Our culture says, “Follow your heart. Do what makes you happy. Be true to yourself.” Jesus gives us a radically different message:

Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Me.

In today’s Sharpening Men Podcast, we continue our week on becoming a disciple of Jesus by confronting what following Him actually requires.

Luke 9:23 says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Notice that word: daily.

Following Jesus isn’t merely a decision you made years ago. Every day a man must decide again who gets the final word - himself or Jesus.

Self-denial doesn’t mean hating yourself. It means self doesn’t get to be God anymore. Your appetite, anger, sexual desires, pride, feelings, and personal wants don’t get the final vote.

Jesus does.

Sometimes we want Jesus as Savior without really wanting Him as Lord. We want Him to save us, fix our marriage, give us peace, straighten out our finances, and set us free - but we don’t necessarily want Him telling us what needs to change.

But Jesus isn’t trying to destroy your life. He’s trying to free you from the things that are destroying it.

That’s why Jesus uses the picture of a cross. A cross is where something dies. Sometimes it’s pride. Sometimes lust, anger, addiction, unforgiveness, the need to always be right, or the desire to get even.

And yesterday’s surrender doesn’t automatically make today’s decisions.

Today’s Challenge - Identify one area where your flesh has been calling the shots. Then take one measurable action today that declares, “Jesus is Lord here too.”

Delete something. Make the call. Confess something. Apologize. Walk away. Ask another man for accountability.

Whatever obedience looks like, do it.

Take up your cross. Follow Jesus.

Join Us Saturday - If you’re near Blytheville, Arkansas, join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building of Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It’s completely free and for men 18 and older. You don’t have to be a church member, know the Bible, or have your life together. Come eat and meet some other men.

Not local? You’re still part of this. Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast and share this episode with one man who may be fighting the same battle. Don’t send it as a sermon aimed at him. Just tell him, “Brother, this challenged me too.”

Visit SharpeningMen.org.

Need prayer, have a question, or just need somebody to talk to? Email tom@sharpeningmen.org.

Tomorrow: What happens when Jesus stops being merely one part of your life and becomes the center of it?

Nobody gets sharp alone.

You can know the stories, quote Bible verses, understand the cross and resurrection, and still face a much more important question: Are you actually following Jesus?

This week on the Sharpening Men Podcast, we’re talking about becoming a disciple of Jesus. And it begins with one of the simplest - and most demanding - things Jesus ever said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — Matthew 4:19

Notice the order: Follow Me, and I will make you.

Jesus didn’t tell Peter and Andrew to get themselves straightened out first. He didn’t tell them to fix every weakness, learn enough Scripture, or become good enough before coming to Him.

He told them to follow.

That’s discipleship.

You follow. He changes you.
You obey. He makes you.

Peter wasn’t finished when Jesus called him, and neither are we. He made mistakes, acted impulsively, and even denied knowing Jesus. But Jesus kept working on him.

Our responsibility is to keep following.

So ask yourself: Are you still following Jesus, or have you parked somewhere along the road?

Maybe you can remember when you were hungry for God, when you prayed, studied the Bible, or experienced God changing your life. Those memories matter—but what is He doing in you now?

What is He teaching you? What is He changing? Where is He leading you today?

You can’t follow somebody while standing still.

Today’s Challenge

Identify one thing you already know Jesus wants you to do.

Maybe you need to forgive somebody, apologize, get back into Scripture, start praying again, walk away from something, or finally obey something God has been dealing with you about for months.

Choose one thing and take one measurable step of obedience today.

Jesus said, “Follow Me.” So follow.

Join Us Saturday - If you’re in the Blytheville area, join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building of Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It’s completely free and for men age 18 and older.

You don’t have to be a church member. You don’t have to know a lot about the Bible. And you definitely don’t have to have your life cleaned up before you come.

Just show up. Come eat breakfast, meet some other men, and let’s learn together what it means to follow Jesus.

If you’re not local, you can still be part of what we’re building. Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast and share these episodes with other men.

Think of one man who needs to hear today’s question: Are you actually following Jesus? Send this episode directly to him.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

If you have a question, need prayer, have a testimony, or simply need somebody to talk to, email tom@sharpeningmen.org.

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the part of following Jesus that doesn’t get advertised nearly as much: denying yourself and taking up your cross daily.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Would you admit you need help? Walk away from certain relationships? Go to church? Quit drinking? Tell your friends “no”? Apologize? Pray? Would you finally start becoming the man you know God is calling you to be?

