One of our camp speakers this past week, Mark Moore, encouraged us to share a teaching he gave about boys becoming men. Thought there was some good stuff in here as well as something you could adjust/base a great guys trip or man challenge on:

1. His Person:
   1. Honor vs. Selfishness—Are you a man of honor? Like a Christian Jack Bauer, you are driven by a higher code, a vision that calls for a whole-life sacrifice. You are willing to lay down your life for a higher cause, particularly the least and lost of the nation. Characterized by:
      1. a)  Obedience to law (esp. honor your father and mother)
      2. b)  Patriotic—you are moved by sacred moments in worship, preaching, ceremonies, etc.
   2. Respect vs. myopia—While honor is about you as a man, respect is about the other. You have the capacity to look beyond your own little world to recognize who is standing before you and the life they have lived that merits your attention, respect, and subservience. Characterized by:
      1. a)  Respectful address (Sir/Ma’am, titles, respecting elders, women, etc.)
      2. b)  Opening doors, not cutting off elders.
2. His Possessions
   3. Gratitude vs. Entitlement—A man doesn’t expect grants, privileges, advantages, or handouts. The only thing you have the right to expect is the opportunity for an honest day’s work. Characterized by:
      1. a)  Profuse thanks.
      2. b)  Notes of gratitude.
   4. Financial integrity vs. greed—You manage your finances well and are generous.
      1. a)  Tithe
      2. b)  No debt
      3. c)  Generous giving—gifts, tips, tokens
3. His Practices
   5. Discipline vs. unreliability—You are regular, reliable, and consistent in your rhythms of life.
      1. a)  Study, work, play, exercise like clockwork.
      2. b)  Sleep and eat on schedule and with disciplined balance.
   6. Priorities vs. frivolity—A man attends to the important business of life without getting sucked into the vortex of computer/video games, technological gadgets, addictions, workaholism, outdoor recreation, etc.
      1. a)  Do the hard things first.
      2. b)  Fast from food, media, technology, etc.
4. His Postures
   7. Humility vs. arrogance—Biblical humility is not so much how you feel about yourself as how you treat the other person.
      1. a)  Pick up litter on the ground, take out the trash
      2. b)  Eat with freshmen, serve in the nursery
   8. Honesty vs. deception—“A lie is any deceit in word, act, attitude, or silence.” Are you a man of your word?
      a) Correct every deception in your life.
      b) Keep your door unlocked.

      5. His Purposes

9. Purity vs. “swayability”—are you the same person in the locker room, bedroom, dinner table, and girlfriend’s house?
   1. a)  Carry a Bible
   2. b)  Provide your mentor with a short list of questions to hold you accountable.
10. Wisdom vs. foolishness—Do you make healthy decisions?
    1. a)  Read and digest Proverbs
    2. b)  Grill men of wisdom
    3. c)  Guard media
    4. d)  Filter friends through parents and spiritual mentors