Here is the “dance with your daughter” scene that we did NOT get to see in the Courageous film; a music video featuring Mark Harris’ “When We’re Together.”
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Category: Men of Steel
Characteristics of Genuine Faith
There is a lot of talk about what a disciple of Jesus looks like, you can see that in previous posts:
I thought that these passages of Scripture help define genuine faith of a follower of Christ:
Evidence that proves nothing (for or against having faith):
- Visible morality (Matthew 19:16-21, 23:27)
- Intellectual knowledge (Romans 1:21, 2:17-29)
- Religious involvement (Matthew 25:1-10)
- Ministry involvement (Matthew 7:21-24)
- Conviction of sin (Acts 24:25)
- A past decision (Luke 8:13-14)
Evidence (or Fruit) of Authentic Faith:
- Love for God (Psalm 42:1, 73:25, Luke 10:27, Romans 8:7)
- Repentance from Sin (Psalm 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, Romans 7:14-25)
- Genuine Humility (Psalm 51:17, Matthew 5:1-12, James 4:6, 9-10)
- Devotion to God’s Glory (Psalm 105:3, 115:1, Isaiah 43:7, 48:10-11, Jeremiah 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31)
- Continual Prayer (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18-19, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, James 5:16-18)
- Selfless Love (1 John 2:9-11, 3:14, 4:7-12)
- Separation from the World (1 Corinthians 2:12, James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-17, 5:5)
- Spiritual Growth (Luke 8:15, John 15:1-6, Ephesians 4:12-16)
- Obedient Living (Matthew 7:21, John 15:14, 16, Romans 16:26, 1 Peter 1:2, 22, 1 John 2:3-5)
- Hunger for God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-3)
- Transformation of Life (2 Corinthians 5:17)
If the first list is true and the second list is false, there is cause to question one’s profession of faith. However, if list two is true, then the first list will also be true. So, how does the gospel active in one’s life manifest itself?
The Living Out of the Gospel:
- Proclaim it (Matthew 4:23)
- Defend it (Jude 1:3, 1 Peter 3:15)
- Demonstrate it (Philippians 1:27)
- Share it (Philippians 1:5)
- Suffer for it (2 Timothy 1:8)
- Preach it (1 Corinthians 9:16)
- Guard it (Galatians 1:6-8)
- Don’t Hinder it (1 Corinthians 9:12)
- Don’t be Ashamed of it (Romans 1:16)
- Be Empowered by it (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
My challenge is for all of us to live what we profess to believe. We cannot play games any longer; it’s time to do business with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out. The credibility of the message will never exceed the credibility of the messenger. The world is watching, and don’t let them turn away from Christ simply because of what they see happening in the lives of Jesus’ followers. People WILL judge a book (Jesus) by its cover (his followers).
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Small Groups are Practical
Here is a great word from pastor Rick Warren about small groups. We may attract attenders through the Internet and a worship service, but disciples are made in small groups.
Small groups provide the kind of accountability and support we need to mature as believers, so here are four reasons why they are important to King’s Grant.
1 – Small Groups are Relational:
You can’t have a conversation with 300 people or 30 people, but you can have a conversation with a small group. Generally, when there are more than 10 in a group, people stop talking. It is impossible to learn how to love your neighbor as yourself unless you are involved in a small group of some kind. You don’t need a lot of friends in life, but you do need a few good ones, and you find those solid, supportive friendships in small groups.
Small groups allow us to know people, regardless of how big the congregation becomes. You don’t have to know everyone in the church as long as you know somebody in the church. If you miss a weekend service, not everyone will know you weren’t there, but your small group will know. Even the largest congregations seem small when your members are in small groups.
2 – Small Groups are Flexible:
Small groups can meet anywhere. They can meet in a library, at a coffee shop, in a park, outside, inside, in an office during lunch, or in a home. The Bible says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
3 – Small Groups are Expandable:
We will run out of space and money if we try to build enough classrooms for our groups to meet at the church. On the other hand, if our small groups are meeting across the community, then we will never run out of space.
Don’t let buildings limit the number of small groups we can have. That’s like letting the shoe tell the foot how big it can be. Buildings are just a tool for ministry. Invest in people; they will last forever.
4 – Small Groups are Economical:
When people meet at the church, we pay for the lights, and we pay for clean up. But if a family hosts a small group in their home, they don’t expect the church to pay for utilities that night or to send a custodian over to clean up. In fact, they’re usually glad to take care of those things as part of their ministry to others.
Think about it: you bring a guy into the church for a meeting and he might sit there like a bump on a log, but you put him in a home and give him a cup of coffee, and he may talk his head off. Why? Because you’ve put him in an environment that encourages fellowship.
Being a Man of Steel
I have recently discovered that we find Superman in Psalm 45! Take a look at this:
In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! (Psalm 45:4)
When I was younger, I remember watching the Adventures of Superman on our black-and-white Motorola television set. I wanted to be just like that “strange visitor from another planet” who fought a “never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.”
Superman, ironically enough, has much in common with the king who is praised in Psalm 45. This psalm is unusual in that it is addressed, not to God or to the people of Israel, but to the king on the occasion of his wedding (Psalm 45:13-15). In Psalm 45:4, the psalmist urges the king to “ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice.” That’s not exactly “truth, justice, and the American way,” but two out of three ain’t half bad.
When we pray for our leaders, as Scripture urges us to do (1 Timothy 2:2), we should ask God to lead them in the ways of truth, humility, and justice. Yet Psalm 45:4 also provides a model for our behavior in this world. We are also to be people of truth, humility, and justice.
- As people of truth, we will speak and live in a way that reflects God and his revelation. In a world of falsehood, in which truth itself is under attack, we will seek the truth in all things, stand for the truth in what we say and do.
- As people of humility, we will never speak the truth in a way that is prideful, as if the truth belongs to us. We will always see ourselves as subjects of the King of kings, and offer our lives to him, and to others as servants. We will imitate the humble servanthood of Jesus.
- As people of justice, we will treat all people fairly and will work for a world that offers justice for all. We will be especially committed to doing justice for the poor and powerless. Where we have been given authority, in our work, our families, our churches, or our community, we will strive for just systems that reflect the character of God.
When you “ride out” today into the world, defend truth, humility, and justice as God’s servant. How can you express your commitment to truth today? How can you live with humility? How can you seek God’s justice in your part of the world?
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Being a Man of Courage
We recently showed the COURAGEOUS movie at King’s Grant, with about 230 people in attendance. I hope the men heard the intentional challenge at the end and we want to provide some practical “Next Steps” for a dad ready to make a change. A two-hour film does not bring change, only hopes and good intentions. Getting involved with other men in a small group context will help you put new principles into practice.
Honor really does begin at home. We hope you will leave inspired and challenged to live honorably and leave a lasting impact on the next generation. Maybe you connected with one of the characters in the movie because of your relationship with your dad or your own role as a parent and now you are wondering what to do next to strengthen your own family.
At King’s Grant Baptist Church, we believe in the power of God to change men and families. We want to be a resource for moms and dads and a place where families are strengthened. Here are some potential courageous next steps.
- Begin praying for (and with) your children.
- Write a letter to your own father. It may be a letter saying thanks for being a great dad or a letter offering overdue forgiveness for the ways he may have hurt you. If your father is not a believer, use the letter as a means to share Christ.
- Sign up for a COURAGEOUS Living small group. Our groups will begin in February; here are the dates and locations:
- Tuesdays at 7:30am at Denny’s, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, with Skip Wallace
- Tuesdays at 7:00pm at KGBC, Feb 7, 14, 21, 28, with Tom Vaughan and Jim Zecchini
- Thursdays at 7:00am at KGBC, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, with Scott Chafee
- Thursdays at 7:00pm at KGBC, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, with Rickey Douglas
- Saturdays at 8:00am at KGBC, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, with Scott Chafee
- Fill out a COURAGEOUS Living card, or visit us online at www.KingsGrantBaptist.com/movie.
- Consider joining us for our Sunday morning worship experiences each week at 8:30 or 11:00 in order to grow in your faith, find faith or learn how to become a courageous dad. Regular Bible study happens at 9:45 each Sunday morning; there is a class for every member of the family.
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Being a Man of God
We ask our young children all the time, “What would you like to be when you grow up?” Then we often expect a reply in terms of career choices. In Paul’s letter to his protégé, he didn’t instruct Timothy to become a power pastor of a megs-church; rather he reminded him of who he was; that he was a “man of God” (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 3:17).
Interestingly, as far as I can tell, there’s only one person in the New Testament who’s called “a man of God,” and that’s Timothy. This term is frequently used in the Old Testament. In fact, it’s used about 70 times and always in reference to a spokesman for God—someone whose duty and responsibility is to speak the words of God.
Here in 1 Timothy 6:11-21, Paul points out four characteristics that mark a man of God:
- He flees: “Run” (1 Timothy 6:11). This is the Greek verb fuagay from which we get the word fugitive. In other words, the man of God is a man on the run. He’s constantly fleeing the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10), ungodly behavior (1 Timothy 6:20), lust, and sin (2 Timothy 2:22).
- He follows: The man of God pursues “righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). These are worthy goals.
- He fights: Not with his wife or others, but using the truth, the man of God is engaged in daily warfare against the kingdom of darkness. He’s not coasting toward the gates of heaven (1 Timothy 6:12).
- He is faithful: The man of God “holds tightly to the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12). He views faithful Christian living and service as his necessary responsibility to God (1 Timothy 6:20-21).
If someone asks you, “What would you like to be?” would “I want to be a man of God” be your response? That type of man personally belongs to God, proclaims His Word accurately, and lives his life as an example to others.
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Being a Spiritual Leader
Men, we often don’t lead our families as we should. I sense that most wives are aching for their husbands to be the spiritual driver in the home. Most of the time we drift and outsource that leadership somewhere else.
The Courageous movie will challenge each husband and father to make a resolution… to be resolved… that they will be an active force for God on this earth and in their family.
I once heard Kenny Luck, men’s ministry leader at Saddleback, as he encourages you on how to be the spiritual leader of your home.
Kenny tells us to:
- Own it – own our spiritual lives, don’t outsource that to anyone else.
- Show it – demonstrate outwardly what God is doing on the inside.
- Lead her and the marriage – not lording over her, but providing leadership.
- Lead by serving them – leadership is service, not position.
- Love them – love is an active word, not a feeling.
Common Phrases from the Bible
I can imagine that nearly every newspaper and magazine in the English-speaking world uses a word or phrase in every issue that originated in the Bible. Consider how many of the following words and phrases, all first found in the Bible, have made their way into our everyday conversation. (Note the phrase may be from the King James Version rather than what you see in the popup window).
- Adoption (Romans 8:15)
- A drop in the bucket (Isaiah 40:15)
- A fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1)
- A man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14)
- A multitude of sins (James 5:20)
- A thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7)
- All things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:22)
- Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4: 9)
- An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth (Matthew 5:38)
- As old as Methuselah (Genesis 5:25-27)
- As old as the hills (Job 15:7)
- As you sow so shall you reap (Galatians 6:7)
- Ashes to ashes, dust to dust (Genesis 3:19)
- At his wits end (Psalms 107:27)
- Beat swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4)
- Bite the dust (Psalm 72:9)
- Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
- By the skin of your teeth (Job 19:20)
- Can a leopard change its spots? (Jeremiah 13:23)
- Eat drink and be merry (Luke 12:19)
- Faith will move mountains (Matthew 21:21)
- Fall from grace (Galatians 5:4)
- Fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12)
- Flesh and blood (Matthew 16:17)
- For everything there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
- Forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:3)
- From strength to strength (Psalm 84:7)
- Give up the ghost (Acts 12:23)
- Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-33)
- Holier than thou (Isaiah 65:5)
- House divided (Luke 11:17)
- How are the mighty fallen (2 Samuel 1:19)
- Liberty (Leviticus 25:10)
- Living off the fat of the land (Genesis 45:17-18)
- Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
- Love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10)
- Man does not live by bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3)
- Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14)
- My cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5)
- Neither a borrower nor a lender be (Jeremiah 15:10)
- Network (Exodus 27:4)
- No rest for the wicked (Isaiah 57:20)
- Nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
- O ye, of little faith (Matthew 6:30)
