Category: Mens Ministry

MEASURING MASCULINITY THROUGH JESUS

Gillette, a household name for men’s personal grooming products, has entered the masculinity debate by airing a commercial which unfortunately equates the word masculine with male chauvinism including aggressive and sexist behavior toward women. Further, the American Psychological Association in their guidelines for treating men and boys suggest that “traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful.”  This means manliness can be harmful to themselves and others. Some refer to it as “toxic masculinity.” So, what is masculinity? It depends on who you ask. If you listen to the “leave-God-out-of-it” voices in our culture, the word masculinity is negative for the most part. Some of those negative stereotypes are chauvinism, a controlling attitude, anger, betrayal, abuse, abandonment, sarcasm, and self-centeredness. But if you define masculinity through the life of Jesus, the Perfect Man, it is healthy and positive. Jesus was the perfect Man physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, relationally, financially, vocationally and spiritually. Jesus clearly teaches that masculinity is not about appearance, position, popularity, or money.

As you look at Jesus, the perfect Man, through the eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; you see Him consistently demonstrating the balance between strength and servanthood, truth and grace, confidence and humility, toughness and kindness, righteous anger and radical love, firmness, and laughter. Jesus calls every man to be like Him and He empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live as He lived. Jesus Himself said: “I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (John 13:16).  Biblical masculinity involves focusing your life on Jesus Christ and seeking to live like He lived, spoke like He spoke, feel like He felt and possess a godly and joyful attitude. Christian men must measure masculinity through Jesus alone.

There is great confusion in our culture on the definition and description of masculinity. How is a man supposed to act? Masculinity, as seen through the life of Jesus is meek, strength under God’s control; gentle; always obedient to God; humble; possesses the attitude of a servant, and compliments others. Biblical masculinity is compassionate; bold; responsible; respectful of and protective of women; vulnerable and not afraid to shed a tear. The Jesus kind of masculinity is money wise; loving and kind to children; stands on God’s Word; stands up for what is right; finishes what was started; celebrate with people; keeps his promises; and demonstrates an attitude of gratitude. Biblical masculinity is truthful; forgiving; confidential, and waits on God’s timing. This kind of masculine spirit is driven by God’s mission; strives to be physically fit; expresses love to others; is honest about pain; works hard, and is committed to regular church attendance. A Jesus masculinity says “No” to temptation; admits a need for others; seeks to be a best friend; keeps his word; is there for people in need; values family meals; strives to be biblically correct, not politically correct; and passionately pursues purity.

When you measure masculinity through Jesus, Christianity becomes contagious to a man’s wife, children; family, friends and those who do not yet personally know Jesus. God wants you to measure your life not by comparing it to someone else’s, but by constantly looking to Jesus as our example. The more you look like Jesus, the more attractive you will be to your wife.

Gillette’s tagline for many years has been: “the best a man can get.” However, Gillette is around 2000 years late. Only Jesus, the Man of all Men can make you the best man you can be.

Written By: Pastor Jay Dennis

http://wingmannation.com

Recently, I was sitting next to a guy at a meeting when an older gentleman came up to say hello to the man I was talking to.

The older man joked about how old he was now, which was in his late 70s or 80s. Then he said something that really stood out to me. He proudly said, “You know there’s only one good thing about being this old. Only one! I’m closer than ever to being in heaven.”

Instead of thinking, “How sweet. Pawpaw is ready to go see Jesus,” my first thought was, “What a waste!” Because if he truly means what he said, and he was emphatic, he’s saying that he has nothing to give or offer here.

Understand this dude was getting around like a spry 60-year-old and was still sharp as a tack, as we say back home!

To make matters worse, he had been a pastor for many years. Yes, I know you can argue that at this age people are entitled to long to be with family who are already in heaven and to focus on eternity.

But I would argue that if we are given that many years to grow in the Lord, then it becomes more and more imperative that we invest all these many years of godly wisdom and experiences in the generations behind us.

I don’t know about you, but I love to hear stories from elderly saints who still continue to seek the Lord!

Towards the end of his life Paul had a little something to say about this in Philippians 1 (NIV):

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.

