WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.020 I got to be home. 00:00:01.940 --> 00:00:05.780 Wes and I got off the airplane and we could finally control what was going on. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:08.740 And so we walked so quickly. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:13.140 And I think we were about to break into a run trying to get to baggage claim in time. 00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:15.580 Because we could finally control the pace at which things were happening. 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:20.260 We saw people who rode the tram beat us to the baggage claim. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:22.440 But at least we felt like we were in control of making it happen. 00:00:22.539 --> 00:00:25.519 And I told Wes on the way home, we're not going to get home if I wreck. 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:27.019 So I got to slow down. 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:29.980 So I'm so eager to be back with my family. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:32.320 As a husband and a father. 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:36.920 So I kind of foolishly took on the task of preaching this morning. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.659 Being on this trip and being busy, busy and going, going. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:45.859 And I decided at the beginning of the trip that I was going to preach a Father's Day sermon this morning. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.480 But the scope of what I want to talk about today is larger than that. 00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:54.760 Certainly includes being a father, but is bigger than that. 00:00:54.760 --> 00:00:56.980 What I want to talk about this morning is masculinity. 00:00:57.460 --> 00:00:59.600 What does it mean to be a man? 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:03.200 Now ladies, I know that the temptation now will be to check out. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:05.040 There's lots of things going on in your life. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:07.379 You can begin to work through some of those things now. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:10.239 But if you are single, you should pay attention this morning. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:13.340 Because this is what you want to look for in a man. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:16.680 If you're not, you need to know how to pray for your men. 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:24.300 Because the task that's been given to us, the special role that we've been given as men in this world is a huge one. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:25.680 And we need your prayers. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.420 So what does it mean to be masculine? 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:31.340 What does that look like? 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:35.200 Culture gives us some definition of that. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:38.700 We look around at fallen men. 00:01:39.820 --> 00:01:42.900 Culture gives us some idea of what that might look like. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:44.300 The car you drive. 00:01:44.780 --> 00:01:46.620 How muscly you are. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:48.700 How well groomed you are. 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:49.680 The clothes you wear. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:52.560 The power job that you have. 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:57.800 But ultimately, all these things are a shadow of what once was. 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:04.819 Before the fall, Adam, the first man, was masculine in completion. 00:02:05.979 --> 00:02:07.599 He was a planetary king. 00:02:07.979 --> 00:02:10.280 He was given the world to rule. 00:02:11.859 --> 00:02:12.680 And then he sinned. 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.539 And sin totally corrupted that nature. 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:20.259 And in all of us men, there is this desire to get back to that place. 00:02:21.019 --> 00:02:23.680 We all carry the burden of sin. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:26.979 Which says to us, you are a failure. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:33.420 We all know that if we were set on the scale of masculinity, we would be found wanting. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:39.880 So all the things we do, the things that culture defines as masculine, are an attempt to get back to that place. 00:02:40.100 --> 00:02:41.500 That's why we love competition. 00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:42.600 Right? 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:43.840 Because we want to be kings. 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:44.660 We want to rule. 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:46.760 We want to dominate over others. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:49.160 That's why we get so into sports. 00:02:49.160 --> 00:02:52.540 Because we want to even just relate to a team that's winning. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:56.400 Very few diehard fans stick with a team when they're losing. 00:02:56.780 --> 00:02:56.900 Right? 00:02:56.900 --> 00:02:58.520 We want to flip-flop to the team that's winning. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:00.760 Because we want to be in charge. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:03.140 We want jobs where we call the shots. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:07.120 We want to drive cars that make it look like we're in charge. 00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:11.219 And it's all trying to get back to that Adamic nature. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:15.680 We're all trying to get back to that place where we are planetary kings once again. 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:17.980 Invincible ruling the world. 00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:20.780 Since corrupted it, hasn't it? 00:03:21.539 --> 00:03:24.959 Unfortunately, we have a way back to that place, which we'll get to soon. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:31.479 But for us to really understand what masculinity looks like, we have to go back pre-corruption. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:38.719 We have to go back before the fall and look at the creation of Adam and Eve and the way they were meant to operate together. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.740 So turn with me to Genesis chapter 1. 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:49.760 Moses wrote the book of Genesis under the inspiration of the Spirit. 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:54.599 In chapter 1, he gives us an account of the creation. 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:58.019 And then he repeats that account in chapter 2 with varying detail. 00:03:58.519 --> 00:04:04.179 In chapter 1, verse 27, he kind of zooms in a bit on what's going on on the sixth day. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:04.759 He says, 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:07.399 So God created man in his own image. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.579 In the image of God, he created him. 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:12.719 Male and female, he created them. 00:04:14.179 --> 00:04:18.000 So he zooms in to say something very important to us about man and woman. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:20.039 And that is that they are equal. 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:22.219 They're both created in the image of God. 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:29.259 Both with the same rights, the same responsibilities, the same things we must answer to God for. 00:04:30.659 --> 00:04:33.219 In chapter 2, he gives us another account of the creation. 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:36.620 Not that it happened again, but he's re-explaining some things for us. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:39.480 And once again, he zooms in. 00:04:40.140 --> 00:04:41.160 He zooms in tight. 00:04:41.200 --> 00:04:47.100 He gives us some details, which I believe that he was inspired to do for some specific reasons. 00:04:47.880 --> 00:04:51.020 Look at Genesis chapter 2, verse 7. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:55.920 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 00:04:56.260 --> 00:04:58.880 And the man became a living creature. 00:04:58.880 --> 00:05:00.040 And then verse 15. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:04.200 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and to keep it. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:06.080 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:11.960 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:14.040 For in the day you eat of it you shall surely die. 00:05:14.760 --> 00:05:15.640 Then the Lord God said, 00:05:15.700 --> 00:05:17.420 It is not good that the man should be alone. 00:05:18.020 --> 00:05:20.020 I will make a helper fit for him. 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:21.779 Verse 20. 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:25.180 But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 00:05:25.719 --> 00:05:28.120 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man. 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:32.519 And while he slept, took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:37.379 And the ribs of the Lord God had taken from the man he made into woman and brought her to man. 00:05:37.799 --> 00:05:38.779 Then the man said, 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:42.919 This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. 00:05:43.359 --> 00:05:47.680 She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.879 So this account has purpose. 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:55.819 The reason it was recorded for us, once again, we've seen that they were created as equals. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:57.860 But now we're seeing something else. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:01.079 We're seeing that man was created first and then woman. 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:03.879 Why is that? 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:07.340 Man was created first and then woman. 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:11.899 It's to show that men are to be the leaders in our relationships. 00:06:13.100 --> 00:06:15.680 Paul certainly understood that as he wrote his letter to Timothy. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.400 His first letter to Timothy, under the inspiration of the Spirit. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:27.060 So let me give you a definition of mature masculinity to help us wrap our minds around what we're going to talk about. 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:29.519 And this is stolen from John Piper. 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:31.280 I'll give him credit where credit is due. 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:35.139 At the heart of mature masculinity. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.240 I catch that. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:37.060 Mature masculinity. 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:48.620 The heart of mature masculinity is a sense of a benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for, and protect women in ways appropriate to a man's varying relationships. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:51.519 I'll repeat that for you again. 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:52.699 You don't have to write it down. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.879 Just kind of wrap your mind around it. 00:06:53.879 --> 00:07:06.819 At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of a benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for, and protect women in ways appropriate to a man's varying relationships. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.159 So catch what Piper is saying. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.120 And I think it's entirely biblically founded. 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:17.139 Our masculinity is measured by how we relate to women. 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:23.379 Who we are as men is measured by how we relate to the opposite sex. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.759 The control group. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:25.720 The fixed thing. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.560 The comparison thereof is what makes us masculine. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:33.360 Otherwise, we're a closed group of men, right? 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:34.720 What makes us men? 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:36.740 Our bodies. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:38.079 The way we were created. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:39.079 That makes us men. 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:43.259 What makes us masculine is how we relate to women. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:51.399 And the first way that we relate to women that's so key is that we are to lead. 00:07:53.479 --> 00:07:57.079 Ladies, this in no way takes away what Genesis 127 says. 00:07:58.159 --> 00:07:59.740 It's just a different role. 00:08:00.019 --> 00:08:05.019 And a man who leads properly is a man you will gladly follow. 00:08:06.539 --> 00:08:08.939 So mature masculinity leads spiritually. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:15.079 Now we saw up in 2.16. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.319 God gives Adam a command. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:20.359 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:21.199 Verse 17. 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:23.259 But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.099 From the day you eat of it, you shall surely die. 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:29.879 So God gives Adam the moral code of the garden. 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:33.939 And he's told Adam, work the garden, live in the garden, be fed by the garden. 00:08:34.199 --> 00:08:36.360 There's just one thing you're not supposed to do. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:38.860 He gives that command to Adam. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:43.180 Once we see Eve created, God doesn't repeat that command. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:45.839 He gives the command to Adam. 00:08:46.179 --> 00:08:51.439 And the assumption there is that Adam was responsible to pass the command on to his bride. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:57.160 We get some further evidencing of that in Genesis 3, 9 and 11. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.159 After the fall. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:02.339 Who does God go to first? 00:09:02.839 --> 00:09:06.679 Not to Eve, the originator of the sin, but to Adam. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:08.500 He holds Adam accountable. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:09.299 He says, 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:13.599 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, where are you? 00:09:14.599 --> 00:09:17.279 And in verse 11, he said, who told you that you were naked? 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:21.059 Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you not to eat? 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:29.659 So here Adam is given a command and he's held fully accountable for it, even though Eve was the one that sinned first. 00:09:30.339 --> 00:09:33.299 And why do you think Satan tempted Eve first? 00:09:33.979 --> 00:09:36.779 Why do you think that he went after Eve instead of Adam? 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:39.019 Some have said it's because she was weaker. 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:41.240 She was the weaker of the sexes. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.579 I don't believe that to be true at all. 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:49.479 I think that Satan went after it that way because he was intending to corrupt the order that God had set aside. 00:09:50.459 --> 00:09:54.620 He was intending to go after the very thing that God had already ordered in the world. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:57.159 That man came first and then woman. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:03.379 He flipped it on its head and he stood back and laughed and said, boy, now they're never going to be able to sort this mess out. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:09.059 Man's going to constantly try to lord over women and then blame them for everything. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.399 And isn't that what happens? 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:13.399 Isn't that exactly what happens? 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:15.959 Adam says, the woman told me to do it. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.539 In all that moment, we see the whole thing reversed. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:23.759 Rather than leading as he ought to, he just listened to her and did what she said. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.639 So Satan knew exactly what he was doing. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:32.460 So mature masculinity leads spiritually. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.279 Do we do that, men? 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.480 Do we lead our wives? 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:43.460 The other women around us, that definition I read, spoke of varying relationships. 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:46.480 Single men, do you lead those around you? 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:50.179 Are you an example for the women around you in spiritual matters? 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:53.539 I'm afraid that we're not. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:59.080 I'm so thankful that I get to preach from the word of God and I don't have to stand up here and show you my life. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.659 Except myself as the example. 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:03.240 Because I failed in so many of these things. 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.759 Do you lead your family spiritually? 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:11.720 Are you on the front edge of leading? 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.059 I doubt it. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:22.739 Mature masculinity also leads selflessly. 00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:29.379 Our definition says that man has a sense of a benevolent responsibility. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:34.799 Jesus says in Luke chapter 22, verse 26. 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:41.600 Let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:48.139 So mature masculinity does not assume authority, but advocates it through love. 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:53.720 Mature masculinity does not assume authority, but advocates it through love. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:57.720 Ephesians chapter 5, verse 23 and 25. 00:11:57.720 --> 00:12:03.460 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.160 His body and himself its savior. 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:12.220 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:16.540 Do we follow Christ because he's commanded it so? 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.639 That ought to be enough, shouldn't it? 00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:19.440 That should be it. 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:21.019 Rule of the universe said to do it. 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:22.160 We should do it. 00:12:23.540 --> 00:12:25.759 But we follow Christ because he loves us so much. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:28.460 The way he laid his life down for us. 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.720 The sacrifices he gives. 00:12:29.800 --> 00:12:31.019 The provision he gives in our lives. 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:32.759 That's why we follow Christ. 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:34.600 And men, we should be the same way. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:36.480 Benevolent. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:40.420 Encouraging and leading the women around us to follow us. 00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:43.639 They will gladly follow the man that leads in this way. 00:12:46.599 --> 00:12:49.199 Mature masculinity also leads to Christ. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:54.959 Now, the man does not stand in the position of Christ in the church quite the way Christ does. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.679 Because he's not Christ, is he? 00:12:58.139 --> 00:13:00.059 We're kind of a caretaker. 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:06.719 Christ has put us in a position to lead our wives and the women around us. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:12.540 Not to ourselves, lest we set ourselves up as Christ, but to Christ himself. 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:17.300 So the relationship isn't exactly the same because we're not the supreme ruler. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:22.379 Our job is to lead the women around us to Christ. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:28.679 Mature masculinity leads in discipline. 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:34.439 Fathers, do you leave the responsibility of disciplining your children to your wives? 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:41.080 Do you stand by while they whine and complain, waiting for your wife to do something about it? 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.799 Are you first in that? 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.820 Do you lead in that? 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.240 Do your children look at you and say, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.200 Hey, my dad's in charge around here. 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:54.279 My dad is setting the moral code around here. 00:13:55.700 --> 00:14:00.000 I better not transgress the law of this household or else I'll receive the wrath of my father. 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.379 That's a hard job, man. 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:08.259 I've got one that just turned one. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:12.279 And we're getting to that constant discipline stage. 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.360 And it is hard. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:14.700 And I don't want to do it sometimes. 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.720 He breaks my heart. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:17.340 Pokes that little bottom lip out. 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.960 But it is my responsibility. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:24.740 And I pray that I'm not sure of that responsibility at all. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:35.899 Mature masculinity not only provides, which we'll get to in a second, but it also leads financially. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:41.519 Men, are we an example to the women around us on how we ought to deal with our finances? 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:46.759 I think a lot of Christian households, there's a strain. 00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:56.819 Men trying to be Adamic, trying to gain for themselves the stuff that makes them men amass things for their hobbies. 00:14:56.820 --> 00:15:00.840 And the wives who say, but honey, we can't afford that. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.200 The opposite should be true. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:08.800 James Dobson wrote in a book called Straight Talk to Men and Their Wives. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:13.259 A Christian man is obligated to lead his family to the best of his ability. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:19.579 If his family has purchased too many items on credit, then the financial crunch is ultimately his fault. 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:25.399 If the family never reads the Bible or seldom goes to church on Sunday, God holds the man to blame. 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:33.000 If the children are disrespectful and disobedient, the primary responsibility lies with the father, not his wife. 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:46.120 In my view, says Dobson, America's greatest need is for husbands to begin guiding their families rather than pouring every physical and emotional resource into the mere acquisition of money. 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:50.319 And then it's our responsibility to provide. 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.879 It's our responsibility. 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.699 We ought to be providing for our households. 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:58.200 But it's not the only responsibility. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:04.580 In our provision, we must be good stewards with what we're given. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.900 Mature masculinity is sensitive to cultural expressions of masculinity. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:19.180 Mature masculinity is sensitive to cultural expressions of masculinity. 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:22.259 This applies to all of us, married or not. 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:27.020 In any relationship we take on with any woman. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.020 I have co-workers that are female. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.720 What is appropriate? 00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:33.080 What is the appropriate way for a man to act? 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:37.540 Men, do you know which side of a female you're supposed to walk on down the road? 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:41.320 Are you aware of where you're supposed to be when you're walking down the street? 00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:42.700 Which side of her do you walk on? 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:43.140 It changes. 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:45.000 Should you open the door? 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.319 Yes, you should. 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:48.639 Our culture may change. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.460 That may become an offensive thing someday. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.460 At which time you should stop. 00:16:53.620 --> 00:17:00.240 But are the things you do appropriately communicating to women, I'm a man and I would like to relate to you as a woman. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:05.259 So, my masculinity and your femininity are going to relate on a healthy level. 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:08.799 How we dress matters. 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:11.960 Dressing overly aggressive communicates something. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.940 I would suggest that none of you wear your tight clubbing shirts. 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:17.299 Just not appropriate for that. 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.220 I don't know if you have this. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:22.559 But it communicates an aggressive thing. 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:26.940 On the flip side of that, you might not want to wear skinny jeans, guys. 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.860 Because what does that communicate? 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:32.400 Do you want to relate to women as a woman? 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.980 You're saying, I want to dress like you. 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:37.440 I want to relate like you. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.640 Swoopy bang hairdos? 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:44.259 Probably not appropriate for a mature masculine male. 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:46.940 Think about what you're trying to communicate. 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:50.820 All of those things that we're seeing now, you know where that all comes from? 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.519 The emo rock movement. 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.740 You know where that comes from? 00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:54.600 Japan. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.740 You know what they're trying to do in Japan right now, young people? 00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.500 They're trying to de-gender society. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:04.320 There's an actual overt attempt to de-gender society. 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.519 And that's where that is birthed out of. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.480 Think about those actions. 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:13.680 What you do communicate to the women around you. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.660 I am a male. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:17.240 And therefore, we can interact that way. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.600 Or does it do the opposite? 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:20.980 It's important. 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:21.980 It matters. 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:26.640 Mature masculinity is sensitive to cultural expressions of masculinity. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:28.600 All right. 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.140 Secondly, 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.600 mature masculine men provide. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.619 In Genesis chapter 3, 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:40.799 we see post-fall that Adam is going to work the ground. 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:44.980 That wasn't something given to him as a result of sin. 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:46.019 Right? 00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:48.779 He was told prior to the fall that he was going to work the garden. 00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:49.719 Wasn't he? 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:51.519 That was his task to do, 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.319 was to work the garden 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:54.519 and to pick fruit from the trees 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.959 and provide food. 00:18:56.199 --> 00:18:57.799 It was just going to be really easy then. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.779 He was never going to grow tired. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.599 He was going to live forever. 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:02.639 He was just going to be a gardener 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.379 and he was going to love it. 00:19:05.199 --> 00:19:06.000 After the fall, 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.039 what we see in chapter 3 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.480 is that it's going to become hard. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.459 It's going to become a toil. 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:14.279 It's going to become so difficult to do. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:18.000 So that charge is still here for us as men. 00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:20.859 Now, I think that Piper's definition 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.599 is really appropriate. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:26.319 He says that the man has a sense 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:28.779 of his benevolent responsibility to provide. 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:32.139 Because we can't always do that. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:32.799 Am I right? 00:19:33.459 --> 00:19:35.259 Some of us are not particularly gifted 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:37.459 and therefore don't hold jobs 00:19:37.459 --> 00:19:38.500 that are very high paying. 00:19:39.719 --> 00:19:41.299 But we still should know 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.179 that it's our responsibility. 00:19:42.459 --> 00:19:43.980 We should do everything we can 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:46.459 to climb the ladder 00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:48.919 and make the money to provide for our families. 00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:51.159 I'm in a situation like that now. 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.640 I don't quite make the ends meet. 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.920 Fortunately, my wife is gifted 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:55.400 and can do graphic art from home 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.800 and be home with Cade. 00:19:57.360 --> 00:20:00.759 But the burden of providing lies with me. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.460 And I'm working on it. 00:20:02.560 --> 00:20:04.120 I'm finding ways to advance myself, 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.300 my job, 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:07.920 so that I can provide fully for my family. 00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:09.300 So there's a sense 00:20:09.300 --> 00:20:11.220 that that responsibility is yours. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.440 Not that you necessarily do. 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.180 Or how about a man who's disabled, 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.820 who can't? 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.040 Just it's impossible 00:20:17.040 --> 00:20:18.420 for him to go to work. 00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:20.519 Not that he's required to, 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.180 but that he should have 00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:22.200 this sense of the responsibility 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.000 to do so. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.139 A mature masculine man 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:29.039 also protects 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:32.259 in the same way 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.000 when he can, 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.779 when he's able 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.980 to do so. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.299 I think the 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.759 unfortunate picture 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.619 often of marriage 00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:43.160 is this 50-50 relationship. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.859 And that seems to apply 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.539 to all things. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.920 So I'll get out of bed 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.000 and check the strange noise 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.240 50% of the time. 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:51.139 You get out the other 50% 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:51.639 of the time. 00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.740 A mature masculine man 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.639 gets up every time. 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:54.779 Right? 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.799 In Genesis chapter 34, 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.940 a super cool story 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:03.279 of Hamor, 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:03.859 the Hivite, 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.720 and he sees 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.159 Dinah, 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:08.159 the sister of Simeon 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:08.539 and Levi, 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.579 and he rapes her. 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.639 And Simeon and Levi 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.740 exact revenge 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.259 by 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.960 pretending 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.399 that he's going to allow 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:20.019 this tribe of men, 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.579 these non-Jewish men, 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.440 to marry 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.139 with the 00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:24.240 Jewish women. 00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.440 But the 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.859 thing they must do 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.480 in order to do that 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.500 is to all be circumcised. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.079 So they're all 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.720 circumcised 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.500 and 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.500 they wait until 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.399 they're incredibly sore 00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.500 and they go to the town 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.059 and they kill 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.839 all the men. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.779 They just wipe them all out. 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.480 And 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.919 that's the revenge 00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:40.679 that they exact 00:21:40.679 --> 00:21:42.259 for the serious crime 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.399 of 00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.019 offending 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.059 their sister. 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.699 I'm not advocating 00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:48.619 that we go kill people. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.000 But 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.299 we ought to have 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.740 that sense of protection. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.480 Not just with our wives, 00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.079 but with 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.679 women 00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.699 in general 00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:57.759 around us. 00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:58.619 Do we 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.559 protect 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.720 women? 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.419 And we should. 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.539 On this 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.819 trip that we were just on, 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.819 Wes and I were getting 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.379 ready to fly out 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:07.700 yesterday, 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.139 actually. 00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:08.980 And we were sitting 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.539 in the little 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.779 lobby of the hotel 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.500 getting breakfast. 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.279 And I had already 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.819 sat down 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.740 because I had nothing 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.139 gluten-free, 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.659 so I was drinking 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.139 orange juice. 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.519 And all of a sudden 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.259 I saw Wes just 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.539 grab this old lady's arm. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.339 She's like 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.019 over here 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.059 and just grabbed her arm. 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.679 It was the weirdest 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:23.799 kind of out of the corner 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.119 of my eye 00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:24.939 bizarre thing 00:22:24.939 --> 00:22:26.299 to see him do. 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.679 And then I realized 00:22:27.679 --> 00:22:28.259 that what she was 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.980 about to do 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.159 was hit the hot water 00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:31.740 spout on the coffee thing 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.439 with her cup 00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:33.480 under where the coffee 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:33.859 comes out. 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.719 So the spout's up here. 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.759 She's going to hit the tab 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.919 with the spout right here. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.759 It didn't make any sense 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.079 at all. 00:22:38.439 --> 00:22:39.119 But she had her 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.039 arm up under here 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.500 and Wes saved her 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.619 from scalding her arm 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.819 with hot water. 00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.319 He didn't even think 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:44.839 twice about it. 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.919 He just smashed her arm 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.459 out of the way. 00:22:46.899 --> 00:22:47.839 And she was so appreciative. 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.639 Thank you so much. 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.259 Thank you so much. 00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:49.619 I mean, 00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:50.639 he like manhandled her. 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:53.479 But she was very thankful 00:22:53.479 --> 00:22:55.279 for what he had done. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:57.079 I don't like to toot 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.519 my own horn. 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.599 I don't have many examples 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.839 of mature masculinity, 00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:00.779 so I'm going to give you 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.259 this one. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.639 I shared the story 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:03.240 with you guys 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.200 of being in Gainesville 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.579 a number of months ago 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.619 and a woman was being 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:08.519 kind of assaulted 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.139 by a guy 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:10.460 that she knew 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.680 and she said, 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:11.940 stop, 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.519 you're hurting me. 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:13.480 And I didn't even 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.420 hesitate. 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.500 I was talking with 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.960 John Overton. 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.519 We're walking down 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.500 one side of the sidewalk 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.759 and it was like 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.599 something clicked in me 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.460 and I beelined 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.200 across the street 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.920 to intervene 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.339 in that situation. 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:25.019 That's mature masculinity. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.899 We ought to have 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.759 a sense about us 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.819 to protect women. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.240 There you go. 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.679 My examples. 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:33.379 Let's wait. 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.679 Me and Wes. 00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:35.959 Manly men. 00:23:39.959 --> 00:23:41.179 So ultimately, 00:23:41.939 --> 00:23:43.079 masculinity 00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:46.939 is living like Christ 00:23:46.939 --> 00:23:48.579 in relation to women. 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.559 We're all called 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.319 to be Christian. 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:55.019 Masculinity is living 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.939 like Christ 00:23:55.939 --> 00:23:57.759 in relation to women. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.459 Begin to filter 00:23:59.459 --> 00:24:00.379 everything you do 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:01.459 through that. 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.459 The things that you 00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.039 even do 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.000 when you're not 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.879 around women. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.259 Wes and I 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.119 were on a backpacking 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.599 trip together 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:10.220 this trip. 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.059 Thursday and Friday 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.959 we were off in the woods. 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.859 No women around. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.240 Me and Wes 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.500 off in the woods. 00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:18.159 But we could have 00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:19.939 emasculated ourselves 00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:21.339 by talking 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.220 coarsely 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.039 about our lives. 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.899 Right? 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.019 But we didn't. 00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:26.559 When we spoke 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.019 with our wives 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.480 we spoke with them 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:27.879 respectfully. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.259 Which is 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.199 masculine. 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.439 You see how that 00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:33.199 works? 00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.039 Begin to filter 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.000 the things you do men 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.559 through this lens 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:37.679 of my masculinity 00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:39.819 hinges 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:41.339 on how I relate 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.359 to women. 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.579 And if we're not 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.339 masculine 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:47.980 what are we? 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.179 I'd say we're boys. 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.820 some of us 00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:51.220 need to do some 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.840 growing up. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.180 So if we're to be 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.180 Christ 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.759 in relation 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.700 to women 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.380 then 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:59.240 we probably 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.700 ought to look 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.759 at Christ 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.279 the ultimate 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.960 expression 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:03.320 of masculinity 00:25:03.320 --> 00:25:04.860 and in his life 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.779 the culmination 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.420 of his masculinity 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.240 which was his death 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.900 on the cross 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.700 which is so 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.360 offensive 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.940 to the world's 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.100 idea of masculinity. 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.400 Right? 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.279 We all 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.240 as I talked 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.519 before 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:16.839 we all 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.160 want to 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.779 get back 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.139 to this 00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:19.079 Adamic 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.720 nature. 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.099 We all 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.539 want to 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.619 be this 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.539 planetary 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.279 king 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.639 and we 00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.399 seek that 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:24.839 by trying 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.399 to rule 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:25.899 over other 00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.339 men 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.279 which isn't 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.799 at all 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.059 what Christ 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.660 who was God 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.119 himself 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.420 did. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:30.879 He humbled 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.299 himself 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.539 to death 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.339 on a cross. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:34.940 Jay 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.259 Wetger 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.539 writes 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.220 the cross 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.000 is an offense 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.539 because of 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.319 its abject 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.940 weakness. 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.059 For in the 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.759 spectacle of the 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.399 cross we see 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.920 a victim 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.519 perishing 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.160 in weakness 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.639 shame 00:25:43.639 --> 00:25:44.720 ignominy 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.019 and dereliction. 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.420 It's an offense 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.860 to what we 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:51.160 think masculinity 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.100 should look like. 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:52.539 Right? 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.299 Our Savior 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.600 should have 00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.120 come on a 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.680 big giant 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.100 horse 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.400 and he 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:55.539 should have 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:55.720 been the 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.360 most muscly 00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.059 guy around 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.720 and wielded 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.779 large weapons 00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.120 and he 00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.319 should have 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.160 obliterated 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.180 the Roman 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.700 guard 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.039 and he 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.420 should have 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.940 rescued 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.620 his church. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:06.860 But the 00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.380 picture we're 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:07.920 given is 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.460 quite the 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.960 opposite of 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.259 that. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:10.860 Silent 00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.559 like a 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:11.900 lamb 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.579 led to 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:12.900 slaughter. 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:14.960 Christ 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:17.400 flips all 00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:17.980 that around 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.280 for us 00:26:19.280 --> 00:26:19.860 doesn't it? 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.240 Turn to 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.820 1 Corinthians 00:26:20.820 --> 00:26:22.019 chapter 1. 00:26:35.780 --> 00:26:36.440 I'm going to 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.780 read to you 00:26:36.780 --> 00:26:37.860 verses 18 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.560 through 15 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:39.160 or 25 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.920 of chapter 1. 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:47.320 For the 00:26:47.320 --> 00:26:47.660 word of the 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.340 cross is 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.660 folly to 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.140 those who 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.680 are perishing 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:52.100 but to us 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:52.539 who are being 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.380 saved it is 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:54.019 the power 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.220 of God. 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.200 For it is 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.580 written I 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.080 will destroy 00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:57.580 the wisdom 00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:58.279 of the wise 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.380 and the 00:26:59.380 --> 00:26:59.920 discernment 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.160 of the 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.660 discerning 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.840 I will 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.180 thwart. 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.140 The 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.800 philosophies 00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:04.100 of this 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.620 world 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.860 who seek 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.420 to conquer 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.720 to get 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.100 back to 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.400 that 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.080 nature 00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:08.320 that 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:08.659 endemic 00:27:08.659 --> 00:27:09.059 nature. 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:11.240 I'm going 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.399 to make 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:11.819 that seem 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.419 crazy. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.179 Verse 20 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:15.500 Where is the 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.960 one who is 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.319 wise? 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.099 Where is the 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.480 scribe? 00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:18.099 Where is the 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.759 debater of 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.339 this age? 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:20.200 Has not 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.700 God made 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.399 foolish the 00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:21.939 wisdom of 00:27:21.939 --> 00:27:22.399 the world? 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.460 For since 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:23.799 in the 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.220 wisdom of 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.579 God the 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:24.879 world did 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.339 not know 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.700 God 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:25.939 through 00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.359 wisdom 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.019 it pleased 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.460 God 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.119 through the 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.519 folly 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:28.839 of what 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.379 we preach 00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.819 to save 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.259 those 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.480 who believe. 