Mens Night 1.9 - Dudes Guide 1-2

Determined Man

Most of us are pretty good at this.

“Figure it out” “Show some initiative” were some of the endearing words my step dad say to me when I was trying to fix something.

My dad was the opposite. He would do it, expect you to watch him and absorb it.

Terrible teachers.

I still can’t work on cars past changing my oil.

Tell of a time someone left you on your own to figure it out. Did you give up or did you grind your teeth until you figured it out.

“It’s amazing how we spend so much of our energy avoiding certain feelings. I poured countless hours into hitting a baseball so I would not feel dominated and controlled by someone else… Unyielding determination was indispensible for genuine change.” p. 3

What is unyielding determination?

“Becoming a determined man doesn’t mean you have to ignore pain. It means replacing casual effort with supernatural strength to persevere in the midst of uncomfortable circumstances. Determination isn’t always about succeeding. Sometimes determination means simply surviving, pressing on in the face of what feels like insurmountable obstacles” p. 5

DRILL: List your top three goals in life. Make them specific. Identify the step you can accomplish in the next 24 hours and commit to doing it.

At the heart of determination is a resolute decision to do something and to not stop until it’s done…Half the battle is having the determination that no matter what stands in our way, we will not quit.

Philippians 3:8–17 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Where do you see determination in this text? (v. 12)

What is Paul’s strength to press on? (v. 12)

Coachable man

A coachable man is a determined man.

Good Will Hunting

“Sean Maquire’s challenge is simple for the young genius: acknowledge his wounds and be willing to teal, or remain uncoachable and live beneath his masculine privilege.” p 18

Great coaches open our eyes so that new things don’t threaten us because we have the courage to embrace, grow, and learn.

Biblical manhood is not something you wake up one day and stumble into.

It’s handed down from one generation to another.

He wants his father not only to know the sort of technical things guys are supposed to know but also to be the sort of person he can imitate.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.