News

Be A Godly Man

Session #3 Stand Firm

Review:

1.     How did your upbringing influence your dreams for the man you wanted to be, especially as it related to the idea of standing firm?

2.     What observation did Joby emphasize based on Ephesians 6:10? How should that truth frame the way we think about standing firm in the armor of God?

Bible Journey:

READ: Ephesians 6:10-18

1.     Why is truth such a critical part of the armor of God (see Eph. 4:20–25)? As you think on the areas of life where you have influence (family, work, neighborhood, etc.), would you say you model truthfulness well? How could you improve in this regard?

2.     How do you strive to model righteousness? Where do you struggle most in this regard? How could you be more intentional about reminding yourself of the righteousness you have received in Christ? What could you do to be more intentional about reminding your family of this truth?

3.     In what ways do you model a gospel of peace for others? What are some areas of your life that are in need of peace? What would it look like for you to be a peacemaker in those areas? What would have to change?

4.     According to verses 17–18, what specific defense does the shield of faith provide? What observation did Joby make about the function of a shield? What are some ways you find yourself particularly vulnerable to the “fiery darts” of the enemy?

5.     What role does salvation play in terms of your conversations at home with your family? How about in your workplace? What would it look like for you to better reflect the salvation you have in Christ through your life in those arenas?

6.     According to verse 17, what is the “sword of the Spirit”? What are some ways to “wield” the Word of God?

7.     Who in your life would you consider disciplined in the practice of prayer? What stands out to you about their prayer life?

Live it out:

Pray: Ask the Lord to reveal to you the ways in which you depend on your own strength rather than His. As He does, be quick to confess and repent in order to walk in the true strength of Christ.

Invite: If you are lacking in community, invite mature believers into your life to help you carry whatever burdensome circumstances you face. Allow them to come alongside you as a strength and defense.

Evaluate: Over the next week, evaluate your life in comparison to the list of the armor of God. Note areas where you need to grow and take the necessary steps to do so.

Serve: Use the strengths God has given you in service to other men who need them, like Blake does for the young men in youth detention centers. Find a way to intentionally serve someone over the course of this next week.

Memorize: Commit to memory the various pieces of the armor of God, as listed in Ephesians 6:10–18. As you do, ask that God would help you to depend on Him and His resources for your spiritual strength as opposed to your own.

Be A Godly Man

Session #2 Watch Out

Review:

1.     Of the three specific points Joby said we must watch out for (pride, worry/anxiety, and laziness), which is the biggest struggle for you? How does it influence your God-given responsibilities?

2.     In what ways do you struggle with worry? What are you trying to control that you need to surrender to God today?

3.     Where do you struggle with laziness in terms of your God-given responsibilities?

Bible Journey:

READ: 1 Peter 5:6-8

1.     Why does the text tell us to humble ourselves?

2.     In what ways do you struggle with humility? How would your life look diff erent if you were to grow in humility?

3.     How practically could you serve those around you with the strength God has given you? What obstacles stand in your way that keep you from doing so?

4.     Following verse 6, why does Peter command Christians to cast their anxieties on God?

5.     What are some tangible ways you have experienced God’s care throughout your life?

6.     What commands does Peter give in verse 8? Why does he give it?

7.     How should Peter’s description of our “adversary” shape our seriousness about the responsibilities and being sober-minded and watchful?

8.     As you think back on the teaching of this session, what are some areas of your life or relationships that need defending? Can you identify any areas of vulnerability or weakness? What would it look like to be watchful in them?

9.     How connected are you to other believers? What about a local church?

Live it out:

Pray: Set aside some time this week to ask God for the eyes to see where He has called you to be watchful. As you identify those areas, be bold in your obedience trusting that the Lord will supply your needs along the way.

Praise: Take a moment to praise God for the ways in which He has brought restoration in your life. Thank Him for His grace and how it brings continual healing in the times when you fall short.

Resolve: As the Holy Spirit convicts you of areas where you need to be watchful, commit to that responsibility, no matter the cost.

Accountability: Identify 2–3 mature, believing men and schedule time to regularly check in with one another to stay accountable in this area of watchfulness.

Encourage: If you know of a weaker brother who is struggling to be watchful, make an eff ort to encourage him today.

Be A Godly Man

Session #1 Where Have All The Good Men Gone?

Review:

1.     Who has been the most positive example of manhood in your life? What makes their model such a positive one?

2.     What are some of the ways you have leaned on your own strength to obey God rather than depending on His power?

3.     What were the three responsibilities Joby mentioned that God placed upon Adam in the Garden of Eden?

Bible Journey:

1.     What are some observations you could make about the world of Genesis 1-2? How is it different from the world we know today?

2.     According to Genesis 1:27-30 and 2:18-25, what some created characteristics of humanity?

3.     How does God describe His creative work in 1:31?

4.     What does God say about Adam in 1:18?

a.     What are some examples of healthy community in your life today?

b.     How could you grow in your intentionality about pursuing healthy community?

5.     According to Genesis 3:1-13, what did Adam and Eve do wrong?

a.     What are some ways brokenness enters into the world as a result of their actions?

b.     According to verses 11-13, what has changed about Adam and Eve’s relationship?

6.     What are the consequences of their disobedience according to verses 14-19?

7.     As you have tried to act like a Godly man, what are some examples of the struggles you’ve faced along the way?

8.     Of the three responsibilities Joby covered (creative dominion, trusting God, relational community), where do you most need to grow as a man?

9.     How does Romans 5:12-21 passage describe Adam?

10. How does this passage describe Jesus?

11. According to verse 19, how are we made righteous?

12. What are the areas in which you need to surrender more fully to Christ today?

Live it out:

Pray: As you walk away from this session, take some time over the next week to ask that God would prepare your heart to hear His truth throughout the rest of this series. Ask Him to speak to you in a transformative way over the next four weeks.

List: Take out a piece of paper and list three ways you would like to grow as a man over the course of this series. Keep it in a visible place so that you can remind yourself of it, regularly.

Reflect: Spend some time reflecting on your upbringing, specifically in terms of how your father influenced the man you are today. Whether it was for good or bad, recognizing that influence ins an important part of learning that affects your relationship with Christ.

Confess: If the Holy Spirit convicted you during this session of ways you have not lived up to God’s design for you as a man, confess those to God. Ask for His forgiveness and trust that He will graciously mold you into the man He created you to be.

Give Thanks: Take a moment to thank God for where He has you today. Whether you are in a difficult season or a joyous one, He is present with you and His Holy Spirit is guiding you toward becoming more like Christ.