Gmen Sep 2014

Page 1

What makes a man? I’m convinced there is something in every man that pulls him towards risk, challenge and danger for a godly cause.

The Great

Adventure There is a you, that you won’t ever see, until you get into your calling. The adventure you were born to embark upon!

Continued on page 4


When God throws you the ball


September 19th ee

@7:00 P.M. Devine

Purpose Adult men 18+


There is a you, that you won’t ever see, until you get into your calling. The adventure you were born to embark upon!

W

hether it’s Call of The

how things are, to establish how they should be! It’s a calling from which they can’t turn back. Don’t believe me? Just ask Tom Chatfield

Wild, Survivor Man, or Duck

author of, Fun Inc: Why Gaming will

Dynasty, have you noticed men

Dominate the 21st Century.

have always had a fascination with adventure? Deep within each man is a longing for challenge. Buried within the male psyche is a yearning for risk. A hunger. A thirst even. To step up and go against how things are, to establish how

According to Tom Chatfield, video games are successful because they do three things for boys and men:


It gives them a mission that’s

The Call

greater than themselves It provides them a brotherhood that would die for the cause It offers them a fighting

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

chance

Ezekiel 22:30

These adventures make men of boys. These adventures are the

God the Father has given

kind of thing Jesus used, to turn

each of his sons a calling from

twelve ordinary men into

eternity that’s greater than

champions! The moment you accept the call to, “make disciples of all men” [Matt 28:19] and ask God just how you in particular can do that, the journey begins!

themselves.

As a man you’ll never have that bond with God until you embark the quest He has for your life!


Your calling is going to take you out of your comfort zone, it’s going to unlock your potential, and it’s going to bring you uncommon reward.

The real thrill that men seek, is the special thing God has created them to do, whether or not they are aware of it.


Critical Thoughts 1 Men naturally crave the opportunity to face and overcome challenges, and to rise above their preconceived limitations. This is why sports have replaced religion for a large number of men. But Christ’s message, interpreted properly, will provide the sense of personal challenge that you’re missing. 2 .Do you receive the gospel as a personal relationship with Jesus or a calling to join his army? Viewing it as the latter, may assist you as a man in creating a bond with God and other believers as it appeals to your desire for challenge, action and risk. Be careful how you hear [Luk 8:18].


It’s going to take you out of your comfort zone. It’s going to unlock your potential. It’s going to bring you uncommon reward. Men have a longing for this adventure imbedded in them, that won’t rest until it’s embarked upon. It’s a call to advance His kingdom, using your unique gifts, talents

The quest to advance Gods kingdom in your community is a rigorous call.


and convictions. And though

whether or not you stick to the

women are invited to help, I’m

script God has provided for your life

convinced men are supposed to

[Ps 139:16]. All of the great

lead. It’s why Jesus poured the bulk

explorers were men. They pushed

of his time into twelve men, and is

past the comforts of safety and

why each guy has a bent towards

embraced risk. Even today, we

risk and adventure to begin with. It’s

don’t associate manhood with

what you’re made for! Make no

safety, but the ability to run to, not

mistake about it boys, this isn’t

from challenge.

another sermon. This is real! You’ll be in over your heads. This is mission impossible [without God]. Real blood will spill. Real marriages will fail. Real lives will be lost or saved, depending on

You never call someone that is not needed. Likewise, unless you realize the kingdom needs you in this critical moment, you won’t ever muster the strength to respond. God wants you to step up as His man in your community, living right and utilizing your gifts to uplift others.


The Claim

For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:1

Look at it this way, we can never see all a fish can do until it gets in the water. We can never see all a bird can do until it gets in the air. To see what a car is capable of, I have to put it on the road.

There’s a man in you that’s dying to get out. He doesn’t run from

Likewise, there is a you, that you won’t ever see, until you get

challenge, he runs to it! Your wife

into your assignment. The

wants to meet him. Maybe, you’re

adventure you were born to embark

the guy who hasn’t seen him in a while. Things have been dull in your

upon! God’s calling greatness out of

marriage, single life, family and

you! He’s calling His image in you,

career. But no more! When you

to shine forth as it should in a man

step into your purpose and calling, your potential will unlock. 9

[1 Cor 11:7].


The quest to advance Gods kingdom in your community is a rigorous call.

