Mission Focused Men for Christ: Recent Episodes
Gary Yagel
This 20-minute weekly podcast is for Christian men who want to hear, “Well done,” from Jesus, after running the race marked out for them. Its goals are to: 1) EQUIP men to better understand from Scripture their mission, 2) ENCOURAGE men because we fail often, 3) ENERGIZE men because our spiritual tank is often on "empty," 4) EMPOWER men to stay focused on honoring Christ with their lives. The podcast presenter, Dr. Gary Yagel, is known for his practical biblical teaching and encouraging heart. A former church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America, Gary is the founder and Executive Director of Forging Bonds of Brotherhood. He is the author of Got Your Back, and Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, (available on Amazon) and has taught Making Missional Disciples as a guest professor at Reformed Theological Seminary DC. For further information about Gary’s ministry, go to forgingbonds.org or gotyourback.info.
Episode Summary: In today’s episode we will discover that the modern “enlightened” view of sexuality actually undervalues sexuality and that it is, in fact, the Biblical view that upholds sex as a precious treasure. We examine three common messages about sexuality articulated and assumed by today’s social media and how the biblical view is richer and corresponds much more to reality. We then show three practical ways to resist the temptation to commit adultery.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What is your opinion of the modern view that sex is just a way to satisfy a normal bodily appetite? How would you explain that the biblical worldview of protecting the vulnerable intimacy of sex by placing it in the Covenant of Marriage makes more sense than the secular view?
- Why is it easy for even Christian couples who get engaged to rationalize having sex. How would you persuade a brother to stop doing so?
- Why do you think advocates of the gay lifestyle use the ad homonym argument to label those who disagree homophobic? Why is it loving, if you had the chance, to guide someone AWAY from the gay life?
- Which practical step for resisting the temptation to adultery most stood out to you?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- The Meaning of Marriage, Tim and Kathy Keller
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
- The Secular Creed, Rebecca McLaughlin
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Episode Summary. This episode examines both the explicit meaning of what is prohibited in Sixth Commandment and what Jesus and James taught is the implicit meaning of what is prohibited the Sixth Commandment for Christ-followers so that we are equipped to teach our children and grandchildren the ways of the Lord.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why is it important to know that the 6th Commandment prohibits the unlawful taking of a human life?
- Which God-ordained restraints upon the evil of hostility towards other humans leading to murder most stood out to you?
- What do you most want to remember about the NT teaching that the sixth commandment not only prohibits harming another’s body, it prohibits harming another’s soul?
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Episode Summary. If you were God giving instructions to the human race about how to get along with each other, what would be the first thing you'd say? Don't be selfish? Don't be proud? Learn to forgive? Treat others like you want to be treated? God's first law is “Honor your father and mother.” And in case we still don't catch the foundational importance of this command, God attaches an unbelievable promise to it. It is the only one of The Ten Commandments with this kind of a promise: that you may live long and that it may go well with you.
Isn't it interesting that God's first law of human relationships has to do with the family? God starts with the most basic and important cell group in society. God designed it to be the birthplace of a child's self-esteem and of his sense of identity, the place where he is to learn what it means to be loved and to give love, the place where he learns how to adapt to the way the world has been created by God to operate. This episode examines this foundational commandment and its implications not just for children but for adults.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you contrast “obedience-centered training” with “child centered training?” What would you say to one who said this verse in Proverbs 22:15 encourages abuse? “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of the child the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.”
- How do the opening verses in the first chapter of Proverb juxtapose being shaped by your parents’ wisdom with being shaped by peer pressure? (See vs 8-10).
- What does it say about God that he demands that adults honor their elderly parents?
- What evidence do you see in the culture that it is anti-God’s design of the family to be the foundation of society?
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Episode Summary. One of the words used to describe the worldview of the culture in which we all swim is secularism, which describes a lifestyle of preoccupation with the visible, material world to the neglect of the world of the spiritual. The result of swimming in this polluted water has been, in my view, a largescale disregard of the fourth commandment by Christians and consequent loss of its benefits. The lost benefits are understanding the eternal value of work and understanding the need to regularly shut out the secular world to be renewed and reconnected to the Spiritual Being who created us. This episode seeks to recover what is often lost by the neglect pf the fourth commandment.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What most stood out to you in this episode about the fourth commandment?
- How would you respond to someone who said, “Keeping the Sabbath is being legalistic, and the church is not Israel?”
- What components of a biblical view of work seem most important to you.
- It’s been said that the more important your work is, the more important it is to regularly step away from it and renew. How might this principle apply to serving Christ?
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Episode Summary. Fatherhood champion Anthony Bradley’s research proves what Scripture teaches us about the role God has assigned to fathers in creation: fathers are the most important men in any community, anywhere, everywhere, ever. Their presence, involvement, and guidance are pivotal for the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of their children. This is the fourth episode in our June series
Fathers Giving the Moral Foundation to Their Children That the Culture Won’t. It recognizes that the third commandment, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain, involves much more than a prohibition against cussing. It goes to the very heart of our love for Christ and how God says that love should be shown in the way we treat his name.
Link to New City Catechism Curriculum.
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Episode Summary. On October 7, 2023, more than 3000 members of the radical Muslin extremist group Hamas surged across the Israeli border crying “Allahu Akbar” “God is good” raping women, beheading children, torturing, mutilating and murdering more than a thousand people, most of them civilians conducting the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. How would you respond to the trembling words of a seven-year-old who said, “Daddy, these bad men said God told them to do those awful things. How can this be?” This episode seeks to answer this question by understanding what the second commandment teaches.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you answer a new believer who said to you, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God, the risen Lamb slain to take away my sin, but why are there so many other religions in the world?”
- Why can’t a chewing gum replica of the Alps convey their glory? Do you agree that a chewing gum replica of the Alps might be worse than no physical image? Why?
- Although man was created in God’s image, our fall into sin means that we suppress the truth of who God is, especially our accountability to him, and remake God as OUR IMAGE—the way we want him to be, because we are created to worship. (Atheists usually build their life around a false ideology, which functions like a God.) How do you see this biblical truth making sense in what you observe about the world?
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Episode Summary. Unlike adherents to multi-culturalism, Christians realize that God chose to reveal his moral law to one nation, Israel, in a rather spectacular manner. God himself wrote his summary of his moral law on two stone tablets using his own finger (Dt 5:22) telling his people how they can most please him. There is no other text of the Bible written directly by the finger of God. The two tablets were called the Ten Words, the decalogue, and kept in the Ark of the Covenant. Foty years later, In Deuteronomy 5, Moses repeated The Ten Commandments for the next generation. This episode examines how to apply the first commandment as the leaders of our homes and provides some thoughts about teaching it to our kids, using the New City Catechism.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In the opening overview observations, which one stood out most to you?
- Why do spiritual leaders have to fight a lifelong battle to keep reminding those under their care that God’s word is the path of life? Why is that so hard for us to remember, in moments of temptation?
- What do you find most helpful in Tim Keller’s definition of an idol as: “anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” Which potential idols do you need to be wary of?
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Episode Summary: One of the bad ideas causing massive victimhood today is egalitarianism, the denial of creation role distinctions between moms and dads, and the heretical denial within the church that “the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.” The first egalitarian was Satan, who demanded the right to be equal with God. As the father of lies, who masquerades as an angel of light, his strategy is to label the biblical teaching about gender oppressive patriarchy and then support this accusation with dishonest reasoning that in every case, violates the laws of logic. This episode reviews those dishonest arguments, makes a fresh biblical case for fatherhood and reviews recent research that substantiates the significance of God’s fatherhood design.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which of the dishonest, fallacious attempts to support egalitarianism most leaps out at you? Why?
- How has your relationship with your father shaped your life? How does it shape your relationship with God, the Father?
- How would you argue the biblical case that a child needs both a mother and a father?
Resource Used in this Episode: Some of the material in this episode comes from Pete Alwinson’s book, Like Father Like Son: How Knowing God as Father Changes Men, which I highly recommend.
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Episode Summary. This episode seeks to examine what the church’s commitment to the poor of our cities should look like. We examine 5 serious flaws in the progressive view of social justice, an ideology which is captivating many young adults leading them to abandon Christianity. Finally, we examine how only the church can bring about the restoration require to solve the problems of our urban poor but raise the question, “Will middle class Christians care enough to do it?”
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What is the biblical case for Christians being very engaged with alleviating the poverty and other suffering in our cities?
- What would you say to a church leader who said Jesus’ mission for us is to preach the gospel not feed the hungry?
- What flaws of progressive ideology’s approach to poverty most stood out to you?
- How would you make the case that the true causes of poverty—the breaking of harmony between us and ourselves, each other, God, and creation can best be achieved by the church?
Recommended Resources
- When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
- Before Your Lose Your Faith, Edited by Ivan Mesa
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Episode Summary. The intent of this episode is to strengthen, not weaken, our concern for the plight of the poor. But deeply rooted in our commitment to love the poor must be a commitment to helping the poor and doing so in the right, God-ordained way. This episode seeks to call us to care for the poor, to shun passivity, but to understand the biblical guidance God gives for HOW to help, and not harm, them.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What rationalizations among Christians have you seen for allowing American consumerism to shape us too much to care significantly about sacrificing to help the poor?
- Which instances of compassion without biblical wisdom stood out to you.
- Why do you think that selling the dream of utopia to the masses by Lenin in the Soviet Union, Mao in China and other communist dictators worked to cause them to overthrow the government allowing them to seize dictatorial control?
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Episode Summary. We look carefully at the claim made by many social justice advocates that Christians are hypocrites for not standing up for the poor and embracing ECONOMIC EQUALITY for everyone as Jesus would have. Is this claim true? How do we respond to our kids returning from college who are “deconverting” from Christianity because of the failure of today’s church to embrace such equality? Should Christians help the poor by pursuing economic equality? These are the questions this episode seeks to answer.
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
Institute for Faith, Work and Economics website(excellent, biblical, scholarly articles on the biblical view of economics, helping the poor, etc.)
What Would You Say Colson Center(Excellent short videos on how to promote a biblical view of economics).
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How would you respond to the average Christian dad who says, “understanding economics is not part of my calling. I can’t answer my kid’s accusations that Christianity is hypocritical and that they can’t embrace a religion that favors American consumerism instead of ECONOMIC EQUALITY as Jesus would have?”
- What most stood out to you about current ideologues who have replace the content of the word EQUALITY as equal justice under the law with the concept of the same treatment?
- Why does the biblical view that justice is not everyone having the same abilities, assets, and opportunities but that from those who are given much, much is required better match reality than the concept that everyone God creates should be EQUAL in every opportunity, ability, and asset?
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Episode Summary: In the coming months, secularists and progressives will be seeking to undermine the celebration of America’s spiritual and biblical roots. For us and our families to respond winsomely and persuasively, we must know the facts and not just react with Christian spin, that we are a Christian nation. This episode seeks to equip us to think truthfully, i.e. with historic accuracy and the perspective of God’s Word as we examine the complex issue: Is America a Christian nation?
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why might a black Christian who loves America find it difficult to hear a brother in Christ argue that America was founded as a Christian nation?
- What did you find most helpful about the religious beliefs of the five men who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- If America was not founded by Christians as a Christian nation, why does it matter that we are rooted in a belief in God, recognition that human rights derive from God, and dependence upon him?
- How would you respond to a progressive friend who says that Christians who want to stop abortion are guilty of violating the constitutional principle of “the separation of church and state.”
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Episode Summary
Perseverance is a requirement for reaching any worthwhile goal and a quality that God constantly seeks to build into his children. As we come to the closing chapter in our study of Nehemiah, we continue to see an inspiring leader at work, in this case a leader who persevered, a leader who confronted sin when it needed to be dealt with, and a leader who finished his race well.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What is your reaction to the direct match in chapter 10 (what the inhabitants of Judah vowed), with chapter 13, (the vows they had broken)?
- What have you discovered to be the hardest part of confrontation?
- Have you made commitments during a spiritual high that you found tough to keep when you were spiritually low? What have you discovered about keeping your spiritual passion high? What have you discovered about watching over your heart?
- What do you find most encouraging about Jeremiah’s prophecy of the New Covenant that Hebrews 8 tells us has come to pass in Christ?
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Summary: Our hearts were designed to find satisfaction by delighting in God. In fact, satisfying our heart in this way is the foundational starting point for our mission. God has designed life so that our heart loves must be ordered properly. The first commandment and Great Commandment are about giving God first place in our affections—“Have no gods before me.” “Love me with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” We were created to be worshippers, to delight ourselves in the Lord—to find pleasure in praising God’s moral beauty.
In fact, Peter tells us that the purpose of our redemption is to fulfill our created role first and foremost as worshippers. Peter writes, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). Nehemiah 12 is the story of God’s people celebrating God and proclaiming his excellencies. From it we remember again how to keep our heart properly aligned by filling our heart with the joy of praising him
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why do we not devote ourselves more to delighting ourselves in him?
- Nehemiah inspired thankfulness to God in his people’s hearts for what God had done (enabling them to complete the wall in 53 days) by having them physically walking on the wall they built. How can we, as Christians, do a better job of setting our focus on what God has done for us?
- What else stood out to you about this joyful worship celebration planned by Nehemiah?
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Episode Summary: In this episode we examine Nehemiah 10 to see what it can teach us about false and true repentance.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why is saying “I’m sorry” easier than true repentance?
- How would you summarize these words of John? And by this we know that we have come to know him (Christ), if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (1 Jn 2:3-6.)
- Although we no longer live in a theocracy as God’s people did before Jesus came, why might Israel’s law that warned that oppression of the poor was not to be compensated for by partiality towards them in court help inform our thinking about how best to show mercy to the poor.
- How does the example of God’s repentant Old Covenant people stepping up to fully fund ministry challenge you?
- What have you learned about walking in the Spirit, i.e. experiencing his power in your everyday life?
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Episode Summary: One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that fruitfulness comes not from strength but from brokenness. Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains by itself alone. But if it dies it bears much fruit.” Peter was the arrogant leader of the disciples who boasted “Lord even if all the other disciples forsake you, I never will.” Before the next morning, he denied knowing Jesus three times and when the cock crowed, he went out and wept bitterly, a broken man. Never again in Scripture do we see that arrogance in Peter. Instead, he passes on to others a lesson that he learned through his brokenness “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Can you imagine God pulling out his big guns AGAINST YOU? The fastest way to see that happen is pride. And one of pride’s most subtle manifestations is taking our sins lightly rather than weeping over them. Today’s episode from Nehemiah is a great picture of a nation, broken by its sin.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out to you most as the priests recounted the cycle of Israel’s history—God’s goodness and mercy, Israel’s rebellion against him, the punishment for their sins (covenant sanctions)?
- Why do you think James is so insistent that to draw near to God we must feel broken over our own sin?
- In the Beatitudes, Jesus ranked mourning over sin second on the list of kingdom attitudes ahead of meekness, purity of heart, etc. How would grieving over our own sins, and grieving over the suffering of those who are still enslaved to sin because they do not know Jesus impact our heart attitudes towards the lost?
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Episode Summary:
One of the films making its rounds the past two weeks in movie theaters is “A Great Awakening” produced by Sight and Sound. The film tells the story of the First Great Awakening in America through the lens of Benjamin Franklin, the friend of George Whitefield the great preacher who was largely responsible, along with Jonathan Edwards, for the awakening which historians say had a tremendous impact on the founding of America thirty years later.
One of the primary responsibilities of Christians is to impact their culture, retarding the decay brought about by sin by functioning as salt and shining the light of God's truth into spheres of our own culture where the darkness of sin prevails. In other words, Christ wants us not only to be individual disciples of his but to make disciples of all nations. In this episode we find insight about this process as we look at how God discipled nations in the past by bringing about a great awakening and spiritual renewal in Israel (recounted in Nehemiah 8) and inspiring The Great Awakening in America.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think Jesus told us our mission is to “make disciples OF the nations” instead of “make disciples IN the nations”? What is the difference? What does this command say to Christians who want to give up on our culture because “the culture is so evil it is going to hell in a hand basket”?
- What stood out to you about how God discipled his nation, Israel, through Ezra and the Levites during the month of Tishri? What parts of this process seem applicable to America? Which parts don’t?
- What stood out to you about God discipling America through The Great Awakening? What lessons, if any, can you draw from it about how God might “disciple” America through us.
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Summary: As we pick up our study of the Book of Nehemiah, we come to the eight chapter where a national revival takes place in Judah. Before studying that next week, we need to think carefully about some issues—issues that happen to be very much in the news today, which surround America’s war with Iran, Israel our ally, and the war itself. Is God on our side? Is this a just war? Are Christians right who seem to say we should blindly support Israel in its conflict with Islamic Jihadists? Is America a Christian nation? This episode seeks to find clarity in Scripture about these issues.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you describe the difference between ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel. How does this difference make sense? Why is it important?
- Why is it important to recognize that God’s covenant with spiritual Israel is continued in the church?
- Contrast Israel’s theocracy with America’s democracy.
- What is the difference between recognizing the influence of Christians in America’s founding and constitution and saying America is a Christian nation?
- What is your opinion of the Islamic Jihadi cry, “from the river to the sea.”
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Summary: The resurrection reminds us that the gospel is not just about our personal, private salvation and growth in holiness (which is called the two-chapter gospel.) Such a gospel leads to separating from the lost, forgetting their inherent value as those created in God’s image, and devaluing the (common grace) contributions they make to our culture. In contrast, the resurrection of Christ’s physical body reminds us that the true gospel story has four chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Christ-followers are called to be part of the greatest mission in the history of the world, Christ’s renewal of our corner of planet earth to bring about the righteousness and flourishing that God intends for each part of his creation. This episode seeks to capture our hearts with the greatness of the mission our Lord has assigned to us the power for which is his resurrection.
Resources Used
- All Things Newby Hugh Whelchel
- The Call of the Jericho Roadby Tim Keller
- Discipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theologyby Gary Yagel (doctoral dissertation)
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Episode Summary: Jesus commanded us not to be preoccupied with what we will eat or drink or distracted by what we are going to wear. Rather, we are to seek first the kingdom of God. But how do you seek something you can’t describe and don’t know how to define? Modern Christians are not the only ones confused about what this means. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus spent his last forty days on earth explaining this concept to his disciples, and they still got it wrong, asking “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of God are puzzle pieces that do fit together and can make a huge difference in understanding our mission. This episode puts some of those pieces together and illustrates how Christ-followers have sought and prayed for the kingdom of God to advance over the earth.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is the most helpful thing you have ever learned about the term kingdom of God?
- Do you agree or disagree with the argument that Christians fail to understand what it means to seek first the kingdom of God because they don’t go back to Adam and Eve’s original creation as rulers of kingdom earth and calling to spread shape culture FOR the High King?
- How does understanding the ALREADY/NOT YET aspects of the kingdom help you understand it. What is still confusing to you?
- What examples of kingdom discipleship stood out most to you?
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Episode Summary. Have you ever wondered, “Why is life so difficult? Why is it such a struggle? Why am I tired all the time? Why do so many things go wrong? Why is it that when I try to accomplish something for God it's never easy?” This episode is for those who are finding that pleasing Jesus with your life is hard, full of resistance, and sometimes generates so much discouragement that you feel like not even trying any more.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are the things that you find most discouraging about trying to please and follow Jesus?
- How would you explain the importance of perseverance?
- What insights stood out about Nehemiah persevering through three plots to murder him?
- Which phrases from the Ortlands’ book, You Don’t Have to Quit, did you find most motivating?
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Episode Summary. There are few men portrayed in Scripture who had more lasting success leading than Nehemiah. In fact, the success of some, like Saul and Solomon, led to their demise, as power often does. In fact, a case could be made that the adversity Nehemiah had just come through in the last chapter is less of a threat to many leaders than success. As Scottish essayist and historian, Thomas Carlyle, once declared, “Adversity is hard on a man; but for every one man who can withstand prosperity there are a hundred that will withstand adversity.” In Nehemiah 5:14-19 we see a quality that allowed him to win a following in both adversity and prosperity
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which example of Nehemiah being a giver rather than a taker most stood out to you?
- What do you think are the biggest obstacles to become more of a giver than taker in all of our interactions with others?
- How might the three observations we made about Nehemiah’s internal motivations explain his behavior as a giver instead of a taker?
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Episode Summary. Confrontation. It’s the least enjoyable part of leadership, but absolutely essential for effectiveness for any husband, father, coach, or team leader in business or the church. Today, we look into Nehemiah 5, where Nehemiah puts on a “clinic in wise confrontation” from which leaders can learn much.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why did Nehemiah get angry? Why don’t Christians get angrier at the exploitation of the weak, poor, and marginalized in our culture?
- What stood out to you about the way Nehemiah confronted the nobles and leaders about exploiting the poor? Why do you think it was successful?
- What is your emotional reaction to the word, accountability? What have you learned about when accountability works and when it fails? Why don’t men take better advantage of the power of accountability to overcome sin in their own lives?
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Episode Summary. Today, in our study of Nehemiah we encounter a group of people whom the world has gotten down, who feel rotten, who were probably too doggone tired to pray, and were probably plenty mad. It is Nehemiah's ragtag band of Israelites who had taken on the huge task of rebuilding the city wall. They have successfully resisted opposition enough to get the wall to half its necessary height. But discouragement sets in. This episode shows how Nehemiah overcame the discouragement of his people.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you explain to a new believer why life is so hard?
- We noted 4 sources of discouragement: weariness, losing perspective, walking by sight, and real opposition. In your life, which one or ones cause the most discouragement?
- God allowed Nehemiah and his band of Jerusalem inhabitants to be opposed by enemies, intent upon murdering them. Such opposition doubled their work because it necessitated posting guards everywhere. How do you think Nehemiah kept this from disheartening his team?
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Episode Summary. One of the greatest Christians who ever lived was honest enough to admit how difficult life can sometimes be. In the most biographical of his writings, the apostle Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side. We are perplexed and persecuted. We experience troubles, hardships, and distresses…. We are knocked down but we are not knocked out.” The fourth chapter of Nehemiah reports how he and the residents of Jerusalem faced this same level of opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall and how they pushed through it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is wrong with the idea that if God loved me, he would not allow my life to be so hard?
- What stood out to you about using the weapon of ridicule to demotivate another. What are the implications of Jesus’ teaching about the impact of words for those of us who are spiritual leaders?
- ow can the example of Nehemiah inspire and strengthen you to persevere through whatever opposition you are facing?
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Episode Summary. Few of us think we have the gifts to be a great leader; yet every married man has been assigned to the leadership role in his marriage. As Paul said “the head of a wife is her husband” (1 Cor 11:13). And of course we are assigned to lead our children as fathers.
One of the biggest challenges for all leaders is motivating our followers to move in the direction we want them to go. Dwight Eisenhower, once said, “Leadership is the ability to get a person to do what you want him to do, when you want it done, in a way you want it done, because he wants to do it.” What a great description of Nehemiah. This episode examines how one of the greatest leaders in history overcame the apathy of the residents of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city that had remained broken down for ninety years.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you most want to remember about how Nehemiah motivated the people?
- How have you observed the principle that when people have ownership of a goal or an asset, they feel much more responsible and motivated to take action?
- As you consider the parallel between Nehemiah’s method for building the wall and God’s method for building the church, what most stood out about the church?
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Episode Summary. God wants husbands and wives to drink deeply and frequently of the refreshing waters of their partner’s sexuality. But most of us whose marriages have lasted beyond the honeymoon stage have found that sustaining romantic and sexual passion has been a lot harder than we ever thought it would be, especially because our wives are NOT wired the way WE are. This episode looks for biblical clues to understanding how and why a woman’s view of romance and sex is so different than her husband’s.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to persuade a Christian brother and sister that married couples having a great sexual relationship is important to God?
- What are some of the ways that feminine sexual desire seems consistent with what God has revealed to us in Genesis 2 about how he has created woman?
- How would you use the fact that God created Adam to be ground focused and Eve to be relationally focused to explain why difference in sexual desires can create resentment in marriage?
- What stood out to you about how to romance a woman?
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Episode Summary
How would you like to receive a letter that began, "As I met with God this morning, I was moved to tell God how deeply grateful I am to him for your influence in my life. As I look back over the years, I realized that it has been your life that has most influenced me to follow Christ. You always seemed to be available when I needed you. You understood my problems. You had just the encouraging ear I needed. I could always go to you when I was hurting inside because I knew you cared. Your walk with Christ has been a tremendous inspiration to me. Your wholehearted commitment to obedience, the wisdom that comes from your lips, your godly spirit in the midst of adversity and pain are a picture to me of what I want to be like."
Wouldn't you love to receive this letter addressed to you from your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, from a friend at work or in the neighborhood, from a sister or brother, from a child in your Sunday school class or teen in the youth group that you lead? This is a letter about influence, getting others to follow you. That is the topic of today’s episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you explain to a friend the difference between authority and leadership?
- Why do you think it is imperative for leaders to become fully knowledgeable about the factors that impact achieving their goal?
- What do you think of the statement, “Great leaders formulate their plan in solitude?” If you are married and have a family, how does this principle apply to being he leader at home, for you?
- What leadership lessons from Nehemiah most stood out to you?
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Episode Summary:
There is no ambiguity about what Jesus told us was to consume our lives as our top priority. He says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” The Greek verb “to seek” means, to strive after, to desire. It is the opposite of being lackadaisical, indifferent, or nonchalant. It is pursuit that is self-motivated, intentional and passionate. The word “first” indicates that Jesus is telling us to make this pursuit the all-consuming top priority of our lives. In context, this verse is about being preoccupied. We are to be pre-occupied with spreading Christ’s agenda of righteousness and restoration over the earth.
As we saw last week, Nehemiah became a man who was consumed with God’s agenda, in his case the restoration of the wall around the city of Jerusalem. In this episode we see that when you adopt God’s agenda, he will provide the resources needed to accomplish it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Can you relate to Nehemiah praying intensely for the wall to be rebuilt and seeing God do nothing? What have you learned about overcoming discouragement in prayer?
- It’s not stated explicitly but surely looks like Nehemiah had built a very strong relationship of servanthood and loyalty to Artaxerxes. What pieces of evidence do you see in the text that suggest such a strong relationship?
- Contrast the loyalty and respect for authority required of God’s people and shown by Nehemiah to cultural Marxism’s worldview that labels all authority figures oppressors. Where do you see the seeds of cultural Marxism in our culture? In the church?
- Which insights from Nehemiah do you most want to remember in seeking to implement Christ’s agenda of righteousness in your spheres of influence?
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Episode Summary Teddy Roosevelt, our nation's 26th president was a hard charging leader. An ardent admirer once exclaimed to him, “Mr. Roosevelt, you are a great man.” In characteristic honesty he replied, “No. Teddy Roosevelt is simply a plain, ordinary man—highly motivated.” It is safe to say that his answer describes most great leaders, plain and ordinary, yet whose hearts had been captured by a compelling mission. Certainly, Nehemiah, the subject of our new series, would say that about himself. Although he would say he was a plain and ordinary man underneath, he emerges as one of the most effective leaders in history, accomplishing in 53 days what no one else could accomplish in decades. Nehemiah would be the first to say that when God needs a mountain moved, he raises up mountain-moving men. But though he lived five hundred years before the Messiah came, I think Nehemiah would he would be quick to repeat these words of Paul to every man listening: “You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he prepared beforehand that we should walk in them—be the mountain of a man you need to be to move your mountain!
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out most to you about God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants which included sanctions, covenant blessings for obedience and covenant curses for disobedience?
- What was most attractive to you about Nehemiah’s heart?
- Which lessons about prayer most stood out. Which do you most want to remember?
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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 nature
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How 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?
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Summary: As we return to our pre-Christmas study of I Timothy, we come to chapter three, where Paul lays out the qualifications to serve as an elder in the church. In doing so, he gives us a portrait of not only the character required for spiritual leadership, but of leadership that even the secular world acknowledges attracts followers.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How does Paul’s insistence that fulfilling a spiritual leadership position is a “noble task” affect your perspective about such positions?
- How can we better remember that fulfilling the leadership positions assigned to us by Jesus with excellence brings honor to Him?
- Which of the six virtues most stood out to you 1) above reproach, 2) a one-woman man, 3) sober-minded, 4) self-controlled, 5) exhibiting an ordered life, 6) demonstrating love for the outsider.
- Which of the above six do you most need to focus upon building?
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Episode Summary: One of the habits of Jesus that is often overlooked, but extremely powerful is his habit of regularly withdrawing to a secluded place to intercede for his loved ones. This episode investigates the biblical evidence for believing Satan cannot stand against prayer made in Jesus’ name for the growth of kingdom righteousness in our own hearts and over the earth.
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Episode Summary. If you are disheartened, battered, discouraged or weary from fighting the good fight because of all the heartache and spiritual bruising my hope is that this episode will give such a clear picture of the colossal triumph of Messiah Jesus—and our part in that victory, that in some small way the pain is lessened, because we GRASP the ENORMITY of our WIN.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How does Jesus’ title Prince of Peace reinforce the truth that the gospel has four chapters, creation, fall, redemption, restoration and not just two, fall and redemption?
- What stood out to you about the meaning of the Hebrew word, shalom? Why would it be biblical to say that shalom is the answer to all the levels of poverty in the world?
- Why would you support the argument that one of the highest callings of Christians is to spread the kingdom of righteousness in their vocations?
- What aspects of kingdom righteousness in the workplace stood out to you?
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Episode Summary. In producing this episode we inadvertently uploaded a Dec 14th episode from a past December 14th, not 2025. This is the corrected version recorded two days ago. Sometimes a single word can be loaded with meaning: Mom, Dad, Darling, Champion, Failure. Single words can be so important that Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As we continue our series on the titles of Messiah Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, both of words that make up this title are loaded with a wealth of meaning, encouragement, and hope. The title is EVERLASTING FATHER.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What are the differences that a person would normally have in his relationship with his king and his father?
- Is it overstating the case to say that Christianity is best summarized by saying that Christ did to pay for our sins so that the guilt that blocks us from a relationship with the Holy One of Israel could be removed so that we can have an eternal personal relationship with him?
- Why would a compassionate leader be easier to follow than one who is not?
- What is the worst part of being a vessel that Jesus the Potter is cutting into? What is the best part?
- How would you persuade a non-believer that holding the opinion that Jesus was a great teacher is logically untenable?
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Episode Summary. Sometimes a single word can be loaded with meaning: Mom, Dad, Darling, Champion, Failure. Single words can be so important that Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As we continue our series on the titles of Messiah Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, both of words that make up this title are loaded with a wealth of meaning, encouragement, and hope. The title is EVERLASTING FATHER.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What are the differences that a person would normally have in his relationship with his king and his father?
- Is it overstating the case to say that Christianity is best summarized by saying that Christ did to pay for our sins so that the guilt that blocks us from a relationship with the Holy One of Israel could be removed so that we can have an eternal personal relationship with him?
- Why would a compassionate leader be easier to follow than one who is not?
- What is the worst part of being a vessel that Jesus the Potter is cutting into? What is the best part?
- How would you persuade a non-believer that holding the opinion that Jesus was a great teacher is logically untenable?
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Episode Summary. Why did the long-awaited Messiah of Israel have to be the MIGHTY GOD—and what does that title mean for our everyday walk with Jesus today? That is the topic of today’s episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you support the idea that the overall teaching of the OT is that the real oppression of Israel was done by foreign military powers but by SIN? Why might this point to the fact that the deliverer would have to be God, himself?
- Paul commanded Christ-followers to abhor evil. What stood out to you in this episode about the awfulness of sin?
- When it comes to being strong in the Lord and the strength of his might, which aspects of appropriating Christ’s power to fight spiritually stood out to you?
- Which piece of spiritual armor do you most need to start putting on?
- How does the depth of evil to be driven out by prayer motivate us to persevere in prayer?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
- Check 6 Wallet Card comes in a 5 Pack
- The Check 6 tool is designed to go with the book, Got Your Back: Helping Christian Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need.
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Episode Summary. For the next four weeks, our focus is on the first and most foundational part of our mission—deepening our love relationship with Christ. We will do this by zooming the camera in on four titles of Jesus given in the Isaiah 9 prophecy of the coming Messiah Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What do these titles tell us about Jesus and what difference these descriptions of our Commander in Chief make in our everyday lives? This episode examines Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Do you agree or disagree that every man has a little of Pat Tillman in him—a capacity to be inspired by a great mission.
- How would you argue that the most foundational part of our mission as Christ-followers to deepen our love relationship with Jesus?
- What stood out to you as take aways from the truth revealed to us by God the Jesus the Messiah would be the Wonderful Counselor?
