5 Minute

“Love and Respect, the Basics of Marriage” by Doug Wilson

Summary: In this article, Doug Wilson discusses how the Bible instructs husbands to love their wives and wives to respect their husbands. He highlights that this directive is “directed to our respective and relative weakness,” meaning that it challenges us to do things that may not come naturally to us. However, by obeying these instructions, we align ourselves with God’s will.

Why It’s Interesting: The Bible’s instructions on love and respect in marriage challenge us to go beyond our natural tendencies and strive towards a higher standard that aligns with God’s plan for our lives.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to “Love your wife as Christ loves the Church”?
  2. How can we imitate that kind of sacrificial love in our own lives and marriages?

Read the short poem “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry:

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of a time when getting away from the “noise” has brought your
thoughts back into alignment with God?
2. We all need to have a place where we can just abide in God’s presence. Think of
that place if you have it, and consider finding one if you do not.
3. Make it a point in your Christian walk to find stillness with God. (Maybe it is a drive
down the Natchez Trace or a lunchtime walk in the park. Give thanks, confess
sins, and listen for direction.)

Key Verses:
Mark 1:35 – In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went
away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Luke 5:16 – But the news about Him was spreading even farther and large crowds were
gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often
withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

10 Minute

A Case for Family Worship

Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

For Christian fathers, the Great Commision starts inside our homes. The world we are sending our kids into is not the world we grew up in, so we need to do all we can to instruct our children and teach them to love the Lord. One thing I would recommend is having family worship. You could do it daily or weekly but the key is to establish a rhythm. Children watching their parents worship the Lord in their homes has a sustaining effect. Sing a song or two, read some scripture
and explain it to your kids, answer questions, and have a family prayer. It is simple and takes about 15 minutes. It will not always go well but it will be well worth it in the end.

Article to read:  https://founders.org/articles/five-benefits-of-regular-family-worship/

Discussion Questions:
1. Did anyone grow up with family worship? If so, what was your impression?
2. How would you expect your children could be formed after a year of sustaining weekly
family worship?

Other Resources:
Family Worship by Joel Beeke
The Child’s Story Bible by Chatherine Vos

Theology of Work

Watch this video on the freedom to flourish in your work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmk_3u2fc7I&t=94s

Read this article about the theology of work: https://tifwe.org/9-essential-points-on-the-theology-of-work/

Discussion Questions: 
1. Our work life and our spiritual life are not separate. Consider in what ways do you tend
to compartmentalize your work life from your family life from your faith life?
2. Reformed Christian theology teaches us that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to
enjoy him forever. In what ways can you glorify God in your work?
3. If you do have a compartmentalized Christian life, think of ways to break down those
barriers so that your whole existence is one that glorifies God.

Localism: Loving Your Neighbor by Supporting those Around You

Read this article about localism: https://catholicgentleman.com/2021/01/loyalty-and-localism/

Why It’s Interesting: Loving thy neighbor by shopping local is something I never really considered before I read this article. Part of taking every thought captive is the decisions Christians make with their money. It is a good practice to consider who is getting your money and when you can to honor God by patronizing those who we are called to care for.

Discussion Question:

  1. Have you considered being intentional with your money and supporting fellow church
    members, fellow Christians, and neighbors by making it a point to trade locally when you
    can?

Key Verses: 

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge
of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”Mark 12:31 “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.”

+ 20 Minute

Watch/listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGU2JN2a3Cs

Why It’s Interesting: The purpose of this is to view our faith from one of the most influential Christian perspectives the modern world has ever produced. CS Lewis is a thinking man’s Christian and the more you are exposed to him the more affection you will have toward Jesus and the blessing that is our Christian faith.

Discussion Question:
1. Did this essay give you any new perspectives on the life and work of Jesus Christ?

  • “The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men” by Richard D. Phillips
  • “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood” edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
  • “Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul” by John Eldredge
  • “Biblical Masculinity: Becoming the Man God Wants You to Be” by Charles D. Hodges
  • “Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God” by Voddie Bauchman
  • “Preparing Sons for Manhood: A Biblical Guide for Parents” by Rick and Marilyn Boyer