Defining Biblical Manliness (1 Corinthians 16:13)
This sermon speaks directly to men, offering a father's heartfelt counsel on biblical manliness. It navigates away from cultural fads to anchor its definition in scripture and offers practical lessons for a life of conviction.
This sermon defines biblical manliness as fortitude and integrity, rooted in God's Word. It unpacks the call to be strong and courageous, offering ten practical lessons from Proverbs for building godly character.
Overview
The preacher begins by challenging cultural and superficial ideas of manliness, asserting that true biblical manhood is clearly defined in God’s Word. He positions himself as a father offering essential guidance to his sons, aiming to reveal God's perspective on what it means to be a man.
The sermon's starting point is 1 Corinthians 16:13, which exhorts men to "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men be strong." This is elaborated as courage, fortitude, conviction, and strength, specifically in facing opposition. These qualities are meant to be expressed in love, avoiding weakness or fear.
This emphasis on being "strong and courageous" is then traced through numerous Old Testament passages, from Moses' charge to Joshua, God's words to Joshua, David's counsel to Solomon, and Hezekiah's encouragement to his people. The consistent message is one of principled living, unyielding conviction in God's truth, and refusal to compromise.
The sermon transitions to practical application through ten crucial lessons drawn from the book of Proverbs, designed to build a life of integrity and character. These lessons guide men in areas such as fearing God, guarding their minds, obeying parents, selecting companions, controlling their bodies, loving their wives, watching their words, pursuing work, managing money, and serving their neighbors.
Key points
- Biblical manliness is defined by fortitude, courage, conviction, and strength, rather than superficial cultural ideas.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13, "Act like men, be strong," means to conduct oneself in a courageous way, standing firm against opposition.
- The call to "be strong and courageous" is a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament, from Moses to Joshua, David to Solomon, and Hezekiah.
- Integrity means being whole and undivided, maintaining an unbending set of convictions rooted in holy scripture, and resisting compromise.
- Compromise, as exemplified by figures like Adam, Solomon, and Judas, leads to severe consequences and loss.
- Ten crucial lessons from Proverbs provide practical guidance for building Christian character and fortitude.
- These lessons include fearing God, guarding one’s mind, obeying parents, carefully choosing companions, exercising self-control, loving one's wife, watching one's words, diligently pursuing work, managing money responsibly, and serving one's neighbor.
In John MacArthur's words
“Biblical manliness, I think, can be summed up in one passage.”
“The word here is courage or or perhaps a word that we have to resurrect from a bygone era – the word fortitude.”
Outline
- I. The Call to Biblical Manliness
- A. The Cultural Landscape of Manhood
- B. The Superficiality of Popular Manhood Movements
- C. The Biblical Definition: Fortitude and Courage (1 Corinthians 16:13)
- 1. "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men be strong."
- 2. "Act like men" means to conduct oneself courageously, with fortitude.
- 3. This includes being watchful, standing firm, strong, and acting in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).
- D. Old Testament Continuity of Courage and Strength
- 1. Moses to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)
- 2. The Lord to Joshua (Joshua 1:6-9)
- 3. Joshua to the Israelites (2 Samuel 10:12)
- 4. David to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-4; 1 Chronicles 22:11-13; 1 Chronicles 28:20)
- 5. Hezekiah to his officers (2 Chronicles 32:7)
- 6. The Instruction in Psalm 27:14
- E. The Essence of Manly Fortitude
- 1. Living on principle with convictions based on Scripture.
- 2. Resisting temptation to compromise biblical absolutes, false doctrine, and sin.
- 3. The necessity of uncompromising integrity: being undivided and whole.
- 4. Examples of compromise and their consequences (Adam, Abraham, Moses, Samson, Solomon, Judas).