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Episode Summary: Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. This episode examines the impact of critical theory aka cultural Marxism, upon some Christians' thinking today in their view of ICE, law-enforcement, and gender roles.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How does “cultural Marxism” sound like what you’ve heard about (economic), i.e. regular Marxism?
- If justice means there must be no disparities of money, ability, or power in society, why does it logically follow that the “have nots” will be hostile to the “haves?” Why might they be able to justify a revolution as Mao did in China?
- Why would it be tragic if the legitimate enforcement of the law were seen as authoritarianism? Knowing that holders of authority can and do use it unjustly, why do you think God takes such a strong stand (in Rom 13 and I Pet 2) requiring Christians to obey authority.
- What do you think of the argument that the biblical teaching about gender roles and church leadership is so clear that to deny it strongly suggests Christians are being shaped by culture and not Scripture?
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Episode Summary: As the Apostle Paul issues a direct charge to his young protégé, Timothy, the charge is not, “preach the Word,” “preach grace and not the law,” “care for those under your care,” or even “be faithful to your call.” His charge is to fight the good fight. This episode explains what Paul means by this and practically speaking how Christian men today can answer this call to fight for those under their care.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- If I am called to fight the good fight for those God has sovereignly place around me, and I desert from the battle line, what does it mean for those I’m called to fight for?
- How does Paul’s statement that God desires humans to be saved from sin and come to a knowledge of the truth related to Jesus’ teaching that we are to seek to dispel the kingdom of evil and darkness from our lives and the world and replace it with the righteousness and light of his kingdom?
- Why battle for people to see truth?
- Why are a good conscience and faith prerequisites for successful fighting?
- How might the things we ask for in prayer for ourselves and others, be impacted by realizing that the good fight is for the fruit of righteousness to be formed in us and others as well as for Satan’s lies to be torn down?
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Episode Summary: In Psalm 119:97, David cries out, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”But Paul wrote to the Romans, “You are not under law but under grace,” (6:14) and to the Galatians, “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law”(5:18). So, for Christians, which is it? Are we called to live free from the Law or devoted to the Law? As we continue our study of I Timothy we realize that the question of the place of the law for Christians was an issue that Timothy and other church leaders at Ephesus were wrestling with. This episode examines what Paul said to Timothy as well as what the rest of Scripture says about whether a believer should try to be righteous, i.e. keep the law.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would try to explain to a new believer that when Paul said that Christians don’t live “under the law” he was referring to how we are SAVED, not how we are TO LIVE.
- What stood out to you about the three categories of biblical law?
- Look back at the 8 texts and reasons that pursuing righteousness is NOT legalism. Which ones seemed most persuasive to you.
- In David’s Psalm 119 cry, “O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” why might he associate loving God’s law with meditating on it?
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Episode Summary: Paul taught Timothy that genuine Christian leaders are focused not on philosophical speculation or useless theological debate but upon being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. He instructed Timothy, Charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the STEWARDSHIP from God that is by faith. This term, stewardship, is a very rich word, with an enormous biblical theme behind it to describe our mission as Christ-followers. In fact, Jesus taught that it is being faithful stewards that leads to hearing “well done” from the Master. This episode provides a rich biblical overview of this concept and 5 ways to rule our lives for Jesus.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which aspects of being made in God’s image most point to us being made to order every aspect of human life FOR the king, in your opinion?
- How would you support the idea that the Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of the nations,” is a renewal of Adam’s original commission, “Be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it?”
- How would you defend the idea that if our outer world is ever going to be ordered for God, the reason will be that we’ve become convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity?
- Which of the 5 steps given to govern our outer world from the inner world do you most want to remember?
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Summary
The strains of egalitarianism and cultural Marxism which identify biblical authority structures as themselves, “evil,” are infecting our loved ones, causing them to resist the rule of law. They need a biblical understanding of God-established authority in civil society, the church, and the home despite the flaws of those filling those God-designed roles. This episode reveals a surprising truth: God has ordained leadership in civil society, the church, and the home for the purpose of leaders giving their followers love.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you defend the statement, “Though sometimes authority structures are filled by corrupt individuals, undermining God’s ordained authority structures in civil society, the church, and the home is evil, because those structure’s purpose is LOVE?”
- In your own words, why does sacrificial love issue from a pure heart?
- In your own words, why does sacrificial love issue from a clean conscience?
- In your own words, why does sacrificial love issue from a sincere faith?
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Episode Summary. Not only does God have a specific mission for you in 2023, which Paul summarizes in Ephesians 2:10 as good works, but that mission is so important that God specifically designed you for it—to have your specific place and responsibilities in your family, your natural gifts and vocational calling, your specific spiritual gifts with which to contribute to the Body of Christ, and your specific relationships with the lost. God has designed both ME—and THE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES I WILL HAVE IN 2023 to impact my world for Christ. This episode looks at how to overcome a disordered life, so that you and I can stay focused on Christ’s mission for us—and so bring him honor in 2023.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What do you think is the biggest cost of living a disordered life?
- Why might the failure to have a concrete understanding of your mission, make it easy to live a disordered life?
- What are the pluses and minuses of defining our mission as the MFMfC podcast does, i.e. Called TO Christ, Called TO BE LIKE Christ, Called to EXERCISE DOMINI0N for Christ?
- What benefits of overcoming a disordered life stand out to you?
- What do you think are the biggest challenges to living an ordered outer life because you have ordered your inner private world?
Resources Used in Today’s Podcast
Crazy Busy, by Kevin DeYoung
Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald
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Episode 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.
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Science confirms the truth we are given in Genesis 2:15—that Adam is designed to shape and protect the garden. Since Adam and Eve’s sin brought Satan, sin, and destruction into the garden, all our efforts to shape our lives and culture in righteousness are opposed by this triumvirate. We must fight, in the power of Christ, for every inch of ground. Today we examine a powerful WEAPON for this fight: prayer. But viewing prayer as a weapon for fighting is probably NOT what most men think of prayer as being for. They see prayer as praise to God, confession to God, thankfulness to God, requesting God’s help for those grieving or having surgery. But rarely do we see prayer used the way Paul tells us in Eph 6”18 it is to be used: as an act of war. And when men understand this dimension of prayer, prayer moves from being a guilt-producing obligation to becoming a life-changing thrill! Could that happen in your prayer life? Yes, and that is our goal in this episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do think Christians don’t see prayer more as a weapon?
- What is wrong with saying that after the resurrection, Jesus left this world to go back to heaven and be with God?
- What does Jesus want Christians to during this stage of salvation history, between his ascension to God’s right hand and his final return?
- Why is it important, that Jesus prefaced his command to make disciples of all nations with, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Therefore…”?
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Summary: “The biblical context for viewing all of life’s events is called spiritual warfare—the age-old conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light…. Biblically and practically speaking, we are in a spiritual war. The Christian’s spiritual enemy is not in uniform, and he doesn’t meet us on an identifiable battlefield. He uses ruthless and unconventional tactics such as deceit, deflection, and disguise…. The church of Jesus Christ needs to know its enemies and his strategies. Above all, Christians need to know how to gain victory over this enemy.” (The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book). In this episode, we take a practical look at HOW TO USE the sword of the Spirit to resist thoughts and temptations that seek to entice us off the path of life and onto the road to destruction.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Do you think this is a fair statement? If a man is not winning his own spiritual battles, he won’t be very effective helping his wife and children win theirs.
- Describe in your own words the power of the Word of God.
- What did you learn from our examination of the way Jesus wielded the sword of the Spirit?
- Of the 13 temptations, listed, which 2 or 3 do you most need to be able to parry, by quoting Scripture?
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Episode Summary: This episode departs from our current series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons to seek to put a biblical lens over the event that has captivated our national thinking over the past ten days—the assassination of Charlie Kirk and his impact upon the rising generation. This episode seeks to think biblically about the cause of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and what Charlie’s remarkable impact upon millions of young men and women across America can teach us.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you respond to someone who tried to argue that Charlie’s death had nothing to do with the left-wing ideology embrace by his killer Tyler Robinson.
- What do you think is the difference between patriotism and Christian nationalism. (Hint—whenever you see ism attached to a word it describes a worldview).
- Which aspects of Charlie’s example do you find most inspiring. How can you allow that inspiration to bring about a change in your life?
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. As we seek to run well the race marked out for us, this calling means advancing the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own hearts, attitudes, and behavior, not to mention and shaping each sphere of life with Christ’s agenda. But it is very easy to think, “Who am I to spread righteousness anywhere? Whoever thinks that’s my job in life, doesn’t understand the corruption of MY heart and weakness of MY flesh.” But it is Christ who told his followers to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Jesus calls us to this primary life focus, knowing the weakness of our sinful nature because his plan has never been for us to seek righteousness in our own strength but in his. He tell us, Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. We fight in his might by using the weapons he has provided. This episode tries to define in practical terms how to put on the helmet of salvation and how that protects us in the fight to do the right thing.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why does taking up the helmet of salvation mean something different from just thinking biblically about stuff.
- How does putting on the helmet of salvation protect us from thinking we are too dirty for God to love?
- Why does being saved by grace alone cause a true Christian to be drawn to those who need mercy?
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Episode Summary: Christ has called you and me to follow him in his cause of defeating evil and establishing his righteous kingdom over every square inch of human hearts and lives. There is no other man who can replace you in your life, in the arenas you have been called to. If you leave your place in line, it will remain empty. You must be the hero in your own story. There is no extra or stunt man to fill in for you. Winning your spiritual battles matters. You will celebrate for eternity the ones you win tomorrow and the next day and the day after that because each victory has honored Christ. This episode examines how we protect ourselves from Satan’s fiery arrows by lifting up our shield of faith.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- For you, what is the hardest part of remembering that winning your spiritual battles matters?
- What circumstances tend to be the occasion for you to doubt God’s goodness and whether following Christ is worth it?
- Of the six aspects of our Faith Shield mentioned, which “Trust God because…” statement do you most want to remember?
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Summary
This episode continues our study of the armor of God and finishes looking at Eph 6:15, where we’re told to put on, as our shoes, the readiness of the gospel of peace. Most Christian men want to be contagious Christians. We know that sharing our faith is something our Lord wants us to do and when we do seize opportunities to talk with others about Christ the experience pumps joy and energy into our walk with Him. We also realize that if we are to lead our homes well, our wives and kids need to see us modeling Jesus’ love for the lost and a commitment to seeking ways to share him with others. So, we want to be ready, when the opportunity presents itself, to steer a conversation towards the good news that our listener can have a personal relationship with Christ. This episode looks at three ways TO BE READY when that opportunity arises.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Does realizing that Jesus tailored the good news to others based on the way they were experiencing the brokenness of life in this fallen world discourage you because it makes sharing Christ harder, since there is no “one size fits all” or encourage you because it helps you realize how wise we are to be about relationships and the uniqueness of every human?
- Which 2 or 3 of those in your circle of lost associates and friends has God put on your hearts. What might be missing in their lives compared to what you have in Christ?
- Is God prompting you to be more intentional about praying for and reaching the lost? What might additional intentionality look like for you.
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Episode Summary. Often Christians think of evangelism like this: It is having the courage to overcome every piece of emotional intelligence we’ve learned about relationships, and intruding into the life of a co-worker, neighbor, or stranger to tell someone, who doesn’t want to hear it, the gospel message that they are a sinner in need of a savior, and then being willing to suffer rejection if we are accused of being preachy. If that is what sharing our faith looks like, who would want to do it? But this view is NOT BIBLICAL. It has major flaws. This episode identifies these flaws and ends up showing a biblical view of sharing our faith that is winsome and begins where people are instead of where we want them to be.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why is it misleading to understand the Greek word for evangelism(EUANGELIZO) to mean preaching the gospel to others?
- How does understanding the four-chapter gospel help us realize that Christ’s kingdom power is for more than just an eternal life insurance policy?
- Can you think of biblical examples not mentioned in this episode of Jesus tailoring the good news of the kingdom to the point of brokenness being felt by his listener?
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Summary: Do you ever feel like our side is losing in the spiritual battle—that the powers of darkness and evil are winning? Perhaps more specific to our own lives, do you ever wonder why the Christian life is so hard, why sin so easily ensnares us, why our whole-hearted resolve on Sunday to love Jesus better by obeying him more has given way to blatant sin by Sunday night? Today we continue our series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Paul tells us that to fight evil we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. But most of us don’t even know what the breastplate of righteousness is, much less how to put it on. At the end of this episode, we want everyone to have a clear picture of what this piece of armor is and begin winning more spiritual battles because we put it on.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is the motivation for hungering and thirsting for righteousness for one who is confident of God’s unconditional love? How does that contrast with the moralist’s view of the moral law?
- What is the difference between seeking righteousness and being legalistic?
- How would you summarize Paul’s command to put on the breastplate of righteousness? What stood out to you about HOW to do this?
- How is the fourth beatitude (Matt 5:6) a prerequisite for putting on the breastplate of righteousness?
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Episode Summary: Is our mission today, as Christians living in America, to recover America as a Christian nation? As we process what happened in the last election and the storming of the Capitol since, Christians are divided. Eschewing passivity, many believers feel impelled to speak up on the social media to fight a movement rooted in ungodliness, which they see shaping our culture. They are appalled that younger Christian leaders either don’t seem to see this happening or seem to lack the courage to speak up about it. Other believers are horrified at the views they hear expressed by Christians on social media, which exhibit a kind of “Christian Nationalism” and exhibit Christians to be combative towards those with whom they disagree, violating Christ’s clear command, love your neighbor, not to mention, love your enemy. This episode continues our series Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons by examining how to encircle ourselves with the belt of God’s truth, which must be the starting point for sharing that truth in the culture. Then we consider how to be persuasive as salt and light in the culture, and in particular the dangers of being right, but sharing truth in a HARMFUL, rather than a COMPELLING way
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which aspect of fastening the belt of truth around ourselves stood out to you?
- Why is it important in today’s word to surround our loved ones with truth?
- How does Jesus’ teaching not to give holy things to dogs or throw our pearls before swine resonate with your experience? Are there times when you have thought that a person is not spiritually in a place to hear this truth?
- How do Paul and Barnabas follow this teaching from Jesus in Acts 13:44-49. What Thoughts do you have about trying to determine is a potential hearer of biblical truth is in a place to value it or not?
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Every guy who reads this blog would stand at the door of his house with a shotgun to protect his family physically. But most Christian men feelinept and inadequateat fighting to protect them, spiritually. As we saw last week, Jesus told his disciples the ultimate weapon for defeating Satan is prayer. But if we are going to use this weapon effectively in spiritual battle, we need to understand it. This episode continues our study of what Jesus taught are the six basic parts of effective prayer, in Matt 6:9-13.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to a believer who said he thought that reciting the Lord’s prayer at the end of his daily bible reading is what Jesus taught?
- What struck you about Jesus teaching us to tell our heavenly father what our practical needs are? Have you ever thought about keeping a prayer journal?
- Why does it make sense that one of the six prayer concerns we should have is looking at past events to see if there is unconfessed guilt or resentment towards another?
- How can you be more watchful of temptation coming into your life?
Recommended Resource.
The Focus Notebook is a great tool to help you organize your prayer life.
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Summary: As we seek to run well the race marked out for us, i.e. advance the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own lives, God has ordained one, primary offensive weapon that overthrows the kingdom of darkness: PRAYER. Jesus said to Peter, “Satan has demanded to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you “(Luke 22:31-32). One veteran missionary writes, There is nothing on earth that Satan so fears as prayer. He cannot triumph over prevailing prayer. Satan is more afraid of your praying than of your pure life or zealous witness. One’s life may be a beautiful witness that cannot be silenced, but prayer is a militant force that has the potential of defeating Satan, destroying his works, and driving him out of places and lives he claims as his own. This episode examines how to unlock the power of prayer in our spiritual battles because we know what Jesus taught about how to pray.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Why is it important to you to remember that your prayers are directed to one who has adopted you into his family at great cost?
- Why is the name of God worthy of supreme honor. How can you increase the passion for your life to bring the Lord honor?
- What would you say to gently correct someone who thought that praying, “Thy kingdom come” means to ask Jesus to return to earth soon?
- What was the most exciting part of the story of the Kingdom of Christ prevailing on a piece of ground in Fort Collins, CO?
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Summary: In the last episode we observed that no one can nurture a child as well as his own or her own mother can. Similarly, no one can be the father to your children that you can be. Our job as fathers is to help our daughters flourish—to become all that God created them to be. This episode examines two ingredients required by every daughter’s heart for her to be able to thrive.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In Matthew 3:17, as Jesus, God The Son Incarnate, was about to embark on his career, he heard the audible words of God The Father from heaven saying what every child wants to hear from his or her father. What are those words and how do they related to what we’ve examined about a daughter’s needs?
- What stood out most to you about a daughter’s needs?
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Summary: In today’s world, many of our female loved ones are engaged in a very personal spiritual battle about their identity and calling as women, and how motherhood fits into that calling. This episode shows how the mistake of overvaluing motherhood will hurt them and how undervaluing motherhood can be devastating. Only the biblical worldview gets this balance right; so that is our topic today.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How can understanding colonial culture where work took place at home, help you understand the conflict that today’s mothers have between making a cultural contribution (vocation) and motherhood?
- How can you lead the way to help men understand that the separation of home and workplace means they have to work harder to build relationships with their family members, so they can lead their homes well?
Recommended Resource:
I highly recommend the primary source used in this episode to evaluate the impact of the Industrial Revolution on family life, Nancy Pearcey’s book, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity
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Episode Summary: Our calling as men, to help others flourish, means helping our daughters and granddaughters build confidence in the way God created them to be female. Gender differences are profoundly related to our sense of identity. Before helping men know how to winsomely explain the biblical worldview of gender, the podcast identifies two big obstacles that routinely prevent others from being open to the biblical worldview. This episode then articulates the glory of God’s design of humans as male and female. It then suggests questions men might asked their daughters or granddaughters to open their hearts to the biblical view of gender.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- The best way to teach female loved ones the biblical worldview of gender is by exhibiting godly manhood. What are some places you can improve your commitment to helping others flourish?
- What have been the objections you have heard to the biblical worldview of gender. Which parts of the biblical picture might they be missing?
Recommended Resource:
The Meaning of Marriage; Facing the Complexities of Commitment With the Wisdom of God, by Tim and Kathy Keller.
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Episode Summary: As we close out this Fatherhood Month series, we return to the Andrew Tate phenomenon that is impacting teen guys in our churches, with which we began this series. Tate says, “There is zero advantage to marriage for a man. If you use your mind, if you use your head instead of your heart, and you look at the advantages to getting married, there are absolutely none.” But, in fact research proves Tate completely wrong. Married men and women who have children are in fact happier, wealthier and more fulfilled than their single and childless counterparts. The biblical worldview is that marriage is the foundational institution for society, mentioned in Scripture before the church or civil governments. This episode presents the biblical worldview of marriage, identifying four purposes of marriage, which explain why it is so fulfilling, along with the high biblical view of sexual union, which is so important that God commands married coups to have sex often.
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For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which of the four purposes of marriage most stood out to you. Why does it make sense that God’s design for conceiving a child is a husband and wife united in the covenant of marriage who have promised to love each other, “till death us do part?”
- What stood out most to you in the Bible’s High View of Sex? Which of these truths do you wish you knew earlier?
- How do you think this material on marriage and sex might change a high school guy’s view of God and sex?
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Episode Summary: This past week, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s law, which blocks all transgender medical treatments on those under 18, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries. This ruling is an encouraging sign; but it is also a reminder of the torrential flood of polluted messages coming from social media, shouting for the past twenty years that gender identity is fluid, different gender roles are unjust, and same-sex attraction is normal. This entire month our podcast focus is providing help to our boys to withstand the cultural pressure squeezing them into its false, destructive views about masculinity and femininity. This episode might surprise you because it argues that our rising generation of guys needs to understand God’s design not just of their own masculinity—but God’s design of femininity as well.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are some examples from your world that reveal the gender-blending worldview that is undermining God’s design of creation differences between men and women?
- Which arguments for men and young men to understand God’s revealed design of women make the most sense to you?
- What do you think of the Gospel Coalition’s argument by John Piper and the late Tim Keller that egalitarianism is a flat-out denial of the teaching of God’s Word, i.e. that there is no exegetical way to support egalitarianism from Scripture?
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Episode Summary: To aim low, when it comes to our efforts to guide our sons into godly manhood is to fail them and to fail the Lord. Toxic, self-centered, masculinity is real in this world; it has harmed countless women. Its only cure is the gospel of Jesus Christ which transforms. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17). Answering Jesus’ call to Christian men to show the world his power of Jesus to fix broken manhood, restoring it to its self-sacrificing design, has never been more important. This episode examines the very high bar of what God designed manhood to be and calls us to pursue it.
Click to find out more about Men Helping Sons Embrace Biblical Manhood: A Five Week Study for High School Guys Designed for Dads or Youth Leaders to Lead or TO ORDER.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why not go easy on ourselves and set the bar of masculinity that we live out low. After all, who likes to serve and sacrifice for others?
- When you consider that the first call of manhood is to sweat so others prosper and die to ourselves so that others flourish, does that inspire a sense of noble calling or inner resistance to living a life of sacrifice for others?
- Which component of the call to protect loved ones from destructive ideas, stood out most to you. How can you do a better job with such protection?
- Since men want to be strong, why does the call to spiritual strength given by David, Paul, and John not inspire Christian men better to be spiritual warriors.
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Episode Summary: Jesus closed his most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount, with the warning that those who ignore his words build their lives on the worst possible foundation—sand. Our sons, daughters, and grandchildren who build their marriages and families by ignoring God’s design of created gender differences and assigned gender roles build on a foundation that is bound to collapse, sand. In contrast, said Jesus, are those who build their lives on obedience to his Word, which would include God’s delineation of created gender differences in Genesis and assigned gender differences in responsibility in their marriages and homes. This group builds their family on a foundation as solid and secure as rock. This month’s series, Men Helping Sons Embrace Biblical Manhood, explains a tool by that name. It is a five-week study for high school sons led by dads, youth leaders or men’s ministries, which you can use or help promote. Today we examine six reasons from this resource that helping our sons follow God’s “manhood script” matters.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- It is hard to overstate the prominence that God gives to his manhood and womanhood scripts in the first two of 1189 chapters of his revelation. Why do you think Christians today don’t think more about those scripts?
- What do you think of the statement, “Healthy males want to develop their masculine identity?” How is the identity of a male Christian like the identity of a female one and how is different?
- Which of the six reasons given that God’s “manhood script” should matter to high school guys most stood out to you?
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Episode Summary: Andrew Tate is a former is a kickboxing-champion-turned-social-media-influencer who has become popular among young men for his views on modern masculinity. He has over ten million followers on X. Regarding his influence on American Christian teen boys, Nancy Pearcey, author of The Toxic War on Masculinity, wrote recently on X: A former graduate student of mine now teaches at a high school, and she sent me an email saying, “All my male students are fans of Andrew Tate. They are even including quotes from Andrew Tate in the yearbook.” I asked, “Where do you teach?” She answered, “At a classical Christian school.” I believe that young Christian men are paying attention to Andrew Tate, because he is pushing back against the cultural pressure that is emasculating men. This episode examines closely five identifiable components of that pressure, coming not only from the culture but from the church.[=
New Resource:
Men Helping Son's Embrace Biblical Manhood: A Five-Week Study for High School Guys Designed for Dads or Youth Leaders to Lead
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are your thoughts about the growing popularity of Andrew Tate even among Christian men?
- Which parts of the secular culture’s attack on masculinity stood out most to you?
- Which parts of the church’s egalitarian attack on biblical teaching or Bible- believing church leaders reticence to celebrate the glory of God’s gender design bother you the most?
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Episode Summary: The great theologian Augustine prayed famously, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” King David would have been the first to affirm Augustine’s observation about human nature in general and his own longings. He begins Psalm 63 with the words. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you. David knew that he was created to enjoy a love relationship with God. But the event from David’s life that we study in this episode reveals David learning an important lesson about God’s presence: You can’t enjoy that presence if you ignore the holiness of God.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What does God’s presence in your life mean to you?
- How would you summarize the lesson David learned when Uzzah was struck dead as they moved the Ark to Jerusalem.
- What are your thoughts about remembering the holiness of God in our everyday lives. Why might that be important?
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Episode Summary: YESTERDAY’S spiritual passion doesn’t supply TODAY’S spiritual energy. Fired up hearts through Scripture inspiring us or by seeing God’s hand answering our prayers ignite our passion for the moment or day. But all too quickly that passion cools, as the rain from a new day’s storms hits—circumstances that go all wrong, obstacles that make simple tasks harder than they should be, our own disappointing failures. Spiritual passion seems to dissipate quickly, and before we know it, we are discouraged, disheartened, and unmotivated. This episode looks at one of the lowest points in David’s life, how he recovered his spiritual passion, and the lessons we can learn from him.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What aspects of David’s depleted condition in 1 Samuel 30:1-6 stand out to you? With which of them do you most identify?
- What stood out most to you about the four ways that David strengthened himself in the LORD his God?
- Why might it bring encouragement to those facing trials to realize that nearly every worthwhile endeavor has three stages
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Episode Summary: In the beatitudes, Jesus paints a portrait of spiritual vitality and health into which Christ’s kingdom members are being transformed. But at the root of that transformation process is cutting out the cancer of sin. Such excision of sin requires both confessing it, the first beatitude, and grieving over it, the second beatitude. The combination of these two attitudes is called repentance. The problem is that Christians can be lured into a kind of shallow, incomplete repentance that is destructive. It might be compared to surgery to remove the cancerous tumor that misses part of the tumor. Paul calls it “worldly sorrow that leads to death.” In contrast, says Paul, is “godly sorrow leading to repentance.” This godly sorrow corresponds to getting all the tumor and then using chemotherapy to destroy what is microscopic and missed. This kind of sorrow is the heart attitude Jesus refers to in the second beatitude. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” It is an attitude that is exhibited by David. It is described in unmistakable detail in Psalm 51, which he wrote after being confronted with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah. It is chemotherapy for sin.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you defend the argument that confessing our sins is not enough; we need to grieve over them.
- What most stood out to you about David’s confession of his sin in Psalm 51?
- How does Jesus’ claim to be the messianic suffering servant whose ministry is described in Isaiah 61 show that his mission goes beyond going to the cross so we could be forgiven for our sins? What clues in Isaiah 61 and the second beatitude point to Jesus’ current work of restoration—fixing whatever was broken by sin?
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Summary: Early in Jesus’ ministry, on a small mountainside outside of Capernaum, Jesus picked up his verbal pen and painted a portrait of human life when it is restored to the way it is intended to be, by his power to overthrow sin. This portrait of kingdom life begins with eight heart attitudes that comprise righteousness. Today we examine the second of these beatitudes, not only because it is so fundamental to spiritual flourishing, but because it was clearly portrayed in King David’s heart after he was confronted with his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah by the prophet Nathan. This priceless attitude is a broken and contrite heart. Jesus said, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Mt 5:4).
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you summarize the meaning of the second beatitude, Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted?
- Jesus called us to grieve over our own sin and the destruction sin brings into others’ lives before he presses on to the call to spread the kingdom of righteousness over the earth. Why might this order be important?
- As we looked at five perspective adjustments that we might have to make about the awfulness of our sin, which are expressed by David in Psalm 51 which ones stood out to you most.
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Summary: This episode continues our series on the life of David by examining his battle to fight the temptation that survey’s reveal is at the top of men’s temptations—overcoming lust and, if married, directing their sexual desires totally towards the wife of their youth. We study David’s fall and the lessons we can take away from this biblical example.
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.)
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Episode Summary: The resurrection reminds us that the gospel is not just about our personal, private salvation and growth in holiness (which is called the two-chapter gospel.) Such a gospel leads to separating from the lost, forgetting their inherent value as those created in God’s image, and devaluing the (common grace) contributions they make to our culture. In contrast, the resurrection of Christ’s physical body reminds us that the true gospel story has four chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Christ-followers are called to be part of the greatest mission in the history of the world, Christ’s renewal of our corner of planet earth to bring about the righteousness and flourishing that God intends for each part of his creation. This episode seeks to capture our hearts with the greatness of the mission our Lord has assigned to us.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Celebrate the fact that your calling from Christ is to part of the biggest enterprise in the history of the world—Christ’s overthrow of Satan, sin, and death and establishment of his kingdom of righteousness over nook and cranny of earth.
- The Council of Nicaea countered the heresy that Christ’s resurrection was just spiritual by insisting that Orthodox Christianity believes in the resurrection of the body. It also decreed that all towns with cathedrals build hospitals. How are these two decisions related to one another?
- How does the two-chapter gospel deny what Jesus said was his reason for coming to earth when he quoted Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor”?
Resources Used
- All Things New by Hugh Whelchel
- The Call of the Jericho Roadby Tim Keller
- Discipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theology by Gary Yagel (doctoral dissertation)
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Episode Summary: Though we associate Jesus’ arrival on a donkey with children and palm branches, those actually with Jesus who shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” saw his arrival as the coming of the promised Messianic King who would fully and finally overthrow their enemies. This episode is devoted to better understanding the nature of Christ’s kingship and kingdom, which was not only misunderstood by the crowd and his disciples but is misunderstood by many Christians today.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out to you from David’s foreshadowing, Ezekiel’s prophecy or Jesus’ triumphal entry that emphasized our calling to fight Satan?
- What stood out to you from David’s foreshadowing, Ezekiel’s prophecy or Jesus’ triumphal entry that emphasized our calling to battle our sinful nature and strive for godly attitudes?
- What stood out to you from David’s foreshadowing, Ezekiel’s prophecy or Jesus’ triumphal entry that emphasized our calling to join in Jesus restoration of everything on planet earth broken by sin?
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Episode Summary: Since it is the nature of men to want to win in everything they do, Christian Christ-followers want to win as disciples. Paul defines this success as reaching spiritual maturity, but such a target on the wall can be nebulous. In I Samuel 24, however, David displays three striking marks of spiritual maturity that give us a clear example to emulate. This episode explains these three marks of spiritual maturity.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How can you better follow David’s example of listening to a biblically trained conscience even in the face of overpowering circumstances and peer pressure?
- If you think about it, Satan’s revolt and Adam and Eve’s sin were a defiance of God’s authority. How can Christians oppose injustice by those in authority but guard against movements that play upon sinful envy or rebellion against authority?
- What do David’s words to Saul teach you about how to forgive one who is unjustly harming us?
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Episode Summary. Many of us haven’t thought much about protecting our families, not just physically but emotionally. Feelings of depression, worry, bitterness, worthlessness, and fear can devastate our loved ones. One of the most eye-opening questions a husband can ask his wife is, “Are their fears that sometimes grip your heart?” This episode is designed to help us know how to cope with our own fears and know how to help our kids and wives deal with theirs. We will sit at the feet of David and see what he learned when terror filled his heart because he was captured and taken to the king of Gath—the ruler of the hometown of Goliath whose head David had cut off.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Although the pressure point you have faced may not be fear but another strong emotion, what can you learn from the first Psalm we studied, Psalm 56 about trusting God with the situation, the emotion in order to rest in God?
- Notice that as David pens Psalm 34, which looks back on the terrifying experience of being captured by the Philistines, he voices intense determination in the very first verse, to bless the Lord at all times. How do you think his experience of being captured and rescued from Achish strengthened this determination?
- What do you think of the idea that David’s invitation to everyone in Psalm 34, “taste and see that the Lord is good” is an excellent approach to evangelism. How might this idea shape our efforts to share Christ with those around us?
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Episode Summary. Christians find universal comfort in knowing that the Bible never flatters its heroes but exposes their numerous flaws. Such honesty inspires us with hope because we know that we ourselves are deeply flawed. Such a hero was David who had big successes but even bigger failures. This episode provides encouragement for all of us as we see David succeeding bigtime, failing bigtime, but always getting back up after he falls.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How is David typical of most Christian men?
- Consider the three steps David took in Psalm 59. Why might these steps enable us all to pass the test of our faith when we face impossible situations?
- David learned some hard lessons through his dishonesty, which cost the lives of the priestly families at Nob. Which of these lessons most stands out to you?
- Has your sin hurt another so badly that you have trouble believing that Jesus’ blood can really wash it' away. If so, ask Jesus to help you. Remember, every person sitting beside you in church is a murderer because it was our sin that sent Jesus to the cross.
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Episode Summary. Christian tradition records envy as one of the seven deadly sins, along with lust, greed, pride, gluttony, wrath, and laziness. God warns us, Envy makes the bones rot (Prov 14:30b). This episode examines how King Saul’s envy of David steadily eroded the health of his soul. It then examines how to attack four roots of envy that can grow in our hearts.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What new observations about competition, jealousy and envy stood out to you?
