Mission Focused Men for Christ

Latest Episodes:

Kids & the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument Jul 02, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary:

This episode is the first in the July and August series, Meeting the Worldview Challenges in a Broken Culture. It equips the rising generation to confidently respond to the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD argument.
For Further Prayerful Thought:

Which of the four arguments for the existence of God do you find most compelling?
Which do you think has the power to be the most persuasive?
What do you think of this idea: The reason for knowing the evidence for our faith is not give us the amo to fire a non-believers, but rather to fill us with confidence, so we can listen well to lost folks, asking good questions, and planting some wise seeds.

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Building a Plan for Training Your Child Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode gives four biblical foundations upon which a father needs to build his plan for training his child in the way he should go.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

How would you support the argument that the starting point for training a child is to help his heart learn to hate evil because he experiences painful consequences from bad choices and love righteousness because he experiences benefit from making good choices?
In the portrait of eight character qualities that we must instill in our children, which ones stood out?
What insight stood out in 4-step process of helping kids internalize the Word of God? Why do you think so many young parents are using the New City Catechism with their children?
Is it overstating the case to say that dads who send their kids out into the secular world, after being cocooned in the Christian sub-culture with no training in worldviews, are sending out lambs to be slaughtered?

Resources.

Foundation # 1: Heart Trained by Consequences

Boundaries with Kids, Henry Cloud & John Townsend
Raising Great Kids, Cloud & Townsend

Foundation # 2: Character Expressed in Godly Attitudes

Character Development Training Plan (Pa 132 Focus Notebook)

Foundation # 3: Word of God Internalized

Foundation # 4: Biblical Worldview Embraced

The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims, Rebecca McLaughlin
A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, John Stonestreet & Brent Kunkle
Mama Bear Apologetics: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, Hillary Ferrer, Editor.

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues

How to Fill Our Kids’ Tanks with Fatherly Love Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode gives seven ways that fathers and grandfathers can pour love into their kids to regularly replenish them with the unconditional love thar kids need.
Special Fathers’ Day Note: More and more organizations are declaring June National Fatherhood Month. What would happen around our nation and the world if every Christian business owner had a sign in his window celebrating National Fatherhood Month that said, “Every kid needs a great dad,” or worker had such a plaque on his desk. I believe most businesses would love to celebrate FATHERHOOD in June a lot more than they enjoy being pushed into celebrating Gay Pride.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

What stands out to you about Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly father?
Looking back at your relationship with your father, which of his actions made you feel most loved and close to him?
Of the seven ways to fill a child’s love tank as father or grandfather, which ones stood out to you the most?
Moving forward as a granddad, dad, or future dad, which of the seven do you most want to not forget?

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Step One in Our Parenting Plan Jun 11, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. One of my favorite memories as a dad was the way my kids, if they were playing in the yard and saw me drive up, would run to greet me. That always made me think of Proverbs 17:6, the glory of children is their father. Fathers don’t deserve it, but God has designed into our children a natural tendency to admire and want time with us—despite our many imperfections. That is reassuring as we continue our series, “How God Uses Imperfect Men to Impact Their Kid’s Lives.” I can’t count how many times I have said to God, “If you need me to be a perfect dad to work in my kids lives, they are in deep weeds. Thank goodness you do NOT!” This episode looks at the starting point for parenting well, thinking biblically about what our goal is.
For Further Prayerful Thought.

How would you answer the question, “What is the goal of parenting?”
What stood out to you about what Paul taught fathers about effective parenting in Ephesians 6:4?
It has been argued that either parents teach their children self-control through a small degree of pain now for wrong behavior, or life will teach them self-control later through experiencing much greater pain for wrong behavior. Do you agree or disagree? How would you support your argument?
How have you learned to take ownership—responsibility for your own feelings, attitudes, and behavior instead of blaming other people or circumstances?

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Stop Fatherhood from BEING CANCELED Jun 04, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode examines why our words promoting fatherhood need to be heard by our children, grandchildren, neighbors, and work associates. It further suggests winsome ways to present the biblical worldview that fatherhood is vital for human flourishing.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

Why do you believe more Christian men do not take a stand for God’s design of Adam and Eve differently to complete each other?
What did you find most motivational in persuading you that those around us NEED to hear us speak up about the way fatherhood is being canceled by gender theory today?
Which faulty argument about the Bible’s oppressive patriarchy have you hear most often? What would it take for you to turn the tables on one who makes such a claim by asking a wise question, like, “What makes you say that?”

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Money Management and Our Hearts May 28, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode seeks to put a biblical lens over the inter-relationship between our money, our giving, and our hearts.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

Why do you think Jesus’ view of money was so stark—that it wants to enslave us? Why do you think that happens?
Someone has said that maturity of character is measured by your ability to delay gratification—in other words make an investment now that doesn’t pay off until later. How have you learned to invest in kingdom ministries and forsake some pleasures you might have enjoyed here and now instead?
What stood out to you about God’s purpose of tithing?
How do you see God’s invitation to test him by tithing in Malachi 3 related to Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him?

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Thinking Biblically About the Poor May 21, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode seeks to look at poverty through a biblical lens, understanding it’s causes, misguided attempts to solve it, and especially what fulfilling our responsibility to care for the poor looks like.

Resources Used for Today’s Podcast

When Helping Hurts, Steve Corbett, and Brian Fikkert

For Further Prayerful Thought.

How would you summarize God’s plan for those on planet earth to flourish economically?
How does understanding that poverty is caused by the breakdown of the four relationships of life make sense in what you observe about poverty?
Of the six suggestions for how to properly care for the poor, which two stood out most to you? Are there any that you think God wants you to think more about?

For the printed version of this message click here.
For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.
For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.
To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Should Christians Pursue Economic Equality? May 14, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. We continue our May series Thinking Biblically About Money Greed and Economic Justice by looking carefully at the claim made by many social justice advocates that Christians are hypocrites for not standing up for the poor and embracing ECONOMIC EQUALITY for everyone as Jesus would have. Is this claim true? How do we respond to our kids returning from college who are deconverting from Christianity because of the failure of today’s church to embrace such equality?

Resources Used for Today’s Podcast

Institute for Faith, Work and Economics website(excellent, biblical, scholarly articles on the biblical view of economics, helping the poor, etc.)
What Would You Say Colson Center(Excellent short videos on how to promote a biblical view of economics).

For Further Prayerful Thought.

How would you respond to the average Christian dad who says, “understanding economics is not part of my calling. I can’t answer my kid’s accusations that Christianity is hypocritical and that they can’t embrace a religion that favors American consumerism instead of ECONOMIC EQUALITY as Jesus would have?”
What most stood out to you about current ideologues who have replace the content of the word EQUALITY as equal justice under the law with the concept of the same treatment?
Why does the biblical view that justice is not everyone having the same abilities, assets, and opportunities but that from those who are given much, much is required better match reality than the concept that everyone God creates should be EQUAL in every opportunity, ability, and asset?

Special Announcement for All those Near Schenectady/Albany, NEW YORK

I will be one of the two keynote speakers at the Iron Sharpens Iron Conference May 20, 2023. The conference is from 8:30-3:00 PM. It includes two main addresses, lunch, and your choice of 2 out of 16 seminars on topics relevant to men. Here is the link.

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Recovering the Lost Biblical Doctrine of Work May 07, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. Today we begin our May series Thinking Biblically About Money Greed and Economic Justice. There is a great abundance of Biblical teaching about money, work, and how to manage our financial resources. As always, we will start with a biblical worldview. Today it is God’s view work, sadly, which has been mostly lost among believers.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

What most stood out to you about the way the biblical doctrine of work has been repeatedly lost, found, then lost again?
Describe the parallel between God being a worker/creator and humans being designed to be worker/creators. What does this have to do with the Biblical doctrine of work?
What would you say to someone who said, “I don’t know if I can make it another 5 years at this secular job until I retired and can finally get into full time Christian work and make a real difference for the kingdom?”

Special Announcement for All those Near Schenectady/Albany, NEW YORK

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

God’s Wisdom: Nothing You Desire Compares with Her Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

Episode Summary. As we complete this series on developing the tough-minded attitudes that Jesus exhibited throughout his life, we realize that the key to godly attitudes is having the right perspective. The biblical term for this right perspective is wisdom. Wisdom is looking at life from Gods point of view. It is seeing how God designed life to best function. In this episode we look at the astonishing promises God makes about gaining his wisdom, and see how Jesus teaching of biblical wisdom is at the core of his teaching of the beatitudes.

For Further Prayerful Thought.

What are the 3 most persuasive reasons that every man should pursue God’s wisdom?
What examples can you think of when you see the biblical truth that, there is a way THAT SEEMS RIGHT to a man, but its end is the way to death?
Which counter-intuitive beatitude stood out most to you? Why?

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)