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Welcome back to the podcast. We’re in our second episode of our Stormproof series. We’re looking at the book “Stormproof” by Roger Frankhauser. The subtitle is sexual purity for Christian men in a sex-saturated world.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
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In the Midst of the StormBecoming a Christian does not exempt us from the propensity to sin. It does give us the ability to overcome temptation and sin, but it does not eliminate the capacity to sin.
Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Romans 7:14-25 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
You are a targetThe enemy is looking for opportunities to attack you in the area of spiritual purity. We live in a culture that provides all too many opportunities to entice us to let our minds and our eyes wander.
Proverbs 9:13-18 The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
14 She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.
15 She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.
16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
17 “Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.[a]
You are not the only one battling for sexual purity and the temptations that come along are not unique to you. Don’t justify giving into temptation because you think your battle is harder than anyone else’s. God always provides a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Hebrews 4:15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Fleeing isn’t the only principalFleeing is the last step in our pursuit of purity. It isn’t the only weapon we have in the battle.
Excerpt
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
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Notes
Welcome back to the Men's podcast! This week, we're starting a new series that covers topics from the book "Stormproof Men" by Roger Fankhauser. We'll dive into what it looks like to achieve sexual purity in a sex-saturated world.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
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Conversations about sexual purity can’t be had too often. As Solomon was passing on wisdom to his sons, four of the first seven chapters in Proverbs contain warnings about sexual immorality. He obviously thought it was a big deal.
Proverbs 2,5,6,7
There are four critical questions that need to be asked as we journey towards sexual purity: Do I want to experience purity? Is it possible to experience purity? What do I think God thinks of me? If it is possible, how do I experience purity?
No book, no counseling, no program can make us want to - we have to start there.
Should you put this book down if the “want to” is not there? Absolutely not! Our “want to” must flow from the heart, but perhaps reading what follows will help change your heart as you see the value of honoring God and experiencing purity.
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Excerpt from page 3
My “want to” story.
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
Job is making a final protest of innocence here. He is saying that he had victory in this area. We know Job wasn’t perfect, since no one except Christ is perfect, but overall, Job had victory in this area of his life. You might argue that Job didn’t live in a culture that was as sexualized as ours. There is probably some truth to that statement, but Job had wealth in a time when prostitution wasn’t illegal.
Ephesians 1:19-20 I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him. 20 It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This same power put Christ at God’s right side in heaven.
God keeps me as his child only if I meet certain performance standards. If I continually sin or lose my faith, I will lose my salvation.
If I continually sin, then I never really believed in the first place. God isn’t interested in me because I’m not a true believer.
God is an angry God focusing on my failures.
God does not see my sin, as it is all covered by the blood of Christ.
God sees me as his adopted son, recognizes my sin, but encourages me to walk right. This view focuses on my position in Christ, but also recognizes that God does not ignore my sin.
God’s original design for sex brings blessing physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Adam and Eve experienced a level of intimacy unlike most ever know because they brought no guilt, shame, worries of inadequacy, or wounds into the relationship.
Genesis 1:27 And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.
Genesis 2:23-25 At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24 This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Hello, everyone, welcome back to the podcast. Today we're talking about Bathsheba Syndrome, using King David's story as the basis for the discussion.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
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Hello, everyone, welcome back to the podcast. I think today’s podcast may have a little different feel. It is one that I hope will serve as a warning. I’ve been told by one of my fellow pastors at our church that my preaching style is more like that of a shepherd while others on our staff are more like that of a prophet. I think my role today is going to be a little more like a prophet who is sending out a warning and the warning I want you to hear is that pride comes before a fall. We’re going to get into that scripture and others like it, but we’re going to start with an academic paper. Don’t worry, I’m not veering from God’s Word. God’s Word is going to be the primary source for our discussion today, but I remember reading this article as I was doing sermon prep years ago, and it stuck with me how much truth is in this. We see it modeled in scripture and echoed in leaders all around us.
The Bathsheba Syndrome by Dean Ludwig and Clinton Longenecker.. Professors at U of Toledo. I want to read an abstract from the paper, summarize it, and then dig into scripture.
Success not CompetitionThe hypothesis of the Bathsheba syndrome is that many moral and ethical failures by those in positions of power are the result of success, not competitive pressure. It was after King David had achieved success and relative peace in his kingdom that he abandoned procedural norms which led to his sin with Bathsheba. Prior to this, David had multiple opportunities to take matters into his own hands in regards to his kingship, but instead, chose to submit to God’s boundaries and trust in his timing.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 24:1-22 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Boundaries are GoodGod’s boundaries are in place for our good. He isn’t holding out on us. His plans are for our best and can be trusted. When we start to come up with excuses for stepping outside God’s boundaries, we’re setting ourselves up for failure. 2 Samuel 11:1-27
2 Samuel 11:1-27
Our flesh will whisper to us that we deserve God’s blessing because of our obedience and service and that we’ve earned the right to step outside of his boundaries.
Luke 17:7-10“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
CloseProverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Reports of ethical violations by upper level managers continue to multiply despite increasing attention being given to ethics by firms and business schools. Much of the analysis of these violations focuses on either these managers'lack of operational principles or their willingness to abandon principles in the face ofcompetitive pressures. Much of the attention by firms and business schools focuses either on the articulation of operational principles (a deontological approach) or on the training of managers to sort their way through subtle ethical dilemmas in the face of competitive pressure (a utilitarian approach). While valuable, these approaches alone are incomplete.
This paper suggests that many ethical violations by upper managers are the by-product ofsuccess — not of competitive pressures. Our research suggests that many managers are poorly prepared to deal with success. First, success often allows managers to becomecomplacent and to lose focus, diverting attention to things other than the management of their business. Second, success, whether personal or organizational, often leads to privileged access to information, people or objects. Third, with success usually comes increasingly unrestrained control of organizational resources. And fourth, success can inflate a manager's belief in his or her personal ability to manipulate outcomes. Even individuals with a highly developed moral sense can be challenged (tempted?) by the “opportunities” resulting from the convergence of these dynamics. We label the inability to cope with and respond to the by-products of success “the Bathsheba Syndrome,” based on the account of the good King David (a story familiar in a variety of traditions). Recognition of this phenomenon implies that we change or broaden our approach to the teaching of business ethics. It also implies that organizations must re-evaluate and change structures, procedures, and practices which enhance the likelihood of managers falling victim to the Bathsheba Syndrome.
I think David felt like he deserved it. He had earned it.
Today we’re wrapping up our series, “4 pillars of a man’s heart” written by Stu Weber. We’ve looked at the king pillar, warrior pillar, mentor pillar, and today we close with the friend pillar.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
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G.K. Chesterton - “The only two things that can satisfy the soul are a person and a story; and even the story must be about a person.”
Weber - People connecting. And you were made for it. Yes you, man. Right there, resident in your chest, there is -
A king to provide
A warrior to protect
A mentor to teach and don’t ever forget it, a Friend to connect.
But, for some internalized reason, we men find it difficult to accept that final pillar. Most of us are happy to step into the responsibilities of a king or warrior. We might struggle with the mentor pillar, but deep down that makes sense, too. Men are supposed to know how things work, and that, too, represents strength, power, and authority. But this friend thing? We seem to hold back, reluctant to take the plunge.
We were created for relationship and connection; relationship with our creator and relationship with others. God is a God of relationship, and we are created in his image. For many men, this is the pillar that seems the hardest to shore up.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings[a] in our image, to be like us.
Genesis 2:18 - It is not good for man to be alone.
Our relationship with those around us will always be lacking if we haven’t developed our friendship with God. Does it blow your mind that God invites you to be his friend?
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The friend pillar is difficult because it requires unselfishness and transparency. It’s in the context of real relationships and all the messes of life that our true character is revealed. That’s frightening for most of us, and many young men, in particular, have never learned how to be a friend.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.
1 Samuel 20 - story of David and Jonathan
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT: A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Hello, men, and welcome to episode 3 of our 4 pillars of a man’s heart series, based on the book by Stu Weber. Today, focusing on the mentor pillar which is a pillar that's central to why we even host this podcast.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
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The word mentor is used in all sorts of settings in today’s culture; the business world, personal training and athletics, men’s groups and churches. It may mean slightly different things depending upon the setting. The origins of the word mentor come out of ancient Greece.
Think about the men who had an impact on you growing up. What did they have in common? How were they different? God uses all sorts of men to pour into us and help us grow.
One of our primary roles as a parent is to mentor. We’re supposed to teach our kids how life works. We should be modeling what it looks like to pursue God full circle, but we also need to be talking about it with our kids.
Proverbs 1:8-9 My child,[a] listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
Proverbs 4:1-4 My children,[a] listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions.3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4 My father taught me,“Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.
Ecclesiastes 7:12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
God’s plan for building his kingdom and his church is to work through his people. There are people in your circle of influence that need you to pour into them. Mentoring sometimes requires us to speak hard truth.
Titus 2:6-7 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. 7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.
2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
1 Timothy 1:2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
Mentoring isn’t just for an hour on Tuesdays. It’s moment by moment. It’s a lifetime of pouring into others.
Welcome, men! We’re in our second episode of a 4 part series called 4 pillars of a man’s heart. This is based on the book with the same title that was written by Stu Weber. Today, we’re looking at the warrior pillar.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
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Hello, men. Welcome back to the podcast. Today we’re in our second episode of a 4 part series called 4 pillars of a man’s heart. This is based on the book with the same title that was written by Stu Weber. Last episode we looked at the King Pillar and we saw that Jesus has called us to lead, but that he has also given us very clear instructions on how we should lead and that is by being the biggest servants in our homes and our churches. Today, we’re looking at the warrior pillar. Notice it isn’t called the fighter pillar. There is a big difference between being a fighter and a warrior. A fighter is often short-tempered, quarrelsome, insecure, and selfish. A warrior is self sacrificing, looking out for the greater good rather than his own good, and acts with self control. In short, a warrior is meek. The word picture behind the word meek in the Bible is that of a bridled war horse. It isn’t timid. It isn’t weak. It is powerful, strong, even ferocious, but it’s under control.
