Mission Focused Men for Christ

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.

Episode Summary. This episode is about a specific attitude that is so simple to understand that most of us have never given it much thought—yet its practice has enormous power to draw our hearts continually towards Jesus. And that is what this new series is about: “A Closer Walk with Jesus.” For Further Prayerful Thought:  Why would the practice of giving thanks work to warm your heart towards Jesus like the practice of turning up the thermostat of your home.In what ways does it make sense or not make sense that an unwillingness to give thanks to God is one of two roots of sin?Which benefits of radical gratitude stood out most 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.

Episode Summary. “You actually believe in a literal devil,” the professor laughed. “Does he wear a red suit and sometimes carry a pitchfork, or is he a talking snake?” Unless we expect to protect our children and grandchildren from the real world for the rest of their lives, we can pretty much count on such ridicule coming their way if they let others know that are Christ-followers. This episode looks at how we might prepare the rising generation to respond confidently to such attacks and examines some characteristics of the Evil One that help us make sense of the origin and moral impact in our world of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God. For Further Prayerful Thought: What stood out to you about how we might equip the rising generation with confidence to respond to one belittling his belief in a real devil? Which of the 4 tactics followed by Satan to get Eve to rebel against God stands out to you? Which of the 4 tactics does Satan seem to have success with, in your life?What might God be calling YOU to do to help the rising generation not be squeezed into the world’s mold?  Past Episode Series Highlight:Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons.  Begun Jan 3, 2021, S2 E #9. Continues through 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. Just about anyone who has been listening to the news knows about the vote of the Loudoun County school board this last August “to allow transgender students to use school bathrooms matching their gender identity, and Loudin County resident Scott Smith’s attempt to speak at a schoolboard meeting prior to that decision about the sexual assault of his daughter in Stone Bridge HS girl’s restroom by a boy wearing a skirt. In an interview with the Daily Wire, Smith claimed that he had attempted to bring up the assault on his daughter at a school-board meeting on June 22, but he was arrested by police before he could speak. This past week, the 15-year-old boy about whom Smith was speaking was convicted by a Loudoun County judge of the sexual assault of his daughter. Although it is always hard to get at the facts, especially in a red-hot political battle going on at the time for the governorship of Virginia, we still must ask, How can Christians view this event through a biblical worldview lens and help our rising generation of teens do the same? This episode makes some suggestions. For Further Prayerful Thought:  Why do you think the Biblical answer to the question, What is wrong with the world, is relevant today. How might you winsomely introduce this biblical answer into conversations at your workplace?Which of the four aspects of the fall seem most relevant to your everyday life?Would you say it is critical for our Christian children and grandchildren to understand that sin darkens human understanding. If so, why?Which biblical worldview principles seemed most important in understanding the Loudoun County bathroom incidentPast Episode Highlight: Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion  S2 E #23  4/11/21For 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 continue our series, Guiding Our Loved Ones into a Biblical Worldview, this episode examines six biblical truths about God’s marriage design that are rooted in Genesis 2:24-25. There we read, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. For Further Prayerful Thought:  Why is marriage different from all other relationships, making it the foundational institution of society?What does Genesis 2:24-25, the text we looked at, say about why God’s design of sex is profoundly tied to the institution of marriage?How does the biblical view of marriage suggest that the biggest problem in our cities is probably neither racism or nor poverty, but fatherlessness? A Tool to Help Couples Talk About Their Sex-LifeIntimacy God's Design for Marriage:  Three Conversational Dates to Rediscover Intimacy in Your Marriage.Resources Used in Today’s Podcast The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, by Tim KellerSame Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, by Sean McDowell and John StonestreetPsychology Today Article, Sexual Satisfaction: Does Marriage Help It or Hurt It, by Michael CastlemanFor 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. Past Episode Highlight: In another podcast, Season 2 Episode #25 I answer the question:  What do you say to your daughter who says, “Wives being told they must submit to their husbands feels like girls are inferior to boys?” I identify nine things to say. That’s Season 2, Episode 25 “Help Your Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female.” 4/25/21 

Episode Summary. This episode identifies many common destructive narratives our rising young women are hearing about their feminine identity that will squeeze them into its mold if we do nothing. Then the episode takes a brief glimpse at God’s design of the magnificent creature called, WOMAN.For Further Prayerful Thought:  What are the unbiblical statements that you hear about gender differences and gender roles?How would you prove to a young Christian that the biblical view of womanhood is that she is equal to a man in worth and dignity, despite being called to different roles?What aspect of true femininity as described in Genesis 2 do you think is being lost today?Resource Used in Podcast:  Gary's book: Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture: Helping Our Children Embrace Their Calling to Godly Manhood or Womanhood.  Click for more info. Available in print and Kindle at Amazon.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.Past Episode Highlight: In another podcast, Season 2 Episode #25, I answer the question:  What do you say to your daughter who says, “Wives being told they must submit to their husbands feels like girls are inferior to boys?” I identify nine things to say. That’s Season 2, Episode 25 “Help Your Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female" 4/25/21. 

Episode Summary. One of the greatest treasures given by God to his people is his revelation of how he created man and woman differently in Genesis 2. This episode examines God’s perfect design for masculinity. Christ wants to redeem every Christian man’s fallen, self-centered masculinity and restore him to the original design God displayed in creating unfallen Adam as a male. Christ came to fix everything that is broken in this world, including manhood. In Christ, the Second Adam, men are empowered to become the Christ-like man Adam was designed to be. For Further Prayerful Thought: What are the two toughest things about living our lives with a focus on helping others reach their potential?When you consider the call to protect those under your care from spiritual and emotional harm, what are the biggest challenges you need to overcome?If you are married, what can you do inside your own heart to treasure your wife more? What might Satan use in your life to cause you to be passive, instead of taking the initiative to lead your wife and marriage?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.Past Series Highlight: Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About GenderChristian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/212 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21Guide Your Teen to Embrace a Biblical Sexual Identity S2 E #26 5/2/21Resource Used for Today’s Episode: Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture 

Episode Summary. One of the greatest treasures given by God to his people is his revelation of how he created man and woman differently in Genesis 2, to complete each other, becoming a loving unity, which God called man, just as the three different persons of the Trinity are One God in a perfect unity of love. This episode examines how to guide the rising generation to see the glory of God’s creation design of male and female and bring light to those enslaved by a tragic, darkened misunderstanding of gender identity and sexuality.For Further Prayerful Thought:How would you explain to a new Christian that gender is not a social construct?How would you try to help the rising generation see that the problem of toxic manhood is not solved by ignoring God’s design of gender roles in the family and church family?What can you do to feel deeper compassion for those enslaved in the LGBTQ life by their sinful nature who suffer greatly by this choice of lifestyle?Why might a transgender person be open to friendship with a Christian who treats him with dignity as God’s image bearer and reaches out in friendship?  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.Past Series Highlight: Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About GenderChristian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/212 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21Guide Your Teen to Embrace a Biblical Sexual Identity S2 E #26 5/2/21 Resource Used for Today’s Episode: A Practical Guide to Culture, by John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle.