The Men's Podcast

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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.

MAR 6

How to Bring Life with Your Words

Hello men, welcome back to the podcast! What if the words you speak could shape the identity, confidence, and future of those you love—just as the blessings of fathers did in the Old Testament? Let's talk about it today! -- 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 -- In the Old Testament, the blessings of fathers to their sons just seem to jump off the page. Isaac to Jacob and Esau, Jacob’s blessings over his sons. Controlling our Tongue Our words have the power to bring life or death. We should work to use our words to encourage and build up those around us. Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. James 1:19-20, 26 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 3:3-6 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:9:10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Offense vs. Defense Controlling our tongue to not respond harshly or critically is the first step. We can then learn to use our words to bring blessing and life. This takes intentionality and for most of us, practice. It is important to speak words of affirmation to those we love. Mark 1:9-11 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Our children need our encouragement. If God the Father publicly affirmed God the Son, how much more so do our children need it? Jesus knew exactly who he was. He had no questions about his significance or value or identity. Can our kids say...

27 min
FEB 20

Leading When a Child is Rebelling

Welcome back men! What do you do when your child pushes away from the faith, resists your leadership, or walks a path you never wanted for them? In this final episode of Leading When It’s Hard, we’re looking toward biblical wisdom for guiding rebellious kids. Don’t miss this crucial conversation! -- 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 -- How to Lead When Your Kids Are Rebelling: A Biblical Perspective Parenting is one of the greatest blessings and challenges in life. It becomes even more difficult when our children stray from the faith, resist authority, or make choices that go against our values. Today, we’re in the final week of our Leading When It’s Hard series, and we’re tackling a topic that many parents face: leading when your kids are rebelling. This conversation is complex because every family dynamic is different. Considerations include: Are your kids still living at home, or are they adults living on their own?How old are they?Are they biological children, or is this a blended family situation?Were you a believer before having children, or did you come to faith later, bringing significant changes to your household? While each situation is unique, the Bible provides timeless wisdom for navigating this difficult journey. Let’s explore three key principles: praying, training and modeling, and loving unconditionally without affirming sin. 1. PrayFirst and foremost, cover your child in prayer. Ask God to soften their heart and grant you wisdom in how to best lead them. Philippians 4:6-7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Worrying about our children seems like a natural part of parenting. From infancy through adulthood, our concerns grow as the consequences of their choices become more significant. However, Scripture does not give us an exception for worrying about our kids. It commands us not to worry about anything but to bring everything before God in prayer. Additionally, while it’s natural to want to protect our children from pain, we should be careful not to pray away all consequences of their actions. Consider the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)—it was only when the son hit rock bottom that he came to his senses. If the father had prayed for his son to avoid hardship, the young man might never have returned home in repentance. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 2. Train and ModelLeading our children spiritually is not just about giving instructions—it’s about modeling the faith we want them to follow. Proverbs 22:6 – “Direct your children onto

29 min
FEB 6

Leading When Your Wife is an Unbeliever

Welcome back to the podcast, men! We’re in episode 2 of our series: When it's Tough to Lead. 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
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
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
12/27/2024 · BONUS

Conviction v.s. Condemnation - The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

How do we know the difference between conviction and condemnation? -- 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 --

34 min
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
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

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out of 5

6 Ratings

Biblical & Unbiased

03/08/2024

J Ray06

Very great podcast, they give biblical evidence to support all of their viewpoints and topics, it is not just opinions.