Earlier today we published the first full episode of our new podcast, Mission Focused Men for Christ, entitled, "Who Is This Podcast For?" These 15-18 minute podcasts will continue to be posted, weekly, in written form to this website blog, with a short summary version continuing to going out through Constant Contact email. But we know it will be so much easier for men to access this weekly focus on theor mission if they have an audio version right on their phone, to listen to any time it is convenient (usually when they are doing something else). Here is why we think this discipleship tool might be so hepful to Christian men.
I have discovered, over the years, that no Christian man wants to fail at the mission assigned to him by Christ. But how can we succeed, when we have only a vague, fuzzy picture of what that mission is and aren’t really linking that mission to our everyday lives?
Mission Focused Men for Christ provides 1) a biblical understanding of what that three-fold mission is, 2) practical wisdom for how to accomplish that mission in our everyday lives, and 3) refreshing motivation to give our best to Christ in pursuing that mission. Simply stated, the podcast’s goal is to empower every Christian man to run, well, the race marked-out for him by Christ so that he crosses the finish line to the sound of The Master’s voice, saying, “Well Done.”
4 PILLARS OF COMMITMENT--THE MFMFC FOUNDATION
A. A COMMITMENT TO SCRIPTURE. Christian men realize that since they have chosen to follow Christ, they need to pattern their lives according to Jesus’ example and teaching. So, the Bible is the foundation for understanding their mission. They want an answer to the question, “What did God put me on planet earth to do?” They may know they are here for God’s glory, but they still want to know how that relates to their everyday life in the form of their mission. They rightly assume that God doesn’t just expect us to know what he put us on planet earth to do—he tells us those purposes in his Word.
When you search the Scriptures to see what is said about the mission of Christ-followers you discover that the teaching falls into three categories. These three categories are summarized in our 3-fold understanding of our mission:
1. We are Called TO CHRIST—to enjoy a love-relationship with Him. This part of our mission, Called TO CHRIST, answers the question, “Where am I to set the affections of my heart?” “What is to be my first love?” “Who can give me the dependable, unconditional love I need to continually renew my soul? The answer is CHRIST. I am made to enjoy Him & that joy grows from loving him more deeply, knowing him more fully, and walking with him more closely.
So, this podcast answers questions like:
- How do I keep walking closely with Christ?
- How do I satisfy my heart by enjoying Him?
- How does it change my life to remember how much he enjoys me?
- How do I continually refill my emotional tank by abiding in his love?
2. We are Called TO BE LIKE CHRIST—in our heart attitudes. A disciple shows his allegiance to his master by wanting to be like him. This part of our mission, CALLED TO BE LIKE CHRIST, answers the question, “What kind of man will I become ON THE INSIDE?” The answer is “one with the character of Jesus.”
Jesus taught that the reign of the Kingdom of God, which he came to establish, begins in the human heart by making our attitudes more Christ-like. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a portrait of those heart attitudes, saying that those who adopt these attitudes of the kingdom are those who are most blessed. For example:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit—those who recognize their spiritual poverty and need for Christ
- Blessed are the meek—those who surrender to Christ’s lordship
- Blessed are the merciful—those who are full of compassion for those broken by sin
- Blessed are the pure in hear—those who are who are being freed from their self-centeredness and selfishness
There are numerous other New Testament lists of godly character traits, including the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, James’ list of wise attitudes that come from above, and Paul’s command to live in a manner worthy of our calling in Eph 4.The Mission Focused Men for Christ podcast takes a close look at these Christ-like character qualities because demonstrating the character of Jesus to the world is at the core of his mission for us.
3. We are Calle to EXERCISE DOMINION FOR CHRIST over every aspect of our lives. As Adam was to develop the resources of the earth and shape the emerging culture in a way that pleased God, we are to implement Christ’s agenda in our own lives and, where you have influence, in the world. This part of our mission answers the question, “What am I to do with my life?” The answer is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness i.e. seek to implement Christ’s agenda of righteousness on this planet. A man does that through every role he fills—by being the man Christ wants him to be as a husband, father, extended family member, church member, employee, employer, neighbor, steward of resources, citizen, and ambassador to the lost.
