This year our congregation started the “Alameda Men’s Fight Club” on Saturday mornings. The name of our group comes from 1 Timothy 6:11-12 where the apostle Paul says the following to his spiritual protege Timothy: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Now, more than ever, men have to “fight” for their faith. To live as God created, they must be intentional, deliberate, and steadfast in their resolve to pursue God and God’s vision for life. And they need help. More specifically, they need the help of other men who are on the same journey. So, we started “Fight Club” in order to create a compelling community for men to engage with that will help them “flee” all the things that move them away from God and “pursue” all the things that move them closer to God.
We are using a curriculum called “33:The Series” by www.authenticmanhood.com and here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Without a compelling vision for manhood, men will settle for less in life.
- When men choose the values of the world, they become childish consumers, cowards, and critics.
- Men have three primary responsibilities: (1) God gave man a will to obey; (2) God gave men a work to do; and (3) God gave man a woman to love.
- An authentic man who is following the model of Jesus Christ rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and invests eternally. This is the true definition of manhood.
- An authentic man who is following the model of Jesus Christ also leads with integrity, fights for what matters most, shows tender care, and pursues character-shaping friendships.
- Regardless of what season of life a man is in, he is called to live a life of truth, passion, and purpose.
- A man must understand his story and what has shaped him in order to live life as a committed follower of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ can help a man overcome the challenges of his past and write a new story that is God-honoring and life-giving.
I have also learned that men need to be able to share their stories, struggles, and successes with other men. The conversations in our small groups have been rich and deep. Every man who leaves our study leaves energized and feels that it has been time well spent.
Our goal in “Fight Club” is to give men a compelling vision to pursue and the tools needed to pursue it. In doing so, we will be strengthening our congregation and our community because, while it is true that confused men create chaos, it is also true that men “after God’s own heart” create stability and help their circles of influence thrive.
Please pray that more men will join us for “Fight Club.”
rusty tugman 