Mission Focused Men for Christ

Gary Yagel
  • 4.7 (32)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This 20-minute weekly podcast is for Christian men who want to hear, “Well done,” from Jesus, after running the race marked out for them. Its goals are to: 1) EQUIP men to better understand from Scripture their mission, 2) ENCOURAGE men because we fail often, 3) ENERGIZE men because our spiritual tank is often on "empty," 4) EMPOWER men to stay focused on honoring Christ with their lives. The podcast presenter, Dr. Gary Yagel, is known for his practical biblical teaching and encouraging heart. A former church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America, Gary is the founder and Executive Director of Forging Bonds of Brotherhood. He is the author of Got Your Back, and Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, (available on Amazon) and has taught Making Missional Disciples as a guest professor at Reformed Theological Seminary DC. For further information about Gary’s ministry, go to forgingbonds.org or gotyourback.info. 

  1. 1D AGO

    Crocodile Tears or True Repentance?

    Episode Summary:  In this episode we examine Nehemiah 10 to see what it can teach us about false and true repentance. For Further Prayerful Thought.   Why is saying “I’m sorry” easier than true repentance?How would you summarize these words of John? And by this we know that we have come to know him (Christ), if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (1 Jn 2:3-6.)Although we no longer live in a theocracy as God’s people did before Jesus came, why might Israel’s law that warned that oppression of the poor was not to be compensated for by partiality towards them in court help inform our thinking about how best to show mercy to the poor.How does the example of God’s repentant Old Covenant people stepping up to fully fund ministry challenge you?What have you learned about walking in the Spirit, i.e. experiencing his power in your everyday life? For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    30 min

  2. APR 26

    Spiritual Fruitfulness Comes Through Brokenness

    Episode Summary: One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that fruitfulness comes not from strength but from brokenness. Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains by itself alone. But if it dies it bears much fruit.” Peter was the arrogant leader of the disciples who boasted “Lord even if all the other disciples forsake you, I never will.”  Before the next morning, he denied knowing Jesus three times and when the c**k crowed, he went out and wept bitterly, a broken man. Never again in Scripture do we see that arrogance in Peter. Instead, he passes on to others a lesson that he learned through his brokenness “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Can you imagine God pulling out his big guns AGAINST YOU? The fastest way to see that happen is pride. And one of pride’s most subtle manifestations is taking our sins lightly rather than weeping over them. Today’s episode from Nehemiah is a great picture of a nation, broken by its sin.   For Further Prayerful Thought: What stood out to you most as the priests recounted the cycle of Israel’s history—God’s goodness and mercy, Israel’s rebellion against him, the punishment for their sins (covenant sanctions)?Why do you think James is so insistent that to draw near to God we must feel broken over our own sin?In the Beatitudes, Jesus ranked mourning over sin second on the list of kingdom attitudes ahead of meekness, purity of heart, etc. How would grieving over our own sins, and grieving over the suffering of those who are still enslaved to sin because they do not know Jesus impact our heart attitudes towards the lost?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    26 min

  3. APR 19

    A Great Awakening in Israel and America

    Episode Summary:  One of the films making its rounds the past two weeks in movie theaters is “A Great Awakening” produced by Sight and Sound. The film tells the story of the First Great Awakening in America through the lens of Benjamin Franklin, the friend of George Whitefield the great preacher who was largely responsible, along with Jonathan Edwards, for the awakening which historians say had a tremendous impact on the founding of America thirty years later.  One of the primary responsibilities of Christians is to impact their culture, retarding the decay brought about by sin by functioning as salt and shining the light of God's truth into spheres of our own culture where the darkness of sin prevails. In other words, Christ wants us not only to be individual disciples of his but to make disciples of all nations. In this episode we find insight about this process as we look at how God discipled nations in the past by bringing about a great awakening and spiritual renewal in Israel (recounted in Nehemiah 8) and inspiring The Great Awakening in America.  For Further Prayerful Thought: Why do you think Jesus told us our mission is to “make disciples OF the nations” instead of “make disciples IN the nations”? What is the difference? What does this command say to Christians who want to give up on our culture because “the culture is so evil it is going to hell in a hand basket”?What stood out to you about how God discipled his nation, Israel, through Ezra and the Levites during the month of Tishri? What parts of this process seem applicable to America? Which parts don’t?What stood out to you about God discipling America through The Great Awakening? What lessons, if any, can you draw from it about how God might “disciple” America through us.For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    31 min

  4. APR 12

    Israel, America, Iran & War

    Summary: As we pick up our study of the Book of Nehemiah, we come to the eight chapter where a national revival takes place in Judah. Before studying that next week, we need to think carefully about some issues—issues that happen to be very much in the news today, which surround America’s war with Iran, Israel our ally, and the war itself. Is God on our side? Is this a just war? Are Christians right who seem to say we should blindly support Israel in its conflict with Islamic Jihadists? Is America a Christian nation? This episode seeks to find clarity in Scripture about these issues.  For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you describe the difference between ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel. How does this difference make sense? Why is it important?Why is it important to recognize that God’s covenant with spiritual Israel is continued in the church?Contrast Israel’s theocracy with America’s democracy.What is the difference between recognizing the influence of Christians in America’s founding and constitution and saying America is a Christian nation?What is your opinion of the Islamic Jihadi cry, “from the river to the sea.”For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    32 min

