February 20, 2022 – Pastor Mark Albrecht
Message Big Idea – Men are designed with the need to win. Our sinful nature can tempt us to bend that in a selfish way. Christian men, however, win at marriage, work, parenting, mission and reputation. Other centeredness is the key to winning in each of these areas and therefore life. This life is modeled perfectly by Jesus, who therefore becomes our pattern to win.
DIG DEEPER
Reflect on the following sequence of questions. If you are doing this with others, share your responses with them.
LEAN IN >> Think about it.
- Who is the most influential man in your life? Was his influence for good or bad? Name an important lesson you learned from this man.
LOOK DOWN >> Read the following passages and discuss or reflect on the the corresponding questions:
- Read 1 Peter 3:7. What does living in an understanding way mean?
- Read Proverbs 13:11. Who is a living illustration of this truth in your life?
- Read Colossians 3:23-24. What does work heartily mean?
- Read Ephesian 2:10. What are we created for? Who prepared this before we considered it?
LOOK OUT >> Connect the world of the Bible to our culture.
- Men have a hunger for glory. This appetite can pull many into unhealthy practices. Define glory in light of the world’s standard. Compare this definition to what God calls us to boast in as found in Jeremiah 9:23-24. Does this challenge us to redefine success?
LOOK IN >> Go straight to the heart of the matter.
- Men are called to be life giving husbands. ‘A happy wife is a happy life’ is a phrase often used in disparaging ways. This saying, however, does highlight the fact that winning men should want to please their wives. How often, men, do you consider your actions, thoughts, or words in light of them being ‘life giving’? How does 1 Peter 3:7 influence your reflection on being a ‘life giving’ husband?
- Men want to feel like their time, energy and talents aren’t being wasted. They want to feel like their work has significance. What depth does Colossians 3:23-24 have in shaping your call to significant work? Does pressing on in the dry and monotonous actions of the daily grind seem wise in light in Proverbs 13:11?
- Men need to feel like they are a fruitful servant. We all need to feel like we are part of a bigger movement that matters. Men, especially, need the satisfaction of being a part of making a mark on their world. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God has preplanned the good works we are to walk into. How does this influence your desire to be fruitful? Does God’s participation in what we do bring pressure or relief?
- Men want to be known as honorable. Honor is the byproduct of stacking many good decisions over a very long time. Who is the most honorable man in your life? How have they influenced your decisions over the years
LIVE IT OUT >> Put it into action.
- If your dad is still alive, call, text or write him, to thank him for any way that he is or was winning. If your dad is no longer alive, journal some thoughts about how he was winning in either his marriage, work, parenting, mission or reputation.
- Pray for the men of Northbridge. Ask God to help them win in every area of their lives.
- Be a change for good this week. Seek to understand the men in your life. See how some of the topics ( winning in marriage, work, parenting, mission and reputation ) affect them. Ask them how they view themselves in light of these standards.