Mission Focused Men for Christ

Episode Summary: No MAN I know wants to be weak; nor does any BOY want to be called a weakling. The biblical writers identify this creation characteristic of men, appealing to the desire in men to be strong. At the close of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he wrote, Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, ACT LIKE MEN, be STRONG 1 Cor. 16:13. The Apostle, John, addresses subgroups of people in the church, praising the young men for being strong. “I write to you, young men, BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” The second part of our call to be Christ’s disciples is the Call to BE LIKE CHRIST. This episode looks at Jesus’ strength and how we can become stronger in the Lord—in the strength of his might. This 4 Week Series: Igniting Fire for Our Mission In a Disheartening WorldReigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ  S2 Episode #27 May 9 2021Obstacles to Walking Closely with Christ  S2  Episode #28 May 16 2021For Further Prayerful Thought:Which of the five episodes from Jesus’ life draws you most to Jesus?Jesus, who is perfect, was angry with the religious leaders who had no compassion for the man with a withered hand. What do you think is the difference between sinful anger and Jesus’ anger, here? In reviewing the weapons of warfare, which one do you need to remember most in your spiritual battles?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 John 10:10 Jesus taught his followers that he had come that they might have life and have it abundantly(vs 10). Later in John 15, he explained HOW IT IS that Jesus imparts that spiritual life to us. He said, I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever ABIDES in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Spiritual flourishing results from ABIDING in Christ. That is not a word we use much today. This episode explains what this Greek word means and identifies four obstacles to experiencing this connectedness to Christ that causes us to be fruitful.For Further Prayerful Thought:What has most helped you know that when you to turn towards God after giving in to sin, God is like the father of the prodigal, running to you with open arms?What has helped you the most to see God’s moral loss as the pathway to blessing, instead of a restriction to your fulfillment?What is the toughest part about knowing in your head that God intends suffering for our ultimate good and still feeling totally loved by God when we hurt?How can you do a better job of managing your use of time so that your personal walk with God get’s the firstfruits and not the leftovers? Current Series: Igniting Fire for Our Mission In a Disheartening WorldReigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ  S2 Episode #27 May 9 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: No Christian man wants to fail Jesus. But how to we keep our inner fire to live for him burning hot when we do fail him over and over again and when we are deeply disheartened by the direction our culture is taking right now. It’s easy to feel like Satan and sin are winning, so what’s the use? The goal of this episode is to stoke the fire of our passion to stay focused on the mission Christ has assigned to us because we see more fully how important that mission is.For Further Prayerful Thought:What are the obstacles that are preventing you from delighting your heart in the Lord?How can you be more intentional about noticing the particular Christ-like heart attitudes that God might be using the circumstances around you to produce—so that you can cooperate with God rather than resisting him?When it comes to your spheres of life, which one stands out as one you think you need to spend more energy thinking and praying about Past Podcast Series of Interest:    Helping Our Daughters FlourishRequired Today for Raising Godly, Confident, Daughters  Season 1 Episode #26  5/3/20The Harm of OVERVALUING or UNDERVALUING Motherhood   S1 Episode #27  5/10/20.Two Requirements of Dads for Daughters to Flourish  Season 1 Episode #28  5/17/20For 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

Earlier Episodes In This Series:  Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 Episode #22 4/4/21Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 Episode #23 4/11/212 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 Ep #24 4/18/21Inspiring Kids to See God’s Awesome Design of Gender  S2 Episode #25  4/25/21 Episode Summary: Motivated by a heart-driven gratefulness to God for his mercy Christ-followers are to offer themselves, including their sexuality, to God. They do this by embracing the biblical view of male and female. We examined this grand design last week. Imparting such a view to our preteens and teens is a vital part of loving them well. However, our children will only embrace this view if they resist the intense cultural pressure trying to squeeze them into its mold into its view of gender and sexuality. As teens seek to understand their identity, you might say they are looking for a script to follow that explains who they are, why they feel the sexual attraction they do, and what their appropriate gender role should be. This episode identifies some of the harmful identity scripts they are hearing today and then supplies a 5-part biblical identity script toward which to guide our kids. For Further Prayerful Thought:Based on Romans 12:1-2, (read at the beginning of this episode), how is adopting the biblical worldview of gender and sexuality the right response to God’ love for us poured out in Christ?In your own experience, what are some common, mistaken messages coming at teens today about sexuality and gender? Of the five parts to the biblical identity script I suggest that teens need today, which 2 are the most strategic, in your view?Resource Used for this Series:Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture: Helping Our Children Embrace Their Calling to Godly Manhood or WomanhoodFor 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 

