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Episode Summary:  One of the films making its rounds the past two weeks in movie theaters is “A Great Awakening” produced by Sight and Sound. The film tells the story of the First Great Awakening in America through the lens of Benjamin Franklin, the friend of George Whitefield the great preacher who was largely responsible, along with Jonathan Edwards, for the awakening which historians say had a tremendous impact on the founding of America thirty years later.  One of the primary responsibilities of Christians is to impact their culture, retarding the decay brought about by sin by functioning as salt and shining the light of God's truth into spheres of our own culture where the darkness of sin prevails. In other words, Christ wants us not only to be individual disciples of his but to make disciples of all nations. In this episode we find insight about this process as we look at how God discipled nations in the past by bringing about a great awakening and spiritual renewal in Israel (recounted in Nehemiah 8) and inspiring The Great Awakening in America.  For Further Prayerful Thought: Why do you think Jesus told us our mission is to “make disciples OF the nations” instead of “make disciples IN the nations”? What is the difference? What does this command say to Christians who want to give up on our culture because “the culture is so evil it is going to hell in a hand basket”?What stood out to you about how God discipled his nation, Israel, through Ezra and the Levites during the month of Tishri? What parts of this process seem applicable to America? Which parts don’t?What stood out to you about God discipling America through The Great Awakening? What lessons, if any, can you draw from it about how God might “disciple” America through us.For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Summary: As we pick up our study of the Book of Nehemiah, we come to the eight chapter where a national revival takes place in Judah. Before studying that next week, we need to think carefully about some issues—issues that happen to be very much in the news today, which surround America’s war with Iran, Israel our ally, and the war itself. Is God on our side? Is this a just war? Are Christians right who seem to say we should blindly support Israel in its conflict with Islamic Jihadists? Is America a Christian nation? This episode seeks to find clarity in Scripture about these issues.  For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you describe the difference between ethnic Israel and spiritual Israel. How does this difference make sense? Why is it important?Why is it important to recognize that God’s covenant with spiritual Israel is continued in the church?Contrast Israel’s theocracy with America’s democracy.What is the difference between recognizing the influence of Christians in America’s founding and constitution and saying America is a Christian nation?What is your opinion of the Islamic Jihadi cry, “from the river to the sea.”For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Summary:   The resurrection reminds us that the gospel is not just about our personal, private salvation and growth in holiness (which is called the two-chapter gospel.) Such a gospel leads to separating from the lost, forgetting their inherent value as those created in God’s image, and devaluing the (common grace) contributions they make to our culture. In contrast, the resurrection of Christ’s physical body reminds us that the true gospel story has four chapters: creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Christ-followers are called to be part of the greatest mission in the history of the world, Christ’s renewal of our corner of planet earth to bring about the righteousness and flourishing that God intends for each part of his creation. This episode seeks to capture our hearts with the greatness of the mission our Lord has assigned to us the power for which is his resurrection. Resources Used  All Things New by Hugh WhelchelThe Call of the Jericho Road by Tim KellerDiscipling Men’s Hearts Through Kingdom Theology by Gary Yagel (doctoral dissertation)For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.  

Episode Summary: Jesus commanded us not to be preoccupied with what we will eat or drink or distracted by what we are going to wear. Rather, we are to seek first the kingdom of God. But how do you seek something you can’t describe and don’t know how to define? Modern Christians are not the only ones confused about what this means. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus spent his last forty days on earth explaining this concept to his disciples, and they still got it wrong, asking “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” But Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of God are puzzle pieces that do fit together and can make a huge difference in understanding our mission. This episode puts some of those pieces together and illustrates how Christ-followers have sought and prayed for the kingdom of God to advance over the earth.  For Further Prayerful Thought: What is the most helpful thing you have ever learned about the term kingdom of God?Do you agree or disagree with the argument that Christians fail to understand what it means to seek first the kingdom of God because they don’t go back to Adam and Eve’s original creation as rulers of kingdom earth and calling to spread shape culture FOR the High King?How does understanding the ALREADY/NOT YET aspects of the kingdom help you understand it. What is still confusing to you?What examples of kingdom discipleship stood out most to you?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)  

Episode Summary. Have you ever wondered, “Why is life so difficult? Why is it such a struggle? Why am I tired all the time? Why do so many things go wrong? Why is it that when I try to accomplish something for God it's never easy?” This episode is for those who are finding that pleasing Jesus with your life is hard, full of resistance, and sometimes generates so much discouragement that you feel like not even trying any more. For Further Prayerful Thought: What are the things that you find most discouraging about trying to please and follow Jesus?How would you explain the importance of perseverance?What insights stood out about Nehemiah persevering through three plots to murder him?Which phrases from the Ortlands’ book, You Don’t Have to Quit, did you find most motivating?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. There are few men portrayed in Scripture who had more lasting success leading than Nehemiah. In fact, the success of some, like Saul and Solomon, led to their demise, as power often does. In fact, a case could be made that the adversity Nehemiah had just come through in the last chapter is less of a threat to many leaders than success. As Scottish essayist and historian, Thomas Carlyle, once declared, “Adversity is hard on a man; but for every one man who can withstand prosperity there are a hundred that will withstand adversity.” In Nehemiah 5:14-19 we see a quality that allowed him to win a following in both adversity and prosperity For Further Prayerful Thought: Which example of Nehemiah being a giver rather than a taker most stood out to you?What do you think are the biggest obstacles to become more of a giver than taker in all of our interactions with others?How might the three observations we made about Nehemiah’s internal motivations explain his behavior as a giver instead of a taker?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. Confrontation. It’s the least enjoyable part of leadership, but absolutely essential for effectiveness for any husband, father, coach, or team leader in business or the church. Today, we look into Nehemiah 5, where Nehemiah puts on a “clinic in wise confrontation” from which leaders can learn much.  For Further Prayerful Thought: Why did Nehemiah get angry? Why don’t Christians get angrier at the exploitation of the weak, poor, and marginalized in our culture?What stood out to you about the way Nehemiah confronted the nobles and leaders about exploiting the poor? Why do you think it was successful?What is your emotional reaction to the word, accountability? What have you learned about when accountability works and when it fails? Why don’t men take better advantage of the power of accountability to overcome sin in their own lives?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. Today, in our study of Nehemiah we encounter a group of people whom the world has gotten down, who feel rotten, who were probably too doggone tired to pray, and were probably plenty mad. It is Nehemiah's ragtag band of Israelites who had taken on the huge task of rebuilding the city wall. They have successfully resisted opposition enough to get the wall to half its necessary height. But discouragement sets in. This episode shows how Nehemiah overcame the discouragement of his people.   For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you explain to a new believer why life is so hard?We noted 4 sources of discouragement: weariness, losing perspective, walking by sight, and real opposition. In your life, which one or ones cause the most discouragement?God allowed Nehemiah and his band of Jerusalem inhabitants to be opposed by enemies, intent upon murdering them. Such opposition doubled their work because it necessitated posting guards everywhere. How do you think Nehemiah kept this from disheartening his team?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. One of the greatest Christians who ever lived was honest enough to admit how difficult life can sometimes be. In the most biographical of his writings, the apostle Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side. We are perplexed and persecuted. We experience troubles, hardships, and distresses…. We are knocked down but we are not knocked out.” The fourth chapter of Nehemiah reports how he and the residents of Jerusalem faced this same level of opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall and how they pushed through it.  For Further Prayerful Thought: What is wrong with the idea that if God loved me, he would not allow my life to be so hard? What stood out to you about using the weapon of ridicule to demotivate another. What are the implications of Jesus’ teaching about the impact of words for those of us who are spiritual leaders? ow can the example of Nehemiah inspire and strengthen you to persevere through whatever opposition you are facing? For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. Few of us think we have the gifts to be a great leader; yet every married man has been assigned to the leadership role in his marriage. As Paul said “the head of a wife is her husband” (1 Cor 11:13). And of course we are assigned to lead our children as fathers.  One of the biggest challenges for all leaders is motivating our followers to move in the direction we want them to go. Dwight Eisenhower, once said, “Leadership is the ability to get a person to do what you want him to do, when you want it done, in a way you want it done, because he wants to do it.” What a great description of Nehemiah. This episode examines how one of the greatest leaders in history overcame the apathy of the residents of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city that had remained broken down for ninety years. For Further Prayerful Thought: What do you most want to remember about how Nehemiah motivated the people?How have you observed the principle that when people have ownership of a goal or an asset, they feel much more responsible and motivated to take action?As you consider the parallel between Nehemiah’s method for building the wall and God’s method for building the church, what most stood out about the church? For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary. God wants husbands and wives to drink deeply and frequently of the refreshing waters of their partner’s sexuality. But most of us whose marriages have lasted beyond the honeymoon stage have found that sustaining romantic and sexual passion has been a lot harder than we ever thought it would be, especially because our wives are NOT wired the way WE are. This episode looks for biblical clues to understanding how and why a woman’s view of romance and sex is so different than her husband’s. For Further Prayerful Thought: What would you say to persuade a Christian brother and sister that married couples having a great sexual relationship is important to God?What are some of the ways that feminine sexual desire seems consistent with what God has revealed to us in Genesis 2 about how he has created woman?How would you use the fact that God created Adam to be ground focused and Eve to be relationally focused to explain why difference in sexual desires can create resentment in marriage?What stood out to you about how to romance a woman?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)  

Episode Summary  How would you like to receive a letter that began, "As I met with God this morning, I was moved to tell God how deeply grateful I am to him for your influence in my life. As I look back over the years, I realized that it has been your life that has most influenced me to follow Christ. You always seemed to be available when I needed you. You understood my problems. You had just the encouraging ear I needed. I could always go to you when I was hurting inside because I knew you cared. Your walk with Christ has been a tremendous inspiration to me. Your wholehearted commitment to obedience, the wisdom that comes from your lips, your godly spirit in the midst of adversity and pain are a picture to me of what I want to be like."  Wouldn't you love to receive this letter addressed to you from your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, from a friend at work or in the neighborhood, from a sister or brother, from a child in your Sunday school class or teen in the youth group that you lead? This is a letter about influence, getting others to follow you. That is the topic of today’s episode. For Further Prayerful Thought: How would you explain to a friend the difference between authority and leadership?Why do you think it is imperative for leaders to become fully knowledgeable about the factors that impact achieving their goal?What do you think of the statement, “Great leaders formulate their plan in solitude?” If you are married and have a family, how does this principle apply to being he leader at home, for you?What leadership lessons from Nehemiah most stood out to you?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)    

Episode Summary: There is no ambiguity about what Jesus told us was to consume our lives as our top priority. He says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” The Greek verb “to seek” means, to strive after, to desire. It is the opposite of being lackadaisical, indifferent, or nonchalant. It is pursuit that is self-motivated, intentional and passionate. The word “first” indicates that Jesus is telling us to make this pursuit the all-consuming top priority of our lives. In context, this verse is about being preoccupied. We are to be pre-occupied with spreading Christ’s agenda of righteousness and restoration over the earth. As we saw last week, Nehemiah became a man who was consumed with God’s agenda, in his case the restoration of the wall around the city of Jerusalem. In this episode we see that when you adopt God’s agenda, he will provide the resources needed to accomplish it.   For Further Prayerful Thought: Can you relate to Nehemiah praying intensely for the wall to be rebuilt and seeing God do nothing? What have you learned about overcoming discouragement in prayer?It’s not stated explicitly but surely looks like Nehemiah had built a very strong relationship of servanthood and loyalty to Artaxerxes. What pieces of evidence do you see in the text that suggest such a strong relationship?Contrast the loyalty and respect for authority required of God’s people and shown by Nehemiah to cultural Marxism’s worldview that labels all authority figures oppressors. Where do you see the seeds of cultural Marxism in our culture? In the church?Which insights from Nehemiah do you most want to remember in seeking to implement Christ’s agenda of righteousness in your spheres of influence? For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary Teddy Roosevelt, our nation's 26th president was a hard charging leader. An ardent admirer once exclaimed to him, “Mr. Roosevelt, you are a great man.” In characteristic honesty he replied, “No. Teddy Roosevelt is simply a plain, ordinary man—highly motivated.” It is safe to say that his answer describes most great leaders, plain and ordinary, yet whose hearts had been captured by a compelling mission. Certainly, Nehemiah, the subject of our new series, would say that about himself. Although he would say he was a plain and ordinary man underneath, he emerges as one of the most effective leaders in history, accomplishing in 53 days what no one else could accomplish in decades. Nehemiah would be the first to say that when God needs a mountain moved, he raises up mountain-moving men. But though he lived five hundred years before the Messiah came, I think Nehemiah would he would be quick to repeat these words of Paul to every man listening: “You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he prepared beforehand that we should walk in them—be the mountain of a man you need to be to move your mountain! For Further Prayerful Thought: What stood out most to you about God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants which included sanctions, covenant blessings for obedience and covenant curses for disobedience?What was most attractive to you about Nehemiah’s heart?Which lessons about prayer most stood out. Which do you most want to remember? For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)

Episode Summary: Both Solomon, and later the author of the book of Hebrews appeal to the obvious creation principle that they assume everyone knew in their era, loving fathers don’t allow their children to persist in selfish, wrong behavior; they discipline their children out of love for them. In our own day, a weird time in history when cultural voices are denying what every other culture in history has affirmed—that there are differences between fathers and mothers—it seems necessary examine this creation principle of fatherhood. It is also important because, today, so much child-rearing advice is rooted in a fear of stifling a child or harming his self-esteem instead of recognizing that by nature a child wants to be the center of the universe--dad giving him what he wants when he wants it, and the rest of the world catering to his wants and demands. This episode examines how fathers must protect their child from the child’s worst enemy, the main person who can ruin his life—HIMSELF, because he comes into this world with self-centered, sinful nature For Further Prayerful Thought How would you answer a husband who said, “My wife is so much better with the kids, I leave the discipline of the children to her?”How would you explain to someone that loving a child requires disciplining them but that letting them go their own ways is a form of hatred for them?Which of the 6 reasons parents don’t discipline their kids as well as they should stands out to you? Which of the 6 principles from Hebrews 12 for administering discipline that is like God’s discipline of us stood out most to you? Why do you think that is important?For the printed version of this message click here. For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here. For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here. To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)