What does it mean to be a real man? Leroy spoke from an Iron Man perspective in sharing some great character traits worth emulating. A man who follows Jesus is a man who leads courageously.
Accepting responsibility is what real men make a habit of. Truth reveals who we are in private by eventually revealing itself in public. Real men admit mistakes and become change-makers.
Passivity is vastly different than passion or compassion. Some guys haven't learned yet how to play life with the same passion they show on a basketball court. It's time guys, let's listen to Leroy's words and become real and authentic men who lead our families! (Note: Leroy's entire notes follow the slide show.)
Thank you, Leroy for rejecting passivity and accepting the responsibility
to act courageously by making an eternal investment in the BWAP guys!
Please consider attending our BWAP Luncheon. Some of our young guys will share a little bit about how their lives have changed in a unique way. /https://www.facebook.com/events/721361754665174/
Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.
JLYASDW.
Youth With A Purpose Inc.
157 Locust Street
Buffalo, New York 14204
716-830-8240
ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com
We do appreciate and need your financial help.
You can write a check to YWAP, we are a non-profit 501c3.
Our online BWAP donation site may be found at:
http://www.gofundme.com/w5p6ee4
You know if you asked some guys to define manhood I could guarantee you wouldn’t get the same definitions. And if those definitions weren’t centered on a Godly perspective they would lead down the wrong path….quickly.
If I asked a group of guys when does a boy become a man? Here’s the foolishness you’d hear…
- When he has sex for the first time,
- When he’s old enough to drive,
- When he drinks his first beer,
- When he smokes his first joint
- Joins his first gang
- When he wins his first championship.
The truth is…..the world pays a high price because of men. I suspect some of you already know this because of your own life experience with guys who were more childlike than manlike. So I would guess we have to ask the question…what's wrong with us? Here’s the answer…..Confused, lonely, disappointed, hurt, broken and misguided men create chaos on any society. I’m in a second-row seat right now waiting to take a guy off of life support because of a guy like what I described.
But you see there is an answer…….if men have created this problem….men can solve this problem. So I just want to share with you a definition of manhood you can back up with Gods word. And our role model is Jesus….. A man modeling Jesus Rejects Passivity: Passivity simply means sitting on your butt doing nothing when action is needed. And unfortunately, many men remain passive in the significant things of life. Oh, we act on insignificant things but when something significant comes along……………..MEN ARE FLATLINE!
In Matthew 21(Jesus at the Temple takes action)
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.”
An offense was taking place and Jesus took action. Guys are you taking appropriate Godly action when the situation demands it? Or are you flat-lining?
A man modeling Jesus Accepts Responsibility: Many men punt the ball on their responsibilities leaving others to do the work. You may be feeling that now. Cleaning up someone else mess. God has given us a work to do and we need to do it.
John 4 (Jesus speaking to the disciples)
“My food (job) is to do the will of Him (God) who sent me and to accomplish his work."
John 17 (Jesus praying to God just before his arrest and crucifixion)
"I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."
From these passages (and many more) we see clearly that Jesus fulfilled God’s will for Him. Has God called you to something that you need to take responsibility for? A man modeling Jesus Leads Courageously:
Matthew 4:19 (Jesus calling for disciples)
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Two simple words “follow me.” Because Jesus rejected passivity and accepted his responsibility he was able to lead people in a direction that leads to life. We’re called to do the same. Follow me as I follow him. That’s a bold statement, but that’s what God has called for us to do if we’re Christ followers.
John 10:11 (Jesus says to crowd)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Jesus led by providing protection and laying his life down for those he loved and guided them.
Jesus was others-centered and we see throughout scripture that He was a life-giving spirit. When we lead courageously we also give life to those around us. Would people in your life call you a life-giving spirit?
A man modeling Jesus Invests Eternally: Matthew 6 (Jesus speaks to a crowd)
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Jesus wasn’t worried about the nonsense of this world. We live a short time and spend eternity in heaven or hell. He’s investing in people so they can live in heaven with him. Though he was present on earth here he was invested in things of eternal significance and taught others to do the same. Where are you helping people invest in heaven or hell?
You see men speak and act with maturity. 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us this: 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. Those definitions of manhood I started with are childish. The definitions I just ended with speak of maturity and Godly wisdom. Real men follow Jesus and real men do what?
Reject passivity
Eternal investment
Accepts responsibility
Leads courageously
Let’s say a quick prayer: