Do you see self-control as restriction—or real freedom? The world and God’s Word couldn’t be further apart on what it means to be free. The world says, “Do what feels good.” God says, “Do what is right.” The world celebrates indulgence; God calls it discipline. The world defines freedom as doing whatever you want. God defines it as living under His control. The world sees restraint as weakness...
The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t a list of behaviors to achieve — it’s the evidence of Who’s in control. We hear about the Fruit of the Spirit all the time in church, but many guys don’t know what it looks like when these behaviors are applied to their lives, at work, when problems arise, when they are tempted, in their role as husband or dad, or when no one is watching. Why this matters...
The world tells men joy is a byproduct of achievement. Climb faster. Be stronger. Earn more, then you’ll be happy. That form of joy is momentary. One misstep, one weakness, one layoff, and a man’s world comes crashing down. The world says joy is pleasure. “If it feels good, do it.” It also says, “Look for comfort, enjoyment, entertainment—the high is all that matters...
The world talks about peace in a completely different way than God does. In the world’s view, peace shows up only when life finally stops pressing in on you—when the tension at home settles down, the stress at work lets up, the drama with the kids cools off, the bills stop breathing down your neck, and the noise from the neighbors finally dies out. The Bible describes fallout after fallout—David...
Today’s world is addicting us to speed—overnight deliveries, instant streaming, immediate answers. Anything that makes us wait is unacceptable. In Real Faith Isn’t Based on Results, we touched on how impatient we’ve become, but let’s lean in a little closer. When a package doesn’t show up the next day or the Wi-Fi lags for thirty seconds, it feels like the end of the world. And when God doesn’t...
As we open this subject, let’s ensure we distinguish between simply helping because there’s an obvious need and a man’s calling. Helping or volunteering is about saying “yes” when someone asks you to stack chairs, greet at the door, or direct traffic in the parking lot. Helping is also about pitching in before being asked. These vital roles sustain the life of the church. You...
Why do men today think church is a spectator sport? Show up on Sunday—put my time in—check. According to the Barna Group, only 18% of men volunteer at church during a typical week. It’s the old 80/20 Rule—more people get involved while fewer people watch. Why isn’t being part of the church family seen as a priority? Men have so many gifts to share. Being part of something larger than...
When God wants to accomplish something great, He doesn’t look for the most talented, educated, influencer in the room—He looks for the available one. From Genesis to Revelation, that’s the pattern. Abraham wasn’t a young visionary but a seventy-year-old wandering nomad when God called him to father a nation. Moses was an 80-year-old fugitive who was not a public speaker. Gideon was hiding in a...
Does what I’m doing even matter? You show up. You do what’s asked. You stay late, clean up, and lock the doors. You’re dependable. You start to wonder if your contribution is necessary. If you’ve served at church for any length of time, you’ve thought your service has been “unseen” at times. I think of the person who arrives early on Sunday mornings to turn the...
Every man wrestles with the question of why he serves. The truth is, our reasons aren’t always as clean as we’d like them to be. Some of us serve out of gratitude — because we’re thankful for what God’s done. Some serve out of love — wanting to make life a little lighter for someone else. Others serve out of obedience, seeing it as a natural response to Jesus’ call. Those are the good motives —...