Discovering Spiritual Manhood
How can we compare America’s favorite racing sport to the development of spiritual manhood? What symbols do the sport layout and point back to Scripture?
Although the races mentioned in our Scripture are foot races, it ultimately compares our spiritual journey to a race. We can see a beautiful illustration of the Christian life through athletic competitions. For today's lesson, I'll draw from the most popular form of racing in America, NASCAR. How can men apply the lessons of Scripture to the Nascar sport?
Spiritual Manhood & Nascar
1) Drivers
Throughout the Bible, we see men instructed to be in the driver's seat. They are to lead armies, nations, and perhaps, most importantly, families. Ephesians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Peter 3:7, and Ephesians 6:4 all layout instructions for men to be Godly leaders of their homes. However, when we review modern statistics, we see many men are not providing that leadership.
66 million men have no profession of Christ.
102 million men are not involved in discipleship.
93% of incarcerated populations are men.
85% of those incarcerated men have no father figure.
33% of US children are without their biological father figure.
But this problem stretches beyond our homes and into our churches. The average Protestant church is 39% men and 61% women. The absence of men from the church can be partially attributed to membership declines in many mainline churches.
A study by Horner, Ralston, and Sunde found that when a child participates in a children's ministry or youth group, the family will follow about 3.5% of the time. If the mother begins attending church, the rest of the family follows 17% of the time. But when a father comes to faith in Christ, the rest of the family follows 93% of the time.
Men, we are called to be the driver of the home. If you reach the men, you reach their families. [Read more about the male role in family]
2) Decals
Did you know it costs millions of dollars to operate a racing team? The operation of the team depends on sponsorship. When a company decides to sponsor a driver, they plaster their logo on their vehicle. They're using the driver's racing team as a platform for brand recognition and promotion.
With that sponsorship, the driver instantly becomes a spokesperson for that brand or company. With their car, hat, and even uniform covered in logos, it's not difficult to recognize what brands sponsor a driver.
Did you know you're a spokesperson too? How you live your life represents the things that mean the most to your life. Can others detect who your sponsors are?
Jesus paid more than $10 million for your sponsorship; He paid with His life. He shed His blood on Calvary's Cross to redeem us from our sins and provide us a way to enter the final victory lane in heaven.
Regardless of where we work, school, vacation, golf, or dine, as Christians, we bear Christ's name. Is His sponsorship in your life the one in big or small letters? Does that sponsorship cover the entirety of your life or just a tiny pocket?
It's a privilege to be sponsored by God, wear His garment of righteousness, and be considered His representative on Earth. Our every word and action should advance His calls.
3) Dashboards
While the aesthetics of the dashboard have changed over time, its purpose has remained the same: To interface between man and machine. From analog to digital, thanks to onboard computers and audio/visual displays, much feedback is provided through our vehicle's dashboard.
Fuel & Temp Gauge: Helps us understand the car now.
GPS: Where we are at the present moment.
Warning indicators: Suggest how the car might run in the future.
Sometimes in life, we pay more attention to our car's dashboard indicators than we do our spiritual indicators. For most of us, our automobile is a daily necessity. It gets us to work, the grocery store, and other destinations, like a vacation. Our car represents a significant financial investment for adults, and it's only fitting to keep them mechanically in top condition.
Learning How to Gauge Our Spiritual Indicators
If we care about our cars, how much more should we be to the indicators of our spiritual health? Would you agree that people spend most of their time sweating over things that won't matter when all is said and done?
"Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 'That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!'" (Luke 12:22-24)
Our Spiritual Dash Board
Speedometer
There is a daily temptation to speed through our day without setting time aside for God. This isn't just your daily devotion. Many men can't slow down enough to attend church or small groups. Slow down before you hit a speed bump and are forced to slow down. Check your speedometer and see how you are spending your time.
