The Fundamental Need- "The Importance of Manliness "

April 2018 Men’s Session Overview

Week 1 - Jason Bearup - The Fundamental Need for Manly Leadership

Summary: High-Level overview of the prominent role a man plays in God's design

Intro: The degradation of manliness in society and in the church. There is a real need for men to lead! In Scripture and all through history men have played an important role.

Consider just a few:

* In the Husband Wife Relationship * In the Family with Children * In the Church * In the Community

The leadership of Man is a constant theme of Scripture. So if we are to embrace this what does it look like?

Week 2 - Mike Avery - The Failure of Manly Leadership

Summary - Discuss the overall weakness and lack of godly men in the church and in the home. Many biblical examples can be given to show where a lack of a man's leadership resulted in disastor.

1. The Son's of Eli 1 Sam 2:12

2. David's failure with his sons - Amnon & Tamar

Psalm 12:1 KJV 1900

Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

David was concerned about his surroundings and the overall lack of godly men. The failure of men to stand and embrace their God-designed role is nothing new. In David's day, there were wicked men that were exalted into positions of leadership because of the void. However, we cannot forget that Gods plans are not thwarted due to the spiritual climate that exists. God does have a remnant and those men need to encourage others around them to join in the battle.

Week 3- Pastor Crowell - The Facets of Manly Leadership

Summary - Discuss some of the strengths & struggles that comprise men (Struggles & Strengths that are unique to men). If men are going to lead, there are some very important qualities that need to be embodied. A diamond has many facets that make up the finished product, a table or a piece of well-made furniture has many components that make up the whole. A man is no different. So what does this look like if we view it from all sides?

Week 4- Jason Bearup - The Fulfilment of Manly Leadership

Summary- There is joy when we embrace and fulfill the role God has designed us for. Every aspect of our lives function in harmony when we realize this and implement it in our lives. We need men who will not just listen but who will act.

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Text

1 Timothy 3 KJV 1900

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Titus 1 KJV 1900

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Introduction

To often we leave leadership to those who have specific titles and defined roles. But if you are a man, accoring to the Scriptures you have been created and called to leadership.

Manhood has never been more under attack than it is today. We can look at the world around us and it is glaringly apparent that there is a lack of male leadership.

Consider some points of interest:

Illustration: Tucker Carlson - Segment over the last month or so on the decline of men in our society

Fatherless homes

Male suicide rates

Male job statistics vs female job statistics - men are falling out of the workforce at unprecendented rates

The trend toward a genderless society

But it is not an issue restricted to the wicked unbeliveing world, it is an issue in churches, even biblicaly minded fundamental Baptist churches. What is tolerated today would have been unthinkable 30 years ago!

Transition

If we take our direction from the Word of God and I believe that we should. Then we must be remineded of the importance of male leadership. It is not some form of sexism as the feminist movement would have you believe, it is simply a biblical principal to be followed.

It is true, that in 1 Timothy and Titus Paul was writing to young men that had specific leadership callings on thier life. However, if we limit what Paul is teaching to that particular context we are missing the point, we are missing an important principal.

The Principle is this: There is a fundamental need for men to lead!

Question:

How are we to address this void?

First we must understand the problem -

Charles Franklin Kettering sometimes known as Charles "Boss" Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research at General Motors from 1920 to 1947. He is famous for many things but probably most known for his statement… “a problem well stated is a problem half solved”

The problem is: Men in general, do not understand or take seriously enough the importance of the foundational role they play in every facet of life. The problem really goes back to the beginning. Man was formed then Eve was formed. This helps us understand something very important about God’s design.

We can see this illustrated as Paul describes a woman’s role in the church:

1 Timothy 2:12–14 KJV 1900

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Does this mean that a woman does not play a significant role?

Certainly it does not! It does mean however, that she is to play a very specific role but it is a role that follows the leadership of a man.

I. Men were Created to lead

Simply stated God has created men to lead. It is what we were designed to do!

A. We see this in the beginning

God gave man oversight of his creation

Genesis 1:26 KJV 1900

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Dominion- Power to govern, authority to control or to rule

Genesis 2:4–15 KJV 1900

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Illustration: It is not natural for a man to take direction and order from a woman. I was 23 years old when I was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army. I was in an all male combat arms unit. We trained together we lived together and we had very defined order and structure. I had very little interaction with women in uniform. All of the senior NCO’s and Officers I took orders from were men. One day I was sent on duty assignment at a different location on post with a detail of soldiers and when we showed up we were told to report to a specific area. When I showed I was given orders by a woman officer. If I was totally transparent with you I will have to admit that it just didn’t seem natural for me to follow the orders. Of course I did follow them, but it reminds me that deep inside of us, at the core of who we are is the natural design God put there!! He has not designed a man to follow a woman!!

B. We see this throughtout Israels History

Joseph

Moses

Exodus 3:10 KJV 1900

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Daniel

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:1–4 KJV 1900

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Nehemiah 2:12 KJV 1900

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

David

II. Men are Commanded to lead

Titus 2:1–5 KJV 1900

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Sober - serious minded

Grave- solemn and worshipful

Temperate- prudent and sensible

Sound in Faith- having knowledge of our beliefs 1 Co 14:35

Charity- biblical love

Patience- endurance through suffering

These are all qualities of leadership and sound doctrine.

A. Commanded to lead our wives

Ephesians 5:22–33 KJV 1900

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

B. Commanded to lead our children

Ephesians 6:1–4 KJV 1900

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

C. Commanded to lead our churches

1 Timothy 3 KJV 1900

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Conclusion

It may seem like an elementary principle but it is being attacked on every front. Satan knows that if he can get men disengaged from their calling he has gained significant ground. Wheather in a home, in a society or in a church it cannot be overstated that men need to stand up and lead!

Takeaways

Be aware of the void that exists

Understand it is an attack of Satan

God has designed men to lead

4. Take resposibility of the call God has placed on our lives and embrace it!