Embracing God’s Call: Men as Leaders and Servants
Summary
In Jesus' name, I call upon all men to rise and take their rightful place in the world. It's time to move beyond passivity and embrace the roles God has designed for us. We are called to be great and godly fathers, husbands, students, and coworkers. God has not called us to be dim lights but rather bright beacons that draw the attention of our culture. Our society may be devolving because men are complaining without taking action. Marriages may be failing because men demand submission from their wives without first submitting to God. Our youth may be lost because men are not taking responsibility for raising their children. Churches may be struggling because men are present but not serving.
Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 16:13 urge us to "act like a man," highlighting that being male is not enough; we must become the men God has called us to be. We should not be preoccupied with the issues in the White House when we struggle to lead in our own homes. God is calling us to be His men, which requires humility, servanthood, and sacrifice. It means staying when it's easier to leave and mending hearts rather than breaking them. It means striving for greatness through selflessness and commitment.
When we embody these qualities, we can bring about change in our personal lives, families, churches, and culture. God is seeking righteous men to stand up in a generation that has forsaken righteousness. The question God poses to us is simple yet profound: Are we ready to answer His call and become the men He desires us to be?
Key Takeaways
- God calls men to rise from passivity and embrace their roles as leaders in their families, workplaces, and communities. This call is not about pride but about humility and servanthood, reflecting God's design for men to be bright lights in a dim world. [00:22]
- The decline in culture, marriages, and youth can often be traced back to men's lack of involvement and responsibility. Men are urged to submit to God first, which will naturally lead to healthier relationships and communities. [00:47]
- Being a man in God's eyes means more than just being male; it involves a transformation into the man God has called you to be. This transformation requires a focus on leading one's household before concerning oneself with broader societal issues. [01:36]
- True manhood involves servanthood, sacrifice, and staying power. It means choosing to mend hearts, serve others, and remain committed even when it's challenging. This path leads to personal and communal transformation. [02:02]
- God is searching for righteous men to stand up in a generation that has turned away from righteousness. The call is simple yet powerful: to become the men God desires, bringing change to our lives and the world around us. [02:30]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Call to Action for Men
[00:47] - Cultural and Familial Challenges
[01:13] - The Role of Men in the Church
[01:36] - True Manhood Defined
[02:02] - Servanthood and Sacrifice
[02:30] - The Call for Righteous Men
[02:45] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he instructs men to "act like a man" in 1 Corinthians 16:13? How does this relate to the sermon’s call for men to rise and take their place? [01:13]
2. According to the sermon, what are some reasons given for the decline in culture, marriages, and youth? [00:47]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of men in the church, and what issues are highlighted regarding their involvement? [01:13]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "act like a man" from 1 Corinthians 16:13 in terms of humility and servanthood? [01:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that men can transform their personal lives and communities by embodying true manhood? [02:02]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between a man's submission to God and the health of his relationships and community? [00:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current role in your family, workplace, or community. How can you rise from passivity and embrace a leadership role as described in the sermon? [00:22]
2. Consider a relationship in your life that may be struggling. How can you apply the principles of humility and servanthood to mend hearts rather than break them? [01:36]
3. Identify an area in your life where you might be demanding submission from others without first submitting to God. What steps can you take to change this dynamic? [00:47]
4. The sermon calls for men to be bright lights in a dim world. What specific actions can you take this week to be a beacon of light in your community? [00:22]
5. Think about a time when it was easier to leave a situation rather than stay. How can you cultivate staying power and commitment in similar situations in the future? [02:02]
6. How can you actively participate in your church community to ensure you are not just present but also serving? What specific role or task can you commit to? [01:13]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call for righteous men to stand up in a generation that has forsaken righteousness. What does this look like in your daily life, and how can you answer this call? [02:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God-Designed Leadership Roles
God calls men to rise from passivity and embrace their roles as leaders in their families, workplaces, and communities. This call is not about pride but about humility and servanthood, reflecting God's design for men to be bright lights in a dim world. Men are encouraged to step into these roles with a sense of purpose and responsibility, understanding that their influence can bring about positive change. By embodying the qualities of a godly leader, men can become beacons of hope and guidance in a society that often lacks direction. [00:22]
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you step up and lead with humility and servanthood today?
Day 2: The Impact of Male Involvement
The decline in culture, marriages, and youth can often be traced back to men's lack of involvement and responsibility. Men are urged to submit to God first, which will naturally lead to healthier relationships and communities. When men take an active role in their families and communities, they can help reverse negative trends and foster environments of love and respect. By prioritizing their relationship with God, men can become the foundation upon which strong families and communities are built. [00:47]
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in nurturing and guiding the younger generation in your life today?
Day 3: Transforming into Godly Men
Being a man in God's eyes means more than just being male; it involves a transformation into the man God has called you to be. This transformation requires a focus on leading one's household before concerning oneself with broader societal issues. Men are encouraged to prioritize their spiritual growth and leadership at home, understanding that this foundation will enable them to make a greater impact in the world. By aligning their lives with God's will, men can become the change agents their families and communities need. [01:36]
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to strengthen your spiritual leadership within your home?
Day 4: The Path of Servanthood and Sacrifice
True manhood involves servanthood, sacrifice, and staying power. It means choosing to mend hearts, serve others, and remain committed even when it's challenging. This path leads to personal and communal transformation, as men who embody these qualities can inspire others to do the same. By prioritizing the needs of others and demonstrating unwavering commitment, men can create a ripple effect of positive change in their communities. [02:02]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you serve selflessly today, and how can you make a tangible impact on their life?
Day 5: Answering the Call for Righteous Men
God is searching for righteous men to stand up in a generation that has turned away from righteousness. The call is simple yet powerful: to become the men God desires, bringing change to our lives and the world around us. Men are encouraged to embrace this call with courage and determination, understanding that their actions can lead to a revival of righteousness in their communities. By living out their faith with integrity and purpose, men can inspire others to seek God and pursue a life of righteousness. [02:30]
"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord." (Zephaniah 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: What specific action can you take today to pursue righteousness and inspire others to do the same?
Quotes
In Jesus name, this is a call to all the men. It's time for men to stand up because by now we out to be tired of sitting down. It's time for us to take our place. It's time for us as men to rule our individual gardens that God has placed us in by His grace. [00:00:01]
God has not created us and called us into the game of life as men to remain passive, sitting on the bench. God has called us for greatness. He has called us to be great and godly fathers, great and godly husbands, great and godly students and coworkers. [00:00:22]
He has not called us to be satisfied with being dim lights but rather bright lights that draw the attention of the culture. Could it be that our culture is devolving because men are complaining but not willing to be involved? Could it be that our marriages are failing because men are demanding submission from their wives but not willing to submit to God? [00:00:41]
Could it be that our young people are lost because men are siring kids but not taking the responsibility of raising them? Could it be that our churches are failing because men are sitting in church but not willing to serve the church? Paul said it best in 1st Corinthians 16:13. He said, "Act like a man." [00:00:56]
This means that you can be a male that has never come around to becoming the man that God has called you to be. We no longer need to be spending our time worrying about and fighting about what's going on in the White House when we're struggling just to get men to stay and lead in their house. [00:01:30]
God is calling the men, and He's calling you right now to be His man. This doesn't mean pride but it does mean humility. This doesn't mean breaking hearts but it does mean mending them. This doesn't mean domineering but it does mean servanthood. It certainly doesn't mean leave but it does mean stay. [00:01:50]
This doesn't mean selfishness but it does mean sacrifice. It doesn't mean giving up but it certainly means greatness. And whenever we can find these men, we can experience change—change in our personal lives, change in our family's life, change in our church, and most of all, in our culture. [00:02:11]
God is looking for righteous men, and He's looking for righteous men to stand up in a generation that has forsaken righteousness. So God is asking a simple question but a powerful question. And the questions is... [00:02:30]
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