- What stands out most to you about the way envy got control of Saul?
- We observed four roots of envy: pride which wants to be exalted, low self-assurance that you are loved so you need peer respect too much, low self- esteem so you must prove yourself, and discontentment which makes you prone to wanting what others have. Which root concerns you most about your own life?
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Episode Summary. This episode examines the most famous friendship in the Bible the bond between Jonathan and David. We study their example to see how we can enjoy stronger brotherhood connections ourselves, because experiencing such brotherhood bonds has always been God’s intent, as Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 explains. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Resource Used for this Episode
- Got Your Back: Helping Christian Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need
- Check 6 Wallet Card Pack
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out to you the most about Jonathan and David’s friendship?
- What do you think of Stu Weber’s statement, “something inside us longs for someone to die with…someone to die beside…someone to lock step with. Another man with a heart like our own?” Have you ever had a friend like that?
- What steps do you need to take to build or to maintain the kind of brotherhood connection David and Jonathan had and Jesus modeled?
- What can you do to help the other men in the church get out of isolation and into brotherhood connections in the Body of Christ?
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John Eldredge is right when he says, “A man must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death, for this is written into the fabric of his being (Wild at Heart). The adage is true, “If a man doesn’t have a cause to die for, he doesn’t have a cause to live for.” This episode is about the greatest cause in the history of the world—the kingdom of Jesus defeating the kingdom of evil and spreading righteousness over earth. David’s defeat of Goliath, which foreshadowed Jesus’ victory over sin, provokes the question, “Is there some Goliath Jesus wants me to more intentionally fight,” and provides practical insight for spiritual battle from David’s defeat of Goliath.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Do you think there are some sins in Christian men’s lives that they have been so overpowered by that they give up fighting? What might they be? How can this story of David and Goliath give them faith to step onto the battlefield?
- Do you think there are cultural battles that many men believe reflect such spiritual power from the kingdom of darkness that they are reluctant to launch intentional fight against them?
- Which of the six principles exhibited in David’s defeat of Goliath stood out most to you?
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Episode Summary. One of the great truths of life is that one’s mental perspective determines one’s attitude. Eve believed the lie that God’s command not to eat the fruit was selfish and that God was keeping something to be desired—the knowledge of good and evil—from her. That perspective led to the attitude of rebellion which led to the action of sin. This episode seeks to better understand how wrong thinking leads to wrong attitudes, which is why we need to protect the rising generation from the destructive ideas invading their lives.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What examples most stood out to you about the way our mental perspective determines our attitude?
- Of the eight ideologies identified and evaluated through a biblical lens, which ones do you see most clearly in the culture? Which ones do you think are most deceiving teenagers?
- What are the evil parallels between Marxism and cultural Marxism? Why do you think that otherwise mature Christians who are calling the church back to a concern for social justice are falling into some of its evil tenets?
Link to Leadership Diagram
Link to Resources
- A Practical Guide to Culture, Stonestreet and Kunkle
- The Secular Creed, Rebecca McLaughlin
- Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age, Rosaria Butterfield
- Mamma Bear Apologetics, Hillary Ferrer
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This episode answers the question, “What do dads need to do to develop their child’s potential, i.e. to be faithful stewards of this treasure entrusted to us, not just because we love them, but because God has important contributions for them to make to his world.”
Link to Leadership Diagram
Past Podcast Episodes on spiritual gifts: S2 E #38-41, 7/18/21-8/8/21
Link to The Five Love Languages
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Summary: Marriage failure almost always begins with the loss of intimacy, i.e. closeness in the marriage. This episode examines what Scripture says married couples need to understand and do to experience both the emotional and sexual intimacy, which God designed marriage for.
Couples Study to Overcoming the Intimacy Misconnect in Marriage
She spells intimacy TALK. He spells intimacy SEX. This booklet is designed to be used by husband and wife during 3 dates to rediscover greater emotional and sexual intimacy in their marriage.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out to you about the purposes for which God’s designed marriage?
- What is the significance to you of remembering that marriage is both the joining of two lives (mind, will, and emotions) exhibited by leaving home, and the joining of two bodies in sex?
- When it comes to emotional intimacy, do you have more trouble opening up to your wife about what is going on inside or in helping her open up about what is going on inside her?
- If you are married, is there another woman in your spheres of life with whom you need to be more vigilant—not to allow yourselves to get too emotionally close?
VALENTINE’S DAY QUESTIONS FOR COUPLES
For Fun
- What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
- If you could be any cartoon character for a day, who would you be and why?
- What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen?
- If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- If you could have any animal as a pet, no matter how wild, what would you choose?
Warm Up
- What do you remember most about your first date?
- Share two things you most appreciate about your mate.
Emotional Intimacy
Husband to Wife
- What regular tasks in taking care of the family do you dislike the most or find most difficult?
- How can I help you shoulder your load at home?
- How can I better help you share your heart with me?
- What family problems do you feel need to be addressed?
- What are the worries and concerns that are weighing heavily on your heart?
- How can I best help you feel cherished by me?
- How can I support your use of your gifts that go beyond the home?
Wife to Husband
- How best can I help you when your emotional tank is on empty?
- What gets you down most at work? When there is something weighing heavily on you at work how can I best help you share it?
- How can I support your spiritual leadership in our home.
- Do I tell you often enough what I admire and respect about you?
Sexual Intimacy
- How do you feel about discussing sexual intimacy on this date?
- Why do you think God invented sex?
- What are two things you appreciate about each other as lovers?
- What sexual activities do you find most exciting?
- Is there anything else about our love-making that you want to tell me?
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Episode Summary. There is one investment you can make in your child’s future that God guarantees is more precious than gold, that will bring him a lifetime of enjoyment, a lifetime of protection from harm and a lifetime in which he is richly rewarded. It is explained in Psalm 19. This episode’s focus is on how to make such an investment.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- In the study of the six facets of the jewel of God’s Word—his law, testimony, precepts, commandments, fear, and judgements, which ones stood out most to you?
- Since God’s plan to bless the nations was to call Abraham and his family to faith and then the fathers command their children and households to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, why have Christian men been slow to focus on this responsibility?
- Why is it important, in teaching our kids, for us to follow the Deuteronomy 6 pattern to starting with our motive for loving the Law of God being to please him because he first loved us.
- Why do you think God tells parents in Deuteronomy 6 to talk about applying the Word of God throughout the day?
Link to Leadership Diagram
Link to New City Catechism
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Episode Summary. Spiritual leadership at home is bringing our followers along with us in our whole-hearted pursuit of Christ. Persuading them to join us in this pursuit is almost completely dependent upon winning their hearts, which requires building our love relationship with them. We are inspired by the example of Jonathan Edwards, whose commitment to building his relationship with each of his kids was manifested by his decision to take a different child with him each time he traveled to speak. This episode identifies four ways that dads are inclined to tear down their relationship with their kids and then provides five necessary investments to build it up.
Link to Leadership Diagram.
For Further Prayerful Thought,
- In what ways did Jonathan Edwards demonstrate what it takes to be a successful spiritual leader at home?
- What relationship busters are you most concerned about committing?
- Which of the following relationship builders do you think is most important for you to focus upon in your spiritual leadership at home: understanding, affirmation, companionship, compassion, attentiveness to practical needs?
Link to PDF about the Successful Spiritual Leadership at Home series
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Episode Summary. The word husband is from the world of agriculture; it means to cultivate. This episode points to seven ingredients identified in Scripture that Christian husbands are to pour into the soil of their wives’ hearts to cause them to flourish.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What are the strongest arguments for a Christ-following husband to continually invest the nutrients into his wife’s hear that she needs to flourish?
- Take a moment to review the first three needs mentioned in the podcast/blog. Which of these needs do you feel best about meeting in your wife? Which do you most want to remember to focus upon in the coming days?
- Take a moment to review the last four heart needs mentioned. Which of these needs seems most important to you? Which one do you most want to remember to try to better meet in the coming days?
- How can you do a better job of being intentional about meeting these needs in your wife’s heart?
Link to PDF about the Successful Spiritual Leadership at Home series
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Episode Summary. Almost all men would love more consistency in their lives. We know that is the key to success in every area of life, not the least important of which is success leading our homes well. But how can we more consistently stay focused on our mission from Jesus? This episode supplies two answers: First we must have clear picture of the goal towards which we are heading and leading our families—spiritual maturity as Christ’s disciple. Most of us have only a vague idea of what mature discipleship looks like, and it is hard to take a first step towards a fuzzy goal or lead others to reach it. So, we look to Scripture and arrive at three concrete callings that reflect Jesus’ call to discipleship for all of us. The second way to stay focused on our mission is to follow a clear pattern for managing his life that Jesus clearly followed. This pattern not only helps us stay focused but it renews our spiritual energy.
Link to Leadership Diagram
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Why does it make sense that spiritual leadership at home which seeks to lead our families to be fully devoted mature followers of Jesus, requires us to stay focused on this mission ourselves.
- What are the differences you can think of between having a clear picture of mature discipleship versus a fuzzy picture of mature discipleship?
- What does Jesus’ routine withdrawal into his private world with the Father to discuss his mission imply for his followers? Why don’t more Christians follow this pattern?
Link to PDF about the Successful Spiritual Leadership at Home series
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Episode Summary. This episode begins by noting that Genesis 3:17 tells us that God’s curse upon Adam for his rebellion in the Garden of Eden was not just for transgressing the command not to eat the fruit but for his reversal of God’s created order of roles. Man’s call to lead the home matters to God. This episode examines what leadership is and is not, providing a diagram for understanding the three functions of leadership. We then add flesh to this skeletal structure by shaping a 5-fold job description for men as they function as spiritual leaders of their homes.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Why do you thin God told Adam he was being punished for his role reversal as well as eating the forbidden fruit?
- What stood out to you in this episode about what leadership is not?
- How would use explain the three functions of leadership? (arrows in the diagram)
- What stood out to you about the job description of men being the spiritual leaders at home?
Link to Leadership Diagram.
Link **to PDF about the Successful Spiritual Leadership at Home series
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Episode Summary. Mary, one of the godliest women who ever lived, agreed to bear God’s child and what does she receive? A sword to her soul. Few song writers I know have put Simeon’s promise that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul to music. It isn’t sung about by children’s choirs in Christmas pageants. But Luke's account of the true Christmas story ends on the ominous note of suffering caused by the opposition of the kingdom of darkness to Jesus’ kingship claim, just as Matthew’s Christmas story ends with the weeping of Bethlehem for the children slain by Herod’s fear of Jesus’ rule—reflecting this same opposition of the kingdom of darkness to Jesus’ kingship. **This episode reminds us of the kingdom of darkness’s fierce opposition to the rule of the Prince of Peace and what to do about it.
For Further Prayerful Thought**
- What are the implications of these two facts: men love darkness because their deeds are evil, and we are called to be light to the world?
- Which two cultural lies do you hear most often? How best could you raise a question about whether that assumption is really true?
- How can you do a better job of defeating sin in your own life by using the spiritual armor and weapons Jesus has given us?
NEXT WEEK NEW SERIES: Successful Spiritual Leaders at Home. Please let the men of your church know about this new series. You can print a PDF to give to others, download the PDF onto your computer and email it as an attachment, or just send an email with this link to the PDF, which explains what the series will cover. Here is the link.
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Episode Summary. This agent of familiarity is hard at work this Christmas season, spreading layers of the poisonous dust of the ordinary over the manger in Bethlehem to deaden our senses to the staggering reality of what actually took place there. This episode seeks to blow off that dust to reveal with fresh clarity five ways the incarnation can evoke radical devotion to Jesus. May a fresh look at the incarnation fill us with fresh energy and passion to follow our Master well.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How do we balance the truth that sin is so heinous and God so just that only he could pay for our sin—the truth that we must take sin seriously—with the truth of God’s grace towards us and call to treat others with grace?
- How can you better apply the truth that Jesus is your Great High Prist and Advocate, who fully understands every form of pain and injustice you experience?
- How does Jesus’ choice to be born into a manger instead of a palace impact your heart?
- In what way is the decision to become poor so that another becomes rich a definition of agape love? How can we better remember what it cost our Lord to redeem us?
- How can we better draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to change our default, subtle focus from ourselves to others and how I can serve them?
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Episode Summary. Countless committed Christian men wrestling with sins like lust and masturbation have asked a legitimate question. If Christ has redeemed me from slavery to sin, why am I still regularly giving in to lust and masturbation? Didn’t Paul say the Christian’s old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for the one who has died is freed from sin and then repeat in verse 18 that Christians have been set free from sin. How can this be true when we default to lust, selfishness, resentment too easily and know that our heart attitudes are miles away from being like those of Jesus? This episode addresses the question, If Christ defeated sin at the cross, setting Adam’s kingdom free from its destructive slavery, why isn’t earth’s culture more sanctified and why am I, myself, not more sanctified?
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What evidence would you point to from Scripture that proves that the oppressors the promised Messiah would overthrow always were Satan, sin, and death and not the political oppressors of Israel?
- How does the Already/Not Yet description of this period of redemptive history clarify things and muddy things?
- The Second Adam’s overthrow of the triumvirate, Satan, sin, and death and ascension to God’s right hand has positioned Him to spread his kingdom of righteousness and restoration over earth for 2000 years. Of the 6 ways that I mentioned its impact on culture, which ones stood out most to you?
- Which reason for Christians’ lack of sanctification stood out most to you?
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Episode Summary. It is easy today for discerning Christians, who see the loss of biblical values taking place in our culture, to view this world as a sinking ship, going down to destruction through the weight of its own evil. But such despair can easily lead us to forget the very first commission God assigned us as humans—developing the potential of the creation God loves and shaping life in it to please him, life that is righteous. A “titanic worldview” of the culture ignores a very significant part of God’s nature: He is a delegator. His act of delegating the further creation and rule of Kingdom Earth is accomplished in the very first commission given to Adam and Eve. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This episode examines how God delegated to humans the process he started, i.e. creating and ruling the material order and why such an understanding gives everyday life great meaning.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you explain to someone the Genesis 1 teaching that God has delegated his royal rule over Kingdom Earth to mankind?
- In what sense would you say God has finished creation and in what sense would you say he has not finished his work of creating?
- When considering the Genesis 1:28 four-fold First Commission God gave to Adam and Eve, what is the significance of God starting out with the love-making process of husband and wife the first part of that commission? How can we uphold the value of the first human institution—the family—without demeaning those who are single, divorced, or childless?
- If the goal of both The First Commission and the Great Commission is to spread the righteous rule of Christ over every sphere of human life (beginning with surrender to King Jesus in the human heart) why do we Christians spend so little effort being intentional abut thinking through how to impact those spheres of human life where we have influence?
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Episode Summary. In December 2004, a massive tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed more than 250,000 people. Over the following weeks, the news media were filled with articles asking, “Where is God?” One reporter wrote: “If God is God, he’s not good. If God is good, he’s not God. You can’t have it both ways, especially after the Indian Ocean catastrophe” Suffering nearly always creates doubts in the human mind about God’s goodness. And if God is not good, then his moral law is just his selfish restriction upon human pleasure, which was the reasoning Satan used to lure Eve into rebellion. This episode examines the massive implications of God’s perfect goodness, not just in resisting temptation, but in enduring suffering, and in shaping the way we interact with the fallen world.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you refute the argument: If God is all-powerful, he could end suffering and evil. If he were all-good, he would end evil and suffering. Evil and suffering exist. Therefore, either God is not all-powerful or not all-good. The Christian god does not exist?
- Summarize the three “goodness of God” truths that James tells his readers to cling to when facing trials. Which seems most helpful to you?
- How does the common grace doctrine that God has given gifts to the unredeemed to enable his world to be developed and enjoyed, impact the way believers should view unbelievers and secular culture?
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Episode Summary. Just as Lucy’s encounter with Aslan upon her second trip to Narnia caused her to realize that her prior view of Aslan was too small, Isaiah’s encounter with God in the temple of Jerusalem caused him to realize his view of the Lord of Hosts was too small. Isaiah was dwarfed by God’s majesty. His sin was laid bare by the radiance of God’s glory. And he was traumatized by God’s holiness. Although such holiness and the wrath against evil that goes with it are not usually our favorite attributes of God, we observed that God’s holiness is enormously beneficial to us and all creation. We further considered God’s responsibility as judge of his universe, noting that God would be immoral if he did not demand just punishment for evil and reward good.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What stood out most to you about Isaiah’s vision of the LORD in Isaiah 6?
- How would you explain God’s holiness to a child?
- What is most attractive to you about God’s holiness?
- What does it look like to abhor evil?
- How does a BIG view of God’s holiness take us through a process that leads to a BIG devotion to put our lives on the altar to Him?
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Episode Summary. Jesus’ prayer to the Father saying, This is eternal life, that they know you, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent, points to the counter-cultural exclusivity of Christianity, which cultural elites say disqualifies it from being true. This episode examines this exclusivity, how we can teach our loved ones to winsomely respond to this accusation, and what are the implications of Jesus’ description of the Father as the only true God.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What is the difference between tolerance in relationships and tolerance regarding what is true? How do you see Scripture requiring us to tolerant of other people but intolerant of false ideas masquerading as truth?
- How would you answer a Christian you were discipling who asked, “Why are there so many religions?”
- What do you think of the statement, “God has too much dignity to accept adoration from worshippers who are not celebrating his true nature?” How does the second commandment relate to Jesus’ statement to the woman at the well in Samaria, “The Father desires worshippers to worship him in spirit and in truth?”
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Episode Summary. Although today’s church is seeing an unprecedented number of deconversions by kids raised in the church, often claiming that science disproves the existence of God, the fact is that the world of scientific observation provides evidence that is so compelling that it is unreasonable NOT to believe that a supernatural God exists. After looking at five scientific arguments to point to the reality of a supernatural God, we then examined five of these supernatural characteristics of the true God of Scripture and how they benefit us!
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What evidence would you martial to support an argument that it is much more reasonable to believe in the existence of God than not to?
- Why do you think it might be important to help our rising young adults understand the biblical teaching that human sinful nature leads man to suppress the truth that creation proves there is a God?
- Look back to God’s supernatural attributes. Which ones most stood out to you? How can knowing these attributes help you delight in the Lord?
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Episode Summary. In Jeremiah 9, God has some things to say to his Covenant people about boasting. But it is not, “Don’t brag.” Rather God chooses three assets needed for men to get any significant job done—wisdom, might, and riches—telling us not to place our confidence in them but instead to boast that we understand and know him. Practically speaking what is God saying to us and what does the rest of Scripture reveal about the benefit of growing in our knowledge of God? That is the topic of this episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What is your take-away from God’s command to the wise man not to boast in his wisdom, the mighty man not to boast in his might, the rich man not to boast in his riches but instead to boast of understanding and knowing him? What are your ideas about what this looks like?
- Which benefits of growing in the knowledge of God most stood out to you?
- How would you defend the idea that God and God alone is fit to take the universe’s throne? Which components of God’s character give you the most peace and confidence as you head into the future?
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Episode Summary. In a new study conducted by Geroge Barna, in which he interviewed 2000 church-going self-identified Christians, his results were shocking. 49% said they were unlikely to vote: Here are their reasons:
- 68% said they are not interested in politics
- 57% said they disliked the major candidates
- 55% said they felt like none of the candidates reflect their most important views
- 52% believed their vote will not have an impact
- 50% said the election has become too controversial
This episode addresses these reasons for NOT voting.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you explain the connection between God’s reason for creating human beings (to bear his image) and the Christian responsibility as redeemed human beings to vote?
- What are the logical flaws in a Christian’s argument that with over 100 million votes cast his doesn’t matter?
- How would you respond to someone who said, “I don’t like either candidate and I’m not sure that, in good conscience, I can vote for either”?
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Episode Summary. Christians men are called to protect women. We know that Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to protect it and those in it and that Jesus modeled protecting women. The Christian church also has a great heritage of protecting women. That protection today needs to come from men who understand ideologies, government policies, and political parties whose platforms harm women. This episode examines how open borders, gender affirming care, and the Title IX revision of the Civil Rights law affecting athletics harms today’s women.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Why do you think many Christians and Christian leaders turn a blind eye to the hundreds of thousands of girls and women being raped and turned into sex slaves by Mexican Drug cartels because of America’s open border?
- What facts about gender affirming care do you most want to remember so you can point out its harm to parents of gender-confused kids.
- What aspects of Riley Gaine’s story are most infuriating to you? Why do you think so many people cave to LGBTQ pressure when radical gender ideology totally contradicts science and common sense?
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On September 30th, Patrick Lechleitner, the Director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent a letter to Congressman Tony Gonzales revealing that over 13,000 convicted murderers and over 15,000 convicted rapists who have been caught by ICE were released into America because of the Biden/Harris catch and release policy, which defies current immigration law. And the corrupt, mainstream media made virtually no mention of it! This episode examines the responsibility of Christians to be light to our culture—to expose what sin wants to cover up and, in particular, to expose the unprecedented suppression of the truth by the corporate media and Democrat Party of what is actually happening at our southern border.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you think is the biblical case for Christians to advance the kingdom of light by exposing destructive actions that those in the culture are attempting to hide?
- What two or three facts seem like the strongest evidence of the corporate media’s suppression of the truth? Why do you think Christians allow the mainstream media to blind them so much to what is really happening in our culture?
- What facts about illegal immigration and the open southern border stood out most to you? In view of these facts, what wise question might you ask a believer who naively thinks Christians should support the Democrat’s open border catch and release defiance of immigration law?
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Episode Summary. In the Genesis 12 account of Abram’s calling, God says, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and… I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse (vs 1-2). That nation, Israel is now at war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Does God’s promise of blessings and curses mean that Christians should blindly support candidates from the Republican party who are staunchly pro-Israel? What about Palestinian Christians who were killed while taking refuge in a church, which was bombed by Israeli jets in what many Christians consider reckless overkill? This episode seeks to set forth some facts about Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Christian theory of just war, giving you a lens to evaluate the stands of the two parties, yourself.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are some thoughts that might come to your mind now if you heard someone say, “The middle east conflict is because Jews took Arab land.”
- How would you respond to someone attempting to equate the IDF’s military response as just as morally reprehensible as Hamas’ October 7th attack?
- How would you respond to one who said, “the Democrats say that Israel has a right to defend itself. They are just as supportive of Israel as Republicans."
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Episode Summary. When faced with the sight of millions of men, women, and children from war-torn lands seeking to escape tyranny to have better life, most Christians will voice their approval for open door policies of inclusion, hospitality, diversity and welcome. After all Jesus, did teach that true believers will hear from Jesus, “I was a STRANGER and you WELCOMED me.” Doesn’t this settle the issue—All Christians must be welcoming to immigrants who want to come into our country. Actually, no. This understanding of immigration is so flawed that it misses the most significant biblical text about the government’s role in immigration. This episode seeks to help us all think biblically about the hot topic today of illegal, undocumented, immigrants coming across our southern border.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think so many Americans are unaware of what is happening at the southern boarder? Of the categories of harm that un-enforcement of immigration policies brings—human trafficking, spread of drugs including fentanyl, terrorism, and attacks from hardened criminals, which concern you the most?
- How would you respond, biblically to the fallacy that for Christians to properly care for immigrants we must we welcoming to all who want to come to our nation, including those crossing the border illegally?
- What biblical principles do you think apply to our treatment of illegal immigrants who are already in our country?
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Summary: The spiritual battle in which Christian men are called to engage is largely a battle of ideas. After Paul devotes eleven chapters of Romans to the glory of the gospel, and challenges Christians that the only proper response is to offer ourselves back to God as a living sacrifice, the very next command is a reference to this battle over ideas: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. This reality presents Christian men with an enormous challenge. We are created to be warriors (Gen 2:15). But few of us are philosophy majors. The world of ideas that we know best matches our vocation and avocation. Yet, as warriors in the spiritual battle of ideas WE 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). This podcast series, “Election 2024 and Biblical Worldview” is intended to equip men to understand the worldview issues that lie beneath the upcoming election.
Recommended Resources
- Critical Dilema, Neil Shenvil and Pat Sawyer.
- Fault Lines, Voddie Baucham.
- Money Greed and God, Jay Richards.
- Unwoke, Ted Cruz.
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Summary: The purpose of this podcast has always been to help Christian men define and stay focused upon their mission as followers of Christ. So, what is our mission over the next 50 days in view of the upcoming American election? Some Bible-believing Christians answer, “Your mission is to save America as a Christian nation by voting for Donald Trump and getting others to.” Other Bible—believing Christians are appalled by such Christian nationalism and would say, “The kingdom of God is not America. The mission of the church is to preach the gospel and stay out of political discussions.” Which is it? This episode analyzes the strengths and flaws of these two arguments, then suggests an alternative that avoids the potholes of both.
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Summary: Behind the world and the flesh is an even deadlier enemy, one we rarely speak of and are much less ready to resist, the kingdom of darkness, which is to blame for most of the casualties around us and assaults against us. Paul said it this way, We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Paul reveals two vital implications of this reality 1) we must put on our spiritual armor—the belt of truth, etc., 2) we must PRAY. Eph 6 continues, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (vs 18). This episode explains why prayer is such a vital part of combatting the spiritual forces of evil. It’s goal is for men to no longer viewing prayer as guilt-producing obligation to discover that it has become a life-changing thrill!
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do think Christians don’t see prayer more as a weapon?
- What is wrong with saying that after the resurrection, Jesus left this world to go back to heaven and be with God?
- What does Jesus want Christians to during this stage of salvation history, between his ascension to God’s right hand and his final return?
- Why is it important, that Jesus prefaced his command to make disciples of all nations with, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Therefore…”?
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Summary: The biblical context for viewing all of life’s events is called spiritual warfare—the age-old conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light…. Biblically and practically speaking, we are in a spiritual war. The Christian’s spiritual enemy is not in uniform, and he doesn’t meet us on an identifiable battlefield. He uses ruthless and unconventional tactics such as deceit, deflection, and disguise…. The church of Jesus Christ needs to know its enemies and his strategies. Above all, Christians need to know how to gain victory over this enemy. (The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book). In this episode, we take a practical look at HOW TO USE the sword of the Spirit to resist thoughts and temptations that seek to entice us off the path of life and onto the road to destruction.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Do you think this is a fair statement? If a man is not winning his own spiritual battles, he won’t be very effective helping his wife and children win theirs.
- Describe in your own words the power of the Word of God.
- What did you learn from our examination of the way Jesus wielded the sword of the Spirit?
- Of the 13 temptations, listed, which 2 or 3 do you most need to be able to parry, by quoting Scripture.
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. As we seek to run well the race marked out for us, this calling means advancing the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own hearts, attitudes, and behavior, not to mention and shaping each sphere of life with Christ’s agenda. But it is very easy to think, “Who am I to spread righteousness anywhere? Whoever thinks that’s my job in life, doesn’t understand the corruption of MY heart and weakness of MY flesh.” But it is Christ who told his followers to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Jesus calls us to this primary life focus, knowing the weakness of our sinful nature because his plan has never been for us to seek righteousness in our own strength but in his. He tell us. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. This episode tries to define in practical terms how to put on the helmet of salvation and how that protects us in the fight to do the right thing.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why does taking up the helmet of salvation mean something different from just thinking biblically about stuff.
- How does putting on the helmet of salvation protect us from thinking we are too dirty for God to love?
- Why does being saved by grace alone cause a true Christian to be drawn to those who need mercy?
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Episode Summary: Christ has called you and me to follow him in his cause of defeating evil and establishing his righteous kingdom over every square inch of human hearts and lives. There is no other man who can replace you in your life, in the arenas you have been called to. If you leave your place in line, it will remain empty. You must be the hero in your own story. There is no extra or stunt man to fill in for you. Winning your spiritual battles matters. You will celebrate for eternity the ones you win tomorrow and the next day and the day after that because each victory has honored Christ. This episode examines how we protect ourselves from Satan’s fiery arrows by lifting up our shield of faith.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- For you, what is the hardest part of remembering that winning your spiritual battles matters?
- What circumstances tend to be the occasion for you to doubt God’s goodness and whether following Christ is worth it?
- Of the six aspect of our Faith Shield mentioned, which “Trust God because…” statement do you most want to remember?
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Episode Summary
This episode continues our study of the armor of God and finishes looking at Eph 6:15, where we’re told to put on, as our shoes, the readiness of the gospel of peace. Most Christian men want to be contagious Christians. We know that sharing our faith is something our Lord wants us to do and when we do seize opportunities to talk with others about Christ the experience pumps joy and energy into our walk with Him. We also realize that if we are to lead our homes well, our wives and kids need to see us modeling Jesus’ love for the lost and a commitment to seeking ways to share him with others. So, we want to be ready, when the opportunity presents itself, to steer a conversation towards the good news that our listener can have a personal relationship with Christ. This episode looks at three ways TO BE READY when that opportunity arises.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Does realizing that Jesus tailored the good news to others based on the way they were experiencing the brokenness of life in this fallen world discourage you because it makes sharing Christ harder, since there is no “one size fits all” or encourage you because it helps you realize how wise we are to be about relationships and the uniqueness of every human?
- Which 2 or 3 of those in your circle of lost associates and friends has God put on your hearts. What might be missing in their lives compared to what you have in Christ?
- Is God prompting you to be more intentional about praying for and reaching the lost? What might additional intentionality look like for you.
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Episode Summary. Often Christians think of evangelism like this: It is having the courage to overcome every piece of emotional intelligence we’ve learned about relationships, and intruding into the life of a co-worker, neighbor, or stranger to tell someone, who doesn’t want to hear it, the gospel message that they are a sinner in need of a savior, and then being willing to suffer rejection if we are accused of being preachy. If that is what sharing our faith looks like, who would want to do it? But this view is NOT BIBLICAL. It has major flaws. This episode identifies these flaws and ends up showing a biblical view of sharing our faith that is winsome and begins where people are instead of where we want them to be.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why is it misleading to understand the Greek word for evangelism(EUANGELIZO) to mean preaching the gospel to others?
- How does understanding the four-chapter gospel help us realize that Christ’s kingdom power is for more than just an eternal life insurance policy?
- Can you think of biblical examples not mentioned in this episode of Jesus tailoring the good news of the kingdom to the point of brokenness being felt by his listener?
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Summary: Do you ever feel like our side is losing in the spiritual battle—that the powers of darkness and evil are winning? Perhaps more specific to our own lives, do you ever wonder why the Christian life is so hard, why sin so easily ensnares us, why our whole-hearted resolve on Sunday to love Jesus better by obeying him more has given way to blatant sin by Sunday night? Today we continue our series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Paul tells us that to fight evil we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. But most of us don’t even know what the breastplate of righteousness is, much less how to put it on. At the end of this episode, we want everyone to have a clear picture of what this piece of armor is and begin winning more spiritual battles because we put it on.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is the motivation for hungering and thirsting for righteousness for one who is confident of God’s unconditional love? How does that contrast with the moralist’s view of the moral law?
- What is the difference between seeking righteousness and being legalistic?
- How would you summarize Paul’s command to put on the breastplate of righteousness? What stood out to you about HOW to do this?
- How is the fourth beatitude (Matt 5:6) a prerequisite for putting on the breastplate of righteousness?
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Episode Summary: Is our mission today, as Christians living in America, to recover America as a Christian nation? As we process what happened last weekend and go back to the last election and the storming of the Capitol, Christians are divided. Eschewing passivity, many believers feel impelled to speak up on the social media to fight a movement rooted in ungodliness, which they see shaping our culture. They are appalled that younger Christian leaders either don’t seem to see this happening or seem to lack the courage to speak up about it. Other believers are horrified at the views they hear expressed by Christians on social media, which exhibit a kind of “Christian Nationalism” and exhibit Christians to be combative towards those with whom they disagree, violating Christ’s clear command, love your neighbor, not to mention, love your enemy. This episode continues our series Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons by examining how to encircle ourselves with the belt of God’s truth, which must be the starting point for sharing that truth in the culture. Then we consider how to be persuasive as salt and light in the culture, and in particular the dangers of being right, but sharing truth in a HARMFUL, rather than a COMPELLING way.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which aspect of fastening the belt of truth around ourselves stood out to you?
- Why is it important in today’s word to surround our loved ones with truth?
- How does Jesus’ teaching not to give holy things to dogs or throw our pearls before swine resonate with your experience? Are there times when you have thought that a person is not spiritually in a place to hear this truth?
- How do Paul and Barnabas follow this teaching from Jesus in Acts 13:44-49. What Thoughts do you have about trying to determine is a potential hearer of biblical truth is in a place to value it or not?