This is a life well spent! Selfishly he wanted to be in the unfiltered presence of God, but Paul knew that younger believers needed him to remain, being that solid spiritual pillar worthy of imitating. That’s kingdom focus. That’s what I want to be now and in every season that God allows me to walk into.

In my late 30s, when I first became aware that I was no longer a youth, the Lord brought Psalm 71 to my attention. He used this passage to help me stop focusing on the passing of my youth and to see aging as an opportunity to show God to even more people.

17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

18 Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come (NIV).

There’s another pastor who is currently in his 70s and is actively discipling, investing, teaching and influencing thousands of younger pastors.

He isn’t simply romanticizing the past or idly thinking about the future. He is affecting the future by declaring God’s power to the next generation. His example is one that pushes me!

You see, as a former student pastor, my mid-life crisis just about took the wind out of my sails. I really questioned if there was spiritual effectiveness after 40! (Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, but at least I didn’t buy a red convertible to make me feel better.)

This is why the words of that first elderly pastor struck a chord with me. It sounded like he quit having a Kingdom-minded focus.

At one point I was prone to do the same. But God has called us to do more and to be more at all ages and stages of life for His Glory.

How has God displayed His power in your life? Who have you told about it? The next generation needs to know what God has done and continues to do. Let’s not waste the time that God is giving us.

I don’t know a single Christian parent that doesn’t harbor at least a little anxiety about the spiritual development of their children. Many of us have read the statistics over the last several years about how frequently kids drop out of church once they leave the home of their parents, and have wondered if there is anything we can do now as parents to help our kids own their faith.

Certainly, we would acknowledge (I hope) that this is ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit. That it’s only through the Spirit and not some clever program we can design as parents that kids persevere in the faith. And yet we also know that the Spirit uses regular moms and dads like us to have significant conversations and develop spiritual habits in our kids.

I was very interested, in light of that, to read the results of our recent LifeWay Research study on how kids really grow spiritually. The study analyzed 2,000 Protestant adults who finished their parenting journey with one or more kids now between 18-30. The study looked at faith characteristics of those kids now, all grown up, and looked at the parenting practices and habits of the children as they were growing up and identified the key influencers of spiritual health.

My friend and colleague Jana Magruder unpacks the research in her new book, “Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith.” You should read it and be influenced by it. I have. But in the meantime, let me give you a peek into some of those practices and habits that can help our kids own their own faith:

1. Help them read the Bible for themselves.

This one shouldn’t surprise us because the same thing that, statistically, is the most important practice for our own spiritual growth is the most important for our children – reading the Bible. There is no replacement for this. As parents, then, the absolute best thing we can do for our children is to help them read the Bible for themselves.

This can get a bit tricky, I’m finding, because as a parent you want to walk the line between encouraging this practice in your children and forcing it upon them. How do we do that? I think it’s through practices like reading the Bible with them, providing them with tools so they can read for themselves, and to actually let them see you doing this as a parent. I sense that if a kid sees that reading the Bible is not only normative, but necessary, for their mom and dad, that they will be more likely to pick up on the practice themselves.

2. Help them to serve in the church.

There is a distinction here. Attending church is important. Very important in fact. But even more than attendance, a child should have the opportunity to actually serve in the church growing up. Of course, there are limits here, and there should be. But every time we help our kids to pass out worship guides, or volunteer on a Saturday, or even pass the offering plate we are emphasizing to them that church is not just a place you attend and receive; church is something that you are where you give.

If kids can, right now, understand the participatory nature of being in the body of Christ, then they will begin to own their own faith by God’s grace.

3. Sing the truth together.

This element of the research surprised me. But the research says that the fourth biggest contributor to a child’s spiritual growth is whether or not they listen consistently to Christian music. I suppose, though, that this shouldn’t surprise me.

God has designed us this way. Singing, and music in general, connects with us at a level nothing else does. It lifts the eyes to heaven and the soul follows with it. Perhaps that’s why, throughout the history of Christianity, one of the greatest tools for teaching theology has been music. After all, one of the earliest Christian hymns is the great Christological passage of Philippians 2.

Kids need to listen to the truth, sing the truth, and see you as their parents singing right along with them.

Now if you do these things, and the others that Jana points out in her book, have you discovered the formula to absolutely, positively, guarantee that your children will own their faith?

