What does biblical manhood actually look like—and how do you raise sons who understand it in a culture sending them conflicting messages about what it means to be a man?
Pastor and author Jerome Gay Jr. joins Kent and Lawson to talk about raising godly men, emotional maturity, respect, father wounds, and why Jesus—not social media influencers or cultural stereotypes—must be our ultimate model for masculinity.
Jerome shares lessons from his new book, How to Speak Man: Discovering the Respect Languages Men Need, including the five "respect languages" of significance, support, sex, silence, and space. He also explains why men need to learn how to acknowledge and communicate their emotions without being controlled by them.
They discuss how dads can move from constantly telling their kids what they're against to giving them a compelling vision of what they're for, how to teach sons biblical apologetics in the age of smartphones, and why fathers need to be "compelling, not combative" when engaging both their children and the culture.
Jerome also speaks directly to the dad who feels like he has already blown it. Your upbringing, failures, and mistakes may have consequences—but they do not have to permanently define the kind of father you become.
In this episode:
- Raising boys into godly men
- Biblical masculinity and the example of Jesus
- Helping sons develop emotional maturity
- Recovering from an unhealthy relationship with your own father
- The five respect languages men need
- Creating safety and communication in marriage
- Teaching kids apologetics and biblical truth
- Becoming a compelling, not combative, Christian dad
- What to do when you feel like you've failed as a father
If you want to lead your family with greater courage, tenderness, wisdom, and purpose, this conversation will give you practical biblical tools to start.
Get Jerome Gay Jr.'s book: How to Speak Man: Discovering the Respect Languages Men Need on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GS47NZ8H
You are not a father on accident. Go be a Father On Purpose.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
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MEET THE HOSTS
Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical fatherhood ministry projects. He’s authored four books. The most recent, Don’t Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit. He and his wife April have been married for three decades and they have five sons.
Lawson Brown married his high school sweetheart, and is a father of two adult daughters. He’s a business leader and a former (always!) Marine. He’s served as a small group leader, helped launch ministries and a church plant where he served as its Men’s Ministry leader. His faith journey has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men who’ve been brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.
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Your children will learn far more from the life you live than from the lessons you teach.
In part four of our six-part journey through 1 Timothy, Kent Evans and Lawson Brown explore the practical fatherhood lessons found in 1 Timothy 4. They discuss how dads can guard their families from deception, resist small compromises, grow in godliness and lead by example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.
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This episode will help Christian dads:
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- Embrace both their gifts and limitations as part of God's calling
Your kids are watching your progress, your failures, your repentance and your faith. Take your role seriously, stay rooted in Scripture and go be a father on purpose.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
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What does 1 Timothy 3 have to say to everyday dads?
In this episode of the Father On Purpose Podcast, Kent and Lawson unpack Paul's qualifications for church leaders and explain why they also provide a powerful picture of biblical fatherhood. Traits like self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, hospitality, integrity, and managing your household well are not just standards for pastors and deacons—they are qualities every Christian dad should pursue.
Kent and Lawson also discuss what happens when dads fall short, why failure does not automatically disqualify you from leading your family, and how God's grace empowers men to repent, grow, and keep moving forward. You'll learn how to study Scripture more carefully, accept honest feedback, lead without relying on your own strength, and become the kind of man your wife, children, church, and community can trust.
If you want to become a more intentional Christian father, lead your home well, and grow in biblical character, this conversation through 1 Timothy 3 will challenge and encourage you.
In this episode:
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- The difference between making a mistake and living in a pattern of sin
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- How to respond when you fail as a husband or father
- Practical ways to become a better student of the Bible
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
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First Timothy 2 covers prayer, leadership, church authority, modesty, and one of the most debated passages about men and women in the church. But what does this chapter actually mean for Christian fathers?
In part two of our six-part series through 1 Timothy, Kent and Lawson explore how dads can study difficult Bible passages with humility, wisdom, and love. They discuss why fathers should lead through prayer, how Scripture should interpret Scripture, and why understanding context matters before forming strong conclusions.
You'll also hear practical guidance for handling theological disagreements, honoring church leadership, teaching your children discernment, and modeling the biblical principle: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love."
In this episode:
- Why Christian dads should pray for leaders—even difficult ones
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- What 1 Timothy 2 teaches about prayer and leadership
- How Scripture helps interpret Scripture
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- Why your attitude toward church authority affects your children
- How to lead your family with truth, wisdom, and love
We pray this episode will help you become a better Bible student, a more prayerful leader, and a father who handles truth without sacrificing grace.
Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!
You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.
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Being a godly dad is hard work. Challenges abound, and sometimes, we just need some ideas, encouragement, and a little laughter along the way. So, we created the Father On Purpose Podcast to have real, fun, and practical conversations about being dads. Fatherhood is awesome, sacred, and hard all at the same time. We don’t have all the answers, but together as dads, we’ll try to figure it out.