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Every guy who reads this blog would stand at the door of his house with a shotgun to protect his family physically. But most Christian men feelinept and inadequateat fighting to protect them, spiritually. As we saw last week, Jesus told his disciples the ultimate weapon for defeating Satan is prayer. But if we are going to use this weapon effectively in spiritual battle, we need to understand it. This episode continues our study of what Jesus taught are the six basic parts of effective prayer, in Matt 6:9-13.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to a believer who said he thought that reciting the Lord’s prayer at the end of his daily bible reading is what Jesus taught?
- What struck you about Jesus teaching us to tell our heavenly father what our practical needs are? Have you ever thought about keeping a prayer journal?
- Why does it make sense that one of the six prayer concerns we should have is looking at past events to see if there is unconfessed guilt or resentment towards another?
- How can you be more watchful of temptation coming into your life?
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Summary: This episode begins the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. As we seek to run well the race marked out for us in 2021, i.e. advance the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own lives, God has ordained one, primary offensive weapon that overthrows the kingdom of darkness: PRAYER. Jesus said to Peter, “Satan has demanded to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you “(Luke 22:31-32). One veteran missionary writes, There is nothing on earth that Satan so fears as prayer. He cannot triumph over prevailing prayer.For the printed version of this message click here.
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Episode Summary. One of the words used to describe the worldview of the culture in which we all swim is secularism, which describes a lifestyle of preoccupation with the visible, material world to the neglect of the world of the spiritual. The result of swimming in this polluted water has been, in my view, a largescale disregard of the fourth commandment by Christians and consequent loss of its benefits. The lost benefits are understanding the eternal value of work and understanding the need to regularly shut out the secular world to be renewed and reconnected to the Spiritual Being who created us. This episode seeks to recover what is often lost by the neglect pf the fourth commandment.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What most stood out to you in this episode about the fourth commandment?
- How would you respond to someone who said, “Keeping the Sabbath is being legalistic, and the church is not Israel?”
- What components of a biblical view of work seem most important to you.
- It’s been said that the more important your work is, the more important it is to regularly step away from it and renew. How might this principle apply to serving Christ?
Link to Master Plan Objectives for Instilling Biblical Moral Values
Link to New City Catechism Curriculum.
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Episode Summary. Fatherhood champion Anthony Bradley’s research proves what Scripture teaches us about the role God has assigned to fathers in creation: fathers are the most important men in any community, anywhere, everywhere, ever. Their presence, involvement, and guidance are pivotal for the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of their children. This is the fourth episode in our June series, Fathers Giving the Moral Foundation to Their Children That the Culture Won’t. It recognizes that the third commandment, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain involves much more than a prohibition against cussing. It goes to the very heart of our love for Christ and how God says that love should be shown in the way we treat his name.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- It seems like having a plan for building a strong moral foundation into our children with the help of the Holy Spirit is OBVIOUS. Why do you think so many Christian fathers don’t have one? How can you help that change?
- What thoughts stood out to you about teaching children to not misuse God’s name?
- What thoughts stood out to you about beginning our prayer by asking that God’s name would be hallowed? Why might Jesus say to start this way?
- How can the thought that Christ has given us his name, fire a hotter passion to please him?
Link to Master Plan Objectives for Instilling Biblical Moral Values
Link to New City Catechism Curriculum.
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On October 7, 2023, more than 3000 members of the radical Muslin extremist group Hamas surged across the Israeli border crying “Allahu Akbar” “God is good” raping women, beheading children, torturing, mutilating and murdering more than a thousand people, most of them civilians conducting the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. How would you respond to the trembling words of a seven-year-old who said, “Daddy, these bad men said God told them to do those awful things. How can this be?” This episode seeks to answer this question by understanding what the second commandment teaches.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you answer a new believer who said to you, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God, the risen Lamb slain to take away my sin, but why are there so many other religions in the world?”
- Why can’t a chewing gum replica of the Alps convey their glory? Do you agree that a chewing gum replica of the Alps might be worse than no physical image? Why?
- Although man was created in God’s image, our fall into sin means that we suppress the truth of who God is, especially our accountability to him, and remake God as OUR IMAGE—the way we want him to be, because we are created to worship. (Atheists usually build their life around a false ideology, which functions like a God.) How do you see this biblical truth making sense in what you observe about the world?
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Episode Summary. Unlike adherents to multi-culturalism, Christians realize that God chose to reveal his moral law to one nation, Israel, in a rather spectacular manner. God himself wrote his summary of his moral law on two stone tablets using his own finger (Dt 5:22) telling his people how they can most please him. There is no other text of the Bible written directly by the finger of God. The two tablets were called the Ten Words, the decalogue, and kept in the Ark of the Covenant. Foty years later, In Deuteronomy 5, Moses repeated The Ten Commandments for the next generation. This episode examines how to apply the first commandment as the leaders of our homes and provides some thoughts about teaching it to our kids, using the New City Catechism.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In the opening overview observations, which one stood out most to you?
- Why do spiritual leaders have to fight a lifelong battle to keep reminding those under their care that God’s word is the path of life? Why is that so hard for us to remember, in moments of temptation?
- What do you find most helpful in Tim Keller’s definition of an idol as: “anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” Which potential idols do you need to be wary of?
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Episode Summary. With the average teen spending over 50 hours a week on his or her phone, it is undeniable that social media is catechizing our children, not the church. This episode seeks to recapture the urgency of the fathers role to raise up his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. It supplies a master plan that every guy can adapt for his own and begins to show how the New City Catechism can be used and be an effective plan for countering many of the cultural falsehoods impacting our kids.
Master Plan: Instilling Biblical/Moral Values: Click to download the PDF
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think most Christian fathers are not intentional about formulating a plan to teach their children and grandchildren the ways of the Lord and Abraham was to do?
- How would you persuade a Christian friend that he needs to have a master pan for what he is going to teach his sons and daughters?
- So far, what have you most liked about the New City Catechism and the curriculum’ helps?
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Episode Summary. This episode shows how the biblical worldview of authority laid out for us in I Timothy chapters 2 and 3 is on a collision course with the worldviews of critical theory, egalitarianism, and multiculturalism at almost every point.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you think are the most important elements of a 30,000-foot overview of the Bible’s view of authority?
- Paul encouraged Timothy to pray that civil government leaders accomplish four things. Which ones stood out most to you?
- How would you contrast the Bible’s high view of authority with the view of critical theory and egalitarianism’s views of authority?
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Episode Summary. There is strong evidence that Christians today are oblivious to much of the spiritual battle that Scripture repeatedly urges us to fight. In fact, in Paul spiritual leadership charge to Timothy, he commands, “fight the good fight.” It is impossible to understand why Paul urges spiritual leaders to do this or understand what the battlefield even is without understanding that we live in an age in which Christ is taking back Adam’s lost kingdom, earth, from Satan, sin, and death to reestablish righteousness and health over Adam's kingdom. This episode seeks to give a clear look at this battle, **so we know how to fight it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:**
- When seeking to understand what fighting the good fight means, why might it be valuable to recognize that we are engaged in a war between two kingdoms?
- How does understanding the extent of the damage done to Adam’s posterity and kingdom by sin and its consequences help us better understand how to implement our orders to FIGHT?
- In the fight against wrong desires, thinking, attitudes, behaviors, the fight to implement Christ’s agenda in every sphere of our lives, and the fight to be salt and light, influencing culture towards righteousness and truth—which do you feel you are most alert to? Which do you need to consider more carefully?
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Episode Summary. When I hear accusations today of the bible teaching oppressive patriarchy, it reminds me of Mark Twain’s comment, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” There is not a scrap of evidence to suggest that God’s design of different roles for husbands and wives is harmful in any way. In fact, the biblical view of masculine leadership, starting with Adam’s design, modeled by Jesus in his care for his bride, and the foundation for Paul’s charge to Timothy about church leadership is the call to love those under our care. This episode examines this calling. But perhaps more importantly it examines the three wellsprings, from which sacrificial love flows into men’s hearts so we can give it to those we lead.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In your own words why does sacrificial love issue from a pure heart?
- In your own words why does sacrificial love issue from a clean conscience?
- In your own words why does sacrificial love issue from a sincere faith?
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Episode Summary. This episode considers the impact that a worldview called critical theory is having in our culture, supplanting a biblical worldview at many, many points. The goal is that by the end of the episode all of us will be able to detect how the assumptions of critical theory have gotten in the way of grasping the glory of God’s perfect design of womanhood and manhood.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- As you think of the cultural examples of critical theory’s oppressor/oppressed lens shaping cultural thinking, which examples stood out most to you? What other examples can you think of?
- Although we don’t know why God’s Word tells the stories of Adam and Eve’s creation in a very structured intentionally parallel way but postulate some reasons God might have done that.
- Summarize the evidence from Scripture that it is God who intends his household, the church to be led by men who are also assigned to lead their homes, not oppressive biblical patriarchy.
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This episode is for those who find themselves feeling more driven than called as they walk through life. It examines the way Jesus addressed the relentless internal pressure many feel to have to perform, and the resulting internal exhaustion we experience when he said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mt 11:28-30). This episode examines Jesus’ only self-portrait in Scripture—that he is meek and lowly of heart, and why those qualities make taking on his yoke the pathway to REST.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- This episode explains Jesus’ offer of rest to those burdened by the inner compulsion to have to perform to reach heaven, be loved, feel valuable, be accepted, and to be strong enough for others to lean on. Which of these reasons for “needing to perform” is most powerful in your life?
- If we are to REST in Jesus, why does it matter that he is meek, bearing no judicial wrath against you? Why does it matter that he is “lowly in heart?”
- A yoke is a yoke; it puts the farmer in control. So, in what sense can Jesus’ yoke be easy? In what sense is it light? Since you are yoked to Jesus’ power, how can you shift more of the weight you are carrying onto Jesus?
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In a world that is becoming increasingly complex because of innumerable opportunities to which our cell phones connect us, it is refreshing to remind ourselves of what Jesus said was at the core of following him. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Mt 22:37-38.) The primacy of this first and greatest commandment resonates with me. If I could just love God more:
- My heart would have less room to love sin.
- The pleasure of pleasing him would overpower my selfish pleasures.
- I would want the approval of God more than the approval of men.
- I would shut out the world more often to be in his quiet presence.
Jesus, the perfect man who fulfilled all righteousness, obeyed the great commandment—loving the Father perfectly. This episode seeks to throw back the curtain of that devotion to the Father, so we may be inspired and challenged by it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How do “emptying myself” and “humbling myself” to obey God demonstrate my love for him?
- Jesus was confident of the Father’s love for him. He and Paul wanted us to be confident of God’s love for us. Why might comprehending such love be foundational for our everyday walk with God?
- Why does it make sense that when you love someone, you want to see that person honored? When you are battling a bad attitude in a given situation, how can it strengthen you to know that Christ-like attitudes in us bring glory to God?
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Episode Summary. There seems to be widespread agreement that Jonathan Roumie’s portrayal of Jesus in Dallas Jenkins’, The Chosen, is remarkably well done. As someone has said, “If you’re aiming to make a TV show about the life of Jesus, you better cast the right person for the lead role.” There is something deep, personal, and even perhaps threatening to us in the way Jesus is portrayed by anyone. A wrong portrayal messes with our perception of the one we have devoted our lives to. That is why this 3-week podcast series seeks to shake the dust off any mistaken Sunday-school-ideas we might have about Jesus. It seeks to replace them with the most accurate picture we can from Scripture. We begin with the COMPELLING nature of Jesus’ presence.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- As you read about the reactions of the temple guards sent to arrest Jesus, on two different occasions, what words would you use to describe their response to him?
- What difference does Jesus’ courageous willingness to confront evil make in your relationship with him?
- What do you think of the statement: Our God is so morally pure that he can even turn his enemies’ evil into good.
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Episode Summary.
What some say is the biggest medical scandal of our times was exposed last month when whistle blowers released internal files from the self-appointed, “experts” on transgender health, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) proving that WPATH’s “transgender medicine guidelines” had no basis in actual science and violated the most basic medical guidelines for patient care. This episode explains what happened so that we can be better equipped to discredit the gender affirming care medical policy,which is destroying the lives of preteen and teens today, being recommended by this dishonest, ideologically-driven group.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- As you think back over just six of the ways credibility of WPATH has been destroyed, which stand out the most to you?
- What do you think is the strongest evidence that WPATH’s recommended transgender treatment policies are based on radical gender ideology at the cost of universally agreed upon standards for patient care?
- When could you find time in your schedule to get better equipped by repeating this podcast or listening to the YouTube videos mentioned?
- In what sphere of your life might you have the opportunity to raise questions about the legitimacy of gender affirming medical care?
Resources About Affirming Care and Transgenderism
- Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture
- Our Daughters and the Transgender Craze
- FREE Videos: A Biblical Response to Gender Confusion and Transgenderism
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Episode Summary. If you noticed the title of this week’s episode, you may be wondering, “What in the world is a resurrection worldview and why does it matter?” It turns out not only that a resurrection worldview is an essential biblical concept for Christians; it is the foundation for the three specific truths that Paul repeatedly asks for God to help the Ephesian Christians grasp. This episode examines these three life-changing PERSPECTIVES. For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do the biblical writers care so much about our mind being transformed to having a biblical perspective?
- How does Paul want our view of the resurrection’s significance to go way beyond God doing something supernatural to prove that Jesus came from God. How does resurrection restoration to the paradise we all long for enrich the attractiveness of the gospel?
- How can knowing that you are God’s personal trophy of grace, his inheritance—one he plans to enjoy for eternity—ignite your passion to serve him?
- How can the truth that we have the spiritual dynamite we need to dislodge evil in our hearts and spheres of influence renew our willingness to fight, spiritually?
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Episode Summary. When faced with the sight of millions of men, women, and children from war-torn lands seeking to escape tyranny to have better life, most Christians will voice their approval for open door policies of inclusion, hospitality, diversity and welcome. After all Jesus, did teach that true believers will hear from Jesus, “I was a STRANGER and you WELCOMED me.” Doesn’t this settle the issue—All Christians must be welcoming to immigrants who want to come into our country. Actually, no. This understanding of immigration is so flawed that it misses the most significant biblical text about the government’s role in immigration. This episode seeks to help us all think biblically about the hot topic today of illegal, undocumented, immigrants coming across our southern border.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think so many Americans are unaware of what is happening at the southern boarder?
- Of the categories of harm that un-enforcement of immigration policies brings—human trafficking, spread of drugs including fentanyl, terrorism, and attacks from hardened criminals, which concern you the most?
- How would you respond, biblically to the fallacy that for Christians to properly care for immigrants we must we welcoming to all who want to come to our nation, including those crossing the border illegally?
- What biblical principles do you think apply to our treatment of illegal immigrants who are already in our country?
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Episode Summary. This is the third episode in our March series, Worldviews Leading Our Loved Ones Astray. It begins with the reminder that faithful Christians don’t isolate themselves from cultural issues but fervently seek to raise their light of truth in the spheres around them, that God has commanded them to influence. We examine the argument that abortion is a reproductive right of a woman, noting, at the outset, that no woman has an absolute right over her body. She cannot put her hands around her toddlers’ neck and strangle him to death. My right to my own body is limited by law; doing something with my body that harms another is illegal and wrong. So, the question is what right the unborn have or do not have to be protected. Because the Supreme Court has returned the matter of abortion rights to the states, this episode first examines why most Bible-believing Christian believe that life begins at conception and then how to winsomely impact those around us with the need to protect human life in the womb.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you summarize the scientific evidence from embryology that life begins at conception?
- What do you think of the statement, “The most important support for life beginning with conception is that the human embryo is a distinct, living, unique, whole member of the human species, fully capable of directing its development into maturity, regardless of its size, stage of development or location?”
- Which are the most common pro-abortion arguments that you hear? You might want to take a moment and think through how you can winsomely challenge that view just by asking a few questions—especially questions directing your friend to explain why the unborn are not human.
Resource Used for this Episode: The Case for Life, Scott Klusendorf
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Episode Summary. This is the second episode in our March series, Worldviews Leading Our Loved Ones Astray. It makes the argument that the accusation that biblical patriarchy breeds toxic masculinity is a complete fiction by refuting two of the foundational worldviews that underlie this accusation—egalitarianism and critical theory. It then further refutes the claim with old-fashioned evidence.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to another Christian and told you that you needed to understand that the NT does away with riles and says there is no longer any male or female?
- How would you respond to a Christian who said that he thought the oppressor/oppressed lens of critical theory was a good lens through which to look at life and history?
- Why can justice never be defined as identical outcomes? What are some of the biblical “outcome causes” that lead to poverty or ruin? How can we rightly define “justice” but still compassionately recognize that a child born in the city to a crack mom with no father starts at a different place than an upper middle-class kid whose parents are together and love him well?
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Episode Summary. This is the first episode in our March series, Worldviews Leading Our Loved Ones Astray. We begin by noting that many of the rising generation are rejecting the Christianity they grew up with because what the Bible says about homosexuality seems so outdated and unfair to them. This episode seeks to recover the teaching that all Christians must treat those in the LGBTQ+ life with compassion and dignity, yet not allow ourselves to over-empathize with this group and abandon the truth of Scripture as many are doing. This episode explains the background behind, 1) those who claim to be Gay Christians, 2) the concept of sexual orientation, and 3) the concept of gay identity.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What stood out to you about the way Jesus exhibited a welcoming attitude towards the woman at the well and refused to stigmatize her. How would you try to make the church a safe place for rising teens who experience same-sex attraction?
- How would you explain to other Christians that the category sexual orientation is a false characterization of personhood? How does that perspective of the sin of homosexuality get in the way of one repenting over his or her same sex desires and practices?
- If all Christians are sinners, which means some are guilty of the sin of same-sex desire, why is calling those who struggle with this particular sin “Gay Christians” wrong?
- Which facts about the homosexual life stood out to you?
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Episode Summary. This episode acknowledges that those whose loud voices proclaim that the Bible promotes oppressive patriarchy would be horrified to read its title: Her Heart Needs Your Spiritual Leadership. But wise Christians understand both the horrible abuse of women by men and the fact that the cause is not God’s design structure for the home, but men’s sinful nature. The truth is that every woman’s heart is designed to be fulfilled by her husband leading their home and family well. This episode examines what this glorious design of male leadership in the home looks like, recognizing that only Jesus can give us the power to lead this way.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In one sentence, how would you design the spiritual leadership a Christian wife’s heart yearns for?
- How is the strength of your relationship with Christ related to the strength of your ability to love your wife and family well? What steps might you take to walk more closely with Jesus?
- In what ways might you more fully share the weight of your wife’s concerns on the home front?
- Is it overstating Paul’s teaching about your wife’s growth in holiness to say that in eternity a husband will celebrate how much he has enabled his wife to radiate eternal godly womanhood through his prayers for her character and for strength to resist her temptations?
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Episode Summary. Instead of hearing refreshing words of praise and appreciation from their husbands, countless wives endure each day with parched souls and sad hearts. Being starved for words of affirmation, they feel worthless, unattractive, and unappreciated. This episode examines a biblical role of husbands that you may have thought little about—our job to protect our wife’s self-esteem. Life and self-doubt will eventually crush her sense of worth if we don’t keep binding up the wounds to her self-esteem, covering her with the salve of our reassuring words of affirmation.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In your own words, describe the inner feelings of a wife who is suffering from low self-esteem.
- In your view what are the weightiest arguments for the husband being the primary means by which these inner feelings of inferiority are alleviated?
- Of the five steps to praising our wives more, the first four had to do with getting our hearts to feel grateful for her. What insights did you gain that might help you better do that?
- What steps do you need to take to program your “inner feminine beauty recognition” program to better recognize your wife matching the woman of virtue in Proverbs 31 and turn that recognition into words of praise?
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Episode Summary. God wants husbands and wives to drink deeply and frequently of the refreshing waters of their partner’s sexuality. But most of us whose marriages have lasted beyond the honeymoon stage have found that sustaining romantic and sexual passion has been a lot harder than we ever thought it would be, especially because our wives are NOT wired the way WE are. This episode looks for biblical clues to understanding how and why a woman’s view of romance and sex is so different than her husband’s.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to persuade a Christian brother and sister that married couples having a great sexual relationship is important to God?
- What are some of the ways that feminine sexual desire seems consistent with what God has revealed to us in Genesis 2 about how he has created woman?
- How would you use the fact that God created Adam to be ground focused and Eve to be relationally focused to explain why difference in sexual desires can create resentment in marriage?
- What stood out to you about how to romance a woman?
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Episode Summary. This episode examines five biblical texts that reveal the various facets of a wife’s need for heart intimacy with her husband. 84% of wives 9indicate that their husbands have no clue how to meet this need of their hearts.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think 84% of wives say that their husbands are not meeting their need for heart intimacy with them?
- What do you most need to remember about listening well to your wife to help her open her heart to you?
- What is your reaction to this statement: For most wives the pain of their husbands never connecting with them at the level of heart intimacy would be like the pain a husband would feel if his wife never had sex with him?
- What do you think of this description of a wife’s need for affection: it is regularly communicating in small, non-sexual, ways that you care about them? What else besides hugs fit this category for your wife?
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Episode Summary. This episode challenges husbands and fathers to be as devoted to bringing out the potential of those under their care as Richard Williams was, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. We take the example of Jesus' leadership of the church as prophet, priest, and king, to identify practically what we should do to help those under our care reach their full potential in Christ.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How might you become and remain as passionate about developing the potential of each of your family members as Richard Williams was about developing Venus’ and Serena’s tennis abilities?
- What are the biggest obstacles to being devoted to the Word of God and leading your family to be shaped with the Word of God?
- What is the biggest obstacle to interceding for your loved ones, giving them the power to exhibit Christ-like attitudes and resist temptation? What can you do to remove that obstacle?
- What struck you about the way that King Jesus gifts us to participate in the church’s mission to make disciples of the nations? What might you do to enhance the fruitfulness of your loved ones for Christ?
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Episode Summary. The opportunities to influence our kids’ lives go by in a flash and after they are launched are rarer still. So, dads and granddads need to know how to maximize the influence we do have. This episode examines God’s two-part design of the influence we wield as spiritual leaders of our home, positional influence and relational influence. In both cases, we must overcome false worldviews that deny the way God wants us to lead our homes.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you argue with a Christian brother who said, “My wife is better with the kids, so I leave their discipline to her?”
- How does the discipline approach, “Your behavior is making mommy and daddy feel angry with you” violate the principles of biblical parenting?
- Why do you think God makes such harsh statements about the failure to bring painful consequences for wrong behavior—you hate your child, you bring death to your child?
- Why is biblical leadership more about winning the hearts of followers by serving them, than it is having responsibility for making decisions?
- Which component of Jesus’ leadership practices with the twelve do you most need to put into practice in your leadership role?
Recommended Resource Used in this Episode:Boundaries With Kids: When to Say YES, When to Say NO to Help Your Children Gain Control of their Lives, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
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Episode Summary. Family leadership isn’t for the half-hearted. And it is not always appreciated by our followers! What is worse is that our leadership attempts can fail, disheartening us. But as Wayne Gretzky has pointed out, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This episode examines what leadership at home looks like, so we can give it our best shot.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you learn about the leadership process that you want to remember?
- In your own words, what is the destination of that Christian men who are leading their homes are pursuing with their family members?
- Why might it be argued that investing in your calling to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength while drinking in his love for you is the foundation of our mission?
- How can you better connect the frustrating blitzes of your life to the qualities of character God might be teaching you through them?
- When might you steal an hour to spend on the website What Would You Say, to get better equipped to verbalize the biblical worldviews on the issues of the day as salt and light?
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Episode Summary. There are so many forces in today’s culture, our own hearts, our wife’s heart, and churches today that are pushing hard against men taking leadership in their homes and churches, that daring to lead our families is tough. It isn’t for sissies. It demands courage to overcome our uncertainty about what we are doing, a thick skin to resist peer pressure, and determination to defeat our passivity.But men, we can’t let our families bear the cost of our rejection of Jesus’ call to biblical manhood. They will suffer. This episode is for those who refuse to offer Jesus a slight nod and mediocre commitment to being a godly man. It challenges men instead to say to Jesus, “I don’t care how strong the resistance is, how unequipped I feel, or how many times I fail, by God’s grace I am goingto define MY role as a man in MY home BIBLICALLY and lead My wife and children according to that design as best I can for their welfare and Jesus’ honor.”
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What to you is the hardest thing about a Christ-following man’s call to be the leader of his wife and kids?
- What most stood out to you about the “headship” of husbands in marriage?
- How best can you help other Christians grasp the magnificence of this design?
- Which parts of headship do you most want to remember and concentrate upon if you have a family?
- Which roots of courage to stand alone sometimes in this culture for God’s gender design have to most power to energize you?
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Episode Summary. In my view as a men’s ministry leader, one of the great tragedies of the church today is that we have failed to capture the hearts of men with the greatness of our mission. This episode focusses on just one aspect of a decision that every Christian who is listening to this podcast has made—choosing to be a follower of King Jesus. Disciples follow their masters’ example. They apply his teaching. They embrace his cause. This episode looks at just one facet of Jesus’ identity that has enormous implications for following him. He is the Prince of Peace who brings shalom.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What steps can you take to increase the likelihood that that next year at this time you will look back and say, “I was a faithful agent of reconciliation of the kingdom. I prayed for, the building of relationships with the lost around me and for opportunities to share my faith, and seized those opportunities”?
- How can you better notice the inner turmoil of those around you and take a small step in pointing them to Jesus? How can you support ministries of those reaching those who have been broken by life?
- What caveats do you want to remember about being a peacemaker among humans?
- What do you think of Miles McPherson’s Third option?
- Why might it be important in your world to remember that Christians aren’t call just to fix spiritual things—but respond with compassion to those impacted by the brokenness of the physical world?
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Episode Summary. As our children and grandchildren leave their homes, we can expect them to hear the argument that they should act like adults andstop viewing the Bible’s fairy tales as anything more than morally uplifting stories like The Little Mermaid, The Lord of the Rings, or Santa Clause. Against this backdrop, we must help our children and grandchildren, before leaving home, realize that believing in Jesus is far different than believing in Santa Clause. The faulty idea that the TRUTH of what you believe DOESN'T MATTER is being shouted from the rooftops in academia today. But no one lives that way. This episode seeks to equip us all to explain the ways that belief that the child in the manger is God, himself, is rooted in solid evidence, unlike the myth of Santa.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you answer the objection, “I can’t believe in Christianity because I can’t believe God would be so narrow minded that only one religion could be right?
- How would you answer Da Vinci Code fans who insist that the idea that the baby in Bethlehem’s manger was made up by a faction of Jesus’ followers?
- Which examples of archaeology’s validation of biblical accuracy do you most want to remember?
- How might Jesus’ fulfillment of so many specific prophecies be a tool to help you ask those who don’t know him to consider his claims?
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Episode Summary. Our culture is shaped by the interaction of various worldviews that compete for the influence to shape thinking. Ten days ago in the halls of Congress many of us saw the moral bankruptcy of a worldview that is held by many of the cultural elites, when the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn would not say that the conduct code of their universities prevents students from calling for the extermination of the Jews. The worldview that has replaced the conscience of these elites is called critical theory. Christians have something far, far better to offer the world. It is an accurate lens to explain what is happening in the world. This episode examines this biblical worldview through which to view society. We do that by examining the Christmas story of the Magi.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How does John’s worldview lens of 2 categories of people, those who hate the light and those who come to the light correspond to reality as you have experienced it?
- What truths stood out to you about Matthew’s inclusion of the story of the magi in his gospel? Why do you think it is so rare today to find a group so “driven” to want to worship Jesus?
- What do you most want to remember about the dark side of Christmas?
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Episode Summary. Is anything more beautiful, spectacular, and wonderful than God’s creation of WOMAN? I think not. She is the crowning achievement of God’s creation process. She is the one for whom a husband is to die. Yet, we live in a culture that has profoundly marred the portrait of fulfilled womanhood as God designed it to be—and it is our feminine loved ones who are suffering from it. This episode seeks to put a spotlight on 4 worldviews in our culture that MISSHAPE our loved ones’ views of womanhood in sharp contrast to God’s perfect design revealed in Scripture. We then examine this portrait in the person of Mary, the mother of Jesus, so that we who are husbands, fathers and grandfathers can help our female loved ones delight in biblical womanhood instead of being ashamed of it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which of the 4 pollutant worldviews in our culture about womanhood concern you most?
- Which of the 4 pollutant worldviews in our culture have you found hardest to refute?
- What part of Mary’s beauty most stood out to you?
- What part of Peter’s portrait of womanhood, also seen in Mary, do you want to most remember to notice in your feminine lived ones so you can praise them for it?
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Summary: At this cultural moment Christian men face the extreme risk of abandoning our calling to godly manhood, because of the cultural pressure we feel every day. This pressure not to make distinctions between men and woman or their designed roles is squeezing many Christian men and leaders into the world’s mold and resulting unfaithfulness. But in this episode we study the example of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad, which is a step towards enabling us to be transformed as Romans 12:2 says, by the renewing of our minds to set our sights on God's vision of manhood for us.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which of the 6 characteristics of Joseph do you most admire?
- Which of the 6 characteristics of Joseph do you think required the most spiritual might?
- Which of the 6 characteristics of Joseph do you most want to remember?
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Resource Used for This Podcast:
- Boundaries With Kids, Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Leadership is Male, David Pawson
Summary: As irritations, frustrations and trials crowd into our lives bringing out our bad attitudes, we are hit in the face with James’ almost impossible command, “Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). “Be joyful,” says James, “because when it hurts, God is building in you the Christ-like quality of steadfastness.” This same, priceless, attribute of Christ-like character, steadfastness, is identified by Peter as one of the eight in the golden chain of Christ-like virtues we’re studying. This episode examines how on our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, we can exhibit the inner toughness of character that responds as Jesus would—with steadfastness, instead of giving in to lousy, self-absorbed, wrong attitudes. We then go on to examine how to build the remaining three virtues in Peter’s golden chain that go beyond steadfastness.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why does becoming like Jesus hurt?
- Character is not having the right attitude once in a while but consistently enough so that such an attitude is characteristic of you. How is this truth related to the quality of steadfastness?
- How would you answer a Christ-follower who said, “When I was a younger Christian I needed to be connected in the Body of Christ because I was so screwed up, but now that I am stronger, I’m handling things on my own okay?”
- As you look back upon the 3-step process for accessing divine power to build the golden chain of virtues that rest upon one another, where would you say is the biggest breakdown in your life?
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Summary: It is hard to image anything that would please Jesus more than hearing, “I want to be just like you.” Incredibly, the Apostle, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3-8 that God has graciously given us a present—his divine power to partake of his divine, holy nature. He outlines 3 specific steps by which Christians access that divined power. The last 2 episodes examined steps 1-2. This episode examines step 3.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In this episode’s review of last week we again looked at how claiming the specific promises of God to care for our needs frees us from having to worry about them knowing they are taken care of. Why might this step be required before we can focus on Christ-like attitudes towards others?
- What ideas about pursuing virtue, praiseworthy character stood out to you.
- What do you think of the statement having the right attitude comes from looking at life from God’s point of view? What reasons for knowing the Word of God stand out to you as most important.
- Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Self-control is more about choosing your perspective in a given situation than about resisting cravings?
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Summary: Against a moral backdrop much like ours, in which evil seemed ready to envelop the whole empire. Peter gave specific advice to the Christ-followers of his day. This episode examines that advice and how we can follow it in today’s world. We will see that despite being disheartened by the way Evil was winning the cultural battle between Christ’s kingdom of righteousness and the kingdom of darkness, Peter urges Christ-followers to fight a different battle—one that Christ has given us the resources to WIN.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do you think Peter tries to motivate his readers to fight the battle against evil desires and supplant them with a heart like that of Jesus—by appealing that such effort guarantees that their commitment to Christ will not be INEFFECTIVE or UNFRUITFUL?
- Step 2 for accessing Christ’s power to overcome selfish attitudes (from verse 4b) stresses that the power to partake of Christ’s moral excellence comes through his precious and great promises. How can living by Christ’s promises dispel the turmoil and self-preoccupation that tend to rule our hearts?
- Which specific promises of God stood out to you?
- Which selfish compulsion of you heart needs to be expelled by claiming a promise of God?
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Summary: Great men in the eyes of Jesus are those who fight the sinful attitudes of their hearts, self-centeredness, pride, resentment, lust, selfishness, impurity, rivalry, idolatry, greed, envy, selfish anger. They surrender in humility to God’s reclamation project of re-making them into the toughness of character that Jesus showed. They channel their masculine aggression towards overpowering the dark attitudes of their fallen hearts. This episode explores what the Apostle, Peter, taught about how to unleash the power God has provided to win this battle.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- If God has freely granted us the power to overcome sinful attitudes, why do we surrender to them so much?
- How does Paul’s explanation of sanctification in 2 Cor 3:17 make sense? And we all, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
- What obstacles keep you from intimacy with Jesus?
- How can we do a better job of remembering that fighting our wrong attitudes so that our inner character looks like that of Jesus, is a personal call from him?
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Summary: In the last ten years there has been an explosion of confusion among adolescent children about their gender. Girls doubting their femininity are suffering. Boys uncertain about masculinity are unsure of themselves. Alarming statistics reveal that the more confused children are about their gender, the greater is their risk of suicide. What should Christian men do about this crisis? This episode uses God’s command to us in 1 Corinthians 16:13 to answer that question.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you see as the implications of God’s command, “be watchful,” regarding our response to radical gender theory’s influence in our day?
- What do you see as the implications of God’s command, “stand firm in the faith” regarding our response to radical gender theory’s influence in our day?
- What do you see as the implications of God’s command, “act like men,” regarding our response to radical gender theory’s influence in our day?
- What do you see as the implications of God’s command, “be strong,” regarding our response to radical gender theory’s influence in our day?
Resources To Enable Men to BE WATCHFUL
- FREE YouTube Video Series, A Biblical Response to Gender Confusion and the Transgender Movement. The 4 lectures are Understanding Gender Theory, Understanding Today’s Transgender Craze, Countering Radical Gender Theory, Biblical Worldview of Sexuality (For teens and youth leaders).
- Gospel Coalition article. Sarah Zylstra, “Transformation of a Transgender Teen,” The Gospel Coalition, July 6, 2022.
- 48-page booklet, Our Daughter and the Transgender Craze: Responding with Grace and Truth.
- What Would You SayColson Center website
- “Protect Our Children from Gender Confusion” Campaign—our ministry’s call to get prepared, get praying, and get promoting this campaign on Facebook.
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Summary: Because of the Hamas attack on Israel two weeks ago, I’ve changed the topic of today’s episode to address a battle that all Christians are called to fight—the battle to shape our culture’s worldview to conform to biblical truth, instead of letting false worldviews blind our culture to reality, because we are silent. This episode examines how Hamas’ worldview is very different from that of the western world and why it led to the inhuman massacre that we have all witnessed.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Contrast the worldviews of the Hamas terrorists with the worldview of those who experienced abject revulsion at what they did.
- What observations stood out to you about the link between Hamas’ worldview and their behavior October 7th?
- How does the Hamas Israel war illustrate the truth that ideas have consequences—bad ideas have victims and good ideas have beneficiaries?
- How would you answer the statement—the constant war between Islamic terrorists and Israel just proves the intolerance of religion is the reason we can’t have peace in the world?
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Summary: No man wants to fail his wife or kids. Despite loud cries to the contrary in our culture, we men are assigned the position of head of our marriage, which means if we love our wives well, they will flourish. As those assigned the role of father, our concrete love for our kids is designed to prepare them to see and welcome the parallel but invisible love of God the Father. This strategic position means we must win the battle to defeat our own selfishness, building a pattern of denying ourselves to meet the needs of our wife and children. This episode examines how it is that we daily tap into the power of Christ in us to overcome our default self-preoccupation, learn to die to ourselves, and better focus on meeting the needs of others, not only loving well the wife and kids we cherish but showing Christ’s love to those God has placed around us.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are some of the things that you think blind men to their own self-centeredness?
- How have you seen the action of putting the love of SELF above love for God and others bear destructive fruit?
- Of the five ways we examined to overcome selfishness and sacrificially love others, which is the hardest to do for you? Which is the easiest?
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Summary: This episode continues our October series on the battles men fight by examining Satan’s efforts to destroy our trust in God’s character. Such confidence MATTERS to God so much that his Word says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him,” (Heb 11:6a). All meaningful love-relationships require trust. Because Satan wants to destroy our relationship with God, he constantly seeks to undermine our trust in him. This episode examines Satan’s tactics in this battle and how to resist him.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What situations make it easy for you to complain? What do you think of the idea that murmuring is public disloyalty to God?
- How are Israel’s temptation to put God to the test and Jesus’ temptation to put God to the test similar?
- We observed four ways to battle Satan’s doubt about God’s goodness, battling pride, battling the idea that loving me would cause God to make my life easier, a short-run vs long-run perspective and simply quoting the Word of God this says, God is FOR us. Which of these seems hardest?
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Summary: This episode begins our October series on the battles men fight and begins with the temptation that survey’s reveal is at the top of men’s temptations—overcoming lust and if married directing their sexual desires totally towards the wife of their youth. We study David’s fall and the lessons we can take away from this biblical example.
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.)
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Summary: This episode raises the question, “Could it be that Satan and sin are racking up wins against us NOT because we’re NOT trying hard enough, but because we are not fighting with the right weapon?” Christ’s agenda of righteousness will never prevail in our own hearts or over the earth through trying harder. We must defeat the kingdom of darkness for “rightness” to spread. But such victory only comes through something called, PREVAILING PRAYER. This episode examines how to fight with this incredibly powerful weapon.
For further prayerful thought.
- Do you agree that most Christians do not look at prayer primarily as a weapon? If you agree, why do you think that is the case.
- What are two or three of the arguments that most stood out to you, to show that God’s intention for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom of righteousness over earth requires us using the weapon of prevailing prayer.
- As we looked at the prayers of Elijah and Paul what practical insights can help you better pray for the things that will advance Christ’s agenda in the lives of your loved ones and spheres of your life?
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Summary: On the night before he died, Jesus made the astonishing claim that he had completed the work the Father gave him to do. We wonder how Jesus could have talked about a completed work. His three-year ministry seemed all too short. For every prostitute whose heart he touched, hundreds remained untouched. For every blind man enabled to see, hundreds were still blind. Yet on that last night, with many urgent human needs unmet and useful tasks undone, the Lord said he had completed the work God had given him. How did he do that? That is the subject of today’s episode as we consider how best to be focused and effective in the mission assigned to us by King Jesus.
For further prayerful thought.
- In what ways is the term seek, the opposite of haphazard, unfocused living?
- Why do the pressures of life seem to take us everywhere but to the masters’ feet to talk with us about our mission?
- Almost everything about life, e.g. just buying groceries, is more effective with a plan (a list). Why don’t we think about a game plan for growing in Christ or loving our wives well?
Resource Used for this Episode:
The FOCUS Notebook.
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Summary: This episode provides a biblical definition of the term kingdom of God and when that becomes clear, we will see why Jesus said that PURSUING THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the most valuable objective anyone could ever build his life around!
For further prayerful thought.
- Why is seeking the kingdom of God like a pearl merchant pursuing and finding a fabulous pearl?
- What Scripture comes to mind to support the idea that the kingdom where Jesus wants righteousness to prevail is Adam’s kingdom, earth?
- How would you answer, the objection, “seeking righteousness” is at its core depending upon yourself instead of Christ?
- We saw that a clear understanding of our mission to seek first the kingdom of God leads to a) sharing the gospel, b) a high view of “secular” work, c) a high view of the physical word, d) realizing that salvation is not about escaping from the world but engaging the world seeking to spread Christ’s righteousness, e) that as agents of reconciliation Christians are to help others restore their relationship with themselves, God, others, and creation. Which of these five do you most want to remember from this episode? Why?
Resource Used for this Episode:
Discipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom DiscipleshipFor the printed version of this message click here.
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Summary: Hall of Fame NFL stars, besides excelling at unrelenting commitment to becoming the best they can be at their position, usually have developed a high football IQ, which helps them put playing their position in context. Jesus’ job description for his followers is to seek first the KINGDOM OF GOD and his righteousness. But it is impossible to go hard to succeed at this mission without a concrete understanding of what the kingdom of God is. What is the target on the wall? This episode seeks to develop our KINGDOM IQ—so we can better understand the mission that Jesus said was to be our top priority in life.
For further prayerful thought:
- How would you try to persuade a brother in Christ that it was important to understand the full background behind the term kingdom of God?
- What stood out most to you about the parallel between the first Adam and the second Adam?
- The word gospel means good news. How is the good news of the kingdom, which Jesus taught and proclaimed, a richer concept than just saying the gospel is that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone?
- In what ways is our mission to spread “rightness and wholeness” (the kingdom of righteousness) over every square inch of the planet a compelling challenge? Are you ready to accept the challenge to pursue rightness—the agenda of Christ in every sphere of your life?
Primary Resource Used for this Episode: Discipling Men's Hearts Through Kingdom Theologyby Dr. Gary Yagel
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Episode Summary: God assigns Christian fathers the responsibility of protecting their children—and one of the greatest dangers to them in this cultural moment is the false religion called progressive Christianity. This episode exposes this new movement that many in the rising generation are becoming convinced is superior to their old fashioned, closed minded bigoted Christian faith they grew up believing and what dads, granddads, and church leaders can do about it.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What alarms you most about the rise of progressive Christianity?
- Why do you think this movement would be attractive to today’s rising generation of kids raised in the church?
- What was most helpful in thinking through how to help the rising generation reject this heretical movement?
Recommended Resources
- I want to especially highlight the excellent series from the Colson Center, “What Would You Say.” This series addresses numerous worldview issues biblically, succinctly, and with logical clarity. It is the best equipping tool I have ever seen to guide Christians to know how to be salt and light, winsomely promoting the biblical worldview throughout the culture.
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
- Mama Bea Apologetics, Hillary Ferrer
- Before Your Lose Your Faith, Ivan Mesa
- The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity, Michael Kruger
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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?
TSER Gender Unicorn graphic
Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture
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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 Culture
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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?
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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?”
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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?
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Summary: Fighting wordsare 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?
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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?
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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.
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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 Consequences
- Boundaries with Kids, Henry Cloud & John Townsend
- Raising Great Kids, Cloud & Townsend
Foundation # 2: Character Expressed in Godly Attitudes
- Character Development Training Plan (Pa 132 Focus Notebook)
Foundation # 3: Word of God Internalized
- The New City Catechism Curriculum
- The Topical Memory System
Foundation # 4: Biblical Worldview Embraced
- The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims, Rebecca McLaughlin
- A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, John Stonestreet & Brent Kunkle
- Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, Hillary Ferrer, Editor.
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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?
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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?
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Episode Summary. This episode examines why our words promoting fatherhood need to be heardby our children, grandchildren, neighbors, and work associates. It further suggests winsome ways to present the biblical worldview that fatherhood is vital for human flourishing.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why do you believe more Christian men do not take a stand for God’s design of Adam and Eve differently to complete each other?
- What did you find most motivational in persuading you that those around us NEED to hear us speak up about the way fatherhood is being canceled by gender theory today?
- Which faulty argument about the Bible’s oppressive patriarchy have you hear most often? What would it take for you to turn the tables on one who makes such a claim by asking a wise question, like, “What makes you say that?”
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Episode Summary. This episode seeks to put a biblical lens over the inter-relationship between our money, our giving, and our hearts.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why do you think Jesus’ view of money was so stark—that it wants to enslave us? Why do you think that happens?
- Someone has said that maturity of character is measured by your ability to delay gratification—in other words make an investment now that doesn’t pay off until later. How have you learned to invest in kingdom ministries and forsake some pleasures you might have enjoyed here and now instead?
- What stood out to you about God’s purpose of tithing?
- How do you see God’s invitation to test him by tithing in Malachi 3 related to Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him?
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Episode Summary. This episode seeks to look at poverty through a biblical lens, understanding it’s causes, misguided attempts to solve it, and especially what fulfilling our responsibility to care for the poor looks like.
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett, and Brian Fikkert
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How would you summarize God’s plan for those on planet earth to flourish economically?
- How does understanding that poverty is caused by the breakdown of the four relationships of life make sense in what you observe about poverty?
- Of the six suggestions for how to properly care for the poor, which two stood out most to you? Are there any that you think God wants you to think more about?
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Episode Summary. We continue our May series Thinking Biblically About Money Greed and Economic Justice by looking carefully at the claim made by many social justice advocates that Christians are hypocrites for not standing up for the poor and embracing ECONOMIC EQUALITY for everyone as Jesus would have. Is this claim true? How do we respond to our kids returning from college who are deconverting from Christianity because of the failure of today’s church to embrace such equality?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- Institute for Faith, Work and Economics website(excellent, biblical, scholarly articles on the biblical view of economics, helping the poor, etc.)
- What Would You Say Colson Center(Excellent short videos on how to promote a biblical view of economics).
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How would you respond to the average Christian dad who says, “understanding economics is not part of my calling. I can’t answer my kid’s accusations that Christianity is hypocritical and that they can’t embrace a religion that favors American consumerism instead of ECONOMIC EQUALITY as Jesus would have?”
- What most stood out to you about current ideologues who have replace the content of the word EQUALITY as equal justice under the law with the concept of the same treatment?
- Why does the biblical view that justice is not everyone having the same abilities, assets, and opportunities but that from those who are given much, much is required better match reality than the concept that everyone God creates should be EQUAL in every opportunity, ability, and asset?
Special Announcement for All those Near Schenectady/Albany, NEW YORK
I will be one of the two keynote speakers at the Iron Sharpens Iron Conference May 20, 2023. The conference is from 8:30-3:00 PM. It includes two main addresses, lunch, and your choice of 2 out of 16 seminars on topics relevant to men. Here is the link.
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Episode Summary. Today we begin our May series Thinking Biblically About Money Greed and Economic Justice. There is a great abundance of Biblical teaching about money, work, and how to manage our financial resources. As always, we will start with a biblical worldview. Today it is God’s view work, sadly, which has been mostly lost among believers.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What most stood out to you about the way the biblical doctrine of work has been repeatedly lost, found, then lost again?
- Describe the parallel between God being a worker/creator and humans being designed to be worker/creators. What does this have to do with the Biblical doctrine of work?
- What would you say to someone who said, “I don’t know if I can make it another 5 years at this secular job until I retired and can finally get into full time Christian work and make a real difference for the kingdom?”
Special Announcement for All those Near Schenectady/Albany, NEW YORK
I will be one of the two keynote speakers at the Iron Sharpens Iron Conference May 20, 2023. The conference is from 8:30-3:00 PM. It includes two main addresses, lunch, and your choice of 2 out of 16 seminars on topics relevant to men. Here is the link.
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Episode Summary. As we complete this series on developing the tough-minded attitudes that Jesus exhibited throughout his life, we realize that the key to godly attitudes is having the right perspective. The biblical term for this right perspective is wisdom. Wisdom is looking at life from Gods point of view. It is seeing how God designed life to best function. In this episode we look at the astonishing promises God makes about gaining his wisdom, and see how Jesus teaching of biblical wisdom is at the core of his teaching of the beatitudes.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What are the 3 most persuasive reasons that every man should pursue God’s wisdom?
- What examples can you think of when you see the biblical truth that, there is a way THAT SEEMS RIGHT to a man, but its end is the way to death?
- Which counter-intuitive beatitude stood out most to you? Why?
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Episode Summary.
Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl’s observation that the last of the human freedoms to be taken away from another man is his freedom to choose his attitude is biblical. It takes enormous spiritual power to choose the godly attitudes of Jesus, but that is precisely why the Holy Spirit was given to us! This episode examines the last two fruits of the Spirit, meekness and self-control.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- In what ways is the 8th fruit of the Spirit, translated meekness or gentleness, like a horse racing across the beach under the control of a rider who loves him?
- What have you learned about giving up your rights to God?
- What two insights about developing self-control stood out to you?
- How does a parent’s approach to disciplining a child help a child stop being out of control themselves and attempting to control everyone around them?
Special Announcement for All those Near Schenectady/Albany, NEW YORK
I will be one of the two keynote speakers at the Iron Sharpens Iron Conference May 20, 2023. The conference is from 8:30-3:00 PM. It includes two main addresses, lunch, and your choice of 2 out of 16 seminars on topics relevant to men. Here is the link.
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Episode Summary. How do we become the kind of men who leave behind a good or even great legacy that matters? How can we stay focused on a destiny that will make the world a better place, bring great honor to Jesus, and great defeat to the Evil One? Scripture teaches that reaping a great destiny is the result of a process that, day-by- day builds character. This episode examines the character of true GOODNESS and FAITHFULNESS.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- In the chain of sowing and reaping, which ultimately produces a great destiny, what part of that sowing and reaping process do you find the hardest?
- It seems obvious that true GOODNESS would mean that we always pursue what is best for another. But if that is the case, why aren’t Christians more intentional about pursing opportunities to share Christ with others?
- Which approach to evangelism resonated most with you?
- What would you say to someone who says the church should not get involved in politics?
- In your own experience, what issues does today’s church need to be more bold in confronting?
Podcasts Series that Addresses Gender Theory
Reconstructing Manhood & Womanhood In Culture Where They Are Broken
- The Origin of Gender Theory Which Fractures Personhood S4 E #6 2/5/23
- Overcoming a Breakdown in Marriage Intimacy S4 E #7 2/12/23
- Kids Who Are Confident in Their Created Gender Identity S4 E #8 2/19/23
- Winsomely Promoting the Truth That Gender is Binary S4 E #9 2/26/23
Resource Used In the Podcast
- Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels
- The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges
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Episode Summary. This episode examines how we can cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit to produce true spiritual joy and a radical commitment all through our life to restoring broken relationships fractured by sin—ones relationship to God, himself, other humans, and creation.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why would you say it is important to delight yourself in the Lord?
- What obstacles get in the way of having a grateful heart?
- Why do you think Paul might have deliberately linked rejoicing in the Lord, praying without ceasing, and in everything give thanks?
- What do you think it means to be assigned the role by Jesus of being an agent of reconciliation. What prevents you from doing this more successfully?
Resource Used In the Podcast
- Radical Gratitude, Ellen Vaughn
- Restoring All Things, Warren Smith and John Stonestreet
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Episode Summary. Today, we begin a series entitled, Building the Mental Toughness of Jesus—a challenge more significant and tougher than traveling to the south pole. For, our opponent is not the outer elements of the physical world, but the inner Goliath of the SELF, whose many faces--self-centeredness, self-preoccupation, self-absorption, self-indulgence, self-exaltation--resist every effort to develop the mental toughness of Christ’s inner commitment to self-giving love. We closely examine ten characteristics of real love set forth by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How would you explain to another man that only men who want who aspire to inner toughness ought to try to be like Jesus?
- What insights about the nature of true, self-giving love most stood out to you?
- Which of the ten facets of agape love do you feel like you are exhibiting best?
- Which of the ten facets of agape love do you most need to work on?
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Episode Summary. YESTERDAY’S spiritual passion cannot be TODAY’S spiritual energy. This episode addresses the question, “How should Christ-followers deal with those days when we are unmotivated, down, discouraged, and our spiritual energy gone?”
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What life lessons do you see from the example of Elijah’s spiritual high being followed by an emotional low that plunged to the point of asking God to take his life?
- How can the truth that nearly any objective that matters goes through the 3 steps of 1) beginning, 2) being resisted but persevered through, and then 3) success restore motivation when we are tired of the battle?
- What have you learn about how to prevent failure from demotivating you and failing forward instead?
- What would you say to a Christian who said, “the kingdom of darkness just keeps winning. It feels like there is just no point to trying to stop the inevitable slide of our country into evil?”
Resource Used In the Podcast
- You Don’t Have to Quit, Ray and Anne Ortland
- Restoring Your Spiritual Passion, Gordon MacDonald
- The Success Journey, John Maxwell
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Episode Summary. This episode explores what Jesus taught about anger. What it is. The wrong places our anger can take us. And how to overcome it.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- What was the most helpful truth you discovered about anger?
- In your experience which experience provokes the hottest anger, something that frustrates reaching your goals, injustice, or being disrespected? Are there other sources of pain you can think of that generate anger?
- How can the thought that God never wastes pain hep you overcome anger?
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Episode Summary. This episode is the second that examines the three functions of spiritual leadership at home, staying focused ourselves on our spiritual growth as Christ’s disciple, building a caring relationship with our followers, and equipping and assisting them to reach the goal of spiritual maturity as Christ-followers.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- In your own life, how have you seen the principle lived out that a leader’s influence with you is based on his care for you.
- Which aspects of building a caring relationship with a leader’s followers seems the hardest for you.
- What aspects of equipping or assisting your followers towards spiritual maturity stood out most to you? Why?
Resource Used In the Podcast
Focus Notebook: A Tool to Empower Christian Men to Accomplish Their Mission by Gary Yagel
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Episode Summary. In the next two episodes, our goal is for you to come away with a concrete picture of the three components of spiritual leadership in the home and how they work together to maximize our leadership impact in our families.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How would you answer the question, What does it mean to be the spiritual leader of a Christian home?
- Why are all three arrows or lines of the spiritual leadership diagram necessary for good leadership?
- What did you learn about the importance of staying focused on the objective of spiritual grow in your own life?
Resource Used In the Podcast
Focus Notebook: A Tool to Empower Christian Men to Accomplish Their MissionbyGary Yagel
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Episode Summary. Today we complete our short 4-week series, Reconstructing Manhood and Womanhood In a Culture Where They Are Broken This episode seeks to answer the question, “How do we let the light of God’s truth about gender shine in the darkened culture around us?”
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- In refuting the premise that gender identity is NOT determined by your biological sex, which arguments seemed most cogent to you. What thoughts do you have about winsomely persuading others that gender is binary?
- In refuting the premise that it is wrong to fail to AFFIRM one’s chosen gender identity BECAUSE IT VIOLATES THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS if you don’t, which arguments seemed most cogent to you? What do you think is the best way to persuade a coworker that transgender rights can’t violate women’s rights?
- In refuting the premise that it is wrong to fail to AFFIRM one’s chosen gender identity BECAUSE THEY WILL COMMIT SUICIDE IF YOU DON’T, which arguments seemed the most cogent to you? What is the most persuasive way to convince others that affirming care is harmful to children?
Resources Used In the Podcast
- What Is Woman: One Man’s Journey to Ask the Question of a Generation, Matt Walsh.
- Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, Gary Yagel.
- Our Daughters and the Transgender Craze: Responding with Grace and Truth, Gary Yagel.
- Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, Abigail Shrier.
- What Would You Say, Colson Center Short Video series.
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Episode Summary. Christ-followers are chosen to be a blessing to the rest of the world. God’s special revelation, the Word of God reveals to us wisdom that is more valuable than gold, truth that is more precious than diamonds. God has gone to great length in Genesis 1 and 2 to show us how he created man and woman to have very different identities, callings, and roles in the family and church family. He has made us stewards of this great treasure—how male and female are designed to relate to one another. This episode examines this great treasure so that we can better share it with those whose view of gender is fractured.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Egalitarians believe that since man and women are equal it is unfair for God to say that men only are to lead their homes and church homes. How does God’s description in Genesis 1 and 2 of his creation design of male and female to refute egalitarianism, (let alone the teaching of the New Testament)?
- What stood out to you about God’s design of masculinity?
- Are there some ways you can use your influence with boys or other men to steer them towards godly manhood?
- What stood out to you about God’s design of femininity? How do you see false worldviews undermining God’s glorious design?
- How can you affirm the godly femininity of the girls and women around you?
Resources Used In the Podcast
Anchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender-Confused Cultureby Gary Yagel
The Grand Design: Male and Female He Made Themby Owen Strachan amd Gavin Peacock.
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Episode Summary. No Christian couple walks down the wedding aisle planning for their love relationship to fracture. But nearly 50% of Christian marriages do. A careful examination of what divorcees say was missing in their marriages reveals time and again that what was lost was the closeness that we call “intimacy.” This episode examines how our sinful natures fracture the intimacy in marriage, and what to do about it.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How does God’s creation design of male and female differently seem to explain why husbands and wives have such different intimacy needs?
- When you think about a woman’s nurturing role, why does it make sense for God to make the male body so that the buildup of semen drives him into his wife’s arms where emotional needs he doesn’t even know he has are met?
- If you are married, what is the hardest part of meeting your wife’s need for emotional intimacy?
- Why does it make sense that listening well enough to my wife so that she wants to share her heart with me, makes her feel cherished?
Resources Used In the Podcast
Intimacy: God’s Design for Marriage--Three Conversational Dates to Rediscover Intimacy in Your Marriage, by Gary and Sandy Yagel (see the second page of our resources in our bookstore www.forgingbonds.org.)
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Episode Summary. This episode seeks to give a clear a description of gender theory so that we can better recognize it, refute it with science, logic, and common sense—and teach our children and grandchildren to do the same.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- Why is it important for Christians to always begin interaction with those who are sexually broken with humility and compassion?
- Analyze the statement, “compassion without truth can be dangerous.” How did Jesus seem to combine empathy with speaking truth?
- What stood out to you about the nature and origin of gender theory?
- Do you think Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:18-19 are a fair or unfair description of the founders of gender theory? These are: They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
- How can we help our loved ones see that gender theory arose out of sexual brokenness, yet teach them not to employ the ad Hominem argument when promoting the biblical worldview of gender?
Resources Used In the Podcast
- Our Daughters and the Transgender Craze: Responding with Grace and Truth, by Gary Yagel.
- What is a Woman: One Man’s Journey to Answer the Question of a Generation,by Matt Walsh.
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Episode Summary. In this final episode of our series, Don’t Waste Your Life. Rule It for God, we will examine a very common feeling among Christian men—that their secular work, itself, is a necessary evil, but only of secondary importance in our mission to spread Christ’s kingdom of righteousness over earth. Is that true? This episode seeks to apply a biblical worldview of work and rest to our understanding of our mission.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- In your own words, how would you summarize the biblical view of secular work? How is a high view of creation connected to a high view of work?
- How would you answer the objection that the 4th commandment isn’t relevant for Christians?
- How would you explain to another that instead of a legalistic prohibition, the fourth commandment is an invitation to weekly renewal? How is the way that God rested a pattern for us to follow?
- How can Gordon MacDonald’s three principles of genuine rest, 1) looking backward, 2) sharpen our present truth perspective, and 3) looking forward to the upcoming mission for the week be a helpful pattern to you?
Resources Used In the Podcast
- Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller
- How Then Should We Work, Hugh Whelchel
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Episode Summary. God wants your prayer life to be filled with petitions and intercession for others and for the advance of His kingdom. He wants answers to such prayer to become your frequent and thrilling experience. Scripture says, If we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him (1 Jn 5:13-14).John tells us that prayer is essentially a blank check, with one important caveat: We must prayer according to the will of God. This episode explores what it means to pray according to God’s will so that our prayers move the kingdom of righteousness forward and we know the joy of seeing God work.
For Further Prayerful Thought.
- How does our mission to spread the righteous kingdom of Christ over the earth, discipling the nations relate to Jesus statement in Matt 8:26, “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me?”
- What do you think is the significance of Jesus telling us that our very first request in prayer is that God’s name be hallowed?
- In your own words what does it mean to pray, “May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heave”?
- How should Jesus’ promise, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” shape your prayer life?
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Episode Summary. George Barna’s Millennials in America report observes, “One of the most attention-grabbing attributes revealed in this research regarding the Millennial way of life is their widespread desire to identify a purpose for living. Three out of four Millennials are still searching for their purpose in life.” This evidence that Millennials want a life of purpose reminds me of the popularity of Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. There is weighty evidence that human beings are designed to want a purpose for living. This episode series is designed to help the men listening accomplish exactly what so many Millennials—and so many humans in general want: experience the satisfaction and joy of knowing that they are accomplishing the purpose for which they were created. Our goal for this episode is to frame a biblical, one-sentence description of the mission that Christ assigned us—so that we can stay focused upon it.
For Further Prayerful Thought. (This week’s discussion questions are mentioned in the podcast but are repeated here.)
- Rightness in my relationship with God: How am I doing at loving my Lord? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Lk 10:27).
- Rightness in my heart attitudes: How am I doing with Peter’s exhortation? For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
- Rightness in the world around me. What areas of brokenness around me has God put on my heart? Individuals? Worldview issues? What opportunities do I have to speak truth into such brokenness? What opportunity do I have to exercise compassion towards the broken? How might I become better equipped to winsomely articulate the biblical worldview? (I highly recommend the Colson Center’s What Would You Say short videos).
Resources Used in Today’s Podcast
Discipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theology, Gary Yagel (Doctoral Dissertation for RTS Orlando)
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Episode Summary. No Christian man I know wants to waste his life. He doesn’t want his life to simply be a shooting star that burns out in a few moments of eternity; he wants his life to matter. He wants to get to the end of the race marked out for him and hear, “Well done” from the lips of Jesus. But we also know that in order to hear Jesus’ commendation for our mission, “Well done” we need to “well do.” We need to stay focused on it. As we saw last week rudderless life is a wasted life. The starting point for connecting our mission from Jesus to our everyday lives is coming to the conviction that God’s design for Christ-followers is that our INNER PRIVATE world GOVERN our OUTER WORLD of activity. This episode looks at HOW to do that—how we can take charge of the rudder and shape our lives according to our mission? And our model will be JESUS.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you try to persuade another man that God’s intention for him is to shape his outer world attitudes and behavior according to the game plan he has constructed in his inner world in conversation with his CO.
- How would you defend the statement, “If you are not intentional about building a game plan to accomplish your mission on a regular basis, you won’t accomplish much of your mission.”
- What examples of Jesus shaping his mission stood out to you?
- How do you need to better implement God’s command in Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure?
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Episode Summary. Not only does God have a specific mission for you in 2023, which Paul summarizes in Ephesians 2:10 as good works, but that mission is so important that God specifically designed you for it—to have your specific place and responsibilities in your family, your natural gifts and vocational calling, your specific spiritual gifts with which to contribute to the Body of Christ, and your specific relationships with the lost. God has designed both ME—and THE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES I WILL HAVE IN 2023 to impact my world for Christ. This episode looks at how to overcome a disordered life, so that you and I can stay focused on Christ’s mission for us—and so bring him honor in 2023.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What do you think is the biggest cost of living a disordered life?
- Why might the failure to have a concrete understanding of your mission, make it easy to live a disordered life?
- What are the pluses and minuses of defining our mission as the MFMfC podcast does, i.e. Called TO Christ, Called TO BE LIKE Christ, Called to EXERCISE DOMINI0N for Christ?
- What benefits of overcoming a disordered life stand out to you?
- What do you think are the biggest challenges to living an ordered outer life because you have ordered your inner private world?
Resources Used in Today’s Podcast
- Crazy Busy, by Kevin DeYoung
- Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald
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Episode Summary. As our 2022 race comes to an end over the next few days, it is a great time to reflect upon the upcoming race marked out for us by our Commander in Chief, Jesus, in 2023. Since the incarnation is at the heart of Christ’s mission to redeem his people and renew creation, how does the incarnation impact our mission as Christ-following men? That is the question we seek to answer in this episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Comment on the principle that when you love someone you must give up many of your freedoms. How might this thought enrich your understanding of the incarnation?
- What are some of the feelings that you think might accompany being in a eight by eight jail cell for life? Are there other metaphors you can think of to describe the eternal God imprisoning Himself in physical body forever?
- Why do you think incarnational leadership turns the followers’ hearts to the leaders?
- Biblical discipline is keeping a balance of consistent firmness and sympathetic understanding. Which side of this balance do you tend to land on?
- How can you move into 2023 more determined to empty yourself and thus show Christ to others?
Resources Used in Today’s Podcast
- God Came Near, by Max Lucado
- Ministries of Mercy, by Tim Keller
- Stronger Than Steel: The Wayne Alderson Story, by R. C. Sproul
- Boundaries With Kids, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
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Episode Summary. Joe Namath once said, "When you win, nothing hurts." The pleasure of victory can be so great that it overcomes the aching muscles and bruised body that result from battle. If you are disheartened, battered, discouraged or weary from fighting the good fight--your heart aching and soul bruised--my hope is that this episode will give such a clear picture of the colossal TRIUMPH of Messiah Jesus—and our part in that victory, that in some small way the pain is lessened, because we GRASP the ENORMITY of our eventual WIN.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How does Jesus’ title Prince of Peace reinforce the truth that the gospel has four chapters, creation, fall, redemption, restoration and not just two, fall and redemption?
- What stood out to you about the meaning of the Hebrew word, shalom? Why would it be biblical to say that shalom is the answer to all the levels of poverty in the world?
- Why would you support the argument that one of the highest callings of Christians is to spread the kingdom of righteousness in their vocations?
- What aspects of kingdom righteousness in the work place stood out to you?
Resources Used in Today’s Podcast
- Engaging God’s World, by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
- How then Should We Work?, by Hugh Whelchel
- Stronger Than Steel: The Wayne Alderson Story, by R. C. Sproul
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Episode Summary. Sometimes a single word can be loaded with meaning: Mom, Dad, Darling, Champion, Failure. Single words can be so important that Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” As we continue our series on the titles of Messiah Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, both of words that make up this title are loaded with a wealth of meaning, encouragement, and hope. The title is EVERLASTING FATHER.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What are the differences that a person would normally have in his relationship with his king and his father?