No. You have not. This is not a formula like that. The best we can do as parents is to try and instill practices like these in faith, trusting that the Spirit of God will do what we cannot. And that the Spirit of God will make up for what we lack in our tainted intentions and sinful parenting hearts. That God, in His grace, would use even us to point our children to the gospel.

Michael Kelley lives in Nashville, TN, with his wife, Jana, and three children: Joshua (10), Andi (7), and Christian (5). He serves as Director of Groups Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources. As a communicator, Michael speaks across the country at churches, conferences, and retreats and is the author of Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, and God; Transformational Discipleship; and Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life. Find him on Twitter:@_MichaelKelley. Check out his latest book, Growing Down: Unlearning the Patterns of Adulthood that Keep Us from Jesus here.

Originally posted at blog.lifeway.com/leadingmen.

https://blog.lifeway.com/leadingmen/2018/09/12/3-ways-for-parents-to-help-their-kids-own-their-own-faith/

Just have to share with you all something that God has done in my life recently. A few years ago while at a former place of ministry, we experienced a series of changes.

That’s when something started changing in my heart, and it was such a slow, subtle fade that I hardly noticed. But I did notice my stress and anxiety mounting as the atmosphere in our office changed.

My heart slowly began to grow callous towards those responsible for the changes. My joy dwindled. It became very difficult for me to be “present” wherever I went. My mind always seemed to be elsewhere.

As I moved into a new ministry, I hoped that the change of scenery would rid me of all that stress and my joy would return.

Wrong.

Stress decreased, but I continued to feel “never present.” It was as if something was tying me to this former ministry.

Honestly, I thought maybe I was going crazy because these feelings were much worse than what I care to describe here. It was like a cloud of depression that engulfed everything.

Every time someone mentioned the former ministry, I noticed resentment would rise up but didn’t consider that to be such a big deal. Then I went to the beach a few months ago.

The beach has been for years the place I go to seek answers from the Lord. There’s just something about the wind, waves and grilled shrimp, right?

There’s a different question that I present to the Lord on these beach trips. This year I simply asked the Lord, “What’s wrong with me?!”

Loaded question, right?

Someone had given me a copy of Joël Malm’s book Fully You, which is like Christian counseling. I took this book with me to the beach.

Anyway, long story longer: In the book, he talks about forgiveness. He mentions the parable of the unmerciful servant and how he was thrown into jail for not forgiving even though he had been forgiven of much (Matt 18).

Jesus says that’s how God treats us when we don’t forgive others.

Y’all, I had to hit the hotel room floor.

For the first time in almost three years, I realized that I resented people for what they did in my former place of ministry.

This root of unforgiveness grew. I slowly built a prison for these people. and I was the one who lived in it — for almost three years!

After I honestly admitted this to God and forgave these folks, I was set free! It’s hard to describe. It was almost an immediate change!

The best way I can put it is that I was released from prison. My joy returned, the cloud lifted and now I’m present wherever I go! This is one lesson I’ll not soon forget.

Isaiah 26:3-4 was another key passage in this realization.

You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal

I asked God, “What moved my mind? Why do I feel this way?” It all went back to the root of unforgiveness. It had taken my mind from being steadfast to questioning everything, unsure of almost anything. Never has unforgiveness been such a condemnable offense in my life.

Let me give you a quote from Joël’s book that described my situation: “When we don’t release hurt, it turns into resentment. In both Spanish and French, the word sentir means to feel. When we resent something, we feel that emotion over and over. We relive the event. And resentment can have dire consequences, not only in our souls but in our bodies.”

That was me! I kept repeating conversations and reliving the pain. But not anymore.

I hope you are joy-filled and loving life in the Lord. If you’re not, then search your heart. See if there’s any bitterness or resentment lingering because the Master has forgiven you of so much more than any offense that someone else may have committed against you. Forgive and experience God’s freedom!

-Larry Hyche

Joël Malm will be teaching these Biblical principles on Oct 18th at the SBOM Office Facility in Prattville. For more information or to register, visit ALSBOM.org/whatif. If you’re interested in more information about the book Fully You and to download the first two chapters for free, check it out at http://www.joelmalm.com/fully-you/

I made a new friend recently. His name is John. John is a CPA in Birmingham and also serves on a board for someone we were considering for a men’s conference. John and I met for dinner and immediately I felt as if I had known him for years.

