Training4Manhood

Host: Dan Panetti

I often get asked this question from younger couples…and for many, they are looking for the right “formula” in how to say things to better communicate with their spouse. Now, when I look at many of the world's suggestions/tools, they aren’t wrong…but these communication strategies aren’t the whole story…or even the heart of effective communication - so what is?

The key to effective communication in marriage is the condition of your heart. Is your heart fertile soil where the love for your spouse is cultivated and growing? Jesus teaches a powerful lesson about the condition of your heart in Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower.

Your heart is either hard and surface, shallow and rocky, filled with thorns and weeds, or fertile and nourishing. Work on the condition of your heart…and your communication will grow and flourish as your heart grows and matures.

Guest: Dr. J. Josh Smith, Senior Pastor, Prince Avenue Baptist Church

I have really enjoyed the writing of Josh Smith. His earlier book The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood was an excellent read and a great resource for men’s groups wanting to dig deeper into the Word of God and life together.

His most recent book is The Man for the Day: Answering the Call to Godly Manhood and it is a much more personal look at the daily walk with the Lord for men - it is both challenging and encouraging at the same time - again, a great resource for men’s groups or for men to read as individuals.

In this second episode, Josh talks about the importance and process of repentance, such an important tool for every man wanting to get closer to the Lord. He also shares that one of the most dangerous things is a man with uncontrolled anger. Josh is calling on men to be bothered by the things that bother God…and to respond to those issues with godliness. Josh also reminds us that God uses our weaknesses surrendered to Him to help mold and shape us into the godly men that He can use!

Guest: Dr. J. Josh Smith, Senior Pastor, Prince Avenue Baptist Church

I have really enjoyed the writing of Josh Smith. His earlier book The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood was an excellent read and a great resource for men’s groups wanting to dig deeper into the Word of God and life together.

His most recent book is The Man for the Day: Answering the Call to Godly Manhood and it is a much more personal look at the daily walk with the Lord for men - it is both challenging and encouraging at the same time - again, a great resource for men’s groups or for men to read as individuals.

In this first episode, Josh helps men who feel discouraged and distant from God with practical wisdom and a plan to learn how to walk with God today - focusing on doing the small, consistent things. He also reminds us that a new work from God requires a new surrender from us - we have to actually want to trust and follow the Lord!

Host: Dan Panetti

From my Top Ten, here are the second five books that I have found to be a great read:

The “Five Categories” are:

The importance of reading your Bible - Dr. Jason Snyder’s sermon The Book That Built America.

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Host: Dan Panetti

From my Top Ten, here are the first five books that I have found to be a great read:

The “Five Categories” are:

The importance of reading your Bible - Dr. Jason Snyder’s sermon The Book That Built America.

Host: Dan Panetti

1 Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

How can you mature from boyhood to manhood:

Host: Dan Panetti

Tricia and I went and saw the movie A Great Awakening - and it was incredible. The movie highlighted the fascinating friendship of George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin and there were many outstanding history and life lessons. One of the things that the movie examined was the powerful and important letter/speech that Ben Franklin gave at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 about how “God governs in the affairs of men.”

I hope that you’ll not only see the movie, but also pause to reflect on the lessons presented - especially the idea that God governs in the affairs of men - that God is Providential. My daughter is actually reading a truly wonderful book titled Providence written by John Piper - highly recommend you get a copy for yourself and read it!

Finally, let’s take the passion of George Whitefield to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with any and everybody as a reminder to do so in our lives as well!

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.

Host: Dan Panetti

This episode started with a question - “why don’t more people celebrate Easter?” I thought that was a very profound observation and it got me thinking…first about the difference between Christmas (celebrated by most) and Easter and then into some deeper questions about what many are missing because they are focused on the natural world…and missing the supernatural!

Here are links to the books I referenced in this episode:

Host: Dan Panetti

In 1 Samuel 17, we read about how David was chosen to be the representative for the nation of Israel to fight against the giant Goliath. For forty days, Goliath demanded for a man to be chosen, to come down to fight him - and one day, we will be asked if we have a champion, an advocate, to stand and represent us on the most important day - the day we stand before a holy God!

As Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate, Pilate sends Jesus out to the crowd and says, “Behold the man.” What a powerful statement - Jesus is THE MAN - our man, our representative before God - and can you imagine having a better advocate for yourself than the Son of God?

Training4Manhood is a ministry to help equip you to be God’s man, but the most important issue is whether you have accepted the Son of God to be YOUR man! As we enter into the Holy Week in preparation for Easter weekend, let this be a time for you to consider the life and statements of Jesus - I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent from heaven to be my representative, my sacrifice, the payment for my sin - and I pray that you reach this same conclusion!

Choose a MAN for yourself!

Host: Dan Panetti

The conversation started with this line, “All you can do is live a good life and hope for the best.” I know many people believe this to be true…but is it? And is this the best we can truly hope for? It seems strange to me that we can know more about what we need to get on our final exam in our freshman English class to secure an A in the class than most people believe they can truly know about where they will spend their eternal destiny.

But, I don’t believe that God wants us to live with this insecurity and anxiety, when assurance of our eternal destiny can be known…for sure!

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, God wants us to know that we are all born with the same spiritual condition: death. We are all separated from God because of sin. But in Ephesians 2:4-7, God tells us how we can have the assurance of our salvation - “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved - and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Now that’s “Good News” - or the Gospel of Jesus Christ - that you can have the assurance of your eternal destiny WITH God made available to you paid for by the blood of Jesus on the cross! If you’ve never accepted this “free gift” (see Romans 6:23), today is the day of salvation and assurance! As Easter approaches, this truth is what Christians worldwide for centuries have been celebrating - that Jesus Christ paid the price to make men alive - transformed by His grace into “new creations” for His glory!

T4M guys - just a reminder that Training4Manhood is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) ministry and you can make donations either via Zelle ([email protected]) or by visiting the Training4Manhood website.