Fuel Gauge
You probably check your fuel gauge every time you start your engine. It's a habit we cultivate based on the consequences of running out of gas. But are we conscious of checking our spiritual fuel tank? How often are you filling your heart and mind with the truth of God's Word? How consistently do you have personal Bible study, teaching or reading sound theology, and discussing the Bible with others?
When men engage in God's Word four or more times weekly, statistics show specific behavior changes. Here are encouraging examples:
Porn addiction drops by 59%.
Excessive drinking drops by 62%.
People are four times more likely to memorize Scripture.
We become twice as likely to share Jesus with a stranger.
Some people think that the sermon they hear once a week at church is enough, but we've learned it takes spiritually feeding yourself daily to have a radical life change. When you think about it, it makes sense, too. For example, suppose you're trying to find better health. While exercising one day a week is a step in the right direction, our bodies won't change from minimal input.
To be spiritually fit, we need to exercise consistently by taking in God's Word and creating Holy Spirit opportunities to change us from the inside out.
Steps To Maintaining Your Spiritual Dashboard
There's no perfect, one-size-fits-all dashboard for everyone.
What 3-5 things can you monitor regularly?
Each of us is renewed in unique ways.
When you identify those renewals and things to monitor, who can you share them with? (PRO TIP: Pick someone you're not afraid to have regular check in on you.)
4) Pit Crew Heroes
Did you know that 95% of men say they don't have male friends, and less than one-third of men in church say they have a friend?
In Nascar, the driver is the name everyone knows, but the driver knows he's nothing without his pit crew. These people are the unsung heroes whose support is the key to finishing the race. For every one of us, our pit crew is the difference-maker. Without them, many of us would be unlikely to finish the race at some point in our lives.
In Paul's last letter, written shortly before his death, the great missionary pays tribute to one of his pit crew heroes, Onesiphorus.
"May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! - and you will know all the service he rendered at Ephesus." (2 Timothy 1:16-18)
We all need an Onesiphorus, and we all need to be Onesiphorus.
You likely know someone who is having a tough time with their race in life. They're slowing down, overheating, under heavy pressure, and may not feel like they can finish. But, the difference in their race will be someone to step up and be part of their pit crew. Can you be that for someone?
Maybe you're the one struggling and need to open your crew? It could be time for you to find that person, someone who follows the Onesiphorus example. Who is someone in your life who frequently asks, "Lord, what could I do that would refresh my hurting friend? A call, a note, a meal, babysitting? What can I do to give him some time off?"
And notice what Paul wrote, "He often refreshed me." You need to go out of your way to find that person. We're talking about you being their "be there" person. They need to know you will always be there.
God has a beautiful promise for you if you will be someone's unsung hero in the pit crew who keeps them in the race. The promise is in Hebrews:
"For God is not unjust to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do." (Hebrews 6:10)
You can be part of someone's pit crew. Your fellow drivers need you; there's nothing wrong with admitting that you need others.
TL;DR
A Christian life and spiritual journey can often be reflected as foot race.
Throughout the Bible, we see men instructed to be in the driver's seat and it has specific instructions for men to be Godly leaders of their homes.
Regardless of where we go about our lives, as Christians, we bear Christ's name. Is His sponsorship in your life the one in big or small letters?
To maintain healthy relationships with ourselves, others and God, we need to pay attention to our spiritual dashboard.
To be spiritually fit, we need to exercise consistently by taking in God's Word and creating holy opportunities to change us from the inside out.
You can be part of someone's pit crew. Your fellow drivers need you, and there's nothing wrong with admitting that you need others.
Related Reading
The Submissive Family by Brad Bogue
Instructions for a Christian Household by Bro. Chris Carter
How To Help Your Child Read the Bible by Brad Bogue
About Christ Church Memphis
Christ Church Memphis is church in East Memphis, Tennessee. For more than 65 years, Christ Church has served the Memphis community. Every weekend, there are multiple worship opportunities including traditional, contemporary and blended services