Identifying the EnemyA warrior has to know who the enemy is. Our enemy is cunning and is always looking for an opportune time to strike. If we’re not careful and intentional we can inflict casualties on our own side.
Let's start with a couple of passages of scripture…
Ephesians 6:12 "For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
1 Peter 5:8 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."
We do not wage war like the world does. A warrior needs to remember what the primary objective is and not allow distractions to pull him away from the objective. We would be foolish to enter this battle alone.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 [a]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."
What is our ultimate objective? It is to go full circle in our pursuit of God. That means trusting Jesus for salvation, seeking to live a life that honors and pleases him, and discipling someone and helping someone else go full circle in their pursuit of God. That doesn’t end with your immediate family, but it sure better start in your household. If you're not teaching your kids about God and his love for them, their brokenness and need for a Savior, and the truth of the gospel - you're not completing the primary objective.
Proverbs 1:8-9 "My child,[a] listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck."
Proverbs 1:7 "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
Suiting Up for BattleA warrior needs to know how to handle his weapons
Ephesians 6:10-17 "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."
There is something in the way God wired us that causes us to resonate with warriors. Think of your favorite Bible stories - David and Goliath, Gideon, Caleb taking the hill country in his 80s. Real warriors stand in the gap.
Hello men, thank you for joining us for another episode. Today, we start a new series unpacking the book "4 Pillars of a Man’s Heart", by Stu Weber. We’ll explore how these pillars play out in real life, the dangers of imbalance, and, of course, we’ll look to God’s Word as the blueprint. Today, we start with the King Pillar. So, let's dive in and understand what it means to be a servant leader, setting vision, protecting, and providing for those we love.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
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Kings are the Biggest ServantsBeing a king means we should be the biggest servants in our churches and in our homes. We take our marching orders from the King of Kings.
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Kings are called to lead. We don’t make decisions unilaterally and we don’t make them in a vacuum, but we do need to step up and be decisive. We need to set the course for our families.
Genesis 3:6 … Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
When the King pillar is balanced there is safety and peace. Our home should be a place of refuge for our families. We seek to make sure all of their needs are met, not just the material needs.
A good king knows what it’s like to be under authority. We take our marching orders from Jesus Christ and the Bible is our manual.
Honoring your father and mother is more than just obedience when you’re a child. What does it look like to honor our parents in the different seasons of life?
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
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If you grew up in the church, you more than likely know that one of the ten commandments is to honor your father and mother. Even if you didn’t grow up in the church, you probably know that. Until the last few decades, it’s been widely accepted that in most cases, children should obey their parents. One of the questions we want to look at today is does that mean children are always required to obey their parents? What if their parents are asking them to do something that is against God’s Word? What if their parents ask them to do something that could cause them harm or harm to someone else? Another thing we want to wrestle with is does this honoring our father and mother look the same in all stages of life, or does it change in different seasons? So we’re going to break it down to obeying your parents when you still live with them, honoring them once you’re out on your own, and how do we honor them in their last stages of life.
Obedience in the HomeLearning to submit to our parents’ authority is one of the first steps in learning how to submit to God’s authority. We can respect their position as parents even when their actions are not worthy of honoring.
Exodus 20:12 12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you
Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Can Disobey when obedience would result in harm or is against God’s command.
1 Samuel 20:28-34 "Jonathan answered, 'David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.' Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, 'You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!'”
32 “'Why should he be put to death? What has he done?' Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David. Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David."
Luke 14:25-27 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Leave and CleaveMen are called to leave and cleave when we marry. There is a shift and the most important earthly relationship we have is now with our wife. That relationship needs to take precedence over the relationship with our mom and dad.
Genesis 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Timothy 5:1-2 "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity."
1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8 "Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Welcome back to the podcast, men. The federal holiday, Juneteenth, is coming up on June 19th. The question I want us to look at today is, “Does celebrating Juneteenth make you woke?” Is it something I as a Christian should celebrate? Is it something I should be suspicious of?
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
Donate Now
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Background on “woke”
Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
Please don’t just tie how you think about this into your political affiliation.
We’re going to have a bit of a history lesson today.
What is it?Although Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in June of 2021, it was celebrated long before that. The holiday commemorates the freeing of slaves in Galveston, TX two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
History of the holiday
It is the only federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. There is no “Emancipation Proclamation Day”, “13th Amendment Day” or “End of Civil War Day”. Many of Israel’s festivals and celebrations had connections to the Lord freeing them from slavery in Egypt.
Exodus 13:3-7 So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand. (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.) 4 On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib,[a] you have been set free. 5 You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.) 6 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the Lord. 7 Eat bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must be no yeast bread or any yeast at all found within the borders of your land during this time.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Don’t Make it PoliticalCelebrating a noble and good thing is appropriate, whether or not the political party you ascribe to is the one to institute it. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
1 Corinthians 7:20-23 "Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. 21 Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it. 22 And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. 23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world."
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