Week #3 Biblical Manhood
As we began our session this week, things were a bit quiet in the room and Pastor Brian said that maybe we needed to begin with a little pep talk. And so he showed the following video*.
This video is not mine, it was posted on YouTube by “SoulPancake” where they have many other inspirational videos.
God’s Charge to Man
1. God gave Adam a will to obey
Genesis 2:16-17
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Psalms 139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
2. God gave Adam a work to accomplish
Here, Pastor Brian said that we don’t know all the details of the work that Adam was supposed to do but asked us for some ideas. Some answers from the group included tending the garden and naming the animals.
Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
3. God gave Adam a woman to love.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Question: In each small group come up with a definition of manhood that you will share with the larger group. Discuss the difference between Biblical Manhood and Conventional Manhood.
One person at my table shared an interesting view of “conventional manhood”. He said that men are typically judged according to the three B’s: bedroom, ballfield, and billfold.
The Man Adam vs. the Man Jesus:
Romans 5:17-19
or if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Pastor Brian discussed the differences between the first Adam and the second Adam (Jesus Christ). Adam didn’t obey God, didn’t complete the work God gave him, and didn’t take care of his wife. Jesus did obey God, did complete his work as shown when He said “It is finished” on the cross, and did take care of his wife (the church).
- Men will follow one of these examples and deny the other.
- We ______ Adam’s example and _______ the example of Jesus. (didn’t get this one filled in).
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Conventional Manhood:
- Manhood with a selfish perspective.
- Manhood that takes life from others.
- Manhood that lives for self.
- Manhood by human reason.
Genesis 3:6-7
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Biblical Manhood
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
a. Reject passivity.
Philippians 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
b. Accept responsibility.
John 4:31-35
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
John 17:4
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of wate with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
c. Lead courageously.
- Provide direction for others.
Matthew 4:19-20
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
- Provide protection for others.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
- Provide life for others.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
d. Invest eternally.
Matthew 6:19-20
”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
To end our session, Pastor Brian read us the “Lion Chaser’s Manifesto” from In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day by Pastor Mark Batterson:
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.
Group Questions:
1. Discuss the definition of manhood that was shared in this session. What will it take to put it into practice in your life? What will take the most discipline and courage to put into daily practice?
2. If our example of manhood is Jesus Christ, what is it about His character that you need to understand more deeply? Read Philippians 2:5-8 and discuss the character traits that most men struggle with in that passage.
3. Have you ever struggled with passivity? If so, what did you do or will you do to reject passivity and live Biblically as a man with courage and leadership direction in your life?
4. If another man were to ask you what it means to make an eternal investment, what would you say to him? Give examples.
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