In today's Sharpening Men Podcast, we finish our week on the Fear of the Lord by confronting one of its most dangerous counterfeits: the fear of man.

Proverbs 29:25 warns us, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” A snare is a trap - and a man can spend years trapped by the need for approval. Trying to impress friends. Trying to prove something to his father. Protecting a reputation. Looking tough. Keeping everybody happy. Worrying about criticism, rejection, or what people will say when he starts changing.

But somebody is always going to have an opinion.

For some men, breaking free from that approval can be especially difficult. Coming out of addiction, gangs, prison, destructive relationships, or simply an old way of living may mean losing acceptance from people who only know the old version of you.

But what is your freedom worth?

No human being gets the throne of your life - not your friends, your boss, your family, social media, nor even people at church. That throne belongs to God.

Today's challenge is simple: identify one decision you're making primarily because you're afraid of what somebody else will think. Then ask yourself: If God's opinion mattered more than theirs, what would I do?

Take one step in that direction today. Say no. Say yes. Walk away. Ask for help. Admit you've been pretending. Whatever it is, make your decision based on obedience rather than applause.

Join Us Saturday Morning - If you're in the Blytheville area, come join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building of Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely free and open to men age 18 and older.

You don't have to know anybody. You don't have to be a “church guy.” Maybe you've been locked up. Maybe you're recovering from addiction. Maybe you're successful on the outside while privately struggling. Or maybe you've simply realized you need some better men around you.

Come eat breakfast with us. Bring a friend if you'd like.

Not Local? You're Still Part of This

If you don't live near Blytheville, you can still be part of what we're building. Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast, share this episode with another man, and use these daily episodes to help you become the man God created you to be.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

If you have questions, need prayer, want information about the breakfast, or simply need somebody to talk to, email tom@sharpeningmen.org.

This week we've learned that the fear of the Lord is the beginning, wisdom starts with knowing who God is, the fear of the Lord produces confidence, a man must decide whom he will obey, and fearing people is a trap.

So here's the question to carry with you:

Who's really sitting on the throne?

Nobody gets sharp alone.

But something does.

Money. Sex. Pride. Approval. Anger. Addiction. Your career. Your friends. Your appetites.

Everybody serves something. The question isn't whether you're going to serve. The question is who - or what - gets to be your master.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom gets to the heart of what it means to follow God. Christianity cannot remain theoretical forever. Eventually, a man has to decide: Am I actually going to obey God?

Not simply admire Him.
Not merely believe He exists.
Not occasionally ask Him for help.

Obey Him.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Joshua 24:15 puts the decision just as plainly: “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”

Maybe life doesn't have to be as complicated as we sometimes make it.

Fear God. Obey God. Love God. Love people. Follow Jesus. Help others follow Jesus.

But what does that look like when Monday morning comes?

Go to work honestly. Keep your word. Treat people right. Control your mouth. Love your family. Forgive. Help somebody. Tell the truth. Refuse temptation. Do the right thing when nobody is watching.

That's where obedience happens - not merely in church, but in everyday life.

And that leads to a harder question:

Where have you been resisting God's authority?

Maybe God has been dealing with you about something for months, and you keep answering, “Later.” “Not yet.” “I'm working on it.”

At some point, brother, you have to choose.

Today's Challenge: Identify one area where you already know what God wants you to do, but you haven't obeyed.

No more research.
No more excuses.
No more waiting for another sign.

Take one measurable step of obedience today. And if you need accountability, tell another man exactly what you're going to do.

Join Us Saturday

Come join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely FREE and for men 18 and older.

Whether you've followed Jesus for years or you're not even sure what you believe yet, you're welcome. Come eat breakfast, listen, ask questions, and sit around the table with other men who are trying to become the men God created them to be.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

Questions, need prayer, or just want to talk? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast, and send this episode to one man who needs to be challenged to stop putting off what he already knows he needs to do.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Not just physically tired. Tired inside. Tired of carrying everybody. Tired of trying to figure everything out. Tired of lying awake wondering what might happen tomorrow.

What if the money doesn't come? What if you lose your job? What if your kids don't straighten up? What if the relationship doesn't work?