- Is it overstating the case to say that Christianity is best summarized by saying that Christ died to pay for our sins so that the guilt that blocks us from a relationship with the Holy One of Israel could be removed so that we can have an eternal personal relationship with him?
- Why would a compassionate leader be easier to follow than one who is not?
- What is the worst part of being a vessel that Jesus the Potter is cutting into? What is the best part?
- How would you persuade a non-believer that holding the opinion that Jesus was a great teacher is logically untenable?
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Episode Summary. Why did the long-awaited Messiah of Israel have to be the MIGHTY GOD—and what does that title mean for our everyday walk with Jesus today? That is the topic of today’s episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you support the idea that the overall teaching of the OT is that the real oppression of Israel was done by foreign military powers but by SIN? Why might this point to the fact that the deliverer would have to be God, himself?
- Paul commanded Christ-followers to abhor evil. What stood out to you in this episode about the awfulness of sin?
- When it comes to being strong in the Lord and the strength of his might, which aspects of appropriating Christ’s power to fight spiritually stood out to you?
- Which piece of spiritual armor do you most need to start putting on?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
Check 6 Wallet Card comes in a 5 Pack.
The Check 6 tool is designed to go with the book, Got Your Back: Helping Christian Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need.
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Episode Summary. For the next four weeks, our focus is on the first and most foundational part of our mission—deepening our love relationship with Christ. We will do this by zooming the camera in on four titles of Jesus given in the Isaiah 9 prophecy of the coming Messiah Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What do these titles tell us about Jesus and what difference these descriptions of our Commander in Chief make in our everyday lives? This episode examines Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Do you agree or disagree that every man has a little of Pat Tillman in him—a capacity to be inspired by a great mission.
- How would you argue that the most foundational part of our mission as Christ-followers to deepen our love relationship with Jesus?
- What stood out to you as takeaways from the truth revealed to us by God that Jesus the Messiah would be the Wonderful Counselor?
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Episode Summary. This episode seeks to examine what the church’s commitment to the poor of our cities should look like. We then examine three serious flaws in the progressive view of social justice, an ideology which is captivating many young adults leading them to abandon Christianity. Finally, we examine how only the church can bring about the restoration require to solve the problems of our urban poor but raise the question, “Will middle class Christians care enough to do it?”
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What is the biblical case for Christians being very engaged with alleviating the poverty and other suffering in our cities?
- What would you say to a church leader who said Jesus’ mission for us is to preach the gospel not care for the poor?
- What flaws of progressive ideology’s approach to poverty most stood out to you?
- How would you make the case that the true causes of poverty—the breaking of harmony between us and ourselves, each other, God, and creation can best be achieved by the church?
Recommended Resources
- When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
- Before Your Lose Your Faith, Edited by Ivan Mesa
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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.
Recommended Resources
- I want to especially highlight the excellent series from the Colson Center, “What Would You Say.” This series addresses numerous worldview issues biblically, succinctly, and with logical clarity. It is the best equipping tool I have ever seen to guide Christians to know how to be salt and light, winsomely promoting the biblical worldview throughout the culture.
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
- Mama Bea Apologetics, Hillary Ferrer
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Episode Summary: God assigns Christian fathers the responsibility of protecting their children—and one of the greatest dangers to them in this cultural moment is the false religion called progressive Christianity. This episode exposes this new movement that many in the rising generation are becoming convinced is superior to the old-fashioned, closed-minded, bigoted Christian faith they grew up believing and what dads, granddads, and church leaders can do about it.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What alarms you most about the rise of progressive Christianity?
- Why do you think this movement would be attractive to today’s rising generation of kids raised in the church?
- What was most helpful in thinking through how to help the rising generation reject this heretical movement?
Recommended Resources
- I want to especially highlight the excellent series from the Colson Center, “What Would You Say.” This series addresses numerous worldview issues biblically, succinctly, and with logical clarity. It is the best equipping tool I have ever seen to guide Christians to know how to be salt and light, winsomely promoting the biblical worldview throughout the culture.
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
- Mama Bear Apologetics, Hillary Ferrer
- Before Your Lose Your Faith, Ivan Mesa
- The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity, Michael Kruger
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Episode Summary. In a recent book published by the Gospel Coalition, Thaddeus Williams of Biola University argues that the church’s lack of concern for economic and social justice as a primary reason that many of those raised in Christian homes are deconstructing their faith. He writes, “The conclusion that Christianity is hardly the beacon of social justice that it should be is a common theme in many deconstruction stories.” “Instead of advocating for the poor by embracing economic justice, today’s church,” it is argued, “embraces capitalistic greed which oppresses the poor.” No teen raised in a Christian home wants to be part of a movement that oppresses the poor. No wonder so many are jettisoning biblical Christianity in favor of joining “social justice” ideologies that they believe support the poor instead of American consumerism. So, are American Christians enslaved to consumerism and affluence? Is Christianity guilty of neglecting the poor? And is ECONOMIC EQUALITY something that justice-loving people should pursue? This episode answers these tree questions.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- How would you answer the charge that Christians are guilty of neglecting the poor?
- How would you respond to the statement, “Rich people having more means that poor people have less.”
- How would you respond to the statement, “Socialism follows the pattern of the early church in Acts 4.
- How would you answer the charge that capitalism is evil because it is based on greed?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- I want to especially highlight the excellent series from the Colson Center, “What Would You Say.” This series addresses numerous worldview issues biblically, succinctly, and with logical clarity. It is the best equipping tool I have ever seen to guide Christians to know how to be salt and light, winsomely promoting the biblical worldview throughout the culture.
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle.
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Episode Summary: In view of the recent Dobbs Supreme Court decision, NOW is the time for all Christians to sharpen their awareness of the abortion plague and especially sharpen their ability to promote life by reasoning well in conversations taking place around us. That is the goal of this episode.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- What did you find most exciting about the Christian history of valuing the life and dignity of every human being because that person is made in the image of God?
- How would you support the argument that a human embryo is a human life?
- How would you refute the view that abortion denies a woman her “right to choose" what she does with her own body? ”
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- I want to especially highlight the excellent series from the Colson Center, “What Would You Say.” This series addresses numerous worldview issues biblically, succinctly, and with logical clarity. It is the best equipping tool I have ever seen to guide Christians to know how to be salt and light, winsomely promoting the biblical worldview throughout the culture.
- Tearing Us Apart, Ryan Anderson and Alexandra De Sanctis
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
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Episode Summary: In today’s episode we will discover that the modern “enlightened” view of sexuality actually undervalues sexuality and that it is, in fact, the Biblical view that upholds sex as a precious treasure. We examine four common messages about sexuality articulated and assumed by today’s social media and how the biblical view is richer and corresponds much more to reality.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to Think About this Material
- (I know that talking about sex is embarrassing. But it is a very important part of life.) What is your opinion of the modern view that sex is just a way to satisfy a normal bodily appetite? Do you believe the biblical worldview makes more sense? Why or why not?
- What is your opinion about pornography? What did you learn that was new to you?
- What is your opinion about sex being the normal way to say, “I love you romantically?” How would you try to persuade a friend that waiting for marriage to have sex is the best thing to do?
- Do you know Christian kids who are gay bashers? Why do advocates of the gay lifestyle use the ad homonym argument to label those who disagree homophobic? Why is it loving, if you had the chance, to guide someone AWAY from the gay life?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- The Meaning of Marriage, Tim and Kathy Keller
- A Practical Guide to Culture, John Stonestreet and Brent Kunkle
- The Secular Creed, Rebecca McLaughlin
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Episode Summary: This episode examines the cultural drift that has been called, the rise and triumph of the modern SELF—the ideology that locates true human identity, meaning, purpose, fulfillment, freedom and authenticity in the autonomy of the human SELF. We examine how this destructive worldview harms those who embrace it, and how to help the rising generation see how much more sense the biblical worldview of identity, purpose, fulfillment, and authenticity makes.
Questions for Guiding the Rising Generation to think about this material.
- You probably haven’t thought about it much but when you leave for college and get ready to be on your own—your identity, who you were created to be is an important question. Right now, how would you answer the question, “who are you?” How do you think most of your friends would answer?
- What do you think about the statement “This is who I am—I don’t care what society thinks; I only care what I think?”
- What do you think of the statement that is often made in graduation speeches, “You can become anyone you want to be with enough determination?"
- What do you think of the statement, “authentic living is being free from restraints—especially institutions like the church, family, and government?”
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- Making Sense of God, Tim Keller
- The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman
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Episode Summary: Suppose someone says to you, “There Can’t Be Just One True Religion.” What would you say to prepare your children or grandchildren, when they leave home, to be able to respond to this critique? This episode gives you some ideas.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you refute each of the four assertions that comprise the argument that there can’t be just one religion?
- Why might it be important to teach the rising generation the five ways Christianity is unique before they go out into the world?
- When you understand how an attack upon Christianity logically fails, why is it wiser to use questions with a colleague instead of telling them bluntly how they are wrong?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- The Reason for God, Tim Keller
- Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell
- The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel
- Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, Greg Koukl
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Episode Summary: Suppose someone says to you, “The Bible is scientifically not believable, historically unreliable, and culturally regressive. I can’t believe it is God’s voice speaking to humans.” What would you say? This episode gives you some ideas.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you argue that belief in the miracles of the Bible is not being unscientific?
- What to you are the most compelling arguments that we have historically accurate gospels of the story of Jesus’ life?
- In what ways is the Christian view of Scripture based upon Jesus’ view of the OT? His view of the NT?
- What did you learn about responding wisely to those whose initial take on the Bible is that it is culturally regressive, corrupted by the unenlightened, chauvinistic cultures around them?
Resources Used for Today’s Podcast
- The Reason for God, Tim Keller
- Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell
- Why I Believe, D. James Kennedy
- Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible’s Authority, Jonathan Morrow
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Episode Summary: Suppose someone says to you, “My scientific training makes it difficult if not impossible to accept the teachings of Christianity. As a believer in evolution, I can’t accept the Bible’s prescientific accounts of the origin of life.” This episode seeks to prepare you to know what to say in response that might cause him or her to doubt the assertion that science makes belief in God obsolete.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why would you say the view that science has made belief in God unnecessary and obsolete is so attractive to the rising generation?
- How is Richard Dawkins’ argument based upon a flawed understanding of science, faith, and logic?
- What evidence do you think is the most powerful to persuade others that faith in God is plausible?
- If someone said to you, “My scientific training makes it difficult if not impossible to accept the teachings of Christianity. As a believer in evolution, I can’t accept the Bible’s prescientific accounts of the origin of life,” what would be your strategy to ask them questions that might lead them to doubt that science undermines what the Bible teaches.
Resources Used for Today's Podcast:
- The Reason for God, Tim Keller
- God's Undertaker, John Lennox
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Episode Summary: God designed men to be the protectors of their homes. Genesis 2:15 reveals to us this God-designed role. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. KEEP IT is the Hebrew word, SHAMAR, which means to protect the garden and those in it. In the NT, Paul builds on this idea, calling the men of the church at Corinth to, Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. We must NOT BE BLIND to the destructive ideas that come into our homes and into the lives of our loved ones. This is the reason for this new series, Protecting Our Families from Enticing but False Worldviews. As we seek to understand how best to speak into the lives of the rising generation, which is being saturated with false worldviews through the social media every day, or, as we seek to influence the culture for Christ as we are commanded to do, today’s episode provides insight by examining what has caused so many young adults to abandon their Christian faith and confidence in the Bible.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why should fathers, grandfathers and church leaders be concerned about the false world views taking the rising generation captive?
- As we examined four contributing factors towards deconversion, which ones made the most sense to you. Have you seen any of these in action.
- What stood out to you about the value of using questions to point others towards a biblical worldview of a specific topic?
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Episode Summary: One of the habits of Jesus that is often overlooked, but extremely powerful is his habit of regularly withdrawing to a secluded place to intercede for his loved ones. This episode investigates the biblical evidence for believing Satan cannot stand against prayer made in Jesus name for the growth of kingdom righteousness in our own hearts and over the earth.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What are the obstacles you need to overcome in order to more consistently intercede for your loved ones?
- Which texts of Scripture seemed to most clearly make the case that Satan can’t stand against our prayers made for the spread of righteousness?
- Do you think it is harder for Christians today to carve out time to consistently pray than it was for Moravian Christians from 1727-1827?
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Episode Summary: One of the habits of Jesus that is often overlooked, but extremely powerful is his habit of regularly withdrawing to a secluded place to review his mission with his heavenly Father. This episode considers why following Jesus’ example is so life-changing and gives practical suggestions for how to do it in our own lives.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What insights have you gained from the example of Jesus coping with his Saturday night busyness by getting up Sunday morning to talk to the Father about his mission?
- What stood out to you about the way Josh goes about implementing this discipline in his life?
- What did Josh say about his reasons for implementing this practice that you found most persuasive?
- If you are persuaded that you should try something like this, what is the next step?
Resources in Today’s Podcast: In Josh’s story he mentioned a resource that is available in our bookstore, called the Focus Notebook.
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Episode Summary: This podcast looks to the end of the race Jesus has marked out for us and the longing to hear from the lips of our master, “Well Done. You have greatly honored me with your life.” This episode presents a powerful way to regularly strengthen our heart loyalty to our King.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to a Christian who says tithing is legalistic?
- How would you summarize the biblical teaching about tithing?
- Which benefits of tithing stand out most to you?
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.
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Episode Summary: Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant American theologian and student of human behavior once said, “Every decision you make is determined by the strongest desire reigning in your heart at the time of the decision.” In other words, your heart shapes every decision you make. So, living a godly life is the result of our hearts wanting the right things. But those heart desires are shaped by the lens through which we see life. This episode examines first how to build the habit of heart alignment, so we keep our passion to want to please Christ first place in our hearts and, second, how to build the habit of putting in our spiritual contact lenses so our hearts see life from God’s perspective.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why should Christians watch over their heart with all diligence?
- If you were explaining to a young believer how we need to go about delighting ourselves in the Lord and why, what would you say?
- What were the most persuasive arguments to convince you to spend time in God’s Word?
Resources Mentioned:
- Knowing God, by J.I. Packer
- The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul
- Objects of His Affection, by Scotty Smith
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Episode Summary: “How much thought have you given to your fathering legacy?” No matter what stage of life we are in, we are probably too busy doing what we need to get done this week to think much about something as nebulous and far away as my fathering legacy. Yet, whether you are on the front end of adulthood or adding great grandchildren to your tribe, it is worth considering how we can make the most strategic investment of ourselves to build a godly heritage because, God, himself, underscores the importance of the spiritual heritage we are to pass on. This episode examines the importance of building a godly fathering legacy and identifies a few practical suggestions about HOW to do it.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Which aspects of Israelite fathers failure to pass on their spiritual heritage to their children stood out to you?
- What are some ways in today’s world that you see men concerned for their legacy and some ways you think they aren’t as concerned as they should be about their legacy?
- What are your biggest challenges to building a godly legacy to pass on to your posterity?
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Episode Summary: All Christian men fight inner battles with their sinful nature. Lust, anger, selfishness, resentment, impatience, discontent, idolatry are just some of the forces that seek to overpower us as men. Many times we lose these battles for a simple reason—we are trying to fight them alone. But how do you find a few close friends to help you in your spiritual battles? You may not be able to find them; you may need to forge them. This episode shows how.
Resource used in this episode:
Got Your Back: Helping Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need, (available at Amazon in print, kindle, or audio formats). This short book explains in detail the kinds of brotherhood connections that today’s podcast talks about. The book is just 120 pages, with discussion questions at the end of each of the nine chapters. At gotyourback.info you will find a 2 minute trailer about the book, video clips of men helped to forge brotherhood bonds by the book, and video clips of church leaders talking about the impact of the book on the men in their churches.
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Episode Summary: No man walks down his wedding aisle expecting his marriage to fail. But many do, and most divorces are instigated by unhappy wives. This episode looks at what we can learn from God’s design of marriage that can help our current or future marriage thrive.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What insight from this Genesis 2:18-25 stood out most to you? Why?
- Which part of the design for romance explained in this text do you think is the most understood?
- Which part of the design for romance seems the hardest to achieve?
Past Podcast Highlight: The series, Ruling Our Sexuality for God’s Glory, (S1 Episodes #12-15) which includes the messages, Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity, and Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust.Resources used in this episode:
For Couples--Intimacy: God’s Design for Marriage: Three Conversational Dates to Rediscover Intimacy in Your Marriage.
For Men-- Loving Our Wives Well: Understanding Four Needs of a Wife That Only Her Husband Can Meet.
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Episode Summary: Christian author Rick Phillips writes, “To be a man is to stand up and be counted when there is danger or other evil. God does not desire for men to stand by idly and allow harm or permit wickedness to exert itself” (The Masculine Mandate). This episode examines the masculine calling to be fierce protectors and warriors and identifies two reasons men often fail to fight the battles God has designed them to fight.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What do you think is the biggest obstacle to men battling spiritually as they are called to do?
- How would you combat the argument that Christians should not express their views about current cultural topics because it gets too political and detracts from focusing on the gospel?
- Why do you think, Tim Keller’s answer to what Christians believe about homosexuality has those specific three parts?
- Summarize the lessons that you believe Elijah can teach us about prayer?
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
- Using the Spiritual Weapon Satan Most Fears S2 Episode #9 1/3/21
- How Jesus Wants Us to Fight Through Prayer S2 Episode #10 1/10/21
- Knowing How NOT to Promote Biblical Truth S2 Episode #11 1/17/21
- Understanding the Breastplate of Righteousness S2 Episode #12 1/24/21
- Myths That Make Us Fear Sharing Our Faith S2 Episode #13 1/31/21
- Becoming More Contagious Christians S2 Episode #14 2/6/21
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Episode Summary: God created Adam with a heart that wants to accomplish a mission that matters. This episode takes a careful look at what this mission is and how it relates to our everyday motivation for living. We then consider some concrete questions you can use to better focus on the mission Christ has assigned you to accomplish in your everyday life.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you support the idea that men are made to impact the world around them through the Biblical texts of Gen 1:28, 2:15, Matt 6:9-10, 6:33?
- In your everyday experience what are some examples of typical masculine behavior that support the idea that men are created to accept the challenge of overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal?
- What would you say is the difference between success and significance?
- Why do you think many men don’t understand that their calling to the workplace is just as holy as the call to ministry?
- Why do you think so many Christian men fail to see that seeking to spread Christ’s kingdom of righteousness over earth is the renewal of Adam’s call to spread the kingdom of righteousness over the earth, as the potential of God’s creation is developed?
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 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E#49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S1 E #52 11/1/20
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Episode Summary: Today we begin a 6-week series entitled Understanding the Masculine Passions that Drive Us. In this series, we want to look at the good desires God created into the masculine heart, the way these desires have been corrupted, steering us in wrong ways to satisfy them, and how Christ can recover, renew, and restore those fallen desires into the godly man he wants you to be. This episode examines the power of a man’s need for approval.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What are the situations in your life where you are most tempted to want man’s approval instead of God’s?
- How can you be more proactive thinking about how God wants you to be a blessing and light to the lost world around you?
- What is it about Jesus that most captures your desire to be loyal to him?
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 Trut
- Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S1 E #48 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E#49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S1 E #52 11/1/20
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Episode Summary: God is a heavenly father who knows his children’s continual need for encouragement. This episode examines his example, why our kids need our fatherly encouragement, and some concrete ways to give that encouragement to them.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How would you support an argument to a friend that children need fathers who are master motivators?
- What stood out about how the two words Paul uses encourage—PARAMUTHIA and exhort—PARAKALEO differ? Why are both important parts of motivating our children.
- Which elements of Paul’s brief description of his motivational approach charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory stood out most to you—as encouragement for your own walk with God.
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 6/21/20
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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 Podcast
- Link to Character Development Training Plan PDF on My Website
- Link 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 6/21/20
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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 nature
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How 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 Well
- Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E #32 6/14/20
- Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
- The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E #34 6/28/20
- Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E #35 7/5/20
- Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E #36 7/12/20
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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.
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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 Thought
- Why 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.
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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.
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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 Men
- The Hunger for Approval: A King to Honor S1 E #41 8/16/20
- The Hunger for Impact: A Sphere to Impact S1 E #42 8/23/20
- Called to Be Protectors and Warriors: A Battle to Fight S1 E #43 8/30/20
- God’s Design for Fulfilling Romance: A Beauty to Love S1 E# 44 9/6/20
- Strategic Friendship: A Brother to Labor and Fight Beside S1 E #45 9/13/20
- Impact that Outlives Them: A Heritage to Pass On S1 E #46 9/20/20
- Responding to Toxic Masculinity S1 E #47 9/27/20
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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 Thought
- Why 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.
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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 Thought
- How 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.
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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 2/21/21
- How the Helmet of Salvation Protects Us in Spiritual Battle S2 E#17 2/28/21
- Using the Sword of the Spirit to Stay on the Path of Life S2 E#18 3/7/21
- Why Prayer Releases Spiritual Power S2 E#19 3/14/21
- Studying How Lust Defeated David S2 E#20 3/21/21
- Serving King Jesus is Awesome S2 E#21 3/28/21
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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 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E #49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S 1 E #52 11/1/20
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Episode Summary: Jesus commanded us not to be preoccupied with what we will eat or drink or distracted by what we are going to wear. Rather, we are to seek first the kingdom of God. But how do you seek something you can’t describe and don’t know how to define? Modern Christians are not the only ones confused about what this means. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus spent his last forty days on earth explaining this concept to his disciples, and they still got it wrong, asking “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of God are puzzle pieces that do fit together and can make a huge difference in understanding our mission. This episode puts some of those pieces together and illustrates how Christ-followers have sought and prayed for the kingdom of God to advance over the earth.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is the most helpful thing you have ever learned about the term kingdom of God?
- Do you agree or disagree with the argument that Christians fail to understand what it means to seek first the kingdom of God because they don’t go back to Adam and Eve’s original creation as rulers of kingdom earth and calling to spread shape culture FOR the High King?
- How does understanding the ALREADY/NOT YET aspects of the kingdom help you understand it. What is still confusing to you?
- What examples of kingdom discipleship stood out most to you?
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 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E #49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S 1 E #52 11/1/20
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Episode Summary: Peter’s allegiance to his King, Jesus, was legendary. When HIS SOVEREIGN KING was about to wash HIS feet, Peter, seeing the utter indignity of the King of Kings washing his slave’s feet said to Jesus, “YOU shall never wash MY feet.” When Jesus answered, “if I do not wash you, you have no share with me,” Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but all of me.” I am ALL IN with you. When Jesus said he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Peter’s loyalty to his master bubbled to the surface and he said essentially, “No. I will never let this happen to you.” When a posse from the chief priest and Pharisees came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and slashed the ear off Jesus’ attacker. Though he did fail Jesus in denying him, Peter’s loyalty to Jesus was absolutely fierce. In this episode we will see Peter as a model for our allegiance to our sovereign lord—but more importantly try to see what it was about Jesus that summoned such intense devotion to him.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you think of the argument that the kind of love we are to give God in the greatest commandment is more about loyalty than feelings? Does this argument matter? Why or why not?
- What do you think were the strongest characteristics of Jesus’ kingship that summoned allegiance from the heart of Peter?
- Which incidents from Peter’s life stood out most to you?
- What ideas do you have about how to regularly stoke the fires of your own allegiance to God?
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:
Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About Gender
- Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21
- Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/21
- 2 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21
- Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21
- Guide Your Teen to Embrace a Biblical Sexual Identity S2 E #26 5/2/21
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Episode Summary: Most men get impatient with too much debating, analyzing, and risk aversion. They just want to do it! This comes out in our walk with the Lord. “Jesus, just tell me what to do, so I can do it. Give me the mountain to be taken, and it will be done by tomorrow.” This podcast can’t promise to make life simple; but we are committed to helping you have a concrete picture of what your mission from Jesus is. Today we look at our calling as agents of reconciliation, a phrase used by Paul and described by Jesus in the last two beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers—those devoted to restoring relationships broken by sin—and those who, in the process of restoring rightness, suffer because of taking a stand for such righteousness.”
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How is understanding our responsibility to be agents of reconciliation—peacemakers—enriched by understanding peace as SHALOM—the flourishing that results from harmony in all four foundational spheres of relationships—with God, self, others, and creation?
- Which aspects of being a peacemaker are the hardest for you?
- How can we overcome a desire to be liked by people that is stronger than a desire to stand for truth?
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:
Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About Gender
- Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21
- Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/21
- 2 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21
- Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21
- Guide Your Teen to Embrace a Biblical Sexual Identity S2 E #26 5/2/21
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Episode Summary: Jesus offered men a shot at greatness—the opportunity to walk across the stage in eternity, have Jesus place a crown on our heads and whisper in our ear, “Well done.” This podcast is for the men who live for that moment—men whose greatest desire is to accomplish the mission assigned to them by Jesus. At the core of this mission is becoming like Jesus, which is one reason our mission is so tough. Yet every ounce of energy and moment of time we devote to building Christ-like character matters—it honors Him eternally. Today we examine two heart attitudes that do not come easily to us—having merciful and pure hearts.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What insights about mercy can help you be more patient with others, and tolerant of the way THEIR deficiencies make YOUR life more difficult?
- Do you agree that in parenting mercy requires both FIRMNESS and EMPATHY? How would you explain the importance of this balance to another?
- If spiritual maturity is more about what our hearts love than about what our hands do, what does this mean for your heart loves?
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
- Using the Spiritual Weapon Satan Most Fears Season 2 Episode #9 1/3/21
- How Jesus Wants Us to Fight Through Prayer Season 2 Episode #10 1/10/21
- Knowing How NOT to Promote Biblical Truth Season 2 Episode #11 1/17/21
- Understanding the Breastplate of Righteousness S 2 Episode #12 1/24/21
- Myths That Make Us Fear Sharing Our Faith Season 2 Episode #13 1/31/21
- Becoming More Contagious Christians Season 2 Episode #14 2/6/21
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Episode Summary: The dark evil background of what is happening in Ukraine serves to illuminate by contrast, two brilliant diamonds of Christ-like character in today’s episode: A) Self-controlled might that serves described in the third beatitude by the Greek word PRAUTES vs Russian selfish might that destroys. B) Godly ambition to see the kingdom of righteousness spread described in the fourth beatitude vs Putin’s ruthless ambition to advance his rule over Ukraine.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Worry and anger are two emotions that signal that we have not fully transferred our personal rights to God. Which rights are the toughest for you to trust God with?
- Since “righteousness” could be defined as the path of life, why might Jesus compare craving righteousness to a starving man craving food or parched man longing for water?
- What if any new insights stood out to you about our responsibility to hunger for social righteousness. What questions do you still have?
Resource Mentioned In This Episode:
Christian Counter-Culture, John Stott
Ministries of Mercy, Tim Keller
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 Men
- The Hunger of the Masculine Heart for Approval: A King to Honor S1E #41 8/16/20
- The Hunger of the Masculine Heart for Impact: A Sphere to ImpactS1 E #42 8/23/20
- Called to Be Fierce Protectors and Warriors: A Battle to FightS1 Episode #43 8/30/20
- God’s Design for Fulfilling Romance: A Beauty to LoveS1 Episode # 44 9/6/2
- Building a Strategic Friendship: A Brother to Labor and Fight BesideS1 E #45 9/13/20
- A Hunger for Impact that Outlives Them: A Heritage to Pass OnS1 E #46 9/20/20
- How Christians Should Not and Should Respond to Toxic Masculinity S1 E #47 9/27/20
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Episode Summary. Being a Christian is not just trusting Jesus to forgive our sins; it is enlisting in his cause, pursuing his mission—the spread of his kingdom of righteousness over earth. This episode looks at Jesus’ challenge, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” and what kingdom attitudes look like in the hearts of men.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why is accepting Jesus’ challenge to BECOME LIKE HIM so hard?
- Which characteristic of the poor in spirit do you most need to focus upon?
- Contrast the attitude of hostility towards non-believers whose values are corrupting American culture with Jesus’ example of weeping over Jerusalem’s rejection of him as the Messiah.
Resource Mentioned In This Episode:
Got Your Back: Helping Christian Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need. Available in print, e-book, and audiobook formats.
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 Men
- The Hunger of the Masculine Heart for Approval: A King to Honor S1E #41 8/16/20
- The Hunger of the Masculine Heart for Impact: A Sphere to ImpactS1 E #42 8/23/20
- Called to Be Fierce Protectors and Warriors: A Battle to FightS1 Episode #43 8/30/20
- God’s Design for Fulfilling Romance: A Beauty to LoveS1 Episode # 44 9/6/20
- Building a Strategic Friendship: A Brother to Labor and Fight BesideS1 E #45 9/13/20
- A Hunger for Impact that Outlives Them: A Heritage to Pass OnS1 E #46 9/20/20
- How Christians Should Not and Should Respond to Toxic Masculinity S1 E #47 9/27/20
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Episode Summary. Thirty-five years ago, a psychologist from USC’s School of Medicine, named James Dobson, was concerned about husbands not understanding their wife’s emotional needs. His research led him to write a book entitled, What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women. He then wrote, “If I could write a prescription for the women of the world, I would provide each of them with a healthy dose of self-esteem and personal worth (taken three times a day until the symptoms disappear). I have no doubt this is their greatest need.” If you google, Depression Among Woman, more current research suggests that this low self-esteem in wives has not changed since then. Scripture teaches that husbands have a major role in building their wife’s inner sense of self-worth and are even to devote themselves to cultivating their wife’s inner beauty. This episode explains this dual responsibility of husbands.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- If you were asked to explain to another husband why it is their job to cultivate the inner spiritual beauty of their wife’s character, what would you say?
- What stood out to you about the specific feminine virtues that Scripture tells us are beautiful in the eyes of God?
- When you see godly character exhibited by your wife, what are the strongest reasons for telling her so?
Resources Used for This Episode:
- Loving Our Wives Well: Understanding Four Needs of a Wife That Only Her Husband Can Meet, by Dr. Gary Yagel
- What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women, Dr. James Dobson
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:
How Your Leadership Can Have Impact—At Home & Elsewhere
- Leading So We Impact Others For Christ S1 Episode #37 7/19/20
- Maximizing Our Impact In Leading Others S1 Episode #38 7/25/20
- The Most Neglected Step of Leadership S1 Episode #39 8/2/20
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Episode Summary. In this episode we explore two biblical texts that help identify what a wife needs in a spiritual leader. We also identify the way the biblical covenantal view of marriage is so much richer than the consumer view of marriage that is becoming more common today. This vital understanding might be helpful to pass on to the rising generation. It will definitely help you meet your wife’s heart security, if you are the spiritual leader she needs.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In your own words, how would you explain to a friend what the difference is in viewing marriage as a consumer relationship or covenantal relationship.
- In what secular environments might you winsomely try to show how much more sense the biblical view of marriage is than any other.
- Are there some burdens related to your home life that you need to help your wife carry? Are there some questions you need to ask to better see what she is seeing on the home front or better know how to share her feeling of responsibility for her home?
Resources Used for This Episode:
- The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Marriage with the Wisdom of God, by Timothy and Kathy Keller
- Intimacy: God’s Design for Marriage: Three Conversational Dates to Rediscover Intimacy in Your Marriage, by Gary and Sandy Yagel
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:
How Your Leadership Can Have Impact—At Home & Elsewhere
- Leading So We Impact Others For Christ S1 Episode #37 7/19/20
- Maximizing Our Impact In Leading Others S1 Episode #38 7/25/20
- The Most Neglected Step of Leadership S1 Episode #39 8/2/20
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For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.
Episode Summary. How does a husband romance his wife the way God designed her to be romanced? Scripture provides powerful answers. Today’s episode looks at a wife’s need for romance. Now, it’s just a guess, but I suspect you find trying to meet this need very pleasurable. But be warned. No husband and wife walk down their wedding aisle expecting their romance to fall apart, but 50% of Christian marriages fail, bringing enormous emotional devastation to spouses and children. These broken-hearted victims will tell you, “Romance isn’t easy. It is not a sprint. It is a 26K marathon.”
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- If a husband’s sex drive is stronger than his wife’s what do you see as the challenges of helping her accept his masculine sexual hardwiring as God-created?
- Why does it make sense to advise husbands, “First work on meeting your wife’s need for emotional intimacy and learning to romance her well. Then try to help her see the biblical explanation of how to handle your differences in sexual desire?
- Which romancing insights most stood out to you?