Earlier Episodes In This Series: Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection   S2 Episode #22 4/4/21Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion   S2 Episode #23 4/11/212 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality   S2 Ep #24 4/18/21 Episode Summary: A worried mom said to me, “My daughter no longer believes what the Bible says about homosexuality and wives being submissive to their husbands. She says Paul’s writing in the NT reflects Paul’s patriarchal culture and unjust male privilege; it is not God’s Word.” This mom was worried because she saw that foundational truths her daughter needed to embrace to flourish—how God designed marriage to work, that her church’s view of homosexuality was loving and how God’s Word is all true and the path to life—were being undermined by the culture’s influence. Sometimes the best defense is a great offense. This episode addresses the question, “How do I inspire my children and grandchildren to believe that God’s design of gender and sexuality is awesome?” Find Out More About Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture 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:  Vibrant marriages and healthy families are the result of following God’s design of male and female to have different needs, responsibilities, and callings in the family. These words came from a veteran Christian counselor who had once been a beat cop on the streets of Miami. I think this counselor is right—which means that today’s Christian men need to be steering the rising generation towards wholeheartedly embracing God’s gender design. But there are two BIG OBSTACLES to getting the rising generation to embrace the biblical worldview concerning gender. This episode examines what these two roadblocks are and how to overcome them. For Further Prayerful Thought: Analyze this statement: Christian adults critique of the Gender Unicorn fractured worldview of sexual personhood compared to the awesomeness of God’s design will be heard as anti-LGBTQ+ hostility and rejected unless we are demonstrating real Christ-like love for those who are sexually broken. Where is the analogy of the Samaritan woman (who had 5 husbands and was currently living with a man) compared to those living the LGBTQ+ life a good parallel and not a good parallel? What do you think are the biggest hindrances to Christians reaching out in the friendship of Jesus love to LGBTQ+ folks as we should? For TSER Gender Unicorn graphic click here. For info on Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture click here 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.  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?” In America the current administration is working very hard to promote transgenderism. A week ago, we had a transgender day of visibility proclaimed at the White House, executive orders have been signed, and the Equality Act is winding its way through the halls of Congress. 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?” Resource mentioned during podcast: Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused CultureClick to find out more about itAvailable in print or Kindle formatFor 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.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.

Show Notes Summary: The resurrection of Christ, which overthrows the curse of death upon Adam and his race for their sin, is proof that God has begun to fix everything in this world broken by sin, including masculinity. Masculinity, itself, is under assault by many in our culture, some out of simple rebellion against God’s design, but many, because they’ve been injured by toxic masculinity in its various forms. 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

Summary: In recent years we have seen the rise of a new industry called life coaching. A life coach asks you what is most important in your life and helps you shape a personal mission statement around your goals. Jesus assigned his followers their personal life mission statement. He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”  But to be honest, without some good theology and a little historical background, the concept of the kingdom of God is way too fuzzy and nebulous for anyone to base his life direction upon, much less translate into a life mission statement. This episode digs into Jesus’ teaching about the nature of the kingdom of God to help us sharpen our picture of what it actually looks like to seek first that kingdom and God’s righteousness.  For Further Prayerful Thought: Do you have a personal mission statement for your life?If you were trying to explain to a young believer that he needed to understand the concept of the kingdom of God to understand his mission what would you say?Which Christ-like character quality from the beatitudes have you been growing in lately. Which one has been the biggest struggle?Summarize what you think Jesus was trying to teach his followers about being leaven, salt, and light?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

Summary: Men hate to lose at anything. But these days, many Christian men, including married guys, are losing the battle with lust, looking at porn on their phone and masturbating. Strong, urgent, forceful, and impatient, the sex drive dominates the mind and body of every healthy male. These strong sexual urges start off as simply the result of hormones. But surrendering to lust repeatedly strengthens lustful cravings, sows the seeds of selfishness, and interferes with our spiritual perception. “The pure in heart,” said Jesus, “are those who see God.” We are going to repeatedly lose battle with lust, but the real danger is that we stop fighting and just surrender to it. This episode examines how lust defeated David, bringing devastation into his own life and that of his family. Our goal is to prepare ourselves, by God’s grace, to better defeat it.For Further Prayerful Thought: How is the story of the weasel taking down the eagle similar to lust’s takedown of David?What are the outer conditions and inner conditions when sinful sexual lust is most appealing to you?How would you summarize the price tag of David’s sexual sin?How is David an example of letting his failure drive him TO God and not AWAY from God. (You might want to look at Psalm 51—written after David was confronted by Nathan.)Resource mentioned during podcast:  Got Your Back 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.