  5. APR 5

    What the Resurrection Means for Our Everyday Mission

    Summary:   The resurrection reminds us that the gospel is not just about our personal, private salvation and growth in holiness (which is called the two-chapter gospel.) Such a gospel leads to separating from the lost, forgetting their inherent value as those created in God’s image, and devaluing the (common grace) contributions they make to our culture. In contrast, the resurrection of Christ’s physical body reminds us that the true gospel story has four chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Christ-followers are called to be part of the greatest mission in the history of the world, Christ’s renewal of our corner of planet earth to bring about the righteousness and flourishing that God intends for each part of his creation. This episode seeks to capture our hearts with the greatness of the mission our Lord has assigned to us the power for which is his resurrection. Resources Used  All Things New by Hugh WhelchelThe Call of the Jericho Road by Tim KellerDiscipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theology by Gary Yagel (doctoral dissertation)For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

    21 min

  6. MAR 29

    Better Understanding the Kingdom We Are to Seek

    Episode Summary: Jesus commanded us not to be preoccupied with what we will eat or drink or distracted by what we are going to wear. Rather, we are to seek first the kingdom of God. But how do you seek something you can’t describe and don’t know how to define? Modern Christians are not the only ones confused about what this means. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus spent his last forty days on earth explaining this concept to his disciples, and they still got it wrong, asking “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of God are puzzle pieces that do fit together and can make a huge difference in understanding our mission. This episode puts some of those pieces together and illustrates how Christ-followers have sought and prayed for the kingdom of God to advance over the earth.  For Further Prayerful Thought: What is the most helpful thing you have ever learned about the term kingdom of God?Do you agree or disagree with the argument that Christians fail to understand what it means to seek first the kingdom of God because they don’t go back to Adam and Eve’s original creation as rulers of kingdom earth and calling to spread shape culture FOR the High King?How does understanding the ALREADY/NOT YET aspects of the kingdom help you understand it. What is still confusing to you?What examples of kingdom discipleship stood out most to you?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    28 min

  7. MAR 22

    Pushing Through Discouragement-Producing Opposition

    Episode Summary. Have you ever wondered, “Why is life so difficult? Why is it such a struggle? Why am I tired all the time? Why do so many things go wrong? Why is it that when I try to accomplish something for God it's never easy?” This episode is for those who are finding that pleasing Jesus with your life is hard, full of resistance, and sometimes generates so much discouragement that you feel like not even trying any more. For Further Prayerful Thought: What are the things that you find most discouraging about trying to please and follow Jesus?How would you explain the importance of perseverance?What insights stood out about Nehemiah persevering through three plots to murder him?Which phrases from the Ortlands’ book, You Don’t Have to Quit, did you find most motivating?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    26 min

  8. MAR 15

    A Characteristic of Nehemiah that Won Followers

    Episode Summary. There are few men portrayed in Scripture who had more lasting success leading than Nehemiah. In fact, the success of some, like Saul and Solomon, led to their demise, as power often does. In fact, a case could be made that the adversity Nehemiah had just come through in the last chapter is less of a threat to many leaders than success. As Scottish essayist and historian, Thomas Carlyle, once declared, “Adversity is hard on a man; but for every one man who can withstand prosperity there are a hundred that will withstand adversity.” In Nehemiah 5:14-19 we see a quality that allowed him to win a following in both adversity and prosperity For Further Prayerful Thought: Which example of Nehemiah being a giver rather than a taker most stood out to you?What do you think are the biggest obstacles to become more of a giver than taker in all of our interactions with others?How might the three observations we made about Nehemiah’s internal motivations explain his behavior as a giver instead of a taker?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

    22 min
See All (342)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

This 20-minute weekly podcast is for Christian men who want to hear, “Well done,” from Jesus, after running the race marked out for them. Its goals are to: 1) EQUIP men to better understand from Scripture their mission, 2) ENCOURAGE men because we fail often, 3) ENERGIZE men because our spiritual tank is often on "empty," 4) EMPOWER men to stay focused on honoring Christ with their lives. The podcast presenter, Dr. Gary Yagel, is known for his practical biblical teaching and encouraging heart. A former church planter in the Presbyterian Church in America, Gary is the founder and Executive Director of Forging Bonds of Brotherhood. He is the author of Got Your Back, and Anchoring Your Child to God's Truth in a Gender-Confused Culture, (available on Amazon) and has taught Making Missional Disciples as a guest professor at Reformed Theological Seminary DC. For further information about Gary’s ministry, go to forgingbonds.org or gotyourback.info. 

Information

  • Creator
    Gary Yagel
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    342
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mission Focused Men for Christ
  • Show Website
    Mission Focused Men for Christ

You Might Also Like