John said something I believe to be prophetic. His words spoke deep to my heart even though they don’t yet apply to me.  Maybe they spoke to me to pass along. Maybe they spoke to me to help me prepare for what is to come. I don’t know, but something about his words stirred my heart.

I am still in my mid-40s, although I’m on the downhill slide toward 50. I find myself thinking a lot about the next phase of life. Life without kids in the house. Life when I am not daddy to children, but to adults.  Life, when I don’t feel like every dollar is earmarked. I know my kids will always need me but I also know things are about to be different.

We know the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. Just like a pickpocket stripping us of our wallet, the enemy steals from us and often we don’t even realize what was stolen until it is already gone. As John and I spoke I saw something of value that maybe has been stolen by the enemy.

I believe the lost prize, is the latter years of our lives. John was in his early 60s. But it seems that John’s dreams have not faded since his kids left home. We spoke of his plans for his life. He brought to my attention the characters in the Bible that did not find their true path until the last third of their life.  Hero’s like Abraham, Moses, even Paul did not find and live out their true calling until they were already ‘long in the tooth.’  Just like these heroes of the faith, as John’s age increases he also wants his influence and impact to increase.

This is very counter to our culture. We look at the last part of life as a time to slow down. A time to sit back as those younger step up.  Seems like the older I get the more I want to pursue comfort. I don’t think anyone would describe Paul’s later years as ones of comfort, but they did have a purpose. I know many older men that seem to have lost their mission. They lose their sense of calling and purpose.

When a man loses purpose something is lost deep within him. Instead of seeing the Old Sages we see Old Curmudgeons.  Instead of Wisdom, we see Grouchiness. The enemy robs us of life.

Maybe as we age we should focus on falling in love with Jesus and people like never before.

Maybe we should open ourselves to new things instead of placing too much value on old things.

Maybe it’s time to finally forgive the unforgivable and love the unloveable

Maybe instead of seeking comfort, we should seek service.

Maybe instead of seeking a position, we should seek influence.

Maybe this should be a time of sowing so others can reap.

Maybe it’s time to dig wells from which we’ll never drink.

The greatest hindrance to living outward is focusing inward.

Not long ago, I sat in a restaurant with my friend, Greg, as we caught up on all the happenings in our families. I have known Greg for many years, stretching all the way back to when he was a student in high school. I know his parents well, and both are wonderful, godly people. Greg and his family are active in our church and fully engaged in ministry. They have a pioneer spirit and love Jesus with all their hearts.

As we talked, the conversation turned to living on mission with Jesus. After a moment of silence, Greg confessed, “The thing that keeps me from sharing my faith more is that I’m selfish. It’s not that I don’t know what to say — honestly, sometimes I just don’t want to get into a conversation.”

My friend’s brutal honesty shines a spotlight on the reason most of us do not have more spiritual conversations. It’s not that there is a lack of people who need Christ. It’s not that the Gospel has somehow been drained of its power. It’s not that the Spirit is no longer prompting believers to speak about Jesus. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact that often we just don’t want to reach out. It is easier to stay to ourselves, focus on our lives and our responsibilities, and cocoon in our world.

We live in a culture that is becoming increasingly isolated. We get up early and go to the gym with our ear buds in so we don’t have to speak to anyone. We stop for gas at the local convenience store and pay at the pump. We grab something to drink at the grocery store and choose the self-checkout line. We venture to work and head straight to our spot. Throughout the day, we post, text, chat and tweet. We “like” and “share” the things we see on social media, but we seldom have personal conversations with anyone. After work, we head home, driving alone in our car as we listen to our favorite tunes, and then pull into our garage so we won’t have to make eye contact with our neighbors. Even at home, families sit in separate rooms watching TV, playing video games or scrolling through media — but rarely talking. Then we hit the sack (while our smart phones recharge until morning), so we can be ready to do it all over again.

You may think I’m exaggerating, but honestly think about this. When was the last time you went out of your way to start a conversation with someone you didn’t know? Chances are good it’s been a long time.