Maybe you're carrying something you were never designed to carry.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom continues the discussion about the fear of the Lord with a surprising truth: the more appropriately you fear God, the less you have to fear everything else.

Proverbs 14:26–27 says that in the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, a place of refuge, and a fountain of life.

That's not the picture of a man cowering in fear of God. It's the picture of a man who understands, “My life is in God's hands.”

But there's another question every man needs to consider: Are you tired of doing God's job and asking Him to do yours?

We ask God to fix our finances while refusing to change how we spend. We ask Him to fix our marriage when maybe our responsibility is to apologize. We ask God to get us out of the mess while continuing to make the same choices that put us there.

At the same time, we're trying to do God's job - controlling tomorrow, controlling other people, controlling circumstances, and trying to guarantee every possible outcome.

There is another way.

Trust God with what belongs to Him, and obey Him with what belongs to you.

You may not know how everything is going to turn out, but you can know who God is. That's where a man's confidence comes from - not arrogance and not the belief that nothing bad can happen, but the confidence that whatever happens, God is still God.

Today's Challenge: Take a piece of paper and make two columns:

My Responsibility
God's Responsibility

Put the things you're worried about into the correct column.

Then stop trying to carry what belongs in God's column.

Ask Him, “What is my responsibility today?” Choose one thing from your column and obey Him in it.

Join Us Saturday

Come join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely FREE and for men 18 and older.

If you're carrying something heavy, you don't have to walk through the door and announce it to everybody. Just come. Eat breakfast. Sit down with some other men. Maybe you'll eventually find another man you can trust enough to talk to.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

Questions, need prayer, or just need someone to talk to? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast, and send this episode to one man you know who's trying to carry too much by himself.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Can you see tomorrow? Do you know everything? Can you control what happens around you? Have you ever made a decision you were absolutely certain about - only to discover later that you were completely wrong?

If we're not qualified to be God, why do we keep trying to do His job?

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom continues the conversation about the fear of the Lord by looking at Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

One of our biggest problems as men is that we can make God too small and ourselves far too big.

We try to control tomorrow. We try to control our children, our marriages, our circumstances, what other people think about us, whether people like us, and even things happening in the world that are completely beyond our control. Then we wonder why we're exhausted.

Maybe we're trying to do a job we were never qualified to hold.

There is freedom in admitting, “I don't know, but God does.” There is freedom in saying, “Lord, I don't understand this, but I'm going to trust You.”

That's not weakness. That's wisdom.

The better we know God's character - His holiness, faithfulness, power, mercy, love, justice, and wisdom - the easier it becomes to trust His direction.

Instead of making our own decisions and then asking God to bless them, what would happen if we actually stopped and asked Him what He wants us to do?

Today's Challenge: Pick one decision you're dealing with right now. Before doing what you normally do, stop and pray. Look at what Scripture says. Ask: “Lord, what would obedience look like here?”

If you still don't know, talk to a mature Christian man you trust.

Then follow God instead of simply asking God to follow you.

That's wisdom.

Join Us Saturday - Come join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely FREE, for men 18 and older, and you don't have to be a member of Ruddle Road - or any church.

Maybe you've spent years trying to run your life alone. Come sit with us.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

Questions, need prayer, or just want to talk? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast, and send this episode directly to one man who needs to hear it.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

He can have degrees hanging on the wall, know how to make money, quote Bible verses, have an opinion about everything - and still wreck his life and his family.

Why? Because there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. There is also a difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom begins a new week examining something we don't hear talked about nearly enough anymore: the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord isn't hiding in terror, afraid that God is going to get you. It's recognizing who God really is - standing in awe of His power, holiness, perfection, and love; reverencing Him because He is worthy; and submitting to His authority.

Simply put, fearing the Lord means taking Him seriously enough that what He says actually determines how you live.

Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

The question isn't simply whether you believe God exists. The harder question is: Does the fact that God exists actually change the way you live?

What happens when Scripture tells you something you don't want to hear? What happens when God puts His finger on your anger, pride, dishonesty, bitterness, drinking, relationships, money, sex life, unforgiveness, or the words coming out of your mouth?

Do you submit—or immediately start explaining why your situation is different?

A fool doesn't necessarily lack information. He refuses instruction.

And that's especially dangerous for men because a man who cannot be corrected cannot be sharpened.

Today's Challenge: Ask God one simple question: “Lord, show me one area where I have been resisting Your instruction.”

