over. And we do not have the option of stopping time. Every day as the globe turns on its axis, twenty-four of them are spent, leading Moses to pray, “Lord teach us to number our days that we might gain wisdom” (Ps 90:12) What is the best strategy to ensure that we spend those hours wisely? The days flash by us relentlessly and I don’t know any Christian man who wants to aimlessly watch life go by. No one wants to waste his life. This episode examines two biblical principles to prevent that from happening in 2022, which, sadly, are not followed by many believers. For Further Prayerful Thought:How would you answer the question, “Why is intentionality such a big part of Christian discipleship?”How have you been intentional this past year about accomplishing Christ’s mission for you? How might the Lord be leading you to be more intentional?What did you learn about the fourth commandment and how it has been applied and misapplied in the church over the years?Past Episode Series Highlight: Staying Focused On What is Important This Fall  S 2 #42, 8/15/2021.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. As God-designed men and warriors, we need to know how the idea that gender is a social construct is corrupting the very children singing this weekend and next about Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. If we do nothing, many will reject God’s gender design and bring enormous pain into their lives. Mary, the mother of Jesus is a striking example of all that God designed a woman to be. We need the daughters of Christ to SEE THAT. This episode makes some suggestions about defeating transgender ideology in the public arena of ideas and then takes a close look at Mary, a paragon of godly womanhood that our daughters need to admire For Further Prayerful Thought: Why is it important for Christian men today to take a stand against the transgender ideology spreading across our schools and nation?How would you seek to be persuasive about the harm of transgenderism in the public arena of discussion?How could you do a better job of encouraging the women in your life when they demonstrate beauty of heart--especially meekness, having a quiet spirit, purity, and wanting to please God rather than men? Resources Used in this EpisodeIs Transgenderism Logical, What Would You Say Series, Colson Center.Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, Abigail Shrier. Past Episode Series Highlight: Leadership Lessons from Jesus’ Dad S 2 #6, 12/12/2020. 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. God is so committed to our well-being that he commands us, “Don’t get so busy that you aren’t taking time to find joy in your relationship with me!” That is the Yagel translation of Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart,and Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. In both texts, we are commanded not to be passive but to take action to FIND JOY in our relationship with God. This episode focuses on enjoying God because of who he is—one who has adopted us into his family, becoming our FATHER.For Further Prayerful Thought: Why do we have so much trouble believing that when we confess our sins to God he actually separates us from them as far as the east is from the west? Once we’ve brought our sin to God to confess it, which do you think brings stronger motivation not to sin again—continuing to feel guilty or knowing Christ’s blood was shed to fully pay for this sin?Why can God being a perfect disciplinarian lead to joy, since no trial or discipline is enjoyable?Why does it produce joy to realize God doesn’t rebuke you for your weakness but wants you to ask him to be the show his power through that weakness?What life examples lead you to agree or disagree with CS Lewis, who argues that expressing our enjoyment of God to Him in praise is the final step to completing our enjoyment of Him?  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. On the night before he died, in the Garden of Gethsemane our Lord pled with the Father, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” Jesus pled with the Father to make a way so that he would not have to go to the cross. God said, “no.” God refused to rescue Jesus from the suffering he would endure. Many times, our God refuses to rescue US from the painful difficulties and trials he has ordained for us. Why? For the same reason he didn’t rescue Jesus. This episode examines this reason, which points to God’s purpose for us. Better understanding that purpose can draw us TO God when his path takes us through daily difficulties, instead of AWAY FROM him.For Further Prayerful Thought: What are the chief obstacles that keep you from choosing to be positive about irritations and frustrations that God is using in your life to make you more Christ-like?Do you agree that your attitude is based upon your perspective? If so, what needs to change in our perspective about everyday difficulties, irritations and trials in order to view those positively?Verse 4 in James identifies four ultimate objectives that persevering through difficulties and trials accomplishes—better glorifying God, putting your roots deeper into Christ, pleasing Christ more, and becoming a better representative of Christ. Which of these four is most motivating to you?Past Episode Series Highlight:  Becoming More Like Jesus: Beatitudes 1-6 (so far)  Season 1 Episodes #8-#11 (12/29/19-1/19/20) and Season 2, Episodes #3 and #4, (11/22/20-11/29/20).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.

Episode Summary. In Hebrews 11:6, God reveals to us a profound, universal truth. Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he…rewards those who seek him. Here, God reveals that the prerequisite for drawing near to Him is an assumption about his nature—that the time, risk, and energy spent seeking to have a relationship with him is a worthwhile investment—that it is beneficial to seek God, that his goodness causes him to enrich those who seek him. If this principle is true—that confidence in God’s benevolent character is a requirement for drawing near to him—no wonder Satan planted doubts in Eve’s heart about God’s goodness. No wonder the difficult circumstances of life so easily bring not just a complaining attitude, but subtle doubts about whether God really is as good as we had believed. This episode seeks to build biblical certainty into our hearts that God always rewards those who seek himFor Further Prayerful Thought: Why does is make sense that in order to draw near to God we must believe that he is a rewarder of those who seek him? David, among all biblical heroes, had one of the closest walks with the Lord and expressed his love for God’s Law most profusely. Why might these be related?If you sensed that someone was generally interested in how God could be loving and still ordain a world with so much suffering, how would you answer?  Resources Used in Today’s Episode The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller.The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity, Lee Strobel.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.