- Out of the mouths of babes (Psalm 8:2)
- Pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)
- Physician heal thyself (Luke 4:23)
- Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10)
- Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18:2)
- The apple of his eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)
- The blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14)
- The bread of life (John 6:35)
- The fruits of your loins (Genesis 35:11)
- The powers that be (Romans 13:2)
- The root of the matter (Job 19:28)
- The salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
- The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38)
- The hand writing is on the wall (Daniel 5:5-6)
- To cast the first stone (John 8:7)
- Two-edged sword (Proverbs 5:4)
- What God has joined together let no man separate (Matthew 19:6)
- Woe is me (Isaiah 6:5)
Surprised? Don’t be. The influence of the Bible can be found in every area of society. There is an interesting incident recorded in the Bible. In the story God is speaking to a man named Isaiah. God poetically declares the power and reach of His life-giving language. “That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” (Isaiah 55:11)
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Dealing with Conflict at Work
We are involved in relationships all the time, and sometimes it can get messy… at home, at school, the neighborhood and at work. I have read books about how to cope with difficult people but sometimes you just might need a little practical counsel on what to do when conflict arises at work.
When facing a situation at work when people disagree over a project, course of action or decision, we sometimes find ourselves fighting to win. It can become a test of wills.
Rather than digging in the heels and insisting on our own way, an alternative is to stop for a moment and view the potential outcome in terms of what is God’s way, what is best for the organization. That is for whom we are all working, right (Colossians 3:17, 23)?
I recently read a few tips on how we can get to God’s best for the organization:
1. Stop being so defensive: Being overly defensive does not score points. Instead, it makes you look desperate and immature. Usually what is perceived as a personal attack is nothing more than an attempt to make an improvement, or it may possibly even be a legitimate point of view. Remove your ego from the situation, and see if it looks any different when you start to view the facts.
Okay, sometimes it really is a personal attack. But the rest of these tips will still work.
2. Maintain a calm tone of voice: It’s easy to get sucked into the black hole of emotions, especially when the person on the other side begins to raise their voice, use aggressive hand gestures or hostile body language. You will do much better if you can maintain a calm, confident approach, even when you are in the epicenter of outburst. Take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, count to five, and keep your cool. Controlling your voice is the key to controlling the situation. You might be surprised at the respect this will win from the other observers in the room.
3. Don’t retaliate with criticism or personal attack: In your mind, view the experience on a higher, spiritual plane instead of a simple conflict between two alpha-managers. Instead of retaliating, begin to ask probing questions, and get at the heart of the opposing point of view. Turn the conversation towards what is best for the organization, not about who will win.
4. Acknowledge the other person’s idea as legitimate: One of the most counter-intuitive things you can do in the heat of an intimidating argument is to build up the other person by giving them credit for their opinion, even if you strongly disagree. Usually that is what they are after anyway, to soothe their own ego. Try complimenting the other person on the validity of their idea, and it may very well diffuse the negativity and lead to a more productive discussion.
5. Look to God’s outcome for the situation: If God is truly present in your life and in your organization (which He is), then you must trust that he has a purpose and an outcome that is bigger than you or your co-worker. Picture yourself as the conduit for God’s grace and purpose to pour into the situation at hand, and see how that changes your attitude and the outcome.
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The Courageous Resolution
The Resolution statements in the Courageous movie are based upon the highest priorities for men in God’s Word. Each statement describes a commitment you should resolve to live by as the leader of your home. Each of them is a call to action, and living by them will ultimately help you stand before God one day and hear him say, “WELL DONE!”
Here is the Resolution for Men:
I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
- I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
- I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
- I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
- I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
- I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
- I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
- I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
- I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
- I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
- I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
- I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)
We embraced this resolution in 2012 because the Men of Steel have a desire to stand in the gap:
I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30).