While our culture has all the technological possibilities of connection, we are more disconnected than ever before. That reality is both a dismal admission and an incredible opportunity. It’s dismal in that God created each one of us to live in community, and it is not good for us to be and live in isolation. It is an opportunity because all around us are people desperately looking for true friendships and longing for true connection.

Now more than ever before, people are open to those who will reach out and care about them with genuine love and concern. The question is not, “Are people open and searching?” The question is, “Are you willing to reach out?” Remember, God has called you to go on mission with Jesus. He has placed you right where you are — in your office, school and neighborhood — so you can shine His light to the people around you (Matthew 5.14 ESV). You are strategically placed to be a difference maker.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you are willing to make a difference?
• Are you willing to linger at the school and strike up a conversation with other parents?
• Are you willing to go deeper than surface talk with your neighbor?
• Are you willing to stop and pray for that client who is struggling through a divorce?
• Are you willing to take that friend to lunch and care about his or her needs?
• Are you willing to intentionally pray that God would draw your lost friend to Christ?
• Are you willing to carve out time in your schedule to make a list of people you care about who are far from God, and ask God to help you reach out to them?
• Are you willing to put yourself to the side so God can use you to reach someone with the Gospel?

Written by Craig Etheredge This blog is an excerpt that comes from our book Reach Your World, which you can purchase here.

The phrase make disciples, not converts is popping up around the world in magazines, blogs, books, and academic journals as if it’s a great revelation even though Jesus clearly commanded us to make disciples.¹ So what’s all the fuss? Is there a substantial difference between a convert and a disciple? It has been said that converts are just new believers. … they aren’t bad or wrong. They are like babies and there’s nothing wrong with being a baby. 

This statement is true – The problem is when a convert—a baby Christian—never grows up to be a disciple—an adult Christian.

As Christians, we seem to miss part of Matthew 28:18-20. We go and make converts, we may even baptize them, but then we don’t teach them to obey Jesus. We don’t continue on in relationship with our baby Christians, raising them up to adulthood.³

“Just as babies need parent figures to actively, intentionally prepare them throughout childhood for adult maturity and responsibility, so also God has placed us in a spiritual family for parallel purposes. In both our physical and spiritual families, God intends family members to engage in open, two-way, give-and-take relationships.”⁴

The discipleship we’re called to, as Jesus modeled, is “intentional, relational, and transparent. Yes, discipleship involves teaching. But it’s much more. It’s about you inviting (or being invited) to share your life. It means you teaching someone what Scripture says about loving his or her spouse, then inviting the person into your home to show them what it looks like.”⁵

A pervasive lack of intentional disciple-making creates a church full of people who have “heard and accepted the message of Jesus saves, but somehow missed that Jesus has something to say about how we live every day.”⁶

They completely miss the goal of discipleship: “to produce accurate copies of Jesus. We must be making the kind of disciples that Jesus Himself produced.”⁷

And we can’t just lecture our converts into disciples. Just like the physical process of growing up, growing up spiritually takes time, effort, and relationship. I’m not an adult just because I know how to tie my shoes or because I can make mac ‘n cheese without burning down my house or because I follow the law while I’m driving. In the same way, “many Christians think they’re spiritually mature because they know Bible stories and facts or understand correct doctrine. Some Christians even think they are mature because they follow rules or have the ability to teach. But if a person can’t resolve issues to learn to work together in unity with other believers, or if he’s not known for great love for others, then the Bible is clear that the person isn’t truly spiritually mature.”⁸

One key difference between physical and spiritual maturity, however, is the fact that we never really “arrive” at complete spiritual maturity. “Maturity does not mean that we have no more to learn, or that somehow we are complete and have no need of continual relationship and growth in our lives—that never ends. …

However, there comes a time when we are able to invest in others. Even if we are only one step ahead of a person, we can still lead them as we progress.”⁹

Catch that? Each of us has the ability to make disciples even as we are still growing up ourselves!

