Biblical Manhood

1. Biblical Manhood 03 JUNE 2012 Bill wilcox Allen bozarth

2. Back to the Basics All the players knew that at the first team meeting, the legendary coach would waste no time getting straight to the point. Many of the men, half Lombardi’s age and twice his size, were openly fearful, dreading the encounter. The coach did not disappoint them, and, in fact, delivered his message in one of the great one-liners of all time. Football in hand, the great coach walked to the front of the room, took several seconds to look over the assemblage in silence, held out the pigskin in front of him, and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” In only five words, Lombardi communicated his point: We’re going to start with the basics and make sure we’re executing all the fundamentals, so “Gentlemen, this is a Bible.”

3. Biblical Manhood • Syllabus • Session 1: • Biblical Maturity • Spiritual Maturity • Worldview Maturity

4. Syllabus for Biblical Manhood

5. Syllabus for Biblical Manhood

6. Biblical & Spiritual Maturity Bill wilcox

7. Spiritual Maturity • Dr. Albert Mohler: First mark of biblical manhood is “spiritual maturity” • Every man should possess spiritual maturity sufficient to lead a wife and children • Bible is clear about a man's responsibility to exercise spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership • Critical to the Christian vision of marriage and family life

8. Spiritual Leadership and Family • Not dictatorial power • Firm and credible spiritual leadership and influence • A man leads wife and children in a way that: • Honors God • Demonstrates godliness • Inculcates Christian character • Leads family to desire Christ and seek God's glory

9. Characteristics of Spiritual Maturity • What personal characteristics or traits do you see as important for a spiritually mature man? • ... • ... • ... • ... • ...

10. How Do We Measure Maturity? • Paul to Timothy and Titus • “And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2) • 1 Timothy 3:1-7 • Titus 1:5-10

11. Paul's Maturity Profile • Gene Getz in “The Measure of a Man” puts forth what he calls “Paul's Maturity Profile” • He lists 20 spiritual qualifications derived from Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus concerning qualifications of elders

12. 20 Marks of Spiritual Maturity • Overall spiritual maturity (a well-rounded man) • Above reproach (a man of good repute) • The husband of one wife (morally pure) • Temperate (balanced in words and actions) • Prudent (wise and humble) • Respectable (good role model) • Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

13. 20 Marks of Spiritual Maturity • Able to teach (communicates sensitively in a non-threatening and non-defensive manner) • Not addicted to wine (not addicted to substances) • Not self-willed (not self-centered and controlling) • Not quick-tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful) • Not pugnacious (not abusive) • Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)

14. 20 Marks of Spiritual Maturity • Peaceable (nonargumentative and nondivisive) • Free from the love of money (nonmaterialistic) • Manages his own household well (a good husband and father) • Loving what is good (pursues godly activities) • Just (wise, discerning, nonprejudiced and fair) • Devout (holy, devoted to God) • Self-controlled (disciplined)

15. Paul's Maturity Profile – Only for Elders? • Paul's Maturity Profile – a high bar? Or the standard for all Christian men? • Men chosen to be elders should not be deficient in any of these areas • But these are not characteristics only for elders • Which of these characteristics would you rather not have? • Traits of a spiritually mature Christian man • Goals for every Christian man

16. Biblical Maturity • Dr. Albert Mohler calls his final mark of biblical manhood “biblical maturity” • Every man should possess biblical maturity sufficient to lead at some level in the church • Central problem in many churches is: • Lack of biblical maturity among the men of the congregation • Lack of biblical knowledge that leaves men ill equipped and completely unprepared to exercise spiritual leadership

17. Marks of Biblical Maturity • Knowledge and familiarity with biblical text • At home in the study of God's Word • Able to pray before others • Trained to present the Gospel • Willing to stand in the gap where a leadership need is apparent in the church

18. Biblical Leadership • God has appointed specific officers for His church – specially gifted and publicly called • But every man should fulfill some leadership responsibility within the life of the congregation • There is a leadership role for every man in every church - whether public or private, large or small, official or unofficial • A man should be able to teach someone, lead some ministry or activity, or somehow translate personal discipleship into fulfillment of a godly call

19. Authority for Biblical Leadership • Matthew 28:18-20 • “...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” • “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...” • “Baptizing them...” • “Teaching them...” • And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

20. Empowerment for Biblical Leadership • Acts 1:4-5, 8 • “He commanded them ... to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which', He said, 'you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit...'” • But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

21. Empowerment for Biblical Leadership • What kind of power do we receive? • Philippians 3:10 • “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...” • We know the power of His resurrection • Not as a student knows his lessons in school • But because His Holy Spirit is living in us • Note that with power comes suffering

22. Discussion Questions • Why do some men grow rapidly in their Christian faith while others struggle and seem to take as many steps backward as forward?

