The Strength to Be Weak with Jim Martin

Many men struggle with fears of appearing weak or incompetent, which can inhibit personal growth, transparency in relationships, and willingness to ask for help. In this episode, Wes McAdams interviews Jim Martin to discuss cultural pressures and misconceptions around masculinity that feed these fears. They explore how scripture and the example of Jesus provide a different model of true strength through humility and vulnerability.

Wes and Jim dive into passages like 2 Corinthians 12 and discuss biblical concepts including power being made perfect in weakness, boasting in weaknesses, and finding joy in transparency. They talk about rethinking prevailing notions that real men must project unwavering grit and self-reliance. The conversation covers how admitting struggles openly can build deeper connections.

Jim Martin has served for 10 years as the VP of Harding School of Theology and brings a wealth of experience from 36 years in preaching ministry. He speaks candidly in this interview about some of his own journey with shame and fear of embarrassment earlier in his career. His desire is to pass on encouragement and positivity to church leaders today facing similar struggles.

Links and Resources

* Watch this Episode on YouTube

* Man Enough by Nate Pyle

* Jim Martin’s Substack Newsletter

Transcript (Credit: Beth Tabor)

WES: Welcome to the Radically Christian Bible Study podcast. I’m your host, Wes McAdams. Here, we have one goal: Learn to love like Jesus. Today we’re going to talk about why we should admit when we’re weak. I want to start by reading from 2 Corinthians 12:7‑10, where Paul talks about his thorn in the flesh. He says, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Today’s guest is my friend, Jim Martin. Jim Martin has served for 10 years as the VP of the Harding School of Theology. Prior to that, he preached for 36 years, 20 of those years in Waco, Texas. He and his wife, Charlotte, have two daughters, one son‑in‑law, and four grandchildren. I know you will enjoy this conversation, and I hope that it will help all of us learn to love like Jesus. 

Jim Martin, welcome to the podcast, Brother.

JIM: Well, thank you, Wes. I’m glad to be here.

WES: Well, thanks so much for being here. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you spending some time with us. I was trying to think, just a minute ago, where the first time I saw your name might have been, and it might have been Twitter, which is a weird place to first meet someone. But as you know, Twitter can kind of be a dark place,