Mission Focused Men for Christ

Latest Episodes:

Changing the World By Unleashing Spiritual Gifts Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary. This is the third episode in the series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts. Unleashing Kingdom Potential seems to be a great description of what happens when the members of Christ’s church understand and deploy their spiritual gifts. This episode explores the three gifts from Romans 12 that are the Get the Job Done gifts, LEADING, SERVING, and GIVING, illustrating the characteristics of each gift with biblical examples and identifying weaknesses that seem to accompany such gifts. The episode finishes with the true story of the impact one church is having in its community through releasing its members to deploy their spiritual gifts.
For Further Prayerful Thought

What characteristic of LEADERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?
What characteristic of SERVERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?
What characteristic of GIVERS stood out most to you? Does anyone come to mind, who would appear to have this gift? What did you notice about the vulnerabilities of those who have this gift?

Past Podcast Series Highlight Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth

Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S2 E #48 10/4/20
Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S2 E #49 10/11/20
Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S2 E #50 10/18/20
Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S2 E #51 10/25/20
Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S2 E#52 11/1/20

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How Spiritual Gifts Motivate Those Under Our Care Jul 25, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary. This episode begins a series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts. Understanding and deploying our spiritual gifts is so central to the lives of Christians, that we cannot help our loved ones become all God wants them to be in Christ, without understanding what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. The two gifts from the Romans 12 list of spiritual gifts that are still being given today covered in this episode can be confusing. Prophecy doesn’t mean foretelling the future but something far more important. Teaching doesn’t mean you are great in the classroom, but something even more important for today’s church. This episode helps identify these two gifts in yourself or your loved ones.

For Further Prayerful Thought

Was there someone in whom you saw the characteristics of a prophet or teacher?
Why might it be helpful to one you know who appears to have the gift of prophet or teacher to understand their gift?
If you have neither the gift of prophecy nor teaching, can you understand why you might react certain ways to those who have that gift?

Past Podcast Series Highlight Surrounding Our Loved Ones With the Belt of Truth

Kids and the SCIENCE DISPROVES GOD Argument S2 E #48 10/4/20
Answering HOW COULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? S2 E #49 10/11/20
Answering THERE CAN’T BE JUST ONE TRUE RELIGION S2 E #50 10/18/20
Answering YOU CAN’T TAKE THE BIBLE LITERALLY S2 E #51 10/25/20
Shaping Culture In a World That Jesus Said Hates You S2 E#52 11/1/20

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.

Scripture We Must Understand to Help Our Loved Ones Flourish Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

Episode Description: Understanding and deploying our spiritual gifts is so central to the lives of Christians, that we cannot help our loved ones become all God wants them to be in Christ, without understanding what Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. Despite controversies about some spiritual gifts, all Christians agree that the seven gifts identified in Romans 12 are still being given by God to believers today. This episode begins a series, Helping Our Loved Ones Flourish Using Their Spiritual Gifts.
For Further Prayerful Thought

Which of the seven gifts from Romans 12 do you think might be yours?
Christ is so awesome and so perfectly balances seemingly contradictory virtues, like justice and mercy, hatred of sin, but love for sinners--why does it make sense that it might take seven different gifts for the Body of Christ to accurately function like him and portray him?
Can you think of examples of Christians disagreeing because they have different spiritual gifts?

Past Podcast Highlight
Kids Don't Have It In Them to Grow Themselves Up S1 E #36 7/5/20
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Becoming the Kind of Warrior Jesus Was Jul 11, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary: What if there were a fundamental part of the very Identity of Jesus that you almost never hear about, and many Christians miss? You might find this episode very enlightening as we dig into Jesus’ identity as a WARRIOR, and why joining him in his fight matters so much today.
For Further Prayerful Thought

Identify 3 or 4 reasons why we don’t usually default to Jesus’ nature as being that of a WARRIOR.
What has this episode taught you about seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness?
How might Satan use the idea that pursuing righteousness is trying to earn our salvation, a form of moralism, or legalistic, to stop Christ’s kingdom of righteousness from spreading over each sphere of our lives?

