As we continue our walk through our study of freedom this month we have progressed from Freedom IN Christ, to Freedom FROM bondage and now we are ready for our third step which is to use our freedom TO live ALL IN and become a powerful tool in God’s hands.

You see there are two kinds of sin. There are sins of commission, you know, all the “thou shalt nots”. And then there are sins of omission, which are the “thou shalt” commands. These are the things that we should do with our newfound freedom.

All too often our focus is on the things we shouldn’t do, but the reality is that we will likely be judged more on what we should have done to bless others who are in need. For this is truly the “power of the gospel”… the most important aspect of our freedom.

As we unpack this truth I will be featuring an interview with Ruben Muriente and his blog about this aspect of freedom. I pray that you will listen, read, think, and take action.

Also, as a quick note, the registrations for our fall retreats are opening up now so be sure to scroll to the bottom of this email to find the links to these powerful events.

Here’s to Building Strong Spirit-filled Free Men,

Marty Miller
Blueprint for Men
Founder | President

LEADING MEN

When God created Adam, He crafted a man free to lead. “Let us create man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on earth” (Genesis 1:26, NASB95).

The term rule is used twice in the description, adding emphasis that man was created with a purpose: to lead. The man was tasked with teaching children about God, learning a trade, and living a life that honors and glorifies our Creator.

Great leaders often were the best followers. Unfortunately, we live in a culture where men are not stepping up to lead, especially at home. Culturally, men are taught to isolate themselves from their families with distractions such as the “man cave” and other hobbies that take time away from family time. Men spend less time with their wives and children, resulting in a physically present man but emotionally absent husband and father.

When Men Don’t Lead

God has given men the Blueprint to lead through Jesus’ example and shown us the dangers of men not leading. Scripture has also shown us that men can be great leaders but poor fathers and husbands. In the book of 1 Samuel, we see the result of a leader who failed to lead at home.

Eli was a priest to the Nation of Israel, but his two sons were despised by the people and scorned by God. “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord and the custom of the priests with the people” (1 Samuel 2:12, NASB95).

What was the root cause? Eli did not put God first. “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me” (1 Samuel 2:29, NASB95). Eli failed to put God first and, in doing so, failed to raise sons who loved God above all else. This is a stark reminder of the consequences of not leading at home.

Answering the Call

God wants men to lead. Not all men will be leaders at work or in ministry, but all men must lead at home. To raise children who love and honor God, men need to lead by example by putting God above all else and demonstrating what loving and honoring God looks like. We can do this by allowing our children to see us pray for them, pray with our wives, and pray for others.Why is this important?

Simple, you can’t lead if no one is there to follow. If you have a strong prayer life, allow your family to see you pray. There is a saying that leadership is not for the meek or faint-hearted. God created men to lead and gave us the capacity to be leaders.

Why are so many men failing to lead?

Most of the time, it is because men have failed to teach boys to lead. It is up to us to break the cycle for the next generation.

So, how can we teach young boys to lead as men?

First, we learn to follow Christ. J. Oswald Sanders, in his book Spiritual Leadership, gives excellent examples of traits the spiritual man should have. It is crucial for men to understand and embrace their role as leaders at home, as it is a fundamental part of their God-given purpose.