This podcast will get very practical with ideas about what Christ’s agenda is for a man filling these various roles. Always shared in a spirit of encouragement, these challenging practical insights provide the path men need to accomplish the mission God put him on planet earth to accomplish for his glory.
So, the first pillar of commitment that is the foundation of the Mission Focused Men for Christ podcast is that our understanding of our mission must be rooted in Scripture.
B. MFMFC WILL SEEK TO BE INSIGHTFUL. On a good day, when a Christian guy today actually wants to please Christ, he often doesn’t know HOW. He lacks the practical wisdom to actually do what he’s supposed to do as a husband, father, and Christ-follower. He knows, for example, that he needs a closer walk with Christ, but often feels far from God and doesn’t know what to do about it. He knows he is supposed to become more like Jesus, but doesn’t have a concrete target on the wall of what godly character actually looks like. His most important relationships—with his wife and kids—are often more difficult to figure out than he ever expected. How does he fix those? And how is he supposed to get some wins in his battle with lust, instead of repeated failure?
Our commitment is to make Mission Focused Men for Christ a valuable game plan for getting your mission accomplished. We want not only to challenge you a deeper walk with God but help you overcome the obstacles to such closeness. We want not only to remind you that becoming like Jesus is the greatest way to honor him, but to sharpen your vision of Christ’s character qualities and understand how to grow into them. Our objective is not just to call you to be the spiritual leader of your home, or to fight for your loved ones in prayer; we want to show you HOW. If you are not receiving fresh insight about HOW to achieve your mission, we’re not doing our job.
C. MFMFC WILL SEEK TO BE ENERGIZING. Committed Christian men today are tired. They carry many responsibilities in a world where working hours and commutes are getting longer. They are spending nearly all their energy just putting one foot down in front of the next doing their daily tasks. Contributing to this energy depletion is the everyday spiritual battle we must fight--against Satan, who tempts us, against the world that entices us, and against our own sinful nature that betrays us. Losing spiritual battles takes the wind out of our sails; it causes us to lose heart.
Mission Focused Men for Christ is rooted in the biblical call to encourage one another. The word, encourage, comes from cour, which refers to heart. The goal of our podcast is to give fresh heart to Christ-following men. Its tone is always intended to rekindle passion for Christ, to pick men up who have been disheartened by their own failure, to refill men’s spiritual tanks. Mission Focused Men for Christ takes a grace-filled approach to our calling to follow Jesus.
D. MFMFC WILL BE BITE-SIZED, NOT OVERWHELMING. When Moses sent spies to scout out the entire Promised Land, the spies came back discouraged, saying, “We’ll never defeat the giants.” Forty years later, Joshua sent the spies out into the Promised Land one city at a time. They came back and said, “We can take the city.” The scope of Christ’s mission for our lives is daunting. In fact, it is so intimidating that it often leads to paralysis. Where do I even start?
The Mission Focused Men for Christ podcast believes that life is made up of mostly small decisions made every day. Its purpose is helping men to know how to relate the big picture of their mission as Christ-followers to their everyday lives. The short length, 15-18 minutes, enables men to easily squeeze it into their schedule.
Our decision to send the podcast out weekly, on Sunday evening is intentional. Our ministry believes that the perfect antidote to the 21st century frenzied life is to begin each week by taking a few minutes with our Commander In Chief Sunday night, or during a Monday morning workout or commute to reflect upon our mission for the upcoming week. To facilitate this time of reflection and renewed focus, our weekly podcast supplies both an inspirational reminder of what our mission is and practical encouragement for how to achieve that mission. WELCOME TO THE MISSION FOCUSED MEN FOR CHRIST SUNDAY EVENING PODCAST.
Click here for a link to a PDF that further explains this discipleship tool.
You can find our podcast, Mission Focused Men for Christ on your podcast app or go online to the following directories, where you can listen to the podcast and subscribe to it.