Past Podcast Highlight

Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
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Quiet Strength that Trusts God Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary: Jesus summarized our mission, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Pursuing Christ’s kingship in my life begins in my own heart with my personal love and loyalty to Christ. We are first called TO Christ to enjoy a love relationship with him. This part of our mission is consistent with the great commandment to love God with all my heart and the first commandment to have no other God’s before him. Today’s episode zooms in to examine one specific aspect of Christ’s character—the way he gave up the right to be treated with the dignity, the honor, the nobility, he deserved—as the God of the universe. Instead, he emptied himself of his prerogatives as God’s equal to take the form of a slave to serve us. The more we see this shocking willingness to give up his divine rights, entrusting himself to the Father, the more we will be empowered to exhibit this same kingdom virtue, showing Jesus to those around us.
For Further Prayerful Thought

What is most moving to you about God the Song stripping himself of his dignity to love us?
Where does selfish anger crop up in your life, reflecting that the rights you once put on the alter have crawled off?
Is there anywhere that worry, indicate that you still haven’t transferred the ownership of some aspect of your life to God, or need to put it back on the altar? Psalm 37 is written to strengthen our confidence in the character of God.

Past Podcast Highlight

Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E #33 6/21/20
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.

Great Dads Equip Their Kids With a Biblical Worldview of Pornography Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Summary: Today, there is a pandemic within families: not Covid 19 but pornography. It is more accessible than ever before and reaching children at a younger age. We cannot afford to be naïve as adults or as parents. This episode looks at what’s happening today, how to protect our kids from pornography, and how to equip them with a biblical view of sexuality and pornography.
For Further Prayerful Thought

Is there some parent in your circle of friends who needs the information in this podcast?
Why would you say that not permitting a high school teen to have a smart phone might be shortsighted? Why doesn’t taking away the opportunity to view porn not succeed?
If you were doing the dad, sex talk and overall equipping with a biblical worldview of sexuality and porn, what things do you think need to be included?

Past Series: Ruling Over Our Sexuality For God’s Glory

Understanding Our Sex Drive Helps Us Fight for Purity S1 E #12 1/26/20
Sharpening Our Understanding of Sin’s Corruption of Sex S1 E #13 2/2/20
Directing Our Heart Passions to Defeat Lust S1 E #14 2/9/20
Protecting Our Heart From the Enticement of Sexual S1 E #15 2/16/20

Social Media Dangers Documentary: Childhood 2.0
Monitoring App or Service

Bark - Monitors texts, email and social media for issues like cyberbullying, sexual predators and suicidal ideation and alerts the parents.
Qustodio - Supervise, manage and protect your child’s device
Net Nanny - Parental Control Software and Website Blocker
Covenant Eyes - An accountability service designed to help individuals overcome porn addiction.
Ultimate Parental Control Guide - Already have an iPhone or Android? Click on this link to find out how to set parental controls on almost any device.

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

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here

Great Dads Build Their Relationships With Their Kids Jun 20, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary: One of the best insights I learned as a dad, was the difference between authority and leadership. Authority coerces obedience through punishment or the threat of punishment. Leadership is the influence in a child’ life that makes him WANT to obey our requirements and God’s Word. As we saw last week, BOTH are needed. Compassionate discipline is required to enable young children to internalize the truths that they cannot always have their way, the world does not revolve around them, and they must learn to “say no” to their impulses. But leadership, especially when kids are older, goes beyond the authoritative use of consequences. It makes kids want to follow the example of their dad. This episode examines how to love our kids well, building our love relationship with them, which also increases our influence in their lives.
For Further Prayerful Thought

1. Why does it make sense to you that a person’s influence in another person/s life depends on the quality of his relationship with that other person?

2. What stood out to you about how to be a welcoming father?

3. Do you agree that part of fatherhood is taking the initiative to build your love relationship with each of your children? How might God be leading you to take more initiative to build this relationship?
Past Fatherhood Series

Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E#32 6/14/20
Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E#33 6/21/20
The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E#34 6/28/20
Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E#35 7/5/20
Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E#36 7/12/20

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.