That’s the claim. You are His. Whether or not you perform, whether or not you succeed, whether or not you ever make it in life, you can fail knowing that you’re

The Challenge

a son of the most high God! But it’s something about knowing this that causes you to not fail in the first place! There is an expectation on us

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. Matt 11:12

that’s higher than that of other men. Indeed, sons of God are expected to behave differently than sons of the culture. Awareness of that identity, allows our performance to rise to the level of that expectation, and fulfill His call on our lives. of that expectation, and fulfill His call on our lives.

Typically, a man won’t engage until he feels challenged. Women? They won’t engage until they feel safe. Unfortunately, today’s men have received the gospel message as a call to safety not challenge. The gospel is preached as a


as a call to safety not challenge.The gospel is preached as a thing of comfort and not courage. Look at bestselling movies amongst women: Sleepless in

They’re always about a group of

Seattle, Twilight, The Notebook and

men accepting a challenge!

Pretty Woman. What do all of them

Like the producers of guy

have in common? They’re about a

films, Jesus knew that men want to

woman who finds a relationship

expend their lives for a great cause,

with a man who can love her

even if it involves risk!

unconditionally. Now think about bestselling movies for guys: 300,

Black Hawk Down, and Gladiator. What do they have in common?

And though pastors today make Christianity about having a loving relationship with God [safety instead of danger] Christ is still challenging his men!


He recruits nearly 100 by saying “I gospel preached cameThe not to sendispeace but aas a thing comfort and sword.ofWhoever findsnot hiscourage. life will

lose it. Whoever loses his life for me will find it!” [Matthew 10:34, 39].

His presence provokes conflict, even when he is an infant: The gospel is preached as a Herod destroys all the male children thing of comfort and not courage. of Bethlehem in an attempt to destroy the rival king. Jesus does nothing to avert a growing conflict

He even reiterates the

with the Jewish authorities and

challenge as the journey goes on,

often speaks harshly to them,

“Whoever does not take up his

“Brood of vipers, fit for hell.” [Matt

cross and follows me is not worthy

23:33].

of me!” [Matt 10:38]. By his own account, Jesus comes not to bring peace, but a sword.

Continued on page 15


Bulletins Follow Gmen online by clicking any of the following.

Events Our next Gmen’s meeting [18+] is on September 19th at 7 P.M.

Our next Giant Killaz meeting [10-17+] is on September 19th at 7 P.M.


They accuse him of being possessed by demons, and ofas a The gospel is preached being a Samaritan, apostate thing of comfort andan not courage. who mixes Judaism and paganism. Paul took a similar approach.

or, an army brigade against enemy soldiers. The gospel is preached as a thing ofWe comfort notacourage. don’tand serve “loving” God so to speak. Rather, we’ve been called by a commander and chief

He doesn’t call the church of

luring us into combat for humanity!

Ephesus to a relationship but to

You’re going to have to cross

war! Put on the armor of God that

swords with hostile secular

you may be able to stand against

worldviews. You’ll have to go

the schemes of the devil. Take the

against how things are, to establish

sword of the spirit and the shield of

how the bible says it should be.

faith” [Eph 6:10-18]. As with

Unless you see it that way, you

women, the goal is to get men into

won’t move aggressively into the

a close relationship with God,

things of God and closer to Him as

however, men bond through

a result.

challenge and action, in much the same way a football team does against an opponent

There’s a part of you that won’t be motivated unless you see danger up ahead. He wants a quest


He doesn’t want an empty chair. He wants to fight his way in! Maybe, you’ve been in the light so long, you forgot how dark it is out there. But let me tell you, we live in a day and time when families, communities,

The real thrill that men seek, is the special thing God has created them to do, whether or not they are aware of it.

churches and society needs godly men. And that aint no walk in the park. game or punching a guy in the stomach, The Crown

we go all out to be taken seriously!

How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? John 5:44 Honor. That’s what every man wants right? Whether it’s having the best looking car, winning a football

When you embark upon masculine Christianity and engage the enemy for God, you’ll receive uncommon honor! Jesus referred to it as, “…the honor that

comes from God only.” [Jon 5:44]. And while men give honor to those who do things that other men see, God


looks at the heart. If you’re not being true to who He made you to be as a man, you won’t be acknowledged by Him. Make up your mind today to live on the edge! Don’t allow religion and tradition to suppress your masculinity for Christ! When God prompts you to do something, step forward boldly by His grace and get it done without fear or hesitation. It’s the call of the wild!


Scripture

Matthew 10:38-39

AMP

And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [[o]cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his [[p]lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

Thought Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller


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