“Boys
take; men give. Boys criticize; men
create.
Boys complain; men solve. Boys consume; men serve. Boys pout; men endure.”
John Bryson
Three truths in a man’s life:
1.
I
have to be intentional
2.
I
must rely on God
3.
I
need other men
From “Stepping Up—A Call
to Courageous Manhood” a video series by Family Life
Answer these questions:
1. A
boy becomes a man when he…
2. What
is the last courageous thing you have done?
Have you done any?
To be a man, lead.
Remember Jeremiah
10:23-25 from last week. “I know, O LORD, that a man's life
is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.24 Correct me, LORD, but
only with justice-- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to
nothing.25 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have
devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.”
·
Genesis 2:18 – “The LORD God said,
"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him."
Women will love a servant
leader. A servant leader is a man who
leads those he is in charge of (family, business, military unit) with the best
intentions for those whom he is responsible.
Not his agenda, but a respectful leader that leads quietly with measured
words and by example.
·
Be a protector and provider.
1 Timothy 5:8 says “If anyone does not provide for his
relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and
is worse than an unbeliever.”
Your girlfriend, wife and children must know you will lay down
your life and personal agenda for their benefit.
1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands,
in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with
respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of
life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” ‘Weaker partner’ means of
lesser physical power; it does not mean of lesser worth.
·
Grow up – be stable – measure your words.
Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool
finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”
Proverbs 12:16 – “A
fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”
Proverbs 12:15 – “The
way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Proverbs 11:12 – “A
man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds
his tongue.”
2 Timothy 4:5 – “But
you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an
evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
Titus 1:12-16 – “Even
one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil
brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true.
Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith14 and will pay no attention to
Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.15 To the pure, all things are
pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe,
nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences
are corrupted.16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing
anything good.” Don’t act like a brute (1/2 step above an
animal).
1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When
I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a
child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God
did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline.”
Culture measures manhood by:*
o
Billfold
o
Ball field (sports arena of any kind)
o
Bedroom
o
Number of toys (I added this)
*From “Stepping Up” by Family Life
Next week – What is true manhood?
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