Embracing Biblical Masculinity: The Call to Godly Manhood
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we delved into 1 Timothy 3:1-7, focusing on the roles and characteristics of godly men within the church. We began by discussing the cyclical nature of history and how the strength or weakness of men has often influenced societal outcomes. Drawing from historical examples like Julius Caesar and the fall of the Roman Empire, we noted that the effeminization of men and the failure to step into God-given roles have led to societal collapses. This historical context set the stage for understanding the importance of biblical masculinity in today's world.
We then transitioned to the specific call to be a godly man, emphasizing that this is not just for those aspiring to be pastors but for all men. The aspiration to meet the qualifications of an overseer is a noble goal, and every man should strive to live a life worthy of the Lord, ready to step into leadership if called. This call is not about being perfect but about living in a manner that is above reproach, faultless, and honest.
Next, we examined the character of a godly man, breaking down the qualities listed by Paul. The first quality is being above reproach, meaning that no accusation can stick because of the man's impeccable character. This includes being the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. Each of these qualities was discussed in detail, emphasizing the importance of self-control, thoughtful consideration, and the ability to teach and guide one's family.
We also discussed the importance of not being addicted to wine, not being pugnacious, and being gentle and peaceable. A godly man is not a bully or aggressive but is considerate, yielding, and kind. He avoids drama and gossip and seeks to live in peace with others. This extends to being free from the love of money, content with what God has given, and not driven by greed.
The consistency of a godly man was our final point. Paul warns against appointing new converts to leadership positions because they have not yet had time to prove their character. A godly man must first focus on his own spiritual growth and household before taking on the responsibility of leading a church. This consistency in character and behavior is crucial for maintaining a good reputation both inside and outside the church.
In conclusion, we emphasized the need for men to live according to these biblical standards, not just for their own sake but for the sake of their families and the church. The call to be a godly man is a high one, but it is achievable through dedication, self-discipline, and reliance on God's Word.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Call to Be a Godly Man: Every man is called to live a life worthy of the Lord, striving to meet the qualifications of an overseer. This call is not just for those aspiring to be pastors but for all men. Living according to biblical standards prepares men to step into leadership roles if called by God. This is not about being perfect but about being above reproach, faultless, and honest. [07:18]
2. Character of a Godly Man: A godly man is characterized by being above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. These qualities emphasize self-control, thoughtful consideration, and the ability to guide one's family. Living in this manner sets a man apart and prepares him for potential leadership roles within the church. [17:07]
3. Avoiding Negative Traits: A godly man is not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, and is gentle and peaceable. He avoids drama, gossip, and aggressive behavior. Instead, he is considerate, yielding, and kind, seeking to live in peace with others. This extends to being free from the love of money and content with what God has given. [36:16]
4. Consistency in Character: Consistency is crucial for a godly man. Paul warns against appointing new converts to leadership positions because they have not yet had time to prove their character. A godly man must first focus on his own spiritual growth and household before taking on the responsibility of leading a church. This consistency in character and behavior is essential for maintaining a good reputation both inside and outside the church. [50:16]
5. Living According to Biblical Standards: The call to be a godly man is a high one, but it is achievable through dedication, self-discipline, and reliance on God's Word. Men are encouraged to live according to these biblical standards, not just for their own sake but for the sake of their families and the church. This involves being a man of virtue, conviction, principles, consistency, and courage. [54:21]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [02:07] - Historical Context and the Role of Men
3. [05:40] - Introduction to 1 Timothy 3:1-7
4. [07:18] - The Call to Be a Godly Man
5. [11:47] - Striving for the Office of Overseer
6. [17:07] - Character of a Godly Man
7. [20:56] - Husband of One Wife and Temperance
8. [24:36] - Sensibility and Respectability
9. [29:10] - Consistency in Character
10. [36:16] - Avoiding Negative Traits
11. [50:16] - Consistency in Leadership
12. [54:21] - Living According to Biblical Standards
13. [59:39] - Closing Prayer and Exhortation
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Timothy 3:1-7
2. 1 Peter 5:2
3. Philippians 4:12
### Observation Questions
1. What are the specific qualities listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 that define a godly man?
2. According to the sermon, what historical examples were used to illustrate the cyclical nature of men's roles in society? [02:07]
3. How does Paul differentiate between the terms "aspire" and "desire" in 1 Timothy 3:1? [07:48]
4. What does it mean for a man to be "above reproach" according to the sermon? [18:18]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of being "above reproach" for a godly man? How does this quality impact a man's ability to lead? [18:18]
2. How does the sermon explain the significance of a man being "temperate" and "sensible"? Why are these qualities crucial for godly leadership? [22:19] [24:07]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that societal views on masculinity conflict with biblical masculinity? How should men navigate these differences? [03:53]
4. What are the potential dangers of appointing a new convert to a leadership position, according to 1 Timothy 3:6 and the sermon? [50:16]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the qualities listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Which of these qualities do you find most challenging to embody, and why? How can you work on developing this quality in your daily life?
