SUMMARY/INTRO: JP3 talks about how men’s ministry showed him that our identity isn't in what we do or what people can do for us, but in Christ — and that real manhood is forged in intrusive, relational community where we learn to cast our care upon Jesus. He shares his story of growing up hyper-churched, walking through family pain and poor choices, and how getting plugged into God’s Mighty Men finally gave him a safe, biblical space to discover my spiritual gifts and stop burning all my energy trying to perform. Out of that journey he started Men on Purpose during the lockdown — Manhood Monday became our weekly lifeline, full of honest teaching, small-group accountability, and even straight-up conversations about sexual purity and fidelity. We talk about the tension between natural gifts and spiritual dependence (yeah, sometimes your charisma takes you farther than your character can keep you), why vulnerability among guys is not weakness but healing, and how diversity and getting out of comfort zones stretch us into stronger servant-leaders. He tells the awkward Kawhi Leonard story to remind us to stop taking ourselves so seriously and be emotionally present in our marriages and families. If you’re weary of surface-level church stuff and want a practical, Christ-centered way to grow as a man on purpose, we invite you to pull up a seat and get into the mix. —————————— SHOW NOTES: What does biblical manhood actually look like? In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben sits down with John Price III (JP3), founding president of Men on Purpose, for a wide-ranging conversation about Christian masculinity, male friendship, vulnerability, servant leadership, spiritual growth, and what it means to become a man who lives on purpose. John shares parts of his own story, including growing up in a highly churched environment, experiencing family brokenness, and eventually discovering how his identity as a man could not be built around performance, achievement, or what other people expected from him. He explains how Christian community and men’s ministry helped him understand that his identity is ultimately found in Christ. The conversation also challenges some common assumptions about men. Are men really less relational by nature, or have we simply been taught that vulnerability and emotional connection are weaknesses? Ben and John explore the example of Jesus and John the disciple, the importance of safe relationships between men, confession, accountability, and creating spaces where men can be honest about their struggles. They also discuss the difference between natural ability and spiritual gifting, why charisma can take someone farther than their character can sustain, and why biblical manhood is ultimately about living under the lordship of Christ rather than trying to fit a cultural definition of masculinity. John explains how Men on Purpose began during the isolation of 2020 and developed into an intentional community focused on helping men grow spiritually, lead their families well, build healthy marriages, and make Kingdom impact in their churches and communities. The conversation also explores cultural and racial differences within the church, learning from people outside our normal comfort zones, rejecting passivity, taking the next small step, and trusting God through seasons when we don’t yet understand what He is doing. If you’ve ever wondered what biblical manhood looks like, struggled with passivity or isolation, or wanted deeper relationships with other Christian men, this conversation offers a challenging and encouraging perspective on becoming a man who follows Christ with purpose. TAKEAWAYS: Biblical manhood is ultimately shaped by God and lived under the lordship of Christ.A man’s identity is not found primarily in what he accomplishes or what other people can do for him.Christian men are created for meaningful relationships, friendship, accountability, and community.Vulnerability and confession are not signs of weakness; they can be part of the path toward healing and spiritual growth.Jesus’ relationship with His disciples provides a picture of meaningful intimacy and relationship between men.Healthy men’s ministry should go beyond occasional events and create intentional, ongoing community.Natural charisma and gifting cannot substitute for character.Biblical leadership is fundamentally about servant leadership and giving yourself for others.Men can learn and grow by intentionally stepping outside of their cultural and personal comfort zones.Diversity within the body of Christ can help believers learn from experiences different from their own.Rejecting passivity often means taking one small step rather than waiting until everything is figured out.Fear of failure, reputation, or losing control can contribute to passivity.God can use difficult and confusing seasons to shape us even when we don’t immediately understand why we’re going through them.Christian men need safe communities where they can be honest about temptation, weakness, struggles, and spiritual growth.The goal of Christian manhood is not simply personal success but Kingdom impact in families, churches, communities, and the world. MEN ON PURPOSE LINKS: Website YouTube —————————— CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Identity, Faith & Becoming a Man 05:00 — Growing Up Churched & Finding Christ 10:00 — Why Men Need Relational Community 15:00 — Vulnerability, Friendship & the Example of Jesus 23:00 — Learning Through Cultural Differences 28:00 — Discomfort, Leadership & Personal Growth 33:00 — Character, Charisma & Spiritual Gifts 39:00 — What Does Biblical Manhood Look Like? 42:40 — How Men on Purpose Began 51:45 — Rejecting Passivity & Taking the Next Step 01:00:48 — Fear, Reputation & Trusting God —————————— Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming. If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here: theprodigaljourney.com/donate —————————— Affiliate Links: I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast. https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nte5ndk —————————— Intro/Outro music used with permission under a standard music license, purchased from @wavebeatsmusic. License certificate on file. Credits: Track Title: 'Motivational Power' Music by WavebeatsMusic Promo Video: https://youtu.be/5hTaTrJowJk Track Info: WBM T73: 'Motivational Power" Artist: WavebeatsMusic Composer: Henrique Tavares Dib PRO: APRA/AMCOS, IPI:00611600895 Publisher: Songtrust ST Music ANZ PTY LTD, IPI: 825751036
