Petition Pray this together aloud.
God, I want to be a man of tenderheartedness, but I admit that my pride and self ambition constantly get in the way. Lord, may I be a man who continually cries out to you, “I can’t… I can’t… I can’t,” and would you fill my needy, empty hands with your grace to be the kind of man you call me to be. Help me to be a man who represents you and your interests here on this earth with my family, my friends, my neighbors, my job, and my church. I want to be a man who pursues justice, mercy, and humility because that’s what you call me to do. I cannot do this in my own power and determination, but you can, so I ask that you would do it through me. I need you now and every day I live. In Jesus’ name, amen. Hear the Word 1. Before starting the Men of Faith sessions, what were your typical thoughts about a man who would be characterized as “tender” or “tender hearted”? Have you ever considered yourself to be a tender hearted man? Why or why not? Who were the examples of tender hearted men that you looked up to as you were growing up? Did you want to be like those men or not? Why? 2. Do you think it’s true that humility is the soil in which tenderness grows in the heart of a man? Why or why not? How has humility played a role in your growth and development as a follower of Jesus? As a son? A husband? A father? A church member? In what ways have you witnessed God opposing the proud but giving grace to the humble (see 1 Peter 5:5)? Watch the video. (30 minutes) Let's Talk About That Discuss these questions. (30 minutes) 3. How have you seen pride crush compassion, tenderness, and mercy? Give examples. In what specific ways have you seen pride in your own life convince you to take credit for what you could have never produced on your own? How has pride made you look down on others? How has your pride convinced you that you are essentially righteous? Why do you think pride is the enemy of tenderheartedness? 4. Why do you think Micah 6:6-8 is a passage that often tempts us as men to work and try harder to be better? Why isn’t working or trying harder the answer? In what ways have you trusted in yourself in order to feel better about your standing with God? In order to be a true man of God—a man of faith—why must you quit trusting in yourself? Why is it a good thing to know that in righteousness, you fall dramatically and woefully short? 5. How have you seen hopelessness become a doorway to true hope? Why do you think God would ever rob you of your confidence, pride, and glory and then lead you to a place of humiliation in life? How is that beneficial to the man who wants to grow in the Lord and lead his family? 6. In your own words, describe how God’s requirements of justice, kindness, and humility are essential to what it means to be a man of God. How do the elements of justice, kindness, and humility capture the entire narrative of all of Scripture? 7. Why are justice and mercy so important as you think about the cross of Jesus Christ? How is God making his invisible justice and mercy visible through you?
Session 2
MEN OF FAITH
6
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