The Men's Podcast

The Men's Podcast

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. FEB 6

    Leading When Your Wife is an Unbeliever

    Welcome back to the podcast, men! We’re in episode 2 of our series: Leading When it's Hard.  Today’s topic: How do we lead if our wife is an unbeliever or is living in rebellion? -- 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 -- Stay in your lane and pray, pray, pray Our role is to share the gospel and make disciples.  The Holy Spirit’s role is to bring conviction and change hearts.  Pray to the Holy Spirit, asking him to bring conviction to your spouse and to give you the strength to stay the course. One of the hardest things for us as men to remember is to stay in our lane.  What I mean by that is it isn’t our job to convict our wife or soften their heart.  Only God can do that.  That is the role the Holy Spirit.  John 16:7-8 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate[a] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin.  Acts 13:3 Acts 13:3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Context of this verse - sending Paul and Barnabas commission to go out on their missionary journey. The church knew the importance of praying for Paul and Barnabas and in praying for the Holy Spirit to move and soften hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to soften your wife’s heart and bring conviction.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring others into her life who will also point her to Jesus. Pray for strength.  Pray for endurance. Fight for your marriage.  1 Corinthians 7:12-14 Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer[c] has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.  1 Corinthians 7: 16  Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you? If you were a Christian when you married and you married a non-believer, I want to say this as compassionately as I can, but let this be a good reminder to you that God’s boundaries are for your good.  Fight for your marriage.   Actions Speak Louder than Words Actions speak louder than words. Live with your wife in an understanding way and let your love and good deeds point her to Jesus. 1 Peter 3:1-2, 7  In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.  In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than...

    30 min
  2. JAN 23

    Leading When Your Wife has Been the Stronger Christian

    Hey men, welcome back to the podcast! Today, we’re going to kick off a three part series titled, “When it is tough to lead.”  The Bible makes it clear that the mantle of leadership in the home and in the church has been placed on 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 -- Ephesians 5:22-30 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. 25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.[b] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.I think the command is clear.  I think that men who are really pursuing God and trying to live by his standards want to do it, or at least recognize they’re called to do it.  But how do we do it? How do we do it when our wife has been a Christian longer or has more Bible knowledge than we do? How do we do it if our wife is walking away from God? How do we lead in the home when our children are rebelling from God?  That’s what we’re going to try and answer in this series.  Today, we’re looking at how to lead when our wife has been a believer longer than us, or has more Biblical knowledge than us.  And I want to start with this… Be Thankful If your wife has been a Christian longer than you, or has more biblical knowledge than you, thank God for her. I’m not saying that it can’t or doesn’t create a set of problems.  It can.  But what a great problem to have. If this is the episode in this series that you’re battling, I guarantee you the guys who are battling with the next episode, how to lead when your wife is walking away from God, would trade places with you in a heartbeat.  Let me read a couple of verses… Proverbs 31:10-11 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;  but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Thank God for your wife and her love for him.  Thank your wife. Ask your wife to forgive you for not spiritually leading up to this point if you haven’t been.  Initiate, Initiate, InitiateLeading means...

    30 min
  3. JAN 9

    Stormproof Men #7: Sexual Purity in a Sex Saturated World

    Welcome back, men! We’re coming to the end of our Stormproof series. We’ve been looking at the book, “Stormproof” by Roger Frankhauser. The goal of the book is to help Christian men have sexual purity in a sex-saturated world. We’re finishing the series and at the same time we’re kicking off a new year.  -- 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 -- Run Like Your Life Depends On It The Bible commands us to flee sexual immorality. This language is weighty.  We should recognize just how dangerous it will be if we don’t quickly put distance between us and temptation. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [g]and in your spirit, which are God’s. 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. We’re not called to stand and fight.  I find that so interesting.  We’re told to flee.  Run! This isn’t something we should be casual about.  We need to put as much distance between us and the temptation as possible.  Example of Joseph -  Genesis 39:11-12 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Instead of fleeing, we so often dilly dally around.  We play with the temptation.  We ask,”How close to this thing can I get without getting burned?”  Would we do that in a life or death situation?  If a blazing fire was coming down the mountain on us, would we see how close we could get without getting burned, or would we put as much distance between us and the fire as possible? Part of the issue is we don’t recognize the seriousness of sin. It truly is life or death.  The bible says the wages of sin is death. Now, as believers, our position before God is secure, but it can kill our intimacy. Lot’s wife - didn’t run, stopped and wanted to linger - Is that our attitude with sexual purity?   Author talks about four categories where we need to flee Sexual distractions - beach, lingerie store, - The other woman - use common sense, say far away, avoid flirtatious talk, play the dweeb - story of McKenzie Electronic Devices - accountability software - covenant eyes, net nanny, Commercial sex industry - Sex outside of marriage - dating, cohabitationDon’t date a non-believerDon’t put yourself in compromising situationsClearly communicate boundaries - even if the other person professes to be a Christian  Moving...

    30 min
  4. 12/12/2024

    Stormproof Men #6: Sexual Purity in a Sex Saturated World

    Welcome back to the podcast men! We’re in our sixth episode of the Stormproof series, where we’ve been discussing the the book “Stormproof Men’ by Roger Fankhauser. Listening to this podcast is great, but just listening isn’t going to give you victory in this area. You need to implement the principles we’re talking about. -- 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 -- James 1:22-25 says: "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."  Control Your Thoughts The first key to controlling our thoughts is replacing our thoughts.  You have to fill the void with something else, or the initial thoughts will just creep back in. The longer we think on sinful things, the more enticing they become and the more we begin to justify them.  You might respond to “control your thoughts” with “that’s easier said than done” or “how can I do that?”. I can’t help the thoughts that come into my mind. I would agree with you that to some extent you can’t help the thoughts that pop into your mind, but you can control what you do with them when you recognize they’re there.  Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Philippians 4:8-9 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Killing sin when it is smallProcess - become aware of the thought, evaluate the thought, replace inappropriate thoughts  Control Your Eyes  God made men visual creatures .  That isn’t an invitation to look lustfully at women or images of women.  Controlling what we’re looking at is critical to victory in the area of sexual purity.  Job 31:1I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.  Job is protesting his innocence here.  He’s saying, “I was successful at this.  I kept the covenant.” I hope that is encouraging to us.   Matthew 6:22-23 Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! Story...

