The Men's Podcast

PursueGOD Podcasts
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Join pastors John Belles and Bryan Dwyer to talk about biblical manhood in an increasingly secular culture. Find resources to continue the conversation with your family, group, or mentor at pursueGOD.org/men.

  1. If Nothing Changes, Nothing Will Change - Burn the Ships - Fight Club

    6d ago ·  Bonus

    If Nothing Changes, Nothing Will Change - Burn the Ships - Fight Club

    In this episode, we break down the critical framework of "environment discipline" and why trying to negotiate with your daily temptations is a guaranteed path to failure. Chronological Chapter Timestamps [00:00] — The Ultimate Test of Resolve Why this specific topic separates the men from the boys and causes immediate pushback from almost every man who hears it. [00:55] — The Metaphor of the Midnight Thief A visual breakdown of how we willingly leave our windows unlocked and keys in the door for an enemy that destroys everything we love. [02:15] — The Myth of Negotiating with Temptation Confronting the toxic illusion that you can keep the apps, late-night habits, and toxic friends while expecting your life to change. [04:00] — Introduction to Environment Discipline Defining the core framework of the fight: why you should never risk fighting a temptation tomorrow that you can eliminate today. [05:20] — The Cannons on the Hill Using wartime terminology to illustrate the sheer arrogance of leaving weapons of mass destruction aimed directly at your encampment. [06:45] — Do You Actually Want to Be Healed? Diving deep into the biblical account of the paralyzed man at the pool and what it truly means to "pick up your mat" and leave your old life behind. [09:10] — The Consequence of Extremity vs. Moderation Weighing the minor social discomfort of being "too extreme" against the catastrophic cost of not being extreme enough. [11:00] — Burning the Ships: Lessons from Cortez How historical commander Hernán Cortés forced absolute commitment from his men, and how to apply a "scorched earth" policy to your digital accounts. [13:10] — Amputation Over Accommodation Unpacking Jesus’ radical command to gouge out eyes and cut off hands, translating ancient truth into modern digital boundaries. [15:45] — The 100-Day Scorched Earth Action Plan How to audit your environment tonight, pull your Fight Club into the loop, and commit to a season of absolute clearance. Key Takeaways The Illusion of Negotiation You cannot sit in the muck of the pigpen and expect to stay clean. Keeping triggering apps, watching boundary-pushing TV shows, or hanging out with friends who fuel your bad habits is a soft compromise that always ends in failure. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Environment Discipline Over Willpower Willpower is a finite resource. Environment discipline removes the battle entirely by asking a simple question: Why risk fighting a temptation tomorrow if you have the power to eliminate it today? Your environment directly dictates your visual inputs, which ultimately drive your thoughts, feelings, and actions. The "Mat" of Comfort When Jesus healed the paralyzed man, telling him to "pick up his mat" wasn't just a physical instruction—it was an environmental command. The mat represented his old life, his comfort zone, and his identity as a beggar. Carrying it meant he was leaving that space permanently with no option to return. Abstinence Over Moderation Moderation leaves the door shut but completely unlocked. Abstinence bars the entrance entirely. True freedom requires a "scorched earth" strategy—deleting your actual accounts (not just removing the apps) so that re-downloading them out of boredom or loneliness is no longer an easy escape route.

    26 min

  2. Jun 22

    Confession

    Welcome back to the podcast, men! -- The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men. Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now --

    21 min
  3. Routine - Fight Club

    Jun 19 ·  Bonus

    Routine - Fight Club

    In this episode, we discuss how establishing a structured daily routine serves as the ultimate weapon for breaking free from destructive cycles and maintaining long-term spiritual freedom. Key Takeaways Routine is Your Foundation: Think of a structured routine as building your life on solid rock. Without it, your discipline feels shaky, leaving you highly vulnerable to old triggers when life gets chaotic. The Power of the Bookends: Master your morning and evening. Establishing strict, consistent wake-up and bedtimes creates the psychological boundaries necessary to maintain daily self-control. Structure Eradicates Vulnerability: Lust thrives in unstructured gaps of time. By proactively mapping out your day, you drastically reduce the idle moments where temptation typically strikes. The Trifecta of Daily Defense: True freedom is maintained through three core daily habits: Dedicated Spiritual Time to ground your mind, Journaling (especially video journaling) to track your triggers and progress, and Physical Exercise (like a simple daily push-up challenge) to burn off restless energy and foster physical discipline. Consistency Over Intensity: Overambitious schedules lead to rapid burnout. Keep your routine remarkably simple and sustainable—doing the small things every single day is what builds the "save button" for your progress. Chapters[00:00] — The Solid Rock: Why routine is the essential, missing foundation for a sustainable life. [00:28] — My Story: A personal look at breaking free from lust and the exact role routine played in that victory. [01:58] — Breaking the Relapse Cycle: How a structured day acts as the ultimate pattern-interrupter for chronic habits. [04:15] — Redefining Discipline: Shifting your mindset from seeing routine as a punishment to seeing it as your ultimate path to freedom. [05:12] — Eliminating Idle Time: How to use scheduling as a shield against temptation during unstructured hours. [07:33] — The 5 Core Habits: A practical breakdown of wake-up times, sleep, spiritual focus, journaling, and exercise. [09:20] — Tracking the Triggers: How written and video journaling expose the patterns behind your slips. [13:02] — Managing Restless Energy: Utilizing simple physical movement (like daily push-ups) to build physical self-control. [15:22] — The Burnout Trap: Why keeping your habits simple and manageable prevents dangerous exhaustion. [16:42] — The Progress "Save Button": How the cumulative power of small actions locks in your spiritual gains over time. [21:04] — A Shield, Not a Cure: Understanding that routine doesn't instantly solve the problem—it creates the environment for victory to happen. [23:25] — The Final Key: Why doing the small things daily beats rare, intense efforts every single time.