Resources Used for This Episode:
- Intimacy: God’s Design for Marriage: Three Conversational Dates to Rediscover Intimacy in Your Marriage, by Gary and Sandy Yagel
- Simply Romantic Nights: Discover Intimacy in a New Light, Family Life
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 GLORY
- Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20
- Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E#13 2/2/20
- Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20
- Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual Sin S1 E#15 2/16/20
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Episode Summary. How would you summarize these statements made by women as to why they were divorcing their husbands?
- My husband is no longer my friend.
- The only time he pays attention to me is when he wants sex.
- He is never there for me, emotionally, when I need him most.
- I hurt all the time because I feel alone and abandoned.
- We’re like ships passing in the night—he goes his way and I go mine.
- My husband has become a stranger to me. I don’t even know who he is anymore.
What these wives were starving for was emotional intimacy—being connected to their husbands at the level of the heart. Scripture makes it clear in addressing husbands that this is a primary need of a wife. No wonder these marriages failed. This episode examines the need of the heart of a wife to feel connected to her best friend and lover.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you explain to a husband that for his wife emotional intimacy is so important that if she isn’t feeling emotionally connected to his heart if would be like you never getting to have sex?
- Describe what emotional intimacy is to a wife?
- What are the most practical things you learned about building emotional intimacy into your relationship with your wife?
Resources Used for This Episode:
- To Understand Each Other, Paul Tournier
- The Five Love Languages of Men and Women, Gary and Barbara Rosberg
- Intimacy, Douglas Weiss
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 GLORY
- Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20
- Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E#13 2/2/20
- Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20
- Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual Sin S1 E#15 2/16/20
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For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues
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 Fikkert
- Money, 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 GLORY
- Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20
- Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E#13 2/2/20
- Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20
- Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual Sin S1 E#15 2/16/20
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Podcast
- The Image Restored, Glenn Sunshine and Timothy Padgett
- Restoring All Things, Warren Cole Smith, John Stonestreet
- What Would You Say, Colson Center Video PowerPoints
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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.
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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 Episode
Is 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.
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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?
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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).
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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 him
For 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.
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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?
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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.
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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 incident
Past Episode Highlight:
Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/21
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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-Life
- Intimacy 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 Keller
- Same Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, by Sean McDowell and John Stonestreet
- Psychology Today Article, Sexual Satisfaction: Does Marriage Help It or Hurt It,by Michael Castleman
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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.
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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?
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Past Series Highlight: Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About Gender
- Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21
- Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/21
- 2 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21
- Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21
- Guide Your Teen to Embrace a Biblical Sexual Identity S2 E #26 5/2/21
Resource 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?
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Past Series Highlight: Anchoring Our Kids to Biblical Truth About Gender
- Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 E #22 4/4/21
- Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 E #23 4/11/21
- 2 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 E #24 4/18/21
- Help Loved Ones Celebrate God’s Design of Male & Female S2 E #25 4/25/21
- Guide 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.
Episode Summary. This episode examines the popular idea that science is the only accurate arbiter of what is real and factual—the axiom that only the things we can prove empirically are worthy of being called truth. Thus, secular, non-religious values are the only objective values to be trusted. This episode examines the deficiencies of secularism—the under the sun view of life as described in Ecclesiastes—and the far superior teaching that man is more than a blob of protoplasm; he is the very image bearer of God, Himself.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do the leaders of our homes and churches need to step up and winsomely guide the rising generation away from destructive worldviews and into the biblical view of the world?
- Why does being God’s image bearer endow humans with inherent worth and dignity?
- Why do you think that in the creation account of man and woman in Genesis 1, God decided to make it very clear that BOTH are made in his image?
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Past Series Highlight: Becoming Great Dads Who Discipline Their Kids Well
- Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E #32 6/14/20
- Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
- The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E #34 6/28/20
- Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E#35 7/5/20
- Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E#36 7/12/20
Episode Summary. What is the fastest way for Christians to lose their influence in the culture? It might be by forgetting two foundational worldview principles that are so important that God mentions them in the very first chapter of the Bible. This episode identifies these two principles and how embracing them can change our lives.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In your own words, why would you say that God’s method of creation matters?
- What would you say to a Christian today who wants to give up trying to influence the culture of America because God is judging us?
- Why do you think God stressed in his creation of the world that it was very good? How might the idea that God WANTS his creatures to enjoy all the facets of his creation impact an unbeliever’s view of God?
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To link to the resource quoted today, Discipling the Hearts of Men Through Kingdom Theology, click here.
Past Podcast Series Highlight: Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth
- Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S1 E #48 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S1 E #49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S1 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S1 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S1 E #52 11/1/20
Episode Summary. In his book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins argued that you cannot be an intelligent scientific thinker and still hold religious beliefs. This widespread opinion is held by many, especially those in the world of academia, where the rising generation will almost certainly encounter this potential obstacle to their faith. This episode examines Dawkins’ argument from a biblical perspective.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What does pointing to the piano or couch in your living room have to do with belief in creation?
- How is Psalm 19:1-4 consistent with what Paul said in Romans 1:19-21 about the role of the created order in leading men to know there is a creator.
- Knowing that logic compels belief in creation, and that scientists who deny this truth are darkened in their understanding could be applied to put them down instead of love them more. How do we safeguard the use of this knowledge that they are suppressing the truth?
Past Episode HighlightKids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument Season 1 Episode #48 10/4/20 For the printed version of this message click here.
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Episode Summary. Rod Dreher, in his book, The Benedict Option, insists that currently the culture is shaping the next generation in dramatic ways—even shaping their faith, instead of their faith shaping their thinking about culture. Our agenda, therefore, for raising up the next generation must include intentionally countering the dominant misguided worldviews of the culture and helping them see the much more captivating, inviting, and logical worldviews of Scripture. This episode examines an approach to countering the world’s influence today that is failing, before we consider four aspects of a biblical approach to the “world” that we need to take with our loved ones walking beside us.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- In your own words, why is separation from secular culture the wrong approach to protect ourselves, as Christians, from being shaped by it?
- Which of the four biblical approaches most stood out to you?) (seeing your role against the backdrop of the 4-chapter gospel, understanding that we are saved to be a blessing to our culture, recognizing that God designed us for this cultural moment, 4) understanding that it is the battlefield of worldviews, which shape our culture upon which we must fight.
- What would you say to a youth group about the biblical worldview of sex?
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Episode Summary. In Genesis 2:15, we are told that Adam was placed in the Garden to cultivate (AVAD) it and to protect (SHAMAR) it. Throughout history it has been a man’s responsibility to stand in the doorway of his home, spear or shotgun in hand to protect (SHAMAR) his wife and kids from marauding gangs who might steal their food, rape their wife, or harm their children. In the 21st century, men have the same protective responsibility; but the enemies to be resisted are not ravaging pirates or plundering thieves, but ideas that want to take our loved ones captive, ravage their faith, and ruin their lives. This battlefield of the mind is described by Paul, who writes, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. This episode begins a series to equip men to protect their loved ones from strands of ungodly thinking in the fabric of today’s culture and guide them, instead, into biblical worldviews.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- If God designed humans to shape the culture that is built as Adam and Eve’s descendants multiply and a differentiation of labor takes place, why does it make sense that the first command Paul would give those offering themselves to Christ would be to STOP LETTING the FALLEN COMPONENTS of CULTURE SHAPE THEM?
- What do you think is the most difficult part of recognizing the fallen worldviews that influential voices in our culture promote?
- How can we best impart to our loved ones the wonder of God’s design of male and female, instead of just loading their guns to shoot down the LGBTQ worldview? Why is this important?
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Episode Summary. What do you think of the statement, God never intended a Christian man to fight his spiritual battles alone? Could that statement be true? And if it is, could Satan be constantly defeating Christian men today because it is so hard to get them connected to a few brothers to help them fight their spiritual battles? Could the world around us see Christians today as not very different from everyone else, because Satan is neutralizing Christ’s power at work in men by isolating us, when men are supposed to be leading the way in spiritual battle? These are the questions this episode examines, as well as a strategy for getting men out of isolation that is working in thousands of men’s lives right now.
For More Information About Gary's book, Got Your Back click here.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- How would you explain to a new Christian Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 4:15-16 that Christ followers make a vertical commitment to Christ and a horizontal commitment to other Christians as we together function as Christ’s Body in the world?
- How is Ephesians 4:15-16 consistent with the biblical teaching that iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17)?
- What do you think is the cost of isolation for Christian men?
This week’s past highlight: Building a Strategic Friendship: A Brother to Labor and Fight Beside S1 E #45 9/13/20.
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Episode Summary. Jesus had to wrestle with all the incessant demands that cried out for his energy and attention, just as we have to in the 21st century—but he stayed focused on his mission. This episode examines HOW he did that!
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Do you agree that one thing dumber than not having a game plan for the Super Bowls might be HAVING a game plan but NEVER LOOKING AT IT DURING THE GAME? How is this analogy for our efforts to implement Christ’s agenda in each sphere of our lives a fair analogy or unfair one.
- Why might Christians be impoverished by either ignoring the fourth commandment or by becoming legalistic about it? How would you present the fourth commandment as a blessing?
- How would you answer the argument, “I can’t imagine taking an hour just to sit and talk with Jesus each week when what I really need is more time spent with my wife and children?”
Resource link: Today’s podcast mentions a tool to help guys formulate a game plan for their own lives, called, The Focus Notebook. This tool comes as an 8.5 X by 5 notebook, with access to a digital WordDoc of the material so the information can be uploaded to your Word compatible personal organization app for your phone. Here is the link.
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Episode Summary: Never before in history have human beings trying to focus on a task in front of them that needs doing faced distractions as powerful as the beep or flash of our cell phones intruding into our consciousness. In the face of such constant distractions (often by good things), Christians all seem to be struggling to save any time or energy to devote to the most important goal of our lives—honoring Christ through the spiritual fruitfulness of our lives. We know that Jesus said, “By this is my father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples,” and that God is honored when we accomplish the mission Christ has assigned to us. But we are also sobered by the truth that “bearing much fruit” does not happen accidentally, or randomly. This episode examines the question, **“What will it take to be as fruitful as possible for Christ in the months ahead as life returns to the fall routine?”
For Further Prayerful Thought**
- Why is it that accomplishing nearly everything in life requires us to shape a plan, organize our efforts, make strategic decisions, and stay focused on the goal, but for some reason, we don’t do that when it comes to pleasing Christ?
- What would you say to someone who said, “Planning your spiritual growth is showing that you are depending on yourself. We are supposed to depend upon Christ?”
- What do you see as the parallel between budgeting your money so as to make kingdom investment a priority and budgeting your time to make kingdom advancement your priority. Is it fair to say that one of Satan’s strategies is to get us spend time carelessly leaving little for advancing Christ’s kingdom through prayer, or careful thought about building a deeper relationship with your neighbor.
References for the different uses of the term kingdom of God by JesusMatthew, being one of the twelve, had also heard Jesus use the term, kingdom of God, in many seemingly different ways. The kingdom of God is a community in which the king exercises dominion with his followers on his left and right (Mt 20:21), in which the righteous shine and from which the wicked are cast out (Mt 13:43). It is a place where there is a certain perspective (Lk 9:62; Mk 12:34). The kingdom is also a gift from the Heavenly Father (Lk 12:32), which is being prepared by God for his people (Mt 20:23; 25:34). It is a condition of peace and happiness in which kingdom members will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Mt 8:11), and feast (Mt 26:29; Lk 14:15). In addition, the kingdom of God is a moral good to be pursued (Mt 6:33) and prayed for (Mt 6:10).
Past Series Highlight: Becoming More Like Jesus: (Beatitudes 1-6)
- The Foundational Requirement for Kingdom Living S1 E #8 12/29/19
- Cultivating a Heart Like Jesus Had S1 E #9 1/5/20
- A Widely Misunderstood Requirement of Christians S1 E #10 1/12/20
- The Right Kind of Ambition S1 E #11 1/19/20
- Show the World Jesus by Exhibiting Mercy S 2 E #3 11/22/20
- Heart Transformed Living—The Pure in Heart S2 E #4 11/20/20
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Episode Summary. It is popularly thought today that human rights are the invention of modern secularism, which must protect these rights from oppressive forces like religion. But the facts of history tell us that the concept of human rights arose not from secularism, nor from Eastern religion, nor from the Enlightenment, but from Christendom. Until Christianity transformed it, the Greco-Roman worldview was that humans are born into a kind of natural hierarchy—that some men are born to command, others to obey, some to enslave, others to be enslaved.
Into this oppressive patriarchy marched Christianity with the radical idea that every human being, no matter how weak, handicapped, or helpless had inherent value and worth, which justice required protecting. And nowhere was Christianity’s assignment of dignity to every human being more obvious than in Paul’s letter to those living in the capital city of the empire, Rome itself.This is especially true of the text we are studying in Romans 12on the topic of spiritual gifts.Not only are vital spiritual gifts given to every individual in the Body of Christ, but the very nature of some of the gifts is to ensure that personal attention and care are given to every individual inside and outside the Body of Christ. These People Gifts are those we examine in today’s episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- How we you defend the statemen, Christians should lead the way in shaping the culture surrounding them to value the individual rights and feelings of others?
- How does the egalitarian idea that we need help from those with other gifts, and that all have gifts to contribute, not just the strong, undermine a culture that believed the strong had a right to conquer the weak?
- Do the characteristics of the exhorter remind you of anyone? The mercy shower?
Past Series Highlight: Helping Our Daughters Flourish
- Required Today for Raising Godly, Confident, Daughters S1 E#26 5/3/20
- The Harm of OVERVALUING or UNDERVALUING Motherhood S1 E #27 5/10/20
- Two Requirements of Dads for Daughters to Flourish S1 E #28 5/17/20
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Episode Summary. This is the third episode in the series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts. Unleashing Kingdom Potential seems to be a great description of what happens when the members of Christ’s church understand and deploy their spiritual gifts. This episode explores the three gifts from Romans 12 that are the Get the Job Done gifts, LEADING, SERVING, and GIVING, illustrating the characteristics of each gift with biblical examples and identifying weaknesses that seem to accompany such gifts. The episode finishes with the true story of the impact one church is having in its community through releasing its members to deploy their spiritual gifts.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What characteristic of LEADERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?
- What characteristic of SERVERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?
- What characteristic of GIVERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?
Past Podcast Series Highlight Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth
- Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S2 E #48 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S2 E #49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S2 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S2 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S2 E#52 11/1/20
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Episode Summary. This episode begins a series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts. Understanding and deploying our spiritual gifts is so central to the lives of Christians, that we cannot help our loved ones become all God wants them to be in Christ, without understanding what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. The two gifts from the Romans 12 list of spiritual gifts that are still being given today covered in this episode can be confusing. Prophecy doesn’t mean foretelling the future but something far more important. Teaching doesn’t mean you are great in the classroom, but something even more important for today’s church. This episode helps identify these two gifts in yourself or your loved ones.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Was there someone in whom you saw the characteristics of a prophet or teacher?
- Why might it be helpful to one you know who appears to have the gift of prophet or teacher to understand their gift?
- If you have neither the gift of prophecy nor teaching, can you understand why you might react certain ways to those who have that gift?
Past Podcast Series Highlight Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth
- Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S2 E #48 10/4/20
- Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S2 E #49 10/11/20
- Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S2 E #50 10/18/20
- Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S2 E #51 10/25/20
- Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S2 E#52 11/1/20
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Episode Description: Understanding and deploying our spiritual gifts is so central to the lives of Christians, that we cannot help our loved ones become all God wants them to be in Christ, without understanding what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. Despite controversies about some spiritual gifts, all Christians agree that the seven gifts identified in Romans 12 are still being given by God to believers today. This episode begins a series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts.For Further Prayerful Thought
- Which of the seven gifts from Romans 12 do you think might be yours?
- Christ is so awesome and so perfectly balances seemingly contradictory virtues, like justice and mercy, hatred of sin, but love for sinners--why does it make sense that it might take seven different gifts for the Body of Christ to accurately function like him and portray him?
- Can you think of examples of Christians disagreeing because they have different spiritual gifts?
Past Podcast HighlightKids Don't Have It In Them to Grow Themselves Up S1 E #36 7/5/**20
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Episode Summary: What if there were a fundamental part of the very Identity of Jesus that you almost never hear about, and many Christians miss? You might find this episode very enlightening as we dig into Jesus’ identity as a WARRIOR, and why joining him in his fight matters so much today.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Identify 3 or 4 reasons why we don’t usually default to Jesus’ nature as being that of a WARRIOR.
- What has this episode taught you about seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness?
- How might Satan use the idea that pursuing righteousness is trying to earn our salvation, a form of moralism, or legalistic, to stop Christ’s kingdom of righteousness from spreading over each sphere of our lives?
Past Podcast Highlight
Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
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Episode Summary: Jesus summarized our mission, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Pursuing Christ’s kingship in my life begins in my own heart with my personal love and loyalty to Christ. We are first called TO Christ to enjoy a love relationship with him. This part of our mission is consistent with the great commandment to love God with all my heart and the first commandment to have no other God’s before him. Today’s episode zooms in to examine one specific aspect of Christ’s character—the way he gave up the right to be treated with the dignity, the honor, the nobility, he deserved—as the God of the universe. Instead, he emptied himself of his prerogatives as God’s equal to take the form of a slave to serve us. The more we see this shocking willingness to give up his divine rights, entrusting himself to the Father, the more we will be empowered to exhibit this same kingdom virtue, showing Jesus to those around us.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- What is most moving to you about God the Song stripping himself of his dignity to love us?
- Where does selfish anger crop up in your life, reflecting that the rights you once put on the alter have crawled off?
- Is there anywhere that worry, indicate that you still haven’t transferred the ownership of some aspect of your life to God, or need to put it back on the altar? Psalm 37 is written to strengthen our confidence in the character of God.
Past Podcast Highlight
Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
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.
Summary: Today, there is a pandemic within families: not Covid 19 but pornography. It is more accessible than ever before and reaching children at a younger age. We cannot afford to be naïve as adults or as parents. This episode looks at what’s happening today, how to protect our kids from pornography, and how to equip them with a biblical view of sexuality and pornography.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Is there some parent in your circle of friends who needs the information in this podcast?
- Why would you say that not permitting a high school teen to have a smart phone might be shortsighted? Why doesn’t taking away the opportunity to view porn not succeed?
- If you were doing the dad, sex talk and overall equipping with a biblical worldview of sexuality and porn, what things do you think need to be included?
Past Series: Ruling Over Our Sexuality For God’s Glory
- Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20
- Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E #13 2/2/20
- Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20
- Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual S1 E #15 2/16/20
Social Media Dangers Documentary: Childhood 2.0
Monitoring App or Service
- Bark - Monitors texts, email and social media for issues like cyberbullying, sexual predators and suicidal ideation and alerts the parents.
- Qustodio - Supervise, manage and protect your child’s device
- Net Nanny - Parental Control Software and Website Blocker
- Covenant Eyes - An accountability service designed to help individuals overcome porn addiction.
- Ultimate Parental Control Guide - Already have an iPhone or Android? Click on this link to find out how to set parental controls on almost any device.
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Episode Summary: One of the best insights I learned as a dad, was the difference between authority and leadership. Authority coerces obedience through punishment or the threat of punishment. Leadership is the influence in a child’ life that makes him WANT to obey our requirements and God’s Word. As we saw last week, BOTH are needed. Compassionate discipline is required to enable young children to internalize the truths that they cannot always have their way, the world does not revolve around them, and they must learn to “say no” to their impulses. But leadership, especially when kids are older, goes beyond the authoritative use of consequences. It makes kids want to follow the example of their dad. This episode examines how to love our kids well, building our love relationship with them, which also increases our influence in their lives.
For Further Prayerful Thought
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Why does it make sense to you that a person’s influence in another person/s life depends on the quality of his relationship with that other person?
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What stood out to you about how to be a welcoming father?
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Do you agree that part of fatherhood is taking the initiative to build your love relationship with each of your children? How might God be leading you to take more initiative to build this relationship?
Past Fatherhood Series
- Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E#32 6/14/20
- Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E#33 6/21/20
- The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E#34 6/28/20
- Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E#35 7/5/20
- Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E#36 7/12/20
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Episode Summary: Over the years, as I have thought about seeking to be a great dad to my five (now grown kids), there is one verse of Scripture that always comes to mind. It is God’s statement to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinth 12:9, “In weakness, my power is shown the more completely.” Boy, have I claimed this verse over the years, especially since of all things, God puts DADS and NOT MOMS in charge of the discipline and training of the kids! Can you believe that? The family code sections of Ephesians and Colossians address wives, then husbands, then children—commanding them to obey their parents. So, we might expect the next group Paul addresses to be parents; but it is not. How about mothers? No. When it comes to household management and training the children, Paul instead addresses FATHERS, Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This week, we again look to God, the ultimate GREAT DAD and dig into another profound characteristic of HIS FATHERLY LOVE: The Lord disciplines the one he loves.
For Further Prayerful Thought
- Would downloading the written version of thee 7 principles to pray over, share with your wife, or pass on to your adult children as parents to your grandchildren we valuable?
- As you compare your tendencies as a disciplinarian, to the picture given in these seven biblical principles, where do you need to adjust the most?
- Would it be worth your time to listen to last year’s podcast series on parenting? These titles from season 1 were:
- Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E#32 6/14/20
- Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E#33 6/21/20
- The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E#34 6/28/20
- Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E#35 7/5/20
- Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E#36 7/12/20
DISCIPLINE CHECK LIST when DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD
- Make sure he knows what he IS and IS NOT to do.
- Give a warning (to help him but also to double check that he understands the rule).
- Give your child the right to appeal if he thinks you are wrong.
- Consistently enforce the rules.
- Engage your child's conscience by asking, "What did you do?"
- Correct specific behavior; don't attack character.
- For serious, willful rebellion express inner grief over his rebellion.
- Administer punishment that fits the crime.
- After confession is made and punishment given, do your best to let your child know that fellowship with you is not broken.
- Tell your child that God punishes you too.
- Don't let this check-list tyrannize you. If you ask for his help, God will make your weakness the opportunity to show his strength.
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Summary: Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue. In Jesus’ most famous sermon, he taught that angry, critical words can very easily explode from our mouths and rip like shrapnel into the most tender, sensitive part of a person’s soul—his self-esteem. In contrast, is God the Father’s use of words to build up The Son. Two of the three times that God the Father spoke audibly in the NT, God used his words to praise his son, This is my beloved son IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. If we are to pattern our fatherhood after God’s, one of the first things we need to give attention to is OUR WORDS. This episode helps dads IMPART LIFE to their loved ones **through the power of their tongue.
For Further Prayerful Thought:**
- What is your biggest struggle in controlling your tongue?
- Growing up, did you hear, “I’m proud of you” much from your dad?
- Why do you think these words from our dad have so much power?
- How can you do a better job of praising those under your care?
Biblical Lists of Godly Character
- Eight beatitudes: Matt 5:3-12
- Fruit of the Spirit: Gal 5:22-23
- Peter’s Golden Chain of Virtues: 2 Peter 1:5-8
- James Wisdom from Above: James 3:13-18
Past Series HighlightsFatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans Season 1 Episode #32 6/14/20 Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 Episode #33 6/21/20
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Episode Summary: As I have talked with countless men around the country about their vocational calling, I’ve come to this conclusion: The poorer a man’s theology of work is, the less fulfilling his work usually is. This episode observes five building blocks to a biblical worldview of work, by examining Adam’s calling to subdue the earth.
The Five Questions To Consider About Your Vocation
- How does the truth that humans cannot be fulfilled apart from working, affect your thinking about your vocation?
- How does your vocational work fit into this three-part calling?
- In what way is your work rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular thrive and flourish?
- How does doing your job well communicate that God’s creation matters?
- How is your job a form of service that expresses love for the human community?
This 4 Week Series: Igniting Fire for Our Mission In a Disheartening World
- Reigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ S2 Episode #27 May 9 2021
- Obstacles to Walking Closely with Christ S2 Episode #28 May 16 2021
- Getting Stronger with Jesus’ Strength S2 Episode #29 May 23 2021
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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 World
- Reigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ S2 Episode #27 May 9 2021
- Obstacles to Walking Closely with Christ S2 Episode #28 May 16 2021
For 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?
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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 World
- Reigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ S2 Episode #27 May 9 2021
- Obstacles to Walking Closely with Christ S2 Episode #28 May 16 2021
For 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?
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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 World
- Reigniting Fire for Our Mission From Christ S2 Episode #27 May 9 2021
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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 Flourish
- Required Today for Raising Godly, Confident, Daughters Season 1 Episode #26 5/3/20
- The Harm of OVERVALUING or UNDERVALUING Motherhood S1 Episode #27 5/10/20.
- Two Requirements of Dads for Daughters to Flourish Season 1 Episode #28 5/17/20
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Earlier Episodes In This Series:
- Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 Episode #22 4/4/21
- Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 Episode #23 4/11/21
- 2 Requirements for Steering Teens Towards Godly Sexuality S2 Ep #24 4/18/21
- Inspiring 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 Womanhood
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Earlier Episodes In This Series:
Christian Men, The Equality Act & the Resurrection S2 Episode #22 4/4/21
* Wisely Protecting Your Child from Gender Confusion S2 Episode #23 4/11/21
* 2 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 AboutAnchoring Your Child to God’s Truth in a Gender Confused Culture
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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
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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 Culture
- Click to find out more about it
- Available in print or Kindle format
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.
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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?
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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?
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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
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Summary: God’s salvation plan for Adam, his descendants, and his kingdom is not for those living in 2021 to withdraw from this evil world and wait around for Jesus to return to destroy evil. The gospel of the kingdom, taught by Jesus, is that Jesus reigns right now and he wants us to seek to spread his kingdom of righteousness over the earth, in this life. In this pursuit, God tells us that our battle is not with flesh and blood. We are to love every human being made of flesh and blood—even our enemies. But we are to FIGHT the wicked spiritual forces the lie behind what is happening in our everyday world and even inside our own minds. This battle has already been won ultimately by Jesus—the only human who can defeat evil. So, we must clothe ourselves in his spiritual armor and especially FIGHT through prayer in his name, saying “May your kingdom come. May your (moral, not sovereign) will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” PRAYER IS THE PRIMARY WEAPON FOR ADVANCING CHRIST’S KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNEES OVER THE KINGOM OF DARKNESS.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Why do think Christians don’t see prayer more as a weapon?
- What is wrong with saying that after the resurrection, Jesus left this world to go back to heaven and be with God?
- What does Jesus want Christians to during this stage of salvation history, between his ascension to God’s right hand and his final return?
- Why is it important, that Jesus prefaced his command to make disciples of all nations with, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Therefore…”?
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Summary: The biblical context for viewing all of life’s events is called spiritual warfare—the age-old conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light…. Biblically and practically speaking, we are in a spiritual war. The Christian’s spiritual enemy is not in uniform, and he doesn’t meet us on an identifiable battlefield. He uses ruthless and unconventional tactics such as deceit, deflection, and disguise…. The church of Jesus Christ needs to know its enemies and his strategies. Above all, Christians need to know how to gain victory over this enemy. (The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book). In this episode, we take a practical look at HOW TO USE the sword of the Spirit to resist thoughts and temptations that seek to entice us off the path of life and onto the road to destruction.
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. As we seek to run well the race marked out for us, this calling means advancing the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own hearts, attitudes, and behavior, not to mention and shaping each sphere of life with Christ’s agenda. But it is very easy to think, “Who am I to spread righteousness anywhere? Whoever thinks that’s my job in life, doesn’t understand the corruption of MY heart and weakness of MY flesh.” But it is Christ who told his followers to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Jesus calls us to this primary life focus, knowing the weakness of our sinful nature because his plan has never been for us to seek righteousness in our own strength but in his. He tell us:
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God (Eph 6:10-13).
This episode tries to define in practical terms how to put on the helmet of salvation and how that protects us in the fight to do the right thing.
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Episode Summary: Christ has called you and me to follow him in his cause of defeating evil and establishing his righteous kingdom over every square inch of human hearts and lives. There is no other man who can replace you in your life, in the arenas you have been called to. If you leave your place in line, it will remain empty. You must be the hero in your own story. There is no extra or stunt man to fill in for you. Winning your spiritual battles matters. You will celebrate for eternity the ones you win tomorrow and the next day and the day after that because each victory has honored Christ. This episode examines how we protect ourselves from Satan’s fiery arrows by lifting up our shield of faith.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- For you, what is the hardest part of remembering that winning your spiritual battles matters?
- What circumstances tend to be the occasion for you to doubt God’s goodness and whether following Christ is worth it?
- Of the six aspect of our faith shield mentioned, which “Trust God because…” statement do you most want to remember?
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Episode Notes Summary: Marriage failure almost always begins with the loss of intimacy, closeness in the marriage. This episode examines what Scripture says married couples need to understand and do to experience both the emotional and sexual intimacy which God designed marriage for.
**VALENTINE'S DAY QUESTIONS FOR COUPLES
WARM UP**
- What do you remember most about your first date?
- Share two things you most appreciate about your mate.
EMOTIONAL INTIMACYHusband to Wife
- What regular tasks in taking care of the family do you dislike the most or find most difficult?
- How can I help you shoulder your load at home?
- How can I better help you share your heart with me?
- What family problems do you feel need to be addressed?
- What are the worries and concerns that are weighing heavily on your heart?
- How can I best help you feel cherished by me?
- How can I support your use of your gifts that go beyond the home?
Wife to Husband
- How best can I help you when your emotional tank is on empty?
- What gets you down most at work? When there is something weighing heavily on you at work how can I best help you share it?
- How can I support your spiritual leadership in our home.
- Do I tell you often enough what I admire and respect about you?
SEXUAL INTIMACY
- How do you feel about discussing sexual intimacy on this date?
- Why do you think God invented sex?
- What are two things you appreciate about each other as lovers?
- What sexual activities do you find most exciting?
- Is there anything else about our love-making that you want to tell me?
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This episode continues our study of the armor of God and finishes looking at Eph 6:15, where we’re told to put on, as our shoes, the readiness of the gospel of peace. Most Christian men want to be contagious Christians. We know that sharing our faith is something our Lord wants us to do and when we do seize opportunities to talk with others about Christ the experience pumps joy and energy into our walk with Him. We also realize that if we are to lead our homes well, our wives and kids need to see us modeling Jesus’ love for the lost and a commitment to seeking ways to share him with others. So, we want to be ready, when the opportunity presents itself, to steer a conversation towards the good news that our listener can have a personal relationship with Christ. This episode looks at three ways TO BE READY when that opportunity arises.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- Does realizing that Jesus tailored the good news to others based on the way they were experiencing the brokenness of life in this fallen world discourage you because it makes sharing Christ harder, since there is no “one size fits all” or encourage you because it helps you realize how wise we are to be about relationships and the uniqueness of every human?
- Which 2 or 3 of those in your circle of lost associates and friends has God put on your hearts. What might be missing in their lives compared to what you have in Christ?
- Is God prompting you to be more intentional about praying for and reaching the lost? What might additional intentionality look like for you.
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Summary. Often Christians think of evangelism like this: It is having the courage to overcome every piece of emotional intelligence we’ve learned about relationships, and intruding into the life of a co-worker, neighbor, or stranger to tell someone, who doesn’t want to hear it, the gospel message that they are a sinner in need of a savior, and then being willing to suffer rejection if we are accused of being preachy. If that is what sharing our faith looks like, who would want to do it? But this view is NOT BIBLICAL. It has major flaws. This episode identifies these flaws and ends up showing a biblical view of sharing our faith that is winsome and begins where people are instead of where we want them to be.
For Further Thought:
- Why is it misleading to understand the Greek word for evangelism(EUANGELIZO) to mean preaching the gospel to others?
- How does understanding the four-chapter gospel help us realize that Christ’s kingdom power is for more than just an eternal life insurance policy?
- Can you think of biblical examples not mentioned in this episode of Jesus tailoring the good news of the kingdom to the point of brokenness being felt by his listener?
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Summary: Do you ever feel like our side is losing in the spiritual battle—that the powers of darkness and evil are winning? Perhaps more specific to our own lives, do you ever wonder why the Christian life is so hard, why sin so easily ensnares us, why our whole-hearted resolve on Sunday to love Jesus better by obeying him more has given way to blatant sin by Sunday night? Today we continue our series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Paul tells us that to fight evil we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. But most of us don’t even know what the breastplate of righteousness is, much less how to put it on. At the end of this episode, we want everyone to have a clear picture of what this piece of armor is and begin winning more spiritual battles because we put it on.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What is the motivation for hungering and thirsting for righteousness for one who is confident of God’s unconditional love? How does that contrast with the moralist’s view of the moral law
- What is the difference between seeking righteousness and being legalistic?
- How would you summarize Paul’s command to put on the breastplate of righteousness? What stood out to you about HOW to do this?
- How is the fourth beatitude (Matt 5:6) a prerequisite for putting on the breastplate of righteousness?
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Episode Summary: Is our mission today, as Christians living in America, to recover America as a Christian nation? As we process what happened in the last election and the storming of the Capitol since, Christians are divided. Eschewing passivity, many believers feel impelled to speak up on the social media to fight a movement rooted in ungodliness, which they see shaping our culture. They are appalled that younger Christian leaders either don’t seem to see this happening or seem to lack the courage to speak up about it. Other believers are horrified at the views they hear expressed by Christians on social media, which exhibit a kind of “Christian Nationalism” and exhibit Christians to be combative towards those with whom they disagree, violating Christ’s clear command, love your neighbor, not to mention, love your enemy. This episode continues our series Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons by examining how to encircle ourselves with the belt of God’s truth, which must be the starting point for sharing that truth in the culture. Then we consider how to be persuasive as salt and light in the culture, and in particular the dangers of being right, but sharing truth in a HARMFUL, rather than a COMPELLING way.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
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Which aspect of fastening the belt of truth around ourselves stood out to you?
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Why is it important in today’s word to surround our loved ones with truth?
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How does Jesus’ teaching not to give holy things to dogs or throw our pearls before swine resonate with your experience? Are there times when you have thought that a person is not spiritually in a place to hear this truth?
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How do Paul and Barnabas follow this teaching from Jesus in Acts 13:44-49. What Thoughts do you have about trying to determine is a potential hearer of biblical truth is in a place to value it or not?
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. Every guy who gets this podcast would stand at the door of his house with a shotgun to protect his family physically. But most Christian men feelinept and inadequateat fighting to protect them, spiritually. As we saw last week, Jesus told his disciples the ultimate weapon for defeating Satan is prayer. But if we are going to use this weapon effectively in spiritual battle, we need to understand it. This episode continues our study of what Jesus taught are the six basic parts of effective prayer, in Matt 6:9-13.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What would you say to a believer who said he thought that reciting the Lord’s prayer at the end of his daily bible reading is what Jesus taught?
- What struck you about Jesus teaching us to tell our heavenly father what our practical needs are? Have you ever thought about keeping a prayer journal?
- Why does it make sense that one of the six prayer concerns we should have is looking at past events to see if there is unconfessed guilt or resentment towards another/
- How can you be more watchful of temptation coming into your life?
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Summary: This episode begins the series, Winning Spiritual Battles Because We Use Our Spiritual Weapons. As we seek to run well the race marked out for us in 2021, i.e. advance the righteous reign of King Jesus in our own lives, God has ordained one, primary offensive weapon that overthrows the kingdom of darkness: PRAYER. Jesus said to Peter, “Satan has demanded to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you “(Luke 22:31-32). One veteran missionary writes, There is nothing on earth that Satan so fears as prayer. He cannot triumph over prevailing prayer. Satan is more afraid of your praying than of your pure life or zealous witness. One’s life may be a beautiful witness that cannot be silenced, but prayer is a militant force that has the potential of defeating Satan, destroying his works, and driving him out of places and lives he claims as his own. This episode examines how to unlock the power of prayer in our spiritual battles because we know what Jesus taught about how to pray.
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Summary: As we turn our thoughts to the year ahead, wouldn’t it be great if Jesus came to you and said, “This is what I want you to concentrate on most in 2021. In the year ahead, this is the matter of greatest importance for you.” I think most of us getting this podcast or blog would listen very carefully to what Jesus said, and immediately begin forming our plan to reach this objective that The Master says is of greatest importance. But what if Jesus has already told us that? This episode takes a fresh look at how we actually apply what Jesus taught was to be the priority of his followers as they went about living their everyday lives.
Resource to stay focused on your mission: Here is the link to a FOCUS Notebook that has biblical insights for every aspect of your mission. The notebook and printed contents are $15 at our store. But a FREE virtual PDF download of the contents of this notebook is available as well.
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Summary: Running the race marked out for us requires endurance and therefore the fuel to keep running laps. Today’s episode has the potential to generate thousands of kilowatts of spiritual power for pursuing our three callings: Called TO Christ to enjoy a love relationship with him, Called TO BE LIKE Christ to holy Christ-like attitudes, and called to EXERCISE DOMINION FOR CHRIST, as we seek to influence the spheres of our lives towards righteousness. This energy comes from taking a close look at the significance of Jesus’ incarnation.
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Summary: No man walks down the wedding aisle or holds his newborn child for the first time, planning to fail his family. We want to lead our homes well. This episode is the second in a 3-part series, Lessons for Men from the Arrival of the Messiah examines the man God chose to lead the home where his son, Jesus, was to grow up—Joseph of Nazareth—and what lessons we can learn from him about godly manhood.
Resource Used for This Podcast:
Boundaries With Kids, Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Leadership is Male, David Pawson
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Summary: At the heart of the Mission Focused Men podcast is the belief that Christian men don’t want to fail in the mission Christ has assigned to them. It turns out that the Christmas season is a great time to sharpen our focus on what OUR everyday mission as Christ-followers IS because we better understand what CHRIST’s mission WAS. Jesus’ mission was NOT merely to come down from heaven, die for our sins, and then whisk us back to heaven when we die. If that had been JESUS’ mission, then OUR mission would be to basically wait around until we die! So, what was Jesus’ mission, and how does that impact our daily mission? This podcast sharpens our understanding of the mission assigned to us by Christ, by looking at the meaning of Isaiah’s prophecy, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Resource Used for This Podcast:
Ministries of Mercy, by Timothy Keller
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Summary: When Jesus came to earth, the teaching of the Scriptures had been so horribly corrupted by the Pharisees that an Israelite man thought his mission from God was the lifeless keeping of thousands of requirement in God’s rule book that had been expanded by the Pharisees to 30 volumes of do’s and don’ts. In utter contrast to this externally focused, rule- keeping slavery, Jesus said, those who enjoyed the presence of God never were the self-righteous rule-keepers but those who were pure in heart. Jesus’ message was, “righteousness is a matter of the heart and that bar is so high that I have come to give you a NEW, PURE HEART and The Holy Spirit to dwell in that heart to help you do what the law really is all about: loving God and loving your neighbor.” This episode considers how we can experience the power of Christ at work in us TRANSFORMING OUR HEARTS for everyday living that pleases him.
Resource Used for This Podcast:
Making Sense of God, by Timothy Keller
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Summary: This episode continues the series, Christ’s Compelling Mission for Us. We know that Christ’s mission for us is TO BE LIKE HIM and that he gave a summary of his heart attitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. In past episodes (season #1 episodes 8-11), we examined the first four beatitudes. Today we come to the fifth, from Matt 5:7, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Our calling is to show Christ’s heart of mercy to the world. How do we do that? That is the question this episode answers.
Resource Used for This Podcast:
Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, Timothy Keller
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Summary: This episode continues our series, Christ’s Compelling Mission for Us, by examining our Call TO CHRIST and asking “How do I better fill my soul with Christ’s love, so I can succeed at loving well those I am supposed to?” Jesus told us that he is the vine, we are the branches and that fruitfulness in our mission from him comes through abiding in him—i.e. through our love-relationship with him. How can we strengthen our love connection with Christ and, therefore, maximize our fruitfulness for Christ? That is the question we answer in this episode.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
- What do you think of the idea that what God always wants to fuel our commitment to his mission for us is our love for him?
- Which truths from Scripture most help you remember how much God loves you?
- Read back over the Marxist’s letter. Which aspect of his devotion to his cause do you wish was more a part of your devotion to Christ? (You can’t answer “all of it!”)
Resource Used for This Podcast:
Allegiance: Building a Foundation of Loyalty to God, (30 daily devotionals to infuse fresh energy into every Christian man’s walk with Christ) by Gary Yagel.
Objects of His Affection, by Scotty Smith.
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Summary: No Christian man wants to fail Jesus. But how to we keep our inner fire to live for him burning hot when our failure, disheartening circumstances, and seemingly unanswered prayers pour buckets of water on those flames. That is the question we answer in this episode, as we consider an approach to discipleship that ignites the heart.
Resource Used for This Podcast:
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life, By Os Guiness
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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 election based on arguing for biblical principles. 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? Why fight for spiritual truth in a world that is heading to hell and destruction? Capitulating to this argument is tempting. But yielding to it would lead to utter FAILURE to complete the mission assigned to us by Christ. This episode explains why.
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Summary: No man wants to fail at his mission to impact others for Christ. But we will, if we forget one of the commands of Peter that is a prerequisite for having such an impact—BE READY. Always be ready, writes Peter to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Pet 3:15).In other words, Peter commands every Christian to prepare ahead of time—that is what “ready” means. What are we to be prepare ourselves to do? Make a logical defense of our faith. That is what the Greek word, “defense” means. It is APOLOGIA. APO means from or since, LOGIA is the word from which we get logic. This episode helps us be prepared and prepare our loved ones to give a logical answer to a very common accusation that Christians hear: YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY.
For Further Prayerful Thought:
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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”?
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How would you answer the objection, “We don’t even really know what the original writers of the Bible really said. Bible translations disagree”?
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What is your biggest doubt about whether the Bible is really God’s Word?
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Summary: Fighting wordsare words that arouse a visceral response in people, making their gut churn and their hands ball into fists. As the election draws near, 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?
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Summary: Historians tell us, Ideas have consequences.There is one idea that has invaded the human heart that 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.
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Every man wants to protect his loved ones from harm. But in today’s world providing that protection isn’t usually standing at the door of our home with a shotgun to protect our wife and children from being raped or kidnapped by a marauding band of thugs as it is protecting them from false ideas that have the power to take their thoughts captive and destroy their lives. Paul describes this everyday battle and the power of God’s truth to tear down the lies of the culture. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Cor 10:4-5). Today, we begin a new series, “Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth.” Our goal is to know how to equip our kids with a confident response to the idea that science has disproved the existence of God.
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Toxic masculinity is a term recently made popular in academic and media circles to describe the male aggression that leads to sexual assault, domestic assault, and bullying. In my view, Christians today should be leading the way in the fight against toxic masculinity for the honor of Christ, because the world needs self-giving manhood, and because so many of the solutions to toxic masculinity being offered in our culture are destructive. This episode examines four solutions we need to reject and recognize as harmful to our loved ones. It then reviews the six aspects of heart driven masculinity that were covered earlier in this series.
This week’s Resource Highlight is Episode #33 Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy (6/21/20) which helps you equip your loved ones to see five fallacies in the accusation that the Bible teaches patriarchy.
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If Christian men are asked, What one prayer in your entire life do you most want God to answer,” nearly all of them with kids would say, “I most want God to work in the hearts of my children to bring them to faith and a strong walk with Christ.” That answer pleases God, because he wants Christian men to leave behind a godly heritage. This episode looks at how important this calling is to God, and how he wants us to build a godly legacy that impacts generations to come.
This week’s Resource Highlight is the series is, “How Your Leadership Can Have Impact at Home and Elsewhere” Episodes # 37-39, July 19, 26, and August 2.
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All Christian men fight inner battles with their sinful nature. Lust, anger, selfishness, resentment, impatience, discontent, idolatry are just some of the forces that seek to overpower us as men. Many times we lose these battles for a simple reason—we are trying to fight them alone. But how do you find a few close friends to help you in your spiritual battles? You may not be able to find them; you may need to forge them. This episode shows how.
Resource used in this episode:
Got Your Back: Helping Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They NeedClick for information about the book and its impact
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I don’t know any man who walked down the wedding aisle expecting his marriage to end in failure; but many marriages do, and most divorces are instigated by unhappy wives. This episode looks at what we can learn from God’s design of marriage that can help our current or future marriage thrive.
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Resources Used in This EpisodeFor COUPLES: Intimacy; God's Design for Marriage--Three Conversational Dates to Recover Intimacy in Your Marriage (click here)For Men: Loving Our Wives Well: Understanding Four Needs of a Wife That Only Her Husband Can Meet(click here)
One Bible scholar says, To be a man is to stand up and be counted when there is danger or other evil. This episode reveals that indeed, God did design Adam to be the protector/warrior of the garden. So Christian men are called by God to protect those around us, especially our families, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Understandably, most Christian men struggle to understand what it means to be a spiritual warrior. This episode examines two of the biggest obstacles to being a successful spiritual warrior and how to overcome them to protect those around us from harm, especially our families.
Most men dream of greatness--of having a major impact on the world. Such dreams should not surprise us since men are created for impact; that is why God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, to transform it, to enable it to reach its full potential, to cause the world and culture to flourish. This episode explains how sin has corrupted that calling to make an impact in the world and challenges men to impact the world around them in five ways.
A great resource used for this podcast is Richard Phillips, book, The Masculine Mandate.
Everyone likes approval. We enjoy seeing our teachers’ A at the top of our essay, hearing “good game,” or gazing on the diplomas on our wall that verify that we have been approved by an educational institution to receive a high school, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctor’s degree. Wanting approval often leads us down a path to success and achievement; but it can also lead us in directions of compromise, regret, and self-loathing, when we weakly surrender to unhealthy peer pressure. We all know the experience of hearing our conscience warn us, “say no” but saying “yes” instead, in order to fit in. We have all been in situations where we sensed the leading of God’s Spirit to identify ourselves as Christians, but have chickened out. We have all looked back with regret on times we should have stood for righteousness but caved. The goal of this episode is to heat up our passion to seek God’s approval and pour cold water on the coals of desire for the world’s approval.For more information about the book, Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, click here.
Mission focused men realize that their mission begins with the Call TO Christ, to enjoy a love relationship with him. It is profoundly important to get this right because keeping our affections set upon Christ, making him our first love, and satisfying our souls in him are God’s design for keep our hearts aligned. And what our hearts want will determine the course of our lives. The command to rejoice in the Lord (Phil 4:4) is the command to intentionally ENJOY God. This episode explains four obstacles to obeying this command to give ourselves pleasure by celebrating who God is. One of the resources used in this episode is Scotty Smith’s book, Objects of God’s Affection. Here is the link.
Every Christian husband and father wants to succeed in being the spiritual leader of his home, so we have been studying how to maximize our impact in leading others to spiritual maturity, whether we are husbands, dads, small group, church, or another kind of spiritual leader. This is the third episode in a three-part series, Becoming Effective Spiritual Leaders. This series examines the leadership process by examining the relationships between the 3 components of leadership. Here is the link to a simple diagram that explains these three parts and their relationship to one another. This week, we cover the most neglected step of leadership, one that takes our leadership impact from mediocre to excellent. This third step is EQUIPPING followers to grow into mature disciples.
This is the second episode in a three-part series, Becoming Effective Spiritual Leaders. This series examines the leadership process by examining the relationships between the 3 components of leadership. Here is the link to a simple diagram that explains these three parts and their relationship to one another. Last week we examined the orange arrow from the leader to the goal, observing ways the leader must stay focused upon the goal of his own spiritual growth, so he can lead from his life. This episode examines the vertical green arrow from the leader to the followers and five ways that Jesus won the hearts of his followers by BUILDING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
Summary: The greatest impact we have on those around us often comes when we fill the role of spiritual leader. This role can come to us in countless ways—by being assigned by God to spiritual leadership at home as a husband and father, or by serving as a church or ministry leader. Leadership can come with being the default spiritual influencer on your sports team or among your friends. It can be the result of assuming responsibility to steer brothers and sisters in your extended family towards Christ, or neighbors, or work associates. This episode looks at the way spiritual leadership can have maximum impact in the lives of those who surround us.
Here is the link to the Leadership Leadership Diagram referred to on this podcast.
Men want to succeed at everything they do. They want to know which hill to take. They want a clear target on the wall so they can focus their masculine energy into it. When it comes to spiritual things, they want to like Paul, who said, Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. If we are going to strive to obey God’s command to fathers, to bring our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, what are the goals that we need to PRESS ON TOWARDS. This episode gives guys a concrete game plan to strive to achieve as with the Lord’s help, train our kids into godly character.
Much of the material in today’s episode comes from Boundaries With Kids, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.
Even though MOTHERS seem so much better at it, God makes FATHERS primarily responsible for raising up their children in the way they should go. But how can we expect Christian dads to succeed in this vital calling if they are not equipped with biblical principles and strategies to formulate a plan? This episode equips dads to understand the basic goal of parenting and gives three ways parents must use their influence to accomplish this mission. We then identify 6 obstacles to effective parenting. Finally, we look at God’s evaluation of a parent who does not paddle his child, Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. God designed a child with a bottom—a safe part of the body with no risk of damaging organs to receive a sting NOW for wrong behavior, so that wrong behavior does not CONTINUE and bring severe pain. The article then provides wisdom for how paddling must be used properly so it corrects behavior but is never abusive.
Much of the material in today’s episode comes from Boundaries With Kids, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.
In the past few weeks, we’ve seen an authority figure, namely a Minneapolis police officer, murder George Floyd, seen mayors of major American cities refuse to stop angry mobs from looting and destroying property, and while observing Father’s Day, noted the fatherlessness epidemic in our cities along with God’s ordained design for fathers to be responsible for the discipline of their children. The common thread in these themes, is the break-down of the proper use of authority in our streets and homes. This episode looks at four restraints upon evil that God provides for society, then zooms in to look specifically at one of those restraints, i.e. the proper discipline of children. It examines five guiding principles to use discipline to train our children effectively at home.
Here is the link to the bog article I wrote several years ago, in response to a Twitter explosion, asking What Is a Switch? in response to Adrian Peter’s mention of this implement used for paddling children. The article, entitled, The Peterson Case & the Spanking Question.
Some of the material in this episode comes from Boundaries With Kids, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, which is my favorite book on parenting.
For decades we have been hearing that the Bible is laced with a patriarchal bias, which more enlightened, modern Christians must uncover and correct. This episode examines this flawed argument, which if left unchecked will shape the rising generation in our homes and churches. It then identifies and amplifies five facets of biblical fatherhood that meet the needs of a child’s heart.
The horrific murder of George Floyd and lawless property theft and destruction taking place across America have put our focus on American cities, the plight of the urban poor, and especially black urban poor. This focus has rightly challenged Christians to consider how better to confront racism in our own lives and American institutions. As Fathers’ Day approaches, I want to also suggest that, as we consider the plight of the urban poor in America, we recognize the epidemic of fatherlessness taking place in our cities and the black community. Its impact is enormous. But father absence is not just an urban or black problem. Fifty percent of children in America grow up with fathers who are physically absent (34%) or emotionally uninvolved or harmful through abuse (17%). Today’s episode looks at the way God has designed children to need a father, the damage caused by that absence, what a child needs from his/her father, and what we can do to help boys and girls in our midst who don’t have dads in their lives.
Some of the material in this episode comes from Pete Alwinson’s book, Like Father Like Son: How Knowing God as Father Changes Men, which I highly recommend.
Many of our podcast listeners know Romans 8:28, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. By faith, we claim this verse during difficult times. But we miss tremendous power to cope well with the trials that God ordains for us if we stop reading Romans 8 at vs 28.It is vs 29 that tells us what god’s purpose for us is: For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. God’s purpose is that we become Christ-like. This episode examines two verses from Romans 8 to find wisdom and strength for our mission, making four observations. It then suggests and illustrates three practical steps to take when facing trials.
Today’s podcast addresses our first, and highest calling—TO BUILD AND ENJOY A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, HIMSELF. Jesus told us the greatest commandment was, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30). This podcast explains why fulfilling this part of our mission is absolutely foundational for our lives and how to grow to love God well.
In America, this is Memorial Day Weekend when we celebrate those who have given their last, fullest measure of devotion to secure and protect our freedom. The honor we give to such countrymen and women for their devotion to their mission reminds me of some of Paul’s words as he neared the end of his mission. He wrote: As for me, I feel that the last drops of my life are being poured out for God. The glorious fight that God gave me I have fought. The course that I was set I have finished, and I have kept the faith. The future for me holds the crown of righteousness which God, the true judge, will give to those who have loved what they have seen of him (2 Tim 4:6-8 J.B. Phillips)
Everyone listening to this podcast wants to be able to look back upon his life and say, The glorious fight that God gave me I have fought. I have not been AWOL (absent without leave). I have not been a deserter.I have not been so busy with civilian life that I forgot to report for duty. I went into battle and I fought the spiritual enemies of my loved ones and my Lord on the battlefield that was assigned to me. This episode looks at why Paul was able to say that about his own life.
In the last episode, while celebrating our mothers, we observed that no one can nurture a child as well as his own or her own mother can. Similarly, no one can be the father to your children that you can be. Our job as fathers is to help our daughters flourish—to become all that God created them to be. This episode examines two ingredients required by every daughter’s heart for her to be able to thrive.
In today’s world, many of our female loved ones are engaged in a very personal spiritual battle about their identity and calling as women, and how motherhood fits into that calling. This episode shows how the mistake of overvaluing motherhood will hurt them and how undervaluing motherhood can be devastating. Only the biblical worldview gets this balance right; so that is our topic today.
I highly recommend the primary source used in this episode to evaluate the impact of the Industrial Revolution on family life, Nancy Pearcey’s book, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity
Our calling as men, to help others flourish, means helping our daughters and granddaughters build confidence in the way God created them to be female. Gender differences are profoundly related to our sense of identity. Before helping men know how to winsomely explain the biblical worldview of gender, the podcast identifies two big obstacles that routinely prevent others from being open to the biblical worldview. This episode then articulates the glory of God’s design of humans as male and female. It then suggests questions men might asked their daughters or granddaughters to open their hearts to the biblical view of gender.
A recommended resource to accompany this episode is, The Meaning of Marriage; Facing the Complexities of Commitment With the Wisdom of God, by Tim and Kathy Keller
This episode continues to consider very real spiritual battles that we men have to fight every day. When I look at the words Paul used to describe our opponents, cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, this stark reality brings fear to my heart. This sobering truth helps explain why Christians aren’t more sanctified and having more influence in the world. Since we have to fight THOSE POWERS, just trying hard won’t work. We need to understand what the spiritual armor of Christ is and what it means to put it on. Very frankly, if we don’t learn to put on the armor that Christ gives us, we will be so hopelessly outmatched that we will fail. So, this episode answers the questions 1) what is the breastplate of righteousness, and 2) what does it mean to put it on?
Here is the link to an explanation of the fourth beatitude, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied. It is Podcast Episode 11, Season 1 The Right Kind of Ambition.
Have you ever considered that in only the third chapter of the whole Bible, human beings are taught that we have a spiritual enemy who hates us and constantly seeks to lead us down a path to destruction—i.e. rebellion against God. In fact, we don’t have just one spiritual enemy but a whole host of them! Paul writes, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Could we ever hope to achieve our mission to establishing Christs agenda of righteousness over every sphere of life without taking on the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms who claim this world as their own? We have to start by putting on our armor. This episode explains what it means to put on the belt of truth.
Episode Summary: The resurrection reminds us that the gospel is not just about our personal, private salvation and growth in holiness (which is called the two-chapter gospel.) Such a gospel leads to separating from the lost, forgetting their inherent value as those created in God’s image, and devaluing the contributions they make to our culture. In contrast, the resurrection of Christ’s physical body reminds us that the true gospel story has four chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Christ-followers are called to be part of the greatest mission in the history of the world, Christ’s renewal of our corner of planet earth to bring about the righteousness and flourishing that God intends for each part of his creation. This episode seeks to capture our hearts with the greatness of the mission our Lord has assigned to us.
Resources Used:
All Things Newby Hugh Whelchel
The Call of the Jericho Roadby Tim Keller
Discipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theologyby Gary Yagel (doctoral dissertation)
This episode begins a series, entitled, “Stable Leadership In Uncertain Times.” Effective leaders understand the big-picture perspective of their mission, so that they can prevent their followers from being overwhelmed by discouraging setbacks or temporary road blocks, but, instead, stay motivated to pursue their mission. To be the best spiritual leaders we can, this episode’s goal is to help us form a crystal clear picture of what it means to lead our families to pursue Jesus’ top priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness Matt 6:33).
In times of trial like our current coronavirus pandemic, one of the truths that most strengthens me is not just God’s sovereignty but God’s compassion towards those who suffer. Though my mind may not be able to grasp the reason for God allowing this pandemic, my brain can grasp the overwhelming proof of God’s compassionate nature in Scripture. This episode zooms in to view that evidence and in so doing seeks empower us to lead the way in our homes and churches in expressing that same compassion to the hurting, frightened, needy people who are all around us.
This episode helps men take steps to accomplish the top priority of their mission—loving God well. By strengthening our love relationship with Christ, we become the man of spiritual strength that those around us can lean on. Our love for God grows the more we get to know him—and so we look today at one of God’s attributes called, God’s MAJESTY. This perfection of God reminds us that he is the High King and what a privilege it is to know and serve him as his subjects. God’s MAJESTY also points to his greatness. This episode digs into Isaiah 40, where God reveals the greatness of 1) his wisdom and knowledge, 2) his control over the events of this world, 3) his sheer might, 4) his ability to strengthen us. You can not remain lukewarm in your love for God, when you understand his MAJESTY.
In this episode, we consider ways to lead our homes well during this Corona virus crisis. It begins with caring for the emotional needs of our wives by helping them process their feelings, strongly partnering with them to address our children’s fears, the extra pressures of having the kids home all day, and the opportunity to love our others well during the crisis, especially the elderly.
Leadership also requires us to refute the argument that might erode our children’s faith—that a good god would never allow the Corona virus. Our leadership should also include seizing the opportunity to reach out to the lost around us, listening to them well, not feeling the need to explain how the Corona virus is part of God’s good plan, but rather seeking the opportunity to share how our Christian faith delivers to us both God’s personal comfort and confidence about the future.
Two resources were especially helpful in this material, The Reason for God, by Tim Keller, and Questioning Evangelism, by Randy Newman. Here is the link to the printed version of this episode.
This episode continues the series, entitled, Making a Difference for Christ In the Workplace. It seeks to destroy the myth that sharing our faith means violating our relationships with non-Christians. To the contrary, it is being as winsome as possible in order to win the right to be heard. We do that first by changing our FOCUS--praying for a Christ-like heart for the lost and being intentional about staying focused on those Christ puts on our hearts. It is then being interested listeners, being winsome, expressing care for others, and being real about our struggles with our faith.
This episode continues the series, entitled, Making a Difference for Christ In the Workplace. Since our podcast focus is on our mission as Christ-followers, and men spend the vast majority of their awake time at work and commuting to and from work, we must clearly understand how Christ wants us to see our mission in the workplace. This episode examines three ways that our race’s fall into sin has impacted our work and what to do about it, so that we stay motivated at our everyday jobs.
This episode begins a new series, entitled, Making a Difference for Christ In the Workplace. Since our podcast focus is on our mission as Christ-followers, and men spend the vast majority of their awake time at work and commuting to and from work, we must clearly understand how Christ wants us to see our mission in the workplace. This episode, examines four ways that understanding Christ’s Call to the Workplace Adds Motivation to Our Work.
Summary: This is the final episode in a four-part series, “Ruling Over Our Sexuality for God’s Glory,” in which we view male sexual desire through the biblical lens of creation, fall, redemption/restoration. This episode is rooted in the profound wisdom of Proverbs 4: 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. We examine five ways we need to protect our hearts from the enticement of sexual sin, if we want to avoid falling into it.
This episode is the third in a four-part series, “Ruling Over Our Sexuality for God’s Glory,” in which we view male sexual desire through the biblical lens of creation, fall, redemption/restoration. In this episode we begin to look at how Christ sets us free from slavery to lust. A good starting point is preemptively directing our heart into three particular channels that will strengthen us against the attacks of lust.
This episode is the second in a four-part series, “Ruling Over Our Sexuality for God’s Glory,” in which we view male sexual desire through the biblical lens of creation, fall, redemption/restoration. This episode takes a close look at the way that sin has corrupted God’s glorious design of sex not only so we can recognize that corruption in our own hearts but also to know how God wants to fix our broken sexual desires through the power of Christ in us
This message is the first in a four-part series, “Ruling Over Our Sexuality for God’s Glory,” in which we view male sexual desire through the biblical lens of creation, fall, redemption/restoration. This episode explores the nature of God’s gift to us of a strong sex drive, so that we can celebrate it and fight to rule it for Christ. Better understanding our sex drive helps us battle lust more effectively.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a picture of humanity the way God designed it to be. Jesus begins this message with a portrait of eight inner attitudes that portray the attitudes that reign in our hearts when he sets us free from slavery to sin. This message explains the meaning of the fourth beatitude, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. The ambition that is to preoccupy Christ-followers is conforming our lives in every way to God’s moral law, not to get God to love us more but because he already loves us unconditionally. That hunger and thirst for rightness is to spill over to the world around us, where we must devote ourselves to opposing wrong treatment towards all human beings since they are made in the image of God
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a picture of humanity the way God designed it to be. Jesus begins this message with a portrait of eight inner attitudes that portray the attitudes that reign in our hearts when he sets us free from slavery to sin. The third attitude, covered in this episode, is perhaps the most misunderstood of the Christ-like attitudes, meekness. The true meaning is “power under control.” It is the key to overcoming anger and worry. It is also the heart attitude that God honors by pouring out blessings upon us in this life—for they shall inherit the earth.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a picture of humanity the way God designed it to be. Jesus begins this message with a portrait of eight inner attitudes that portray the attitudes that reign in our hearts when he sets us free from slavery to sin. The second attitude is mourning. But is Jesus saying that suffering is a good thing? Not at all. But there is a kind of mourning that leads to well being and life. This episode explains this kind of mourning and gives the perspective required to forge this attitude.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a picture of humanity the way God designed it to be. Jesus begins this message with a portrait of eight inner attitudes that portray the attitudes that reign in our hearts when he sets us free from slavery to sin. The first is being poor in spirit. It is the key to receiving kingdom blessing throughout all of life, not just the requirement for salvation. The great paradox is that those who recognize their spiritual poverty are those who become spiritually rich. How does this work in the everyday life of believers? That is what this episode examines.
Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus to establish his Messianic Kingdom. The nature of that kingdom was not understood in his day, and it is often not understood by Christians in our day. Yet, Jesus told us that the top priority of our lives is to be seeking his kingdom. This episode explains the nature of that kingdom, so we can seek it!
When we ponder who our mission is FOR , it energizes us. Christ is the one who personally calls our name with a mission for us as our creator, designer, master, king, and redeemer. We further saw that our mission is FOR Christ, in that HE is the one who is loved, pleased, honored, and glorified when we are faithful to the mission he gave us.
Click here for a link to Gary's most popular book, Got Your Back: Helping Men Forge the Brotherhood Connections They Need and here for the link to Gary's Website.
This is episode #4 in a 6-part series explaining why the podcast can be so beneficial to Christian men. After the podcast launch of episode #1, Who Is This Podcast For?, we began to look at each word in the podcast title. We saw that men are made for MISSION. Then last week we looked at the importance of Staying FOCUSED on that mission. This episode calls Christian men to consider two important reasons we need to show the world, how Christ can empower us to be Christ-like MEN, and then lays out 4 characteristics of manhood as God designed it to be. In a culture in which the #MeToo movement has identified the prevalence of toxic masculinity (self-centered and abusive) we have an unprecedented opportunity to take the message to our culture that Christ is the only one who can fix broken, selfish manhood.
Busyness can mask the erosion of your soul, devour your time on unimportant things, and lead to wasting the opportunity you have to honor Christ with your life. This episode looks at Jesus and what we can learn from him about escaping the destruction of busyness and staying focused on the mission the Father had given him.
Jesus' mission for you is worth every ounce of devotion you can offer to him. But often men's passion to follow Christ remains cold, especially when we haven't really understood what that mission is. This podcast explains that mission.
This episode explains that Mission Focused Men for Christ is for Christian men who don’t want to fail at the mission assigned to them by their Lord and realize that it is hard to succeed in a mission when you have only a vague, fuzzy picture of what that mission is, and aren’t really thinking much about that mission during the week.
This episode observes that when you summarize the biblical teaching about the mission of Christ-followers, it falls into three categories. This episode gives a clear picture of each of these three mission objectives. It then explains that the podcast is built on four pillars of commitment that undergird the podcast: BEING biblical, insightful, energizing, and bite-sized.
Download Mission Focused Men for Christ into your podcast app—and don’t forget to tell other Christian men about this short, free, weekly, practical encouragement to stay focused on their mission for Christ!
No Christian man wants to fail in the mission assigned to him by Christ. This two-minute episode explains to Christian men how this weekly, 15-18 minute podcast, which is short enough to easily fit into their schedule, provides an inspirational biblical understanding of what their mission is and practical encouragement for how to accomplish their mission.