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