Great Dads Love Through Firm, Compassionate Discipline Jun 13, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary: Over the years, as I have thought about seeking to be a great dad to my five (now grown kids), there is one verse of Scripture that always comes to mind. It is God’s statement to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinth 12:9, “In weakness, my power is shown the more completely.” Boy, have I claimed this verse over the years, especially since of all things, God puts DADS and NOT MOMS in charge of the discipline and training of the kids! Can you believe that? The family code sections of Ephesians and Colossians address wives, then husbands, then children—commanding them to obey their parents. So, we might expect the next group Paul addresses to be parents; but it is not. How about mothers? No. When it comes to household management and training the children, Paul instead addresses FATHERS, Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This week, we again look to God, the ultimate GREAT DAD and dig into another profound characteristic of HIS FATHERLY LOVE: The Lord disciplines the one he loves.

For Further Prayerful Thought

Would downloading the written version of thee 7 principles to pray over, share with your wife, or pass on to your adult children as parents to your grandchildren we valuable?
As you compare your tendencies as a disciplinarian, to the picture given in these seven biblical principles, where do you need to adjust the most?
Would it be worth your time to listen to last year’s podcast series on parenting? These titles from season 1 were:

Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans S1 E#32 6/14/20
Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 E#33 6/21/20
The Right Use of Authority to Punish Evil S1 E#34 6/28/20
Kids Don’t Have It In them to Grow THEMSELVES Up S1 E#35 7/5/20
Raising Kids Up in the Way They Should Go S1 E#36 7/12/20

DISCIPLINE CHECK LIST when DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD

Make sure he knows what he IS and IS NOT to do.
Give a warning (to help him but also to double check that he understands the rule).
Give your child the right to appeal if he thinks you are wrong.
Consistently enforce the rules.
Engage your child's conscience by asking, "What did you do?"
Correct specific behavior; don't attack character.
For serious, willful rebellion express inner grief over his rebellion.
Administer punishment that fits the crime.
After confession is made and punishment given, do your best to let your child know that fellowship with you is not broken.
Tell your child that God punishes you too.
Don't let this check-list tyrannize you. If you ask for his help, God will make your weakness the opportunity to show his strength.

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

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

Great Dads Know the Power of Words Jun 06, 2021

Show notes

Summary: Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue. In Jesus’ most famous sermon, he taught that angry, critical words can very easily explode from our mouths and rip like shrapnel into the most tender, sensitive part of a person’s soul—his self-esteem. In contrast, is God the Father’s use of words to build up The Son. Two of the three times that God the Father spoke audibly in the NT, God used his words to praise his son, This is my beloved son IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. If we are to pattern our fatherhood after God’s, one of the first things we need to give attention to is OUR WORDS. This episode helps dads IMPART LIFE to their loved ones through the power of their tongue.
For Further Prayerful Thought:

What is your biggest struggle in controlling your tongue?
Growing up, did you hear, “I’m proud of you” much from your dad?
Why do you think these words from our dad have so much power?
How can you do a better job of praising those under your care?

Biblical Lists of Godly Character

Eight beatitudes: Matt 5:3-12
Fruit of the Spirit: Gal 5:22-23
Peter’s Golden Chain of Virtues: 2 Peter 1:5-8
James Wisdom from Above: James 3:13-18

Past Series Highlights
Fatherhood Is Irreplaceable in God’s Design of Humans Season 1 Episode #32 6/14/20 Responding to the Argument that the Bible Teaches Patriarchy S1 Episode #33 6/21/20
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

Why Adam’s Calling to Subdue the Earth Matters May 30, 2021

Show notes

Episode Summary: As I have talked with countless men around the country about their vocational calling, I’ve come to this conclusion: The poorer a man’s theology of work is, the less fulfilling his work usually is. This episode observes five building blocks to a biblical worldview of work, by examining Adam’s calling to subdue the earth.

The Five Questions To Consider About Your Vocation

How does the truth that humans cannot be fulfilled apart from working, affect your thinking about your vocation?
How does your vocational work fit into this three-part calling?
In what way is your work rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular thrive and flourish?
How does doing your job well communicate that God’s creation matters?
How is your job a form of service that expresses love for the human community?

This 4 Week Series: Igniting Fire for Our Mission In a Disheartening World