- II. Practical Lessons for Christian Character from Proverbs
- A. A Father's Instruction to His Son (Proverbs 1-9)
- B. Ten Crucial Lessons for Building Integrity and Conviction
- 1. Fear your God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10)
- 2. Guard your mind (Proverbs 3:3; 4:23; Psalm 1)
- 3. Obey your parents (Proverbs 1:8)
- 4. Select your companions (Proverbs 1:10-19)
- 5. Control your body (Proverbs 5:22-23; chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, 9)
- 6. Love your wife (Proverbs 5:15-20)
- 7. Watch your words (Proverbs 4:24; 5:2; 6:12)
- 8. Pursue your work (Proverbs 6:6-7)
- 9. Manage your money (Proverbs 3:9)
- 10. Serve your neighbor (Proverbs 3:27)
- III. Conclusion: The Legacy of Godly Men
Scripture references
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
- 1 Corinthians 16:14
- Deuteronomy 31:6
- Deuteronomy 31:8
- Joshua 1:6
- Joshua 1:8
- Joshua 1:9
- 2 Samuel 10:12
- 1 Kings 2:1
- 1 Kings 2:4
- 1 Kings 9:3
- 1 Kings 9:5
- 1 Chronicles 22:11
- 1 Chronicles 22:13
- 1 Chronicles 28:20
- 2 Chronicles 32:7
- Psalm 27:14
- Psalm 1
- Proverbs 1:7
- Proverbs 1:8
- Proverbs 1:10
- Proverbs 1:19
- Proverbs 2
- Proverbs 3:1
- Proverbs 3:3
- Proverbs 3:9
- Proverbs 3:11
- Proverbs 3:12
- Proverbs 3:27
- Proverbs 4:23
- Proverbs 4:24
- Proverbs 5:2
- Proverbs 5:15
- Proverbs 5:20
- Proverbs 5:21
- Proverbs 5:22
- Proverbs 5:23
- Proverbs 6:6
- Proverbs 6:7
- Proverbs 6:12
- Proverbs 7
- Proverbs 9
- Proverbs 9:10
- Proverbs 10
- Proverbs 10:13
- Proverbs 10:27
- Proverbs 12
- Proverbs 13
- Proverbs 14:27
- Proverbs 15:16
- Proverbs 16:6
- Proverbs 19
- Proverbs 19:18
- Proverbs 19:23
- Proverbs 20
- Proverbs 22:4
- Proverbs 22:29
- Proverbs 26
- Proverbs 29
- Proverbs 31
- Ephesians 6
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity.
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.
1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
3 And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
11 Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee.
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Insights
Real manliness stands firm in truth, not fleeting cultural trends.
True courage embodies both conviction and unwavering internal strength.
Integrity means living authentically, without duplicity or compromise.
Questions & answers
What is the sermon's main definition of biblical manliness?
The sermon defines biblical manliness primarily as fortitude—courage, conviction, and strength—rooted in God's Word. It's about standing firm against opposition and living with uncompromising integrity.
How does 1 Corinthians 16:13 contribute to this definition?
1 Corinthians 16:13, which says 'Act like men, be strong,' is presented as the starting point. The preacher interprets 'act like men' as conducting oneself in a courageous way, embodying fortitude in the face of attack or temptation.
What does the sermon mean by 'integrity'?
Integrity is defined as a steadfast adherence to a moral code, or the quality of being undivided. It means being whole and complete, without duplicity, living consistently with one's stated beliefs from the Bible.
What are some of the practical lessons from Proverbs for men?
The sermon highlights ten lessons including fearing God, guarding one's mind from corrupting influences, obeying parents, carefully choosing companions, controlling one's body, and loving one's wife.
Why is 'fearing God' presented as the first lesson?
Fearing God is taught as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, forming the foundation of a man's life. Where there is no fear of God, there is no fear of sin, impacting all other areas of life.
What happens if fathers fail to teach these lessons?
Failing to teach these lessons leads to negative outcomes, such as sons learning to hate God, having corrupted minds, becoming rebels, falling victim to lust, destroying marriages, and wasting their lives.
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