Locker Room - A Southland Christian Church Podcast

Rorke is a Navy Seal, author, actor, hunter, husband and father. Rorke speaks all over the country for different organizations. On today’s podcast he and Scott talk about leadership.

Group Questions

1. Scott and Rorke talked about Navy Seal training. It's purpose isn’t to make people something they are not, but to reveal who a person already is. What are the trials and challenges in your life revealing about your character?
2. Rorke uses the sign off, “Ever onward.” What is the purpose behind this phrase? How does it challenge and encourage you?
3. We live in a culture that actively tries to avoid pain and discomfort. What are some ways we do that every day? Why is suffering/discomfort good for us? How can you proactively seek challenge and hardship?
4. Rorke says, “Train constantly. In the heat of battle, we don’t rise to the occasion, we degrade to our level of training. So train hard.” How have you seen this in your life? What one area of your life do you need to put in the effort to reach “unconscious competence?”
5. In the podcast Scott said, “What Jesus points to is good, right, and best - not easiest.” What are some tough things Jesus has asked of you that you can now see were good for you? What is one area of your life that you need to just trust that He knows best?

In this episode Scott talks about what we can learn from Gideon.

Group Questions

1. Read Judges 6:11-40. What is your first impression of Gideon? What do you learn about God in this passage?
2. In the podcast, Scott said, “God refers to his people not as who they currently are, but who they will be one day.” How does that encourage you?
3. What was the key ingredient to Gideon’s “valor?” and success?
4. Have your circumstances ever clouded your ability to see what God is doing or could do? Share about a time when this happened.
5. Gideon fought a battle with only 300 men. Why would God do that? Has He ever placed you in an impossible situation? What did you learn about Him through that experience?
6. What are some things God has shown you to do in His Word? Are you obeying?

Jon Weece and Scott Nickell introduce season two of the Locker Room, asking the questions, "Where are men?" And, "What are our hopes for men?"

Group Questions:

1. What was the “manliest” thing you did this summer?

2. What does culture say about masculinity? What influences that definition? Where should Christ followers get their definition of masculinity?

3. Read Romans 5:12-17. How is Jesus the redeemed man? What do we learn about masculinity by looking at him?

4. Why is masculinity important? How does it impact the family?

5. Did you have a father who wanted to be a friend or a father who modeled for you what biblical manhood looks like? How did that impact who you are today?

6. What are some topics / tools you hope to pass along to the next generation of men? What do you want the women in your life to learn about biblical masculinity?

7. Are you stuck anywhere in life? Is there an area in life where you are delaying commitment out of fear?

8. How are you tempted to engage more in “fantasy world” than in family, Church, and community? What step can you take out of fantasy world into the Kingdom of God this week?

9. Do you need to seek out an older man for wisdom? A younger man to mentor? Pray about this over the next week and see if God brings someone to mind. Then, take a step by asking that person to go to coffee or lunch soon.

You can listen to the rest of Southland's Parenting Podcasts here or subscribe on iTunes. Thanks for tuning in!

Scott walks us through some important applications from the life of Samson.

Group Questions:

1. Today was the final episode of Locker Room Season 1! What did you learn this season? Which podcast challenged and/or encouraged you the most?
2. Read Judges 13:5, 25. What was Samson’s mission? What was the source of Sampson’s strength?
3. Read Judges 14:3. What was competing for God’s place in Samson’s heart? What are some things we are tempted to chase that lead us away from God?
4. How would you describe Samson’s character? How did his actions impact the people around him?
5. How does God respond to Samson’s actions over the course of his life? What does that reveal to you about God’s character?
6. Can you think of a season in your life when you lived by what was right in your own eyes? What were some of the consequences of living that way?
7. Read Hebrews 12:11. How does God show us His love through His discipline?
8. Who is at the wheel in your life - God or you?  What is one area of your life where you need to trust that God knows what is best for you?
9. Consider Samson’s isolation, selfishness, and destructive behavior. Who are you doing life with? Who are you living for? How are you living?

Will Briggs is the Lead Care Pastor at Southland. In this episode Will and Scott discuss what really makes a man and the importance of being comfortable in your own skin.

Group Questions:

1. What activities, hobbies, or interests do you associate with being “manly?” Who comes to mind when you think of “manly" men?
2. What is the essence of true, biblical manhood? What kind of man was Jesus (Check out Micah 6:8, Ephesians 5:25, and Revelation 1:12-18)?
3. Will mentioned the balance between toughness and tenderness. Who do you know that embodies these characteristics well in their personal and professional life?
4. Who has God made you to be - uniquely and creatively? Why do you do what you do? How does comparing our lives to others distract us from living out our God-given purpose?
5. What does it mean to be wounded? How has woundedness impacted you and those in your life?
6. Read Proverbs 27:17. Will said, “We’re an average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.” What are you becoming like as a result of the people you spend time with?
7. Can you identify an area of woundedness that you’d be willing to share with the group? Stop now to pray for Jesus’ healing and restoration for men at Southland.

In this episode Scott and Patrick discuss the important distinction between hopes and expectations.

