Patrick Morley - The Christian Man

CONTENTS

S o many people have directly and indirectly contributed to make this book possible. I would especially like to thank a few of them by name.

Robert Tunmire, Jamie Turco, and John Vonberg provided valuable insights as my first readers.

My colleagues at Man in the Mirror all deserve appreciation, and especially Kimberly Massari, my assistant; Brett Clemmer, our president; Bryan Richardson, for thinking through how this book can advance our mission; and Brian Russell, who came up with the brilliant idea of the fingerprint man for the cover.

Robert and Erik Wolgemuth are visionaries who saw the potential of this book and handled the myriad of publishing details that must be completed to bring a book to market.

And to my publisher, Zondervan, I am deeply grateful. The entire organization has gotten behind this book. I would especially like to express my gratitude and appreciation to David Morris, Andy Rogers, Dirk Buursma, Amanda Halash, Andrea Pancoast, Kait Lamphere, Curt Diepenhorst, Brandon Henderson, Tom Dean, Trinity McFadden, Keith Finnegan, and Charlie Hubert, for their unique publishing roles in procuring, editing, designing, marketing, publicizing, and distributing The Christian Man.

A s the wild lion mentored the zoo lion about the glories of the jungle, Ive been discipling you in this book about the glories of walking with Christ.

This may surprise you, but you now know as much as anyone about what it means to be a Christian man. There is no secret knowledge about how to be a man. You have everything you need to passionately love God, protect and provide for your family, treat others well, find satisfying work, and courageously stay the course while experiencing contentment, peace, and joy.

For the ten issues presented in this book, we explored a big idea that, fully understood and genuinely believed, can change everything. To wrap it up, here they are again, along with each chapters call to action:

Identity: When you seek your identity in Jesus Christ and his gospel, you will find a deep, lasting satisfaction so infectious that others will want it too. For your call to action, pray My Declaration of Christian Manhood.

Life Balance: You have all the time you need to do everything God wants you to do. For your call to action, set aside two or three hours for a personal retreat and drill down on what you want your priorities to be.

Growth: A Bible, a small group, and serving someone else will solve 90 percent of your problems. For your call to action, read the Bible for yourself, be part of a small group, and serve someone else.

Marriage: Most marriage problems would disappear if we would simply speak to our wives with the same kindness, courtesy, forethought, and respect with which we speak to our coworkers. Your call to action has four partsthe 70 percent mind-set, praying for and with your wife, the emotional bank account, and making your wife your best friend.

Children: Yes, I love you, and no, you cant have your own way. Your call to action is to implement several of these practical ideas: love their mother well, disciple your children, lead family devotions, pay for personal devotions, take to church, spend time, set boundaries, give time the way they want it, date them as teens, eat dinner together, pray for them, and encourage them with words.

Friendships: Whats really going to help you long-term is to find a friend or two, or join a small group, and live life together with a few brothers with whom you can process what comes your way. For your call to action, join or start a mens small group.

Work: There is no greater feeling than to believe, This is what Im supposed to be doing, right here, right noweven if its hard. Your call to action is to answer these questions: How are you wired? What does that tell you about yourself, and about the types of positions that would satisfy you in the long term? What are your social needs? What are your health/stress needs? What is your long-term vocational goal? Assuming time and money are no object, what would you do if you could do anything you wanted? Why would you not do it?

Lust: The practical solution to lust (and other sexual immorality) for most men is to get married and enjoy regular sex with their wife. For your call to action, make the covenant that Job made not to lust, make your own intentional plan following Miguels model, and pray the prayer patterned on Ed Coles prayer.

Culture: God wants each of us to go find some unredeemed corner of culture and claim it for the glory of Christ. Your call to action is to find some broken part of your community and allow God to send you to redeem it. And as God leads, take the three-week racial reconciliation challenge

Sharing Your Faith: Were not trying to trick people into becoming Christians. Evangelism is simply taking someone as far as they want to go toward Jesus at that particular moment. God has commissioned us as ambassadors to broker the deal. Your call to action is to have authentic spiritual conversations as you use the Golden Question (Where are you on your spiritual journey?), your 3-Minute Elevator Story, the Three Essential Ideas, and the Platinum Question (Have you ever personally confessed your sins and put your faith in Jesus?) and to help people pray the Prayer of Faith.

NOW WHAT?

As a final call to action, consider asking a man or a small group (new or existing) to study this book together, or another book on discipleship. Meet weekly and discuss the questions at the end of each chapter. To start a new group, refer back to the section How to Start and Sustain a Weekly Mens Small Group on page 144.

As we part, remember, you can live a heroic life right now for the glory of Christ. This win is yours for the taking. So take it. Youre free. Ill be praying for you.

The Man in the Mirror

Discover solutions for the twenty-four problems men face. Called by some the best book for men ever written. With four million copies in print, this book offers a life-changing look at how you can trade the rat race for the rewards of godly manhood. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Single copies at all retail outlets and cases of twelve and forty-eight available at booksbythebox.org.

Devotions for the Man in the Mirror

Learn how to surrender every area of your life to Christ. Seventy-five short readings, two to four pages each, each written to help you think more deeply about the God who is, escaping cultural Christianity, daily struggles, getting along with people, and more. A prayer at the end of each reading.

Devotions for Couples

Strengthen your intimacy as a couple in every conceivable area with 120 two-page devotional readings. Learn how to better understand each other, how to communicate, what pulls couples apart, how to stay together, and more. Discussion questions, applications, and a prayer for each devotion.

Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror

Find encouragement for the hidden dangers and opportunities for personal growth in each of the seven seasons of your life: Reflection, Building, Crisis, Renewal, Rebuilding, Suffering, and Success. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Second Half for the Man in the Mirror

Practical ideas for twenty crucial concerns of men making a midlife transition. This book gives practical ideas for making the journey ahead even more fulfilling than the one behind. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Man Alive

Find relief for the seven inner aches and pains that hold men back: