Men’s Breakfast - May 2025

Let me just say men — it takes a certain kind of man to get up early on a Saturday — put on real clothes — and come to men’s breakfast instead of sleeping in. So… shoutout to y’all for either being really godly… or just really into biscuit and gravy.

Either way — I’m glad you’re here, because I think God honors men who show up. Not just to eat, but to grow.

And on the subject of growing I’d like to offer a challenge to y’all this morning — not to just be a better version of yourself, but to holy. See, you don’t just become a godly, holy man by accident. You become one by walking the path laid out by God — step-by-obedient-step.

Being godly and holy — those are things we talk about a lot. Maybe it’s because it sounds like a place we can’t ever reach — or maybe if we’re honest it just sounds a little boring.

But holiness — real holiness — isn’t boring. It’s bold. And it’s counter-cultural. Holiness isn’t about looking spiritual. It’s walking in step with the Spirit.

I’ve got two passages I want to read this morning — one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. And as we consider these passages, Iv’e got three things I’d like to share with y’all about what it means to be godly men. Let’s take a look at the Word:

First, I want to read Psalm 119:1-6

Psalm 119:1–6 CSB

1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! 2 Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. 4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. 5 If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.

And then, James 1:22-25

James 1:22–25 CSB

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

These passages are powerful, men.

The first thing I’d like for us to walk away with is to remember, we’re called not to just look holy, but to live holy.

You know what’s easy? Looking like a godly man.

You know what’s hard? Living like one.

We can dress the part — we can talk the talk — we can show up to Men’s Breakfast and quote a word or two. But if our lives don’t reflect the Word… we’re just playing dress up.

The Psalmist in our passage this morning says, “Happy are those who way is blameless.” Not perfect… Blameless. That means living a consistent, faithful life. Not one with no sin… but one where there’s nothing hidden. No double life. No pretending.

See, Holiness isn’t just about avoiding sin — it’s about walking with God. And if we’re gonna walk with God, we have to walk in His ways, and not our preferences. Amen?

So let me ask us this morning — where are we just looking holy, but not really living it? Is there a place in our life today where we’re trying to fake it, hoping nobody sees?

God doesn’t bless a performance. He blesses obedience.

The second thing to walk away with this morning: Don’t just know the Word… Obey the Word.

James 1:22 CSB

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James gives us one of the most direct challenges in the New Testament. He says hearing the Word without what it says — is just self-deception. He says it’s like a man looking in the mirror, seeing something wrong, and not doing anything about it.

I mean — how insane would it be to walk up to the mirror — see BBQ sauce on your face — and just walk away, right? But James says that’s exactly what we do when we read the Word of God… and ignore its correction.

Psalm 119 backs that up. Verse 4 says:

Psalm 119:4 CSB

4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.

That’s not a suggestion — it’s an expectation, amen?

Let’s be honest — most of us don’t struggle with knowing what God wants from us. We struggle with doing it. Obedience takes humility… and surrender… and repentance. And it takes daily discipline.

Maybe God’s already been speaking to you about something:

Maybe it’s what you’re looking at on your phone.

Or treating your family.

Maybe it’s a secret sin you’ve been justifying.

Or maybe it’s the way you’ve stayed silent when you should’ve been leading.

The point is fellas, we can’t ignore the mirror. We’ve got to respond to it.

I was at a conference last weekend where one of the speakers asked the question, “What sin have you come to peace with, instead of going to war with?” In other words… do you have a sin that you’ve just gotten used to?

The third thing to walk away with: We’re called to walk with Integrity — not Perfection

Psalm 119:6 CSB

6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands.

James 1:25 CSB

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

Integrity is one of those words we throw around a lot — but let me define it for you today:

Integrity is when your public life and your private life match. It’s when who you are on Sunday morning is the same man you are on Friday night.

The Psalmist says that when he walks in God’s ways — he has no shame. That’s the power of obedience — it quiets the voice of guilt. And if you’ve walked with God — you know the power of that obedience, amen?

You know, we talk a lot about grace in church. And rightly so. Grace is how we’re saved. But holiness is how we live in response to that grace.

God didn’t just save you so you could go to Heaven. He saved you so that you could walk in holiness right here — right now — with a clear conscience, a steady hand, and a life that reflects Him to the world.

And God takes it so seriously that He shares throughout Scripture command after command to be holy. Here are just a few:

1 Peter 1:14 CSB

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 CSB

3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality,

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Hebrews 12:14 CSB

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

Philippians 3:17 CSB

17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

1 Timothy 4:12 CSB

12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

Proverbs 25:26 CSB

26 A righteous person who yields to the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.

And the list goes on and on.

Let me say it plainly — We don’t have to be perfect, but we are called to be obedient to Him. And the more we obey, the more confident we become. Not in ourselves, but in the One who walks with us.

——

Guys, the church doesn’t need more impressive men. It needs more obedient men.

And our families don’t need a perfect man… they need a present man. A humble man. A man who looks in the mirror of God’s Word and says, “Lord, help me walk this out to day.”

We don’t need to memorize 50 verses or join 5 ministries to start walking in holiness; we just need to take the next faithful step.

Read it… Obey it… and walk in it.

That’s what sets godly men apart. This fight is hard, but if we take Jesus at His Word, that He will fight for us, it’s worth it, amen?

PRAY

Father, thank You for calling us to more. Not to perform. Not to pretend. But to walk with You. Help us to be men of integrity—who don’t just listen to Your Word but live it. Give us courage to obey, even when it’s hard. Give us strength to walk blamelessly, even when the world pulls us in every direction. We want to be men who reflect Your heart in how we live. Make us holy, Lord. One step at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.