Group Questions:

1. Talk about a time when you had expectations that ended up in disappointment. Share a funny story if you have one.
2. What is the difference between hope and expectation? Why does that distinction matter?
3. Patrick said, “Expectation is pre-planned disappointment.” Discuss what this means and give a few examples from everyday life. How does hope prevent disappointment? What is the object of our focus when we have expectations? When we have hope?
4. Read Psalm 43:5. Discuss a time in your life when you had to  release a relationship or circumstance into God’s control and place your hope in God. Is there a desired outcome in your life right now that you need to let go of?
5. How does trusting in God’s sovereignty help us when certain expectations are not met in life?
6. What did Patrick say are some common coping strategies men use for dealing with unmet expectations? 
7. Read Habakkuk 3:17-18; John 16:33. What is Habakkuk experiencing here? How does he respond? What did Jesus say about trouble? What is the danger of the prosperity gospel? What might you be trusting in instead of God alone?
8. Read Matthew 7:1-6. As a husband, father, friend, or co-worker, are you focusing more on your own flaws or the flaws of the other person? How should you respond to the flaws of the other person?
9. What does the New Testament teach us about expectations? Patrick said, “It’s okay to receive love, but it’s not okay to require it.“ Discuss an area in your life where you can apply this.

Brian Lucas is the campus pastor at Southland’s Danville campus. In this episode Brian and Scott talk about Chivalry and face down gender stereotypes that often keep men from stepping up and serving in certain roles.

Group Questions:

1. In the podcast, Brian Lucas mentioned his interest in aviation. What is a hobby or interest that you have either pursued or would like to pursue in some free time?

2. Brian shared about the time he went to Danville to pray over the launch of Southland's Danville campus. Not long after, he joined Southland's Danville staff. Can you look back and think of a time when God had you in the right place at the right time for something you didn't quite understand yet?

3. How did Brian define chivalry? What are some of the "little ways" chivalry plays out in day to day life? 

4. Who are some examples of chivalrous men in your life? What impact have these men had on you? What did you learn from them?

5. What are some distractions that pull you away from living as a servant? What about the distractions that pull you away from pursuing Jesus?

6. Brian mentioned that worship can be hard for men. What makes it difficult for us? Read 1 Timothy 2:8. How does Paul say men should engage in worship? 

7. Read John 13:1-17. How does this passage show Jesus as an example of chivalry? How can you step up to serve your family, the church, and the next generation? 

Kurt Braun has one of the coolest titles ever! He also has an amazing life story. Scott and Kurt discuss the unique challenges Kurt has faced from being in New York on 911 to making the transition from the business world to full time ministry.

Group Questions:

1. A huge part of Kurt Braun’s testimony is being in New York City on 9/11. Where were you on that day and what do you remember about the day and following week?
2. When you hear the word “finances,” what is your first reaction? Do you have peace or anxiety? Do you feel like you have financial freedom and stability, or financial fear and uncertainty?
3. Before Kurt came on staff at Southland, he was a Christian man working in the business world, and had some encounters where his faith and work were opposing one another. have you ever  been in that situation? What did you learn?
4. What tensions do you face at your specific job where you find yourself being torn between maintaining integrity and excelling at work?
5. Because of his interactions in NYC on 9/11, Kurt said “we all have those moments in our lives where we maybe get the sense that there is more going on than just what we are witnessing.”  Looking back, can you see God’s hand and provision at work in a moment when it seemed he was absent?
6. Read Colossians 3:23-24. How can you work with all your heart for the Lord in your current employment? Do you ever struggle with the tension of working for “human masters” and working for the Lord?
7. As a Christian, you are the church. Wherever you go, the church goes. When you’re at work, you have an opportunity to bring Jesus into conversations and dealings with people everyday. What are some conversations you know you will have this week and how can you bring Jesus into the conversation?
8. A phrase around our church is “do for the one what you wish you could do for the many.” Who is one person you can go above and beyond for this week at your workplace? How can you show them God's love?

Scott, Derrick and Wade discuss the unique opportunities and challenges that single men face.

Group Questions:

1. How old were you when you got married? Did you want to get married earlier or later in life, and why? If you are not married, do you wish you were? Or, do you prefer being single, and if so why?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 7:7. How does Paul describe singleness? Do Paul’s words line up with the culture’s view of singleness and marriage?
3. How does it feel to be single in the church? If you’re married, how do you view single adults in the church? How can single and married adults better love one another in the church?
4. Greg Chandler says, “being single gives you the chance (time and freedom) to become whole.” If you are single, how are you moving towards wholeness? How are you using your time and energy? If married, how would you encourage a single person to use that freedom?
5. What guys are you sharpening? How are they sharpening you?
6. Navigating sexual desires in a healthy and biblical way is a huge struggle for men who are single and married. Why doesn’t marriage fix our sexual struggles? How can men encourage each other to remain pure in singleness and faithful in marriage?
7. Read Proverbs 5. Wade said, “Purity is worth it. It’s hard and it takes discipline, but it’s so worth it.” Do you believe this? If not, what is keeping you from it?
8. Wade mentioned that being single allows the unique opportunity to honor women and value them in a way that they may not be used to. How are you going to value and take care of the women in your life this week?