Purpose.  What is our true purpose?
Guest Geoff VanLeewen, a fellow disciple, joins us to share some of his journey.

You will be encouraged and challenged as we talk about:

• What do you find security (salvation) in?
• "Salvation by the System"
• You find the end of your own means no matter what.
• If you are not saved by grace,  an authentic faith in Christ; then you are not saved (you can't truly be saved by works).
• How do we operate in the mission field around us?
• What is a healthy fear of God?
• What we do is a reflection of who we are.
• Masculinity involves rejecting passivity.
• Insecurity is something we all share in common.
• Letting God change our heart to be loving and missional.

Some resources mentioned:
Book of Jeremiah in the Bible

Courage to Stand: Jeremiah's Message for Post Christian Times by Philip Graham Ryken,

Raising a Modern Day Knight: A Father's Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood, by Robert Lewis.

Geoff's talk at Grace Community Church on 12/16/2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOqQFNMcIuw

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Today's podcast featured Pastor and Counselor Brian Smilde.  Brian does his counseling with West Michigan Wellness. His area of focus is informed by facing trauma and our past woundedness. If we avoid it or suppress it, it tends to come out 'sideways' or in unintended ways that we don't want.

https://westmichiganwellnessgroup.com/

It is important to face our stories, especially any experiences that have been painful. If we don't face them, and the emotional upheaval of it all, it comes out sideways.

A lie believed as truth will affect us as if it is true.

As he faced his pain, taking it to Jesus, he brought truth about who he truly was and this brought healing over time, in community, to his beliefs, emotions and behavior.

Be a safe parent, and your kids will tell you stuff, and you have the opportunity to share truth with them. Help them feel safe, see them, sooth them, make them secure.

Stop asking people, "What is wrong with you?", and instead ask "What happened to you?" instead. 

If you feel something is going on inside you, find the safest person you know. Maybe don't tell them all 100 things, but tell them one thing and see where it goes. That is the key to being released, is to start talking about it. 

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Guest John Riley is back to talk about how to approach conflict with a ministry mindset. This can be done in conflict if on a church security team or in other interpersonal conflicts. Last season he joined us for: De-escalation: gentle response. (E7/S2). John draws from his experience in the military and police force, and blends in Biblical relational principles. 
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1918177/1490345

John shared many useful tips in approaching conflict, and challenged us to think of these interactions from God's perspective. What makes you so sure that God did not put you in that place at that time to minister to that person? 

They are still a child of God, even if they may be misinformed or misled or different than you. You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not want.

Are you developing a ministry mindsight, so that when you do encounter another child of God, who may be misinformed or misled, you are at least planting a seed in their life that someone else can water.

Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire."

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Mike is back, with some more questions as he grows in his faith.  These have come up as he is growing in his faith and having discussions with his Mom, brother and daughter.

Pastor Curt has joined us for this session, being brought in as an expert  for the 'hard hitting questions'. Curt did a 'Jesusy' thing by asking additional questions to help shed light to narrow in on an answer to these questions as we look at Scripture.

Listen to the podcast as we discuss our understanding of the Biblical response to them.

Q1: Once someone is saved, are they always saved?
 Q2: If a person lives a loving and caring life, how can God send them to hell?
Q3: What would you say to someone that has a fear of eternal life?

Mike is also sharing some of his 'thinking out loud' on his blog:
www.iamtheimperfectchristian.com

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Psychiatrist Aaron Plattner discusses the variety of ways mental issues we face can be handled.

There are many factors that make up who we are and how we feel:
       > Biology
       > Psychology (things that have happened to us)
       > Spiritual
       > Environment
All these things shape us and work together and interact. 

What is the role of medicine?
In light of our purpose - to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Catechism Q&A 1) - can medicine help us glorify God and enjoy Him forever. If so, how and how do we make that work. Or if they hinder that and we rely only on the medicine and not God, has it become some kind of idol?

Listen in on the discussion of being vulnerable to deal with things as they are, so we can find more full health.

Learn more about Aaron at Spero Psychiatric Services 

www.speropsych.com

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

We discuss Mike's top questions he has had, as he looks to disciple people via his blog by sharing his journey of faith, he wants to give them the proper answers.

  Q1: How do you know when it is actually God talking to you?
  Q2: How does  the devil use the world to get us to question God or God's existence?
  Q3: How do we find our calling in life?
  Q4: What if you feel you are too bad of a person for God to want to save you?

Mike, our guest, recently began attending our church and is a self-declared newer believer, joined us and asked several very good questions that we discussed.

Mike, Chad and some of their neighbors have been doing the Every Man a Warrior men's Biblical discipleship program  for the last 7 months or more. Mike has been transparent about his growing faith in God and is willing to ask questions as he grows.  Mike realizes other people also have questions and has started  his own blog as a way to process his thoughts and help others.

Here is Mike's blog:  www.iamtheimperfectchristian.com

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

The New Testament book of Ephesians gives us many good aspects of what biblical Disciple Making looks like.  Dr. Michael Cooper, author of the book Make Disciples - Discovery the Spiritual Journey of a Christ-Follower outlines more the topic of "what is a disciple".

Discipleship is not something that is done just one day a week, it is done every day of the week. We always have opportunities to either disciple others or be discipled ourselves and it is just a matter of what we are choosing to be disciple by. Sometimes these are negative things or positive things.

Michael challenged us to regain our identity with Christ as part of being a disciple. "to obey all he has commanded" means there is to be no distinction in what you believe and how you behave.  Our doing should flow out of our being.  One key way to do that better is to get back to knowing who Jesus really is, as it is He that we are imitating as His disciples.

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

The end of a year, the start of a new year. 
In this time of transition, join us as we share some resources that we read or listen to - books and podcasts.  As you prayerfully consider how and where to invest your time and grow in the year ahead, consider choosing 1 or more of these to check out for yourself!

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Boys to Men: What does a man of God look like - as compared to being a boy?
What defines manhood? What are the blessings and joys of being a man? It seems our culture today has eroded much of the common historical understanding of this.

Listen in as we reflect on a list of comparisons between boys and Biblical men, and what we have seen in our own lives and those around us. We hope and pray this is not just something you listen to, but perhaps there are some things that convict you and call you into being more engaged as a Biblical man.

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Caleb Jones from West Michigan Wellness joins us and talks about Addiction. He shares his personal sobriety story, things that helped him find recovery and some of the dynamics in facing and finding freedom from addiction.

Addiction is anything that you place as an idol above God.

Alcohol gave him an escape - a way to avoid facing/answering the question that faces every man, "Do I have what it takes?" After several years of his journey, thankfully during an onsite treatment God revealed to him that he did not need a substance to have a meaningful and full life. He is now three years sober and training to be a professional counselor.

Some things we discuss are: emotions, the brain, biblical allies, authentic allies, the Word of God and common factors that can impact one's addiction or addiction level.

Be encouraged that you are not alone, and God wants you to find healing. We pray something in Caleb's story will grab you and give you a foothold for you or to share with someone you care for. 

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV