Presented to the men at the Camp House study on how to lead at work, in your family, and in spiritual roles. Steve departed this earth in April 2022 but his wisdom, example, and abundance of good deeds will continue to live in those who knew him, especially me.
- Get serious with God’s word, 2 Tim 2:15.
- Reject the culture in all its insidious forms: live by faith. Turn off TV.
- Learn your weaknesses (you know your strengths already).
- Become an “every event man” for any duty, any teaching, any need, any rebuke, any time. Learn to “lean forward” and always be ready to help, act, support or lead.
- Get to know everybody in the church….work hard at this.
- Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. Never quit.
- Developing sound judgment:
- Learn how to make a biblical/scriptural argument based on your study
- Admit that you may misunderstand (be ready to rethink your position)
- James 1:19: Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath
- Never hear one side of anything
- Learn how to keep secrets, James 5:16
- Learn how to give anyone a spiritual pep talk (do it all the time)
- Never show anger. ( James 1:20: always gentle, kind, compassionate, calm)
- Don’t get too argumentative or divisive, Titus 3:9.
- Learn how to apply Bible authority.
- Let Bible authority answer the touchy, explosive, or politically unpopular positions of Jesus’ law. It is Jesus, not you speaking. He may not sound right in today’s culture, but he is eternally right. I will stand with him.
- Don’t be politically right or left. Jesus was both. Jesus was correct. Be like Jesus.
- Faith can be demonstrated. Step out on faith.
- Develop a good attitude toward society (especially a wicked society), Titus 3:1-2
- Subject to rulers, obedient, ready, speak evil of no one, peaceable, gentle, and humble. Gets along with everybody, be personable.
- Learn how to analyze positions and understand the other person. Then teach and encourage.
- Learn to pray all the time. Then act.
- Prepare how you will react to:
- Crisis
- Error being taught (Decide what is an opinion and what is doctrine)
- Unsettling events
- Worldliness among the saints
- Lead your family. Do not delegate leadership to your spouse.
- Make sure that decisions have plenty of time for you to stew/chew on them before you open your mouth and explain your understanding of God’s word. Think, meditate, study, pray. Wait a while. Then speak.
- Learn to say no. Don’t capitulate later.
- If you promise punishment, do it.
- If you are prone to anger, wrath, or shooting off your mouth then learn to publicly repent.
- Never generalize. Speak in specifics only. Never say “you always…”
- If anyone knows of your sin, repent publicly. It will make you a better man.
- When there is a really hard task, you go first. Just step forward and volunteer.
- When the task looks impossible, Matt 21:21-22: pray, then plan, then start moving the mountain. Show faith. God will help you.
Summary: Learn to say less. Say it gently. Keep many secrets. Encourage with every breath. Rebuke when necessary. Be first at doing the hard tasks. Love your wife openly. Love your kids to heaven. Care for everyone. Live in the world, but not of the world. Be a man.
Godly Youth 