¹Matthew 28:18-20
³1 Corinthians 13:11
⁴Powell, Frank. “Make Disciples, Not Converts: What Christians Get Wrong About Discipleship,” Frank Powell: Restoring Culture Through Christ, Accessed March 16, 2018. http://frankpowell.me/disciples-converts-christians-wrong.
⁵Putman, Jim. The Power of Together. Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks, 2016, 9.
⁶Putman, Jim. Power of Together, 21.
⁷Putman, Jim. Power of Together, 52.
⁸Putman, Jim. Power of Together, 48-49.
⁹Putman, Jim. The Power of Together Workbook. Grand Rapids, MI: BakerBooks, 2017), 13.

With each generation, we see a widening gap between men following Christ and men following culture. Here are three reasons why discipling men should be a priority for all guys who follow Christ.

1. Jesus told us to. Let’s not gloss over the importance of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 and its implications for daily living. The Great Commission isn’t a cool speech or pep talk to use before your mission team leaves for a five-day trip. It’s the most powerful charge ever given to mankind. “How do you know that?” It’s the only one ever given by someone who had power over death. Someone with this much authority could have demanded that His followers do anything, and He chose as His final words to them instructions to model what He had been teaching/modeling for them.

Jesus charged His closest apprentices to disciple as they were going, baptizing and teaching everything that He had just poured into them.

This requires intentionality. Jesus deliberately chose these men for such a task. These “unschooled, ordinary men” would turn their world upside down with the life-changing message of Jesus. Personally, I’m grateful that these men were faithful to carry out the job Jesus told them to do, because here’s a sobering thought: What if they approached the Great Commission the way many Christians approach it today? What if they did church then the way many in our culture do church now? I have no doubt that we wouldn’t be here today. The number of unreached people groups would be astounding. Jesus simply said make disciples.

2. Jesus told us to. Seriously, do we really need another reason? In case you’re curious, keep going.

2.5 Leaders lead others. Men are ordained as leaders. Some may not think or feel that they are, but all people have influence with someone.

Men have been given a unique position of authority and influence which is to be used to further the Kingdom of God.

Timothy was charged by Paul to entrust what he had learned from Paul to some “reliable men” who would then entrust it to others. Paul also gives instructions for a Christian household in Ephesians 5:21-24. Paul goes on to explain the type of love the man is to have for his wife is a sacrificial love just like Christ had for the church. When men are discipled to be Biblical leaders at home, it doesn’t just affect that household. It can affect generations to come. Paul also explains to Timothy (1 Tim 2) that men are to be the primary teachers and leaders of the church. Perhaps the lack of male discipling has led to the current weakening condition of Southern Baptist churches in the United States. Within our own state, 73 percent of our churches are plateaued or declining. What if all pastors/ministers had been discipled by strong Christian male role models and were shown how to be a true Christ follower who could replicate themselves? This is in stark contrast to the example of the Pharisees. Jesus said to them that their converts became “twice the sons of hell” that they were because they were so blind and hypocritical (Matt. 23). Men need to be led so that they’ll rightly/biblically lead others.

3. The next generation needs it. David’s words in Psalm 71:15-18 should challenge us to share what we’ve learned about God, His deeds, teachings and character. It’s not just for us to hold onto but to share “His power to the next generation, His acts to all who are to come.” Can we talk about the millennials just for a moment here? Don’t worry. If you are one, I’m not about to bash you! Many Millennials are demonstrating some unique characteristics that the business world has already tapped into; we need to do the same. See what you think:
A. In a Gallup survey, they found that mentoring cultures in the workplace are deemed critical by Millennials. Of those millennials surveyed, 75 percent not only want mentors but deem it crucial to success.1
B. A study by Intelligence Group revealed 72 percent of Millennials would like to be their own boss, but if they must work for a boss, 79 percent would want that boss to serve more as a coach or mentor,2 which leads to more longevity with an organization.3
C. A 2016 article by Entrepreneur Magazine entitled “Why a Purpose-Driven Mission Is Key to Motivating Millennials” stated, “They don’t want to be managed. They want to be lead. They want to feel like they’re making a difference… ‘Help change the world’ should be your team’s motto because 84 percent of millennials say that making a difference is more important than professional recognition.”4

So, let’s get this straight: You have a generation which will become the majority of the workforce by 2020, who wants to be mentored, values community and wants to feel like that what they’re investing in is of a greater purpose.

Are you kidding me?! This generation is craving someone to show them the Way. This is a Kingdom opportunity!

We have a job before us. Disciple (verb), share the hope of Christ and walk with people into spiritual maturity. Future generations depend on it.

References
1. Kantor, Julie. (2015, Dec. 18). Want To Keep Your Millennials– Mentor Them. Retrieved www.huffingtonpost.com.
2. Ibid.
3. Zimmerman, Kaytie. (2016, July 18). Modern Mentoring Is The Key To Retaining Millennials. Retrieved www.forbes.com.
4. Raza, Ahmad. (2016, Dec 2016). Why A Purpose-Driven Mission Is Key To Motivating Millennials. Retrieved www.entrepreneur.com.

As men, we’re called to lead our wives in the Word of God (Eph 5:26). Carrying the weight of that responsibility is not for the faint of heart. But men, God never calls us to something that he does not equip us for. That’s why we want to help. Here are 3 easy-to-lead Bible studies to walk through with your wife.

A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN | Matt Chandler

In this study, Matt Chandler gives evidence that God’s plan for man and woman is the ultimate design. And life lived within this beautiful and unchanging design for manhood and womanhood is part of His greater purpose for humanity. Aligning your lives and marriage around these principles will lead to God’s glory and your joy.

THE 7 RINGS OF MARRIAGE | Jackie Bledsoe

From the engagement ring to the years after the wedding band, each season of marriage requires renewed commitment, fresh perspective, and practical Biblical wisdom. Each of the 7 “rings” outlined in this 8-session study will guide couples to begin with the end in mind, ultimately leading to lasting and fulfilling relationships in every stage of marriage.

FOUNDATIONS | Robby & Kandi Gallaty

This daily Bible reading guide will lead you to read through the key, foundational passages of the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. Along with supplementary devotional content each day, you can experience the miracle of reading and responding to God’s Word.

This article was originally posted here. For more like this, visit lifewaymen.com.

Discipling men can be a daunting challenge, but it is one of the most important tasks of the church. Pastor Mark Gainey shares one success story of discipling men at Deerfoot Baptist Church in Trussville.

I met Cody a year and a half ago. My daughter had become friends with his stepdaughter and invited her to church. She not only showed up, but she brought her entire family with her!

After several weeks of experiencing worship at our church, I got to know him and sensed that he was longing for more. I met with him and his entire family on a Wednesday evening.

He told me the story of how he grew up Catholic and how he was never serious about a relationship with God. He sought significance and purpose in almost every way imaginable. He wanted more.

I shared the Gospel with Cody and his family and that night he and his children gave their lives to Jesus!

Just days after that and his baptism, Cody, who is in the military, was deployed overseas. We remained in contact during his deployment, and he agreed to join a D-Group, or discipleship group, when he returned.

During his time overseas, he read the entire Bible, cover to cover. He soaked up everything he could.

When Cody returned, he joined the D-Group. He has been one of the most faithful members of any group I’ve led. He can’t get enough of God’s Word.

Over the course of the past year, there have been moments of struggle, conflict, confrontation and crisis of faith for him.

Through it all, I’ve watched Cody grow and mature as he remains teachable and passionate about following Christ. Each week, our D-Group, which is made up of four men, gathers at Panera Bread to pray together, hold each other accountable, discuss God’s Word, do evangelism and ministry, and learn principles of following Christ together.

The group is preparing to multiply and each person will start their own D-Group in April. These men have grown spiritually and have grown in connection with one another. Cody has been a constant source of encouragement and an example to our group.

During the course of the year, a need arose in our church for someone to pour into the lives of some of our high school boys. Cody was thrilled to volunteer!

He began meeting with some of the young men and, everything he learned in our D-Group he passed along to these young men. God has used him to make an eternal impact on these students even as he grows and learns. He is also going to start his own adult D-Group soon.

Just a few weeks ago, Cody brought up in our group his desire to help others learn about disciple-making. He recently earned his bachelor’s degree and desired to learn more. He is in the process of enrolling in seminary to earn his master’s in discipleship studies.

God has used the disciple-making process in Cody’s life to bring him from far from God to a fully-devoted follower of Christ who is growing from the inside out and who is making disciples of others.

–Mark Gainey, senior pastor, Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville