Father’s Day at MVC / 6.19.22

Encouragement for Men

2 Timothy 3:16-16, Hebrews 13:20-21,

2 Corinthians 3:4-5, Galatians 2:20

June 19, 2022

I.Introduction:

A. Men carry a large personal weight on their souls that can make

them feel inadequate or ill equipped when it comes to navigating life!

1. When you look at the many responsibilities and expectations

upon a man, both from the Bible and manmade, they often feel

like I have not done enough or do not measure up. This often

results in self-condemnation, defeat, insecurity or just giving up.

a. They want to be

1. A man who walks with God displaying the fruits of the

Spirit of God in their life and having a testimony to

others.

2. The kind of leader God wants them to be in their

marriages, homes, church and community.

b. But on the other hand they struggle with sin –

1. Pride, impatience, selfishness, self-reliance,

2. Along with sexual purity, temptation, lust or even porn.

c. Also, they are giving 100% at work and when they get

home, they run on empty. Not enough time and energy to

do either right.

2. Add to those responsibilities and expectations that they have no

idea of what it looks like because they have never seen it

modeled.

3. Add on top of that - conflicting messages from the Bible and

from the world as to what a man is and how he should act.

B. A number of years ago a brother came up to me and said it

seems on Mother’s Day we are always encouraging the women and

telling them how great they are, but on Father’s Day we seem to

always be challenging men to be better and pointing out where they

fall short.

1. Reminded me of this image I saw on Facebook with Mother’s

Day dinner at the beach and Father’s Day frozen meal!

2. Yes, men love to challenge men to be stronger, better and more

godly men and we get a lot of amens for that because men love

to challenge and be challenged.

• Well today, my goal is to help men carry the large personal weight on

their souls that makes them feel inadequate or ill equipped to navigate

the responsibilities and expectations they have!

• By the way ladies, do not tune me out because what we will learn

today addresses the inadequacies and sense of being ill equipped that

women also feel in their lives.

II. Scripture

A. I want to take us to the only passage in Scripture I am aware of that

addresses both the issue of adequacy and equipping – 2 Timothy 3:16-

16. Turn and read.

1. Let’s simply define these two key words

a. Adequate – having the knowledge and skill to be able to meet all

the demands upon you.

1. That addresses our feeling of inadequacy where we feel

we are not enough or measure up to what we are called to

in our lives

b. Equipped – provide someone with what they need to make them

ready to do what they need to do!

1. That addresses our feeling of being ill equipped as God

furnishes us with the resources we need to do the job!

2. The first thing we see here is that God’s Word, the Scripture,

the written Word of God, which is breathed right out of the

heart of God.

. Note what it is profitable for: teaching, reproof,

correction, training in righteousness. Illustrate by walking

on the platform.

a. So that may be adequate and equipped for every, every,

every good work. That would include every responsibility

and expectation upon a man!

3. As most men have not seen it modeled before them or have any

idea of what it means or looks like to be a man, the Bible is a

great place to gain your bearings.

. Daily at home or at break time at work. I would

encourage you to start with the method that Martin Luther

used when it came to God’s Word. He was the great

reformer who God literally used to change the church and

the world. His method is summarized simply in my

words. WAR

1. Worship/praise, thank God from things in the text

2. Admit/confess sin that is inconsistent with the text

3. Request God to do things for and in you in the text

a. A couple resources on Sunday mornings to jump-start

you.

1. Bible study methods – simply communicate to you what I

learned in seminary on how to study the Bible as a pastor

would. You do need to sign up for this class as we will

limit it to 40

2. Mere Christianity use C.S. Lewis book as a foundation as

you will see that Christianity is logical and we can

rationalize our faith.

3. Bereans – the seven letters from Jesus to the church in

the first three chapters in the book of Revelation. You

will learn in this class how Jesus feels when he looks at

the church today!

• We are excited about these opportunities and many events coming up

this summer and fall. So how can you find out more or sign up for

one.

• Best way is the Sunday electronic bulletin, which explains to

you what is going on and a link to sign up for it. I encourage

you to read this every week as it comes out on Sunday morning

• If you do not get that – take out your phone and add this to your

contact information right now – 708-350-6610 - MVC text

• Got it? I would encourage you to text right now and put in

the word “bulletin”

• In return, you will receive a link where you can put

in your email address and what you want to be

signed up for.

• Text number is always the same so when you see

something you want more information on or sign up for

something you hear in the video announcements that is the

quickest and easiest way to do it.

B. Let’s look at a passage that speaks about God equipping us.

1. Equipped – provide someone with what they need to make them

ready to do what they need to do! It addresses our feeling of

being ill-equipped

2. Turn and read Hebrews 13:20-21.

3. Note:

a. Emphasize – God equips you

b. Everything, everything, everything, you need to do

God’s will – the things we learn in this book that we are

responsible for and God expects of us.

c. Working in us … through Jesus Christ – God works in

us everything we need through the indwelling Christ who

lives in us and builds into us just what we need!

C. Now let’s look at a passage that speaks about God making us

adequate.

1. Adequate – having the knowledge and skill to be able to meet

all the demands upon you. It addresses our feeling of being

inadequate

2. Turn to 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

a. Context – as Christians, men and women, boys and girls are

called to be the aroma of Jesus to those around them. Then in 2

Corinthians 2:16 he says, “who is adequate for these things.”

b. Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

3. Most men are paralyzed by their weaknesses and inadequacies,

when the proper response is to allow these to be the reminders

to turn to Jesus and confess that our confidence and faith is not

in ourselves but in God Himself

• So how does this work?

III. Conclusion –

A. Galatians 2:20 Read

1. Two key observations –

a. I no longer live but Christ lives in me.

b. The life I now live in this body is a life of faith in Jesus.

2. Two ways Christians live:

. The first is like a rowboat where they do all the work! (walking

by the flesh)

1. They commit themselves whole heartedly to God and try

as hard as they can to live for Him, the way His Word

tells them

2. The second way is like a sailboat boat where they do the

work of putting up the sail but the wind does the work of

moving them on! (walking by the Spirit)

3. I recognize my own inability to pull it off and put no trust

or confidence in myself to do this thing for God. Rather

transfer my trust and confidence to Jesus moment by

moment to live out His life through me and miraculously

fill me with adequacy and equipment to carry off the

expectations and responsibilities that are upon me.

B. This is how it all works together

1. Read in God’s word what responsibilities and expectations He

has upon me.

2. Know that the indwelling spirit of Jesus can do in and through

me what I cannot do for myself.

3. Prayerfully rely upon, call out to Jesus to live His life through

you! As simple as Jesus I cannot do this, please do this for me!

C. When we do this miracles happen. Let me illustrate this:

1. I do not have the ability to draw at all. Draw Mona Lisa – stick

man version

2. Let’s say that the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci comes to live in

me.

3. Now I go to the artist stand either I can do my best and be really

sincere and committed to the Lord to do a great picture for Him,

or I can yield to the indwelling spirit of Leonardo da Vinci

within me and rely him to draw that picture through me,

4. This is what comes out when I step back, yield, and rely upon

him to do it through me. picture of Mona Lisa

D. The same happens when a man relies upon the indwelling Jesus to

equip him and make him adequate:

1. When they face their responsibilities and expectations

2. To display His fruits in them and empower them to walk and

witness for Him

3. To lead in their marriages, families, church and community

4. To break down the power of sin in their lives and fill them with

the purity of Jesus

5. To give them the wisdom and strength to balance both home

and work!

E. Pray for men - Stand