Category: Manhood

9 Reflections on Disciple Now (Part 2)

On By pastorjonathanIn Family, Kingdom of God, Manhood, MinistryLeave a comment

3. Our teenagers glorified God by serving others with the work projects this weekend (They painted a house, built a ramp, hosted a backyard bible club, and took cookies to the home bound).

4. Our teenagers were given at least one more point of contact with our church family (they stayed in the home of church members and the relationships at Calvary were deepened and  developed as students and adults interacted)

5. Our Teenagers were given a positive aim for their life and real reason to remain pure (to glorify God in manhood and womanhood!)  Too often the loftiest aim we give our kids is to stay out of trouble… ie… “true love waits” and we fail to provide a positive challenge to our kids to raise the standard.

9 Reflections on Disciple Now (Part 1)

On By pastorjonathanIn Manhood, MinistryLeave a comment

2227885657_25a043b6e5_m The event is over.  The students have gone home and the quiet descends on what was once a room full of chaos and chatter.  The lives that were united for a few hours this weekend have temporarily scattered across Pensacola.  As I pray over the quiet room I recount all the events of the weekend and I can not help but give God the glory for all he has done.

9 Reflections on Disciple Now 2009

  1. Our teenagers were confronted with the gospel. (One of our students gave her life to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior!)
  2. Our teenagers were challenged with a biblical definition of manhood or womanhood. (they can no longer live in ignorance of the issue, they must now choose their actions each day based on the knowledge of an existing framework for how men and women can glorify God together).
  3. our teenagers were exposed to a model of successful discipleship where students become teachers (all of our leaders had been through this topic with me before…With the exception of John who has lead his students through similar material).

5 Growth Challenges

On By pastorjonathanIn Manhood, Ministry, Prayer, WomanhoodLeave a comment

300819410_8dfff801d5_m Are you looking to grow deeper in your relationship with God?  The challenges below are a great place to start.

1. Proverbs Challenge… Read a chapter of Proverbs each day.  Read Proverbs chapter 7 on the 7th of the month; chapter 8 on the 8th of the month and so on.  Our pastor Chris Aiken does a daily blog commenting on one chapter of scripture and a daily take away from the book of Proverbs.

2. Journal Challenge… Take the Bible reading one step further and keep a journal that you can record your thoughts in.  I like to ask myself two questions after I have read and prayed thought the scripture: 1. What does this say about God? 2. How will I respond?

3. My Story Challenge… Write out the story of how you became a Christ follower in 100 words or less and let me review it. Try use every day language and avoid words that are church specific.  Highlight three things:

  1. Life before you met Christ.
  2. How you met Christ.
  3. How your life is different now.

You can see a version of mine in the “About Me” section of “Meet Jonathan.”  After it has been reviewed take the opportunity to tell others your story and get their input.  Post it on your facebook and myspace profiles.

4. Teach others challenge… I encourage our students to take notes on the Sunday Morning sermon and the Wednesday night message.  Study their notes and then either through intentional study (like an established Bible study) or in regular conversation (“guess what I learned this week”) share what they have learned in a way that teaches others.

5. Accountability Challenge… I challenge our kids to encourage one another with what they have been learning and doing in smaller groups.  I do this by sending out a mass text each asking for prayer requests from those who subscribe and sharing a verse that stuck out to me that day from my daily bible reading (usually from Proverbs since that is one of the challenges).

Resources on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

On By pastorjonathanIn books, Family, Manhood, WomanhoodLeave a comment

15813429181 Since hearing about the upcoming Disciple Now at Calvary, many of you have been asking, “What is Biblical Manhood and Womanhood?” and “Where do I find resources on this stuff?”  Here are just a few things that have come across my radar in the last ten years.

A great place to start is John Piper’s book “What’s the Difference?“ it was written as an introduction to a much larger volume entitled, “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.”  You can download a free copy (PDF) of the book here.

There is also an official website for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that is full of free information.  Make sure you check out the resources page.

Boundless a webzine published by focus on the family has compiled a little book out of various articles they have posted over the years entitled, “Guys Guide to Marrying Well.”

Of course there is also Men’s Fraternity that was started by Robert Lewis.  Lewis has also written a book for women entitled, “The New Eve.”

Specifically for the teenager’s, the Rebellution has a great compilation of resources on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. While you are there check out there blog and their incredible book “Do Hard Things.”

As you will note, each one of these resources is in and of itself a treasure trove of information concerning biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  There are several other great resources out there, but this should be more than enough to get the conversation and thought process started.

Your Partner in the Gospel,

PJ

Modeling for Life! (Manhood Part 1)

On By pastorjonathanIn ManhoodLeave a comment

Those of you who know me, know that I am a big fan of modeling.  Not fashion models… think role models.  People you can look up to or look to and think, “that is how it is done.”  People who teach you with their lives along with their words.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting people on pedestals… we are all human.  However, there are many people I look to and I want to be like in some regard.  There is something in their life worthy of emulation.  Men or women of character… Dad’s, mom’s, coaches, pastors, teachers, friends, etc…  They live their lives in such a way as to make you want to be like them.  Not because they are cool, but because they do it well.  Its not arrogance that fuels them, it is an authentic reality of the way they love God and people.

Think of it as leading for imitation (not to be confused with leading by intimidation).  I’m pretty sure its a biblical example (2 Thess. 3:7-9, Heb. 13:7).   It is a great way to learn.  Its a great way to teach.  This is one of the reasons Avia and I enjoy having people in our home.  Its one of the reasons we have sought out older couples to mentor us in our marriage.

Perhaps the best role model I have ever had is my Grandfather.  His name is Gerald Washburn.  Last night I was reading in his footsteps and looking at the Gideon New Testament and Psalms that was issued to him while he was in the service.  It shook my world as I chased him through the scripture.

I learned that he trusted Christ on his 30th Birthday in April of 1942 (It kind of stuck out to me because I will be 30 this April).  He married my grandmother just under a year later and they read a passage in Matthew on their honey moon.  If you turn to Romans 3:23 in that Bible you will find directions leading you through the Romans Road.  (Like a Bible Scavenger hunt.)

I used to love to see my grandfather with my grandmother.  He had a passion for her.  He loved her.  He enjoyed protecting her (even from hot headed grandsons who didn’t always honor her).  He enjoyed having her by his side.  They intentionally planned some things so they could work together.

He loved me.  He prayed for me.  He gave me a new Bible on my 8th birthday.  He had written several scripture references in the front and marked them in my Bible.  You know out of all the birthday and Christmas presents I ever received as a I child.. its the one I still have (at the time I didn’t think much of it).

He gave me so much; the best thing he ever gave me was a model of a Godly man.

. . . . . . .

  • Who do you imitate?
  • Who speaks into your life by their actions?
  • Who is imitating you?