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.779 For Jews 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.579 demand signs 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.079 and Greeks 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.720 seek wisdom 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.299 but we 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.019 preach Christ 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.599 crucified 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.259 a stumbling 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.679 block to 00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.279 Jews and 00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.899 folly to 00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:39.500 Gentiles. 00:27:39.959 --> 00:27:40.219 But to 00:27:40.219 --> 00:27:40.500 those who 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.000 are called 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.740 both Jews 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.299 and Greeks 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.039 Christ the 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.480 power of 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.279 God and 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.699 the wisdom 00:27:44.699 --> 00:27:45.240 of God. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.079 For the 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.599 foolishness of 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:46.919 God is 00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.500 wiser than 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.039 men and 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.480 the weakness 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.000 of God 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:50.159 is stronger 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:51.379 than men. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.579 Isn't that 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.319 awesome? 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.959 That says to 00:27:55.959 --> 00:27:56.539 me that when 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.019 I'm willing to 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.919 humble myself 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:59.099 to the point 00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.539 of death 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.059 to give 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.719 myself 00:28:00.719 --> 00:28:02.139 in my 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.899 masculinity 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.480 to serve 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.339 the women 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.059 in my life 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.919 power of 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:08.379 God. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.720 What a 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.139 task, 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.460 right? 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:14.899 What an 00:28:14.899 --> 00:28:15.480 overwhelming 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.659 task 00:28:16.659 --> 00:28:17.940 that's been 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.319 given to 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.700 us. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.579 Fortunately, 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.339 we have 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.679 Christ. 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.399 He is our 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.079 way back. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.659 We can 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:27.879 rule. 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.220 We can 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.700 be that 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.139 planetary 00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.720 king. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.079 It just 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.259 looks 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.839 differently 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.679 than the 00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:32.879 world 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.419 thinks. 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:34.839 2 Corinthians 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.799 5.16. 00:28:35.959 --> 00:28:36.419 Paul says, 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:36.759 Therefore, 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:37.819 if anyone 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.539 is in 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.039 Christ, 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.639 he is a 00:28:39.639 --> 00:28:39.819 new 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.299 creation. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.519 The old 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.000 has passed 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.240 away. 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.879 Behold, 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.759 the new 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.259 has come. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.599 We've been 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.279 restored. 00:28:45.959 --> 00:28:46.099 Our 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:46.740 masculinity 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.119 has been 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.559 restored 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.480 in Christ. 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:51.939 We've not 00:28:51.939 --> 00:28:52.179 been given 00:28:52.179 --> 00:28:52.779 the ability 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.480 to be 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.439 appropriate, 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:54.919 to be 00:28:54.919 --> 00:28:55.619 mature, 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:56.579 masculine 00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:57.539 men. 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.599 But it's 00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:58.980 hard. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:28:59.819 Ladies, 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.579 it's a 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.000 challenge. 00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:01.420 Guys, 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.119 I know 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:03.399 how hard 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:03.879 it is. 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.379 Jesus 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:05.759 says in 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.079 Matthew 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.779 chapter 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.180 11, 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.079 Come to 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.359 me, 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:08.859 all who 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.960 labor and 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.299 are heavy 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.639 laden, 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:10.940 and I 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.200 will give 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.759 you rest. 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.700 Take 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.299 my yoke 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:15.839 upon you 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.359 and learn 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.879 from me, 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.740 for I am 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.420 gentle and 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.859 lowly in 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.180 heart, 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:19.519 and you 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:19.819 will find 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.500 rest for 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.119 your souls. 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.079 For my 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.420 yoke is 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:22.720 easy, 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:23.779 and my 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.119 burden 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.200 is light. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.120 So how 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.319 do we 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.880 live as 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:29.160 mature, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.740 masculine 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.120 men? 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.460 We abide 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:31.960 in Christ. 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:32.559 We tarry 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.039 with Him. 00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:34.380 We look 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:34.960 to Him 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.940 for the 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.360 power we 00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.740 need in 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.039 order to 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.539 do so. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:40.160 And 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.759 humility is 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:42.880 required to 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.220 see that 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.580 happen. 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.440 In the 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:45.580 book, 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:45.740 We're 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:45.920 covering 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.220 biblical 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.600 manhood 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:46.720 and 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.140 womanhood. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.059 Piper 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.640 gives a 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.440 challenge and 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.140 shares his 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:53.259 prayer for 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.819 the men of 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.259 Bethlehem 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.580 Baptist 00:29:54.580 --> 00:29:54.920 Church. 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.160 And I 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.460 think that 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:55.740 we should 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.320 echo this 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:57.160 here at 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:57.380 Christ 00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.580 Family 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:57.960 Church. 00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.340 And there's 00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.880 15 points, 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.180 and I want 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.380 to read 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.820 them carefully 00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:01.180 for you, 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.440 and I want 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:01.620 you to 00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:01.980 bear with 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.220 me. 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.340 And we're 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.480 going to 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.880 close with 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.240 this. 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.019 Number 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.340 one, 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.660 that all 00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.300 your life, 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.740 in whatever 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.600 calling, 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.580 be devoted to 00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:13.019 the glory of 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.259 God. 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.560 Number 00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:15.860 two, 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.720 that the 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:18.120 promises of 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.740 Christ be 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.440 trusted so 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.980 fully that 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.700 peace and 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.279 joy and 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.680 strength fill 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.580 your soul to 00:30:23.580 --> 00:30:24.060 overflowing. 00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:26.660 number 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:26.960 three, 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:27.880 that this 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.460 fullness of 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.259 God overflow 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.060 in daily 00:30:30.060 --> 00:30:30.800 acts of 00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:31.720 love so 00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:32.039 that people 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:32.740 might see 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.120 your good 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.820 deeds and 00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.560 give glory to 00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:35.060 your Father 00:30:35.060 --> 00:30:35.920 in heaven. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.600 Number 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:37.900 four, 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:38.740 that you be 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.240 men of the 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.039 book who 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.640 love and 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.200 study and 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.640 obey the 00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.120 Bible in 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.840 every area 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.200 of its 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.560 teaching, 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.800 that meditation 00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:45.400 on biblical 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.259 truth be the 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:48.180 source of 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.779 hope and 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.140 faith, 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:49.800 that you 00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.420 continue to 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.060 grow in 00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:51.660 understanding 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.259 through all the 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.779 chapters of 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.220 your life, 00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.240 never thinking 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:55.000 that study and 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.740 growth are 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.420 only for 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.799 others. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.039 Number 00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.420 five, 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:00.500 that you 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:00.899 be men of 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.799 prayer so 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.019 that the 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.339 word of 00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.700 God will 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.099 be open 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:03.539 to you, 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.079 so the 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.660 power of 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.119 faith and 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.579 holiness will 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.299 descend upon 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.579 you, 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:07.240 that your 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.660 spiritual 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.319 influence may 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.960 increase at 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.619 home and 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.200 at church 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.059 and in the 00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.379 world. 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.099 Number 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.519 six, 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.559 that you 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.000 be men 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.399 who have a 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.160 deep grasp 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.519 of the 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.160 sovereign grace 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.619 of God, 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.819 which undergirds 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.299 all these 00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.660 spiritual 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.220 processes, 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.099 that you 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.559 be deep 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.200 thinkers about 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.720 the doctrines 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.200 of grace 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.839 and even 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.200 deeper 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.159 lovers of 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:25.319 these 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:25.779 things. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.079 Number 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.359 seven, 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:29.579 that you 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:30.079 be totally 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.700 committed to 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.119 ministry, 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.919 whatever your 00:31:31.919 --> 00:31:32.759 specific calling, 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:33.359 that you 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:33.899 not fritter 00:31:33.899 --> 00:31:34.339 away your 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:34.839 time on 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.240 excessive 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.960 sports and 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.059 recreation or 00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.539 unimportant 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:39.179 hobbies or 00:31:39.179 --> 00:31:39.740 aimless 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.440 diddling in 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.000 the garage, 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:41.679 but that you 00:31:41.679 --> 00:31:42.259 redeem the 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.720 time for 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.659 Christ and 00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.200 his kingdom. 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.419 Number 00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:46.720 eight, 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.339 that if you 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:48.839 are single, 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.879 you exploit your 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.460 singleness to 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.259 the fullness in 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.819 devotion to 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.680 God and 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:53.059 not be 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:54.039 paralyzed by 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.480 the desire 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.759 to be 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.039 married. 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.460 Number 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.799 nine, 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.640 that if you 00:31:58.640 --> 00:31:59.160 are married, 00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.579 you love 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.180 your life the 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.619 way Christ 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:00.960 loved the 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.500 church and 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:01.960 gave himself 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.539 for her, 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.220 that you 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.500 be a 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:03.819 humble, 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.779 self-denying, 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.559 up-building, 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.559 happy spiritual 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:06.859 leader, 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:07.579 that you 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.000 consistently 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.619 grow in 00:32:08.619 --> 00:32:09.240 grace and 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:09.779 knowledge so 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.339 as never to 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.059 quench the 00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.900 aspirations of 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.500 your wife for 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:12.859 spiritual 00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.299 advancement, 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:14.319 that you 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.720 cultivate 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.599 tenderness and 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.099 strength, 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.240 a pattern of 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.279 initiative and a 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:18.940 listening ear, 00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.200 that you accept the 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.319 responsibility of 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.100 provision and 00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:22.860 protection in the 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:24.120 family, however you 00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:25.240 and your wife share 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.660 the labor. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.319 Number 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.600 ten, 00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:28.779 that if you have 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.480 children, you 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.259 accept primary 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.819 responsibility in 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.620 partnership with your 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:34.100 wife to raise up 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:34.740 children in the 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.460 discipline and 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.420 instruction of the 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:37.900 Lord, children who 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.880 hope in the triumph 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.940 of God that you 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.920 establish a pattern of 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.620 teaching and discipline 00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:43.120 that is not solely 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.940 dependent on the 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.059 church or school to 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:46.039 impart Bible knowledge 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.539 and spiritual values to 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.799 the children, that you 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.559 give your children the 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.460 time and attention and 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.019 affection that 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.899 communicates the true 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.940 nature of our 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.639 father in heaven. 00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:57.839 Number eleven, that 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.659 you not assume 00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.919 advancement and pure 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:00.659 approval in your 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:02.039 gainful employment are 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.259 the highest values in 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:04.519 life, but that you 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.419 ponder the eternal 00:33:05.419 --> 00:33:06.779 significance of faithful 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:08.119 fatherhood and time 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.960 spent with your wife, 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.139 that you repeatedly 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:11.059 consider the new 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.500 possibilities each age 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.299 of your life for 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.339 maximizing your 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:16.419 energies for the 00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:17.240 glory of God in 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.480 ministry, that you 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.419 pose the question 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.900 often. 00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:21.600 Is our family molded 00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.680 by the culture or do 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:23.820 we embody the values 00:33:23.820 --> 00:33:24.580 of the kingdom of 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:26.039 God, that you lead 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.880 the family in making 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.060 choices not on the 00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:29.180 basis of secular 00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.400 trends or upward 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.580 lifestyle expectations, 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.940 but on the basis of 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:33.900 what will strengthen the 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:35.220 faith of the family and 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.960 advance the cause of 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.360 Christ. 00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:42.360 Number twelve, that you 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:44.900 step back, plan the 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:46.300 various form of your 00:33:46.300 --> 00:33:47.420 life's ministry in 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.000 chapters. 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.880 Chapters are divided by 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:51.519 various things, age, 00:33:51.800 --> 00:33:53.000 strength, singleness, 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:54.759 marriage, employment, 00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:55.840 children at home, 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.940 children in college, 00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:58.940 grandchildren, retirement, 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.720 et cetera. 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.160 No chapter has all the 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.580 joys. 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.940 Finite life is a series 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.740 of trade-offs. 00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.860 Finding God's will and 00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:08.860 living for the glory of 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:10.220 Christ to the full in 00:34:10.220 --> 00:34:11.440 every chapter is what 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.360 makes it a success, not 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.360 whether it reads like 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.559 somebody else's chapter, 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:17.179 whether it has in it 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.940 what only another 00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:19.519 chapter will bring. 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:23.219 Number thirteen, that 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:24.299 you develop a wartime 00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:25.420 mentality and lifestyle, 00:34:25.659 --> 00:34:26.460 that you never forget 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.579 that life is short, that 00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.719 billions of people hang 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:29.699 in the balance of heaven 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:31.360 and hell every day, that 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.400 the love of money is 00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:34.440 spiritual suicide, that 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.340 the goals of upper 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:37.099 mobility, nicer clothes, 00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.099 cars, houses, 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:40.299 vacations, food, hobbies 00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:41.559 are a poor and a 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.880 dangerous substitute for 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.820 the goals of living for 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.660 Christ with all your 00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.780 might and maximizing 00:34:45.780 --> 00:34:47.200 your joy and ministry to 00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:47.880 people's needs. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:51.640 Number fourteen, that in 00:34:51.640 --> 00:34:52.600 all your relationships with 00:34:52.600 --> 00:34:53.940 women, not just in 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:55.260 marriage, you seek the 00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:56.200 guidance of the Holy 00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:57.200 Spirit in applying the 00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:58.160 biblical vision of 00:34:58.160 --> 00:34:59.240 manhood and womanhood, 00:34:59.640 --> 00:35:00.340 that you develop a 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.620 lifestyle and demeanor 00:35:01.620 --> 00:35:02.960 that expresses your God 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.059 given responsibility for 00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:05.200 humble strength and 00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:06.440 leadership and for 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.400 self-sacrificing 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.680 provision and protection, 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:10.000 that you think 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.019 creatively and with 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.920 cultural sensitivity, 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:14.500 sensitivity, just as she 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.579 must do, and shaping the 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.679 style and setting, the 00:35:16.679 --> 00:35:17.980 tone of your interactions 00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:18.800 with women. 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:22.519 Number fifteen, that you 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.599 see the biblical guidelines 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.920 for what is appropriate and 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.079 inappropriate for men and 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.699 women, not as licensed for 00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:29.219 domination or bossive 00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:31.440 passivity, but as a call to 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.519 servant leadership that 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.599 thinks in terms of 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:35.019 responsibilities, not 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.619 rights, that you see these 00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.940 principles as wise and 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.019 gracious prescriptions for 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.159 how to discover the true 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:42.360 freedom of God's ideal of 00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:44.420 complementarity, that you 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:45.460 encourage the fruitful 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.659 encouragement of women in 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.480 the countless ministry 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.900 roles that are biblically 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:50.539 appropriate and deeply 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:50.900 needed. 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:54.460 Guys, I think it's time that 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:56.659 we stop being boys and start 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:58.619 being mature, masculine men. 00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.539 Let's pray together.