    24 min
  4. The Fight Club - Fight Club

    Jun 12 ·  Bonus

    The Fight Club - Fight Club

    In this episode, we break down the critical necessity of building a confidential "Fight Club" brotherhood to break free from the trap of lust and isolation. We walk through how to identify hidden blind spots, unpack a powerful four-question framework for mandatory daily check-ins, and lay down three non-negotiable rules of accountability. ⏱️ Chronological "Chapter" Timestamps [00:00] — The Image to Protect The trap of the naturally guilty conscience, keeping secrets from the world, and the 5-year refusal to accept parental advice on vulnerability.[01:14] — The 80% Reality Check Deconstructing the lie that you are alone or weird. Overcoming the pride and ego that prevent men from admitting they lack the willpower to do it alone.[02:18] — Isolation Breeds Lust Why isolation is the ultimate breeding ground for bondage. A direct call to action: Pause the podcast and go find your army.[03:39] — Force Multipliers & Spotting Blind Spots The difference between being a target in a trench and being an unstoppable force. How trusted brothers see the hidden vulnerabilities—like deep-seated insecurities about masculinity—that you are blind to.[05:07] — The Sunlight of Accountability Defining accountability through the lens of truth. Why keeping even 1% of your battle in the dark keeps you in chains.[06:33] — The Anatomy of a Daily Check-In Moving past the weekly debrief to high-frequency consistency. Introducing the 4-question framework to keep your brotherhood razor-sharp.[10:14] — The 3 Non-Negotiable Rules of Fight Club The blueprint for a trusted unit: Be Clear (absolute honesty), Be Confidential (sacred trust), and Be Committed (iron sharpening iron). Key Takeaways Isolation is the Breeding Ground: Every struggle with lust begins and thrives because you think you are alone in that room or with your phone. Freedom cannot grow in the dark; it requires public exposure to trusted allies. Pride is the Ultimate Chainsmith: The ego convinces you that asking for help is an admission of weakness. In reality, admitting you cannot do it alone is the exact moment the enemy loses his leverage over you. The "Force Multiplier" Effect: A single soldier standing alone in a trench is just a target. When you link arms with a fight club, you transform from a passive target into an offensive military force that can fight back and win. Vulnerabilities Drive the Vice: Lust is rarely just about a tempting image or a passing thought; it is fueled by unaddressed emotions like stress, anxiety, or deep insecurities regarding your masculinity. Lies by Omission are Links in the Chain: Withholding the parts of your battle that you think are "too weird" or shameful ensures you stay in bondage. If your fight club doesn't know 100% of the truth, they can only help 0% of the problem.

    25 min

  5. Jun 8

    Accountability

    Welcome back to the podcast! -- The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men. Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now --

    20 min

  6. May 25

    Dating pt. 2

    Welcome back to the podcast, men! -- The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men. Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now --

    26 min

  7. May 11

    Dating pt.1

    Welcome back to the podcast, men! -- The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men. Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now -- NAVIGATING THE DATING JUNGLE: WISDOM FOR CHRISTIAN PARENTSDating isn't a topic with a straightforward "blueprint" in the Bible. While Scripture doesn't provide a direct manual for modern dating or courtship, it offers timeless wisdom that can guide parents as they lead their children through these formative years. In this episode, Pastor John is joined by Braun Khan and Michael Pate to discuss how to approach the dating conversation with humility, flexibility, and a focus on the heart. Principles Over Dogmatism One of the greatest risks for Christian parents is becoming overly dogmatic or heavy-handed. Whether influenced by past cultural movements like I Kissed Dating Goodbye or personal anxieties, a "forced compliance" model rarely reaches a child's heart. Instead, the goal is to provide guiding principles that help children honor God while maintaining open lines of communication. Setting the Foundation Early Conversations about relationships should begin long before a romantic interest is on the radar. The "Passport to Purity" Approach: Many parents find success using intentional programs around age 12 to discuss purity and peer pressure before the pressure of high school begins.The "Brother/Sister" Rule: 1 Timothy 5:2 encourages us to treat younger women as sisters with absolute purity. This frames every potential date not as an object of affection, but as someone else's future spouse who deserves respect and protection. Practical BoundariesWhile every home is different, the common thread among these fathers was a preference for group settings over one-on-one dating during the high school years. Group Dating: Encouraging "dates" to happen in the context of friend groups or school dances to provide natural accountability.The Purpose of Dating: Helping children understand that the biblical purpose of dating is to investigate a potential marriage partner. If they aren't in a season where marriage is a possibility, "pumping the brakes" prevents emotional baggage and "catastrophic mistakes". Trusting the ProcessUltimately, parents are like warriors launching arrows; once the fletching is set and the arrow is released into adulthood, parents must rely on the Holy Spirit to continue the work in their children's hearts. Even when kids make mistakes or face heartbreak, these moments serve as opportunities for them to lean into their own relationship with Jesus.

    29 min

  8. Apr 20

    Can I really do all things through Christ?

    Welcome back to the podcast! Philippians 4 gives us great instruction on how to deal with anxiety, but there is much more to the passage than that. We see calls for perseverance, reconciliation, and contentment. If we’re tempted to think, “That’s easy for Paul to say.”, remember, he wrote this from prison. -- The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men. Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now -- Notes

    24 min
See All (106)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Join pastors John Belles and Bryan Dwyer to talk about biblical manhood in an increasingly secular culture. Find resources to continue the conversation with your family, group, or mentor at pursueGOD.org/men.

Information

More From PursueGOD Podcasts

You Might Also Like