23. Discussion Questions • As you looked at Paul's Maturity Profile, did you see one specific area in which you would like to grow the most? And what are factors that hold you back from growing in that area?

24. Discussion Questions • While we are all familiar with the “out front” leadership positions in the church, what are some of the more obscure areas in which a man could provide leadership and direction within our congregation?

25. Discussion Questions • Does anyone have any doubts about the authority and power through which we as Christian men exercise spiritual and biblical leadership?

26. Worldview Maturity Allen bozarth

27. Biblical Worldview The Christian man must understand how to interpret and evaluate issues across the spectrum of politics, economics, morality, entertainment, education and a seemingly endless list of other fields. Consistent biblical worldview thinking is a key mark of spiritual maturity

28. Biblical Worldview • A Biblical man must learn how to: • Translate Christian truth into genuine Christian thinking • Defend biblical truth • Acquire the ability to extend Christian thinking to every arena of life

29. Biblical Worldview What is a Biblical worldview? Why do I need or require a Biblical worldview? How do I develop my Biblical worldview?

30. What is a Worldview? “A worldview is a “systematic way of looking at the world. It conditions how we interpret the meaning of daily life.” (R. C. Sproul) A worldview is “The comprehensive framework of one’s basic beliefs about things.” (Albert Wolters) “A worldview is a set of presuppositions . . . which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make up of our world.” (James Sire) A worldview is “A comprehensive life system that answers all of humanity’s age-old questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Does life have any meaning and purpose?” (Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey) Chuck Colson: “I have defined a worldview as a “vision of the heart.” I have so defined it because the Bible teaches that the heart is the center and core of every human being — the source of what we worship (whether God or an idol), and the seat of all our thinking, loving, and doing. Life, therefore, proceeds “kardi-optically” (kardia = Greek for “heart”), that is, by a viewpoint generated out of our hearts! Solomon offered this wise counsel in Proverbs 4:23: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”

31. What is a Biblical Worldview? • Based on the infallible Word of God. • When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do. Do you have a biblical worldview? • Answer the following questions, based on claims found in the Bible: • Do absolute moral truths exist? • Is absolute truth defined by the Bible? • Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life? • Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule it today? • Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned? • Is Satan real? • Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people? • Is the Bible accurate in all of its teachings? • Did you answer yes to these? What's more important is whether your life shows it. Yes, we are all sinners and fall short, but most of our gut reactions will reflect what we deep-down, honest-to-goodness believe to be real and true.

32. Why? How? • If we don't really believe and live the truth of God, then our witness will be confusing and misleading. Through the media and other influences, the secularized American view of history, law, politics, science, God and man affects our thinking more than we realize. We are then taken "captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8). • By diligently learning, applying and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture's non-biblical ideas. Embrace God's worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then begin to make the right decisions and form the appropriate responses to questions on abortion, same- sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media choices. • Our decisions and actions that reveal what we really believe. • "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

33. Basic Biblical Truths God exists (Heb. 11:6); is the standard to we measure everything else. God created everything (Gen.1:1); is held together by Him (Col. 1:17). The Bible: God’s divinely inspired Word(2 Tim. 3:16). God came to earth and lived in the human body of Jesus Christ of Nazareth 2,000 years ago (Col. 1:19). Mankind chose to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden and because of that act of rebellion, sin and death entered the world (Rom. 5:12-14). Believing in (John 3:15-19, 5:24), and obeying (Luke 8:21, John 3:20, John 14:21, 23-24), Jesus Christ is the only way to have eternal life or to be reunited with God (Acts 4:10-12). Truth is absoluteand can only be understood by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the One who said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one can come to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

34. Basic Questions Is there a god? What is he like? What is the nature and origin of the universe? Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? How can a Good God allow evil in the world? What is the nature and origin of man? What happens to man after death? What is the meaning of human history? What is the basis of ethics and morality?

35. Application: How Do I Develop My Biblical Worldview? Know what the Word of God teaches Learn how to be in the world, but not of it Sacrifice and serve Engage the culture; do not withdraw Be clear about what constitutes a worldview Understand other worldviews (e.g. Islam; Hindu; etc.) Model Jesus’ compassion Take political action Let awe for God’s creation lead you to engage the world of science Memorize Scripture verses

36. Next Week: Session 2Disciplined, Faithful Personal Maturity allen