    33 min
  5. 11/28/2024

    Stormproof Men #5: Sexual Purity in a Sex Saturated World

    Welcome back, men! Join us this week for episode five in our Stormproof series, where we tackle what it looks like to achieve and maintain sexual purity in today's sex saturated culture. -- 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 -- Storms are going to come in our lives in our battle for purity. Are we preparing? Are we looking for warning signs? Are we fleeing?  Connect with God It is critical to connect with God on a regular basis. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study aren’t ends in themselves, but instead they equip us for living and for experiencing a close relationship with God. Connect regularly with God Practices such as reading the Bible and prayer are not ends in themselves. Instead, they equip us for living and for experiencing a close relationship with God. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  John Ortberg - There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something. Respecting the distinction between training and merely trying is the key to transformation in every area of life.  God uses these disciplines to change us from the inside out. Psalm 119:9-16 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.11 I have hidden your word in my heart,  that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord;  teach me your decrees. 13 I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. 14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.16 I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Obstacles to reading  Guilt Difficult to understandChoosing to read - love is a choice example from marriage basics Nature of the Bible itself - spiritual warfare  Prayer  God is a personal God. We are his children.  He is our father. Might be difficult for those of you who had a strained relationship with your father or whose father abandoned them or was present physically, but not emotionally. God is a perfect father.  His judgment is always right.  He disciplines those he loves.  His discipline is just and appropriate. God is God and we’re not.  Great reminder of our dependence on him.  He’s the creator. We’re the creation.  Walking in the Spirit Flesh can not defeat fleshMy efforts alone won’t produce Godliness. Galatians 3:2-3 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy...

    31 min
  6. Are Family Curses (and Blessings) Real? (Acts 16) - The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

    11/15/2024 · BONUS

    Are Family Curses (and Blessings) Real? (Acts 16) - The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

    Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode, we'll be talking about family curses...and blessings! Are they still a thing? Listen to find out! -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org. Donate Now -- Q. Are Family Curses (and Blessings) Real? Super scary verse in the OT (Second Commandment):Exodus 20:4-5 (NLT) 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. Generational curses? Need to cast out demons? “Bondage Breaker” bookNo! This is more about learned behaviorThird and fourth generationsYou may have met these people!Influence extends to grandkids and great grandchildrenPrinciple: parenting matters!You will pass on more than you thinkFamily idols (even today)AlcoholismPride, selfishnessMaterialism (wealth)But don’t miss the next verseExodus 20:6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.God wants to bless your family!A thousand generations vs. 3 or 4But look at the recipient of thisThose who love me and obey my commandsThe greatest generational blessing: salvationHouseholds where grandparents, parents, kids are all followersNothing better than thisVery few families have itWe’re going to see this in action in 3 families in Acts 16 today… Acts 16: (NLT) 1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. This is Paul’s second missionary journey First time we meet Timothy. This guy becomes Paul’s protege. Jewish momGreek dad2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT) 5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.Notice: no mention of fatherDad was likely not a Gentile follower of GodIf he was, he would have had Timothy circumcisedOne more hint about Timothy’s upbringing…2 Timothy 3:15 (NLT) 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.Taught by mother and grandmother!The point: if you want to pass on your faith, teach your kids the Bible early and often Next passage: Acts 16:13-14 (NLT) 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the...

    25 min
  7. 11/14/2024

    Stormproof Men #4: Sexual Purity in a Sex Saturated World

    Hello men, and welcome back to the podcast! Today, we'll be continuing our Stormproof series, reading through the book of the same title by Roger Fankhauser. Listen now to dive into some practical application with us! -- 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 -- We’re jumping back into our Stormproof series after taking a quick one week break for the election podcast that we aired on the last episode.  I hope you’ve been praying for our newly elected leaders, regardless of how you voted.  The M Word While there are no passages of scripture that explicitly condemn or condone masturbation, there are several Biblical principles that we can apply. These principals would cause us to view masturbation as almost always, if not always, sinful.  1 Corinthians 7:3-4 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.  Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! There are four perspectives about masturbation you might hear in Christian circlesIt is a gift from God. It’s probably alright if I can do it without lustful fantasies or as long as it isn’t compulsive, done in groups, or produces guiltIt is usually wrong because it goes against nature and violates purity.It is always wrongI land somewhere between 3 and 4. I think theoretically there may be a time and place where it isn’t sinful, but practically I think it pretty much always is.                Biblical principles that speak against itLust vs. a pure thought lifeIntimacy vs. sexual releaseSatisfying a habit vs. self controlSelfish vs. selfless sex Creating problems for physical intimacy in marriage  Building our Foundation on the Rock Theology matters.  An accurate view of God leads to sound thinking and practices. An inaccurate view of God leads to faulty thinking and dangerous practices. Do you spend time getting to know God?  Psalm 42:1-1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.  2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? God is good.God is holy. God is love.God is forgiving.God is faithful.    Guilt vs. Shame Guilt and conviction are good and can be used to bring us in line with God’s boundaries. Shame is not from God for those that are in Christ Jesus and tends to diminish our relationship with him. Romans 8:1  Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Guilt - I did something...

    30 min

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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.

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