One of the benefits of my role at Manhood Journey has been meeting amazing men along the journey. Over time, we’ve invested in our relationships, and some of these men have become good friends. Last week, several of us were in the same town for an event. We met for dinner, alongside some new friends, and had a raucous three-hour laugh-fest. I cried, could hardly breathe and my head hurt. I took ibuprofen soon as I got back to my hotel. It was encouraging, hilarious, joyful, and at times, also deep and meaningful. Beyond just the fun, these men have pushed me to grow as a leader, husband and father. I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25) I know you’re busy. Your wife and kids need your time more than anyone. Yet, along the way, look to invest in friendships and maybe you too can have an excruciating headache. Wait.

How to Lead a Child to Christ: Every person who has ever accepted Jesus as Savior heard the gospel from someone else. Many of them were led to Christ by their parents. One of your greatest privileges and responsibilities as a dad is learning how to lead your child to Christ. To help you out, we’ve offered six tips for walking with your children toward the most important decision they will ever make.

Romans 12: Spiritual Body Building: As men, we don’t have a lot of time or patience for square pegs in round holes. We’re looking for perfect fits and the results they produce. But God calls us to take a step back and consider our own “perfect fit.” Understanding and using the gifts He provides can spell the difference between effective ministry and frustrating routines. As we continue our study of Romans 12, we’re going to dive into the world of spiritual gifts and learn how we can make the body of Christ stronger.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘You too? I thought I was the only one.'” – C.S Lewis

“There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator. Friendship and fellowship are the legal tender among believers.” – J. Vernon McGee

“Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” – Ed Cunningham

“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.” – Zig Ziglar

Invest in a friend. Here are three easy ways you can invest in a friendship this week. And, maybe some of this applies to your adult kids too!

• Go grab a cup of coffee with one and ask him to update you on his life, then see how you can be praying for him
• Send an encouraging text to someone; in it, try to point out a recent win (“I saw how you handled that meeting…”)
• Get to church 10 minutes early and have a longer chat with that guy you see every week in the row behind you

When you model this, your kids pick up on it – and they will find great friendships as well.

Kent Evans
Author of Bring Your Hammer, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.