2. The sermon discusses the importance of men stepping into their God-given roles. Are there areas in your life where you feel you have not fully embraced your role as a godly man? What steps can you take to change this? [04:31]
3. How do you currently handle situations that require self-control and temperance? Can you identify a recent situation where you could have demonstrated more self-control? What would you do differently next time? [22:19]
4. The sermon emphasizes the need for men to be hospitable and considerate. Think of a recent interaction where you could have been more hospitable or considerate. How can you improve in these areas moving forward? [31:06]
5. Discuss the concept of being "free from the love of money" as mentioned in the sermon. How does this apply to your current financial decisions and lifestyle? What changes can you make to align more closely with this biblical principle? [42:06]
6. The sermon challenges men to be consistent in their character and behavior. How do you ensure consistency in your spiritual growth and leadership at home? Are there specific practices or routines that help you maintain this consistency? [50:16]
7. Reflect on the idea of living according to biblical standards for the sake of your family and the church. How can you better model these standards to those around you, especially in your household? [56:57]
Devotional
Day 1: The Call to Be a Godly Man
Every man is called to live a life worthy of the Lord, striving to meet the qualifications of an overseer. This call is not just for those aspiring to be pastors but for all men. Living according to biblical standards prepares men to step into leadership roles if called by God. This is not about being perfect but about being above reproach, faultless, and honest. [07:18]
1 Timothy 3:1-2 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to live a life that is above reproach and worthy of the Lord's calling?
Day 2: Character of a Godly Man
A godly man is characterized by being above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. These qualities emphasize self-control, thoughtful consideration, and the ability to guide one's family. Living in this manner sets a man apart and prepares him for potential leadership roles within the church. [17:07]
Titus 1:7-8 (ESV): "For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
Reflection: Which of these qualities do you find most challenging to embody, and how can you work on developing this trait in your daily life?
Day 3: Avoiding Negative Traits
A godly man is not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, and is gentle and peaceable. He avoids drama, gossip, and aggressive behavior. Instead, he is considerate, yielding, and kind, seeking to live in peace with others. This extends to being free from the love of money and content with what God has given. [36:16]
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Reflection: Identify one negative trait you struggle with. What practical steps can you take today to replace it with a godly characteristic?
Day 4: Consistency in Character
Consistency is crucial for a godly man. Paul warns against appointing new converts to leadership positions because they have not yet had time to prove their character. A godly man must first focus on his own spiritual growth and household before taking on the responsibility of leading a church. This consistency in character and behavior is essential for maintaining a good reputation both inside and outside the church. [50:16]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your actions consistently reflect your faith, both in private and in public?
Day 5: Living According to Biblical Standards
The call to be a godly man is a high one, but it is achievable through dedication, self-discipline, and reliance on God's Word. Men are encouraged to live according to these biblical standards, not just for their own sake but for the sake of their families and the church. This involves being a man of virtue, conviction, principles, consistency, and courage. [54:21]
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's Word to guide your actions and decisions? How can you start doing that today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Imagine you hear something and instead of you just immediately assuming it's true, you seek out the truth. The amount of stuff I see, just in another aspect to give you some understanding and context for this, the amount of false information that I see spread on Facebook is ridiculous. They share an article or they share something else and then when you actually look into that, you realize that's not true. That's just false propaganda being spread." [41:09]
2. "Men, we need to learn to be content. Paul says later on in 1 Timothy 6, verse 6-7, but godliness is actually a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. This is a man who is satisfied with what God has given him and finds contentment no matter how much or how little he has." [42:35]
3. "I am challenging you. Study this list. Research this list. Apply this list. Stop allowing other distractions to take you away. Stop allowing other things to contaminate your mind. We need men and young men, if you're not a father yet and you're under the age of 18 or whatever, live this way. Start now. Plant those seeds of discipline now so that as you get older and you are looking for a spouse, you've got the qualities and characteristics and Lord willing, He'll bring you a virtuous woman." [55:24]
4. "Because ultimately, at the end of days, it is you that will stand before God. No one else. You cannot say, well Lord, you gave me this woman and it is thus that thou hast given me her and now it's you. Man up. Open a can of man and live it. Be this way. And I don't know why you're clapping. I'm talking about you. Little Paul Washer dig. But men, I'm serious. I'm serious. Bay County is a very spiritually dark area." [58:02]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Men, you should not have a work wife. Let me say that real fine. There should be no such thing as a work wife. That was like nails on a chalkboard when I would heard men, this is my work wife. What does that mean? You didn't enter into a covenant with that. That's not your spouse. This is a man who when he's in the workplace, if that spouse was on the wall, watching he's exactly the same man as he is at home." [29:10]
2. "Men, if you live this way to be above reproach, that you are going to be a man. You are going to stand out from amongst all other men. This is a masculine man. This is a masculine man according to the biblical definition of masculinity. Being a godly man is not, nor should it ever be defined by the world or the culture because here's how the world would describe masculinity." [19:54]
3. "We need godly men. We need godly men who meet these qualifications and seek to meet these qualifications who are ready and able, if the call comes to them, to step into leadership, to live in this way. Men who define masculinity through the lens of scripture, pleasing to God, rather than the lens of culture which is pleasing to men. We need men of virtue. We need men of conviction. We need men of principles. We need men of consistency. We need men of courage." [54:21]
4. "Men, you need to be men of your word. Men that can be depended upon. Men that can be reliable. Men that will show up for the family when they say that they will be there. If your kid has an event or something else and you say, I'm going to be there, you will be there. The job will go away. All that will go away. You need to be careful with that. This is a man here. In verse 4 and 5, this is a man here that doesn't just read well on paper but plays this out in real time." [49:13]
5. "A godly man demonstrates consistency in his walk with Christ. That way, those outside the church don't see this man, discount him, continue to throw out the accusations that the church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites and then he falls into reproach, then the church falls into reproach. God will not be popular. Men, if you adhere to this list, you will not be a popular man with the world because you're living in such a way that it reveals the ungodliness of this generation." [53:20]
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