Then get quiet long enough to listen. When something comes to mind, don't argue, explain, or blame someone else. Write it down and take one specific action that brings that area of your life into obedience.

Join Us Saturday - If you're anywhere around Blytheville, come join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast, Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's 100% FREE and for men 18 and older. You don't have to belong to Ruddle Road - or any church. You don't have to know the Bible, and you definitely don't have to get your life cleaned up before you come.

Just come. Eat breakfast. Meet some men. Sit down with us.

- Learn more at SharpeningMen.org
- Questions, need prayer, or just want to talk? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.
- Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast so you don't miss the next episode.
- Think of one man who needs this conversation and send this episode directly to him.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Here’s the good news: that chapter doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom talks man-to-man about failure, repentance, grace, and moving forward. Scripture is filled with men who had serious failures in their past - Moses, David, Peter, and Paul among them - yet God was not finished with their stories.

Grace doesn’t mean pretending the past never happened. A man owns what he did, admits where he failed, repents, learns from it, and then refuses to build his life around yesterday’s mistakes.

Sometimes the very thing you're most ashamed of can become something God uses to help another man. The recovering addict can encourage the man still struggling. The former inmate can tell another man that life after prison isn't over. The father who made mistakes can help a younger father avoid them. Your mess can become a message, and your test can become a testimony - not because the mess was good, but because God’s grace is greater.

Today’s challenge is simple:

What have I done that I need to own?
What has God taught me through it?
Who could benefit from what I’ve learned?

Then find one man who might need to hear, “Man, I’ve been through some things too. If you ever need somebody to talk to, I’m here.” That’s brotherhood.

Join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast!
Every Saturday [tomorrow] at 9:00 a.m. in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315. It’s completely FREE and open to men 18 and older. You don’t have to be a church person, have your life together, or know anyone before you come. Come eat, listen, meet some men, and bring a friend with you.

Not local to Blytheville? You’re still part of Sharpening Men. Follow and subscribe to the podcast, share these episodes with another man, and use what you’re learning to sharpen the men around you. Visit SharpeningMen.org for more resources, or reach out anytime at tom@sharpeningmen.org. Wherever you live, you don’t have to walk this road alone.

Your worst chapter doesn’t have to be your last chapter. Own the past. Learn from it. Give it to God. Start walking forward.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Some men say they want a new destination while allowing the same old driver to keep the wheel.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom tackles something that keeps a lot of men chained to their past: condemnation.

Romans 8:1 declares that there is NOW no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. But there is an important difference between God showing you that something in your life needs to change and a voice telling you that you will never change.

Conviction says, “Change.”
Condemnation says, “You’re finished.”

Conviction says something in your life needs to be dealt with. Condemnation tells you that failure is all you’ll ever be. Conviction can lead you toward repentance and freedom. Condemnation often sends you deeper into hiding.

And men can become very good at hiding—behind anger, humor, work, sex, alcohol, drugs, religion, and sometimes even ministry.

But God brings things into the light so they can be dealt with.

So who is driving your life?

Walking after the Spirit doesn't have to be complicated: when God says go right, stop insisting on going left. Obey the next thing you know to do.

Today’s Challenge: Identify one thing you know God has been dealing with you about. Don’t sit there condemning yourself - respond. Confess it. Make the call. Delete it. Pour it out. Break it off. Walk away. Ask another man for help. Whatever obedience requires, take one concrete step today.

Join Us Saturday

If you need some men around you while you're learning to walk this out, that's exactly why Sharpening Men exists.

Join us Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for the completely FREE Sharpening Men Breakfast, open to men 18 and older, in the back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

No pretending. No faking it. Come eat with us.

Visit SharpeningMen.org
Reach out to Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org
Follow or subscribe to the Sharpening Men Podcast.
Share this episode with a man who keeps beating himself up over something God wants him to bring into the light and deal with.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Too many men are trying to move forward while constantly staring backward. They’re still living under the weight of an old failure, addiction, divorce, crime, rejection, broken relationship, abuse, or something they deeply regret.

This episode has a particularly strong message for men who feel trapped by failure, addiction, broken relationships, incarceration, or simply years of bad decisions.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom talks about one of the most important truths a man can understand: your past may explain where you’ve been, but it does not have to determine where you’re going.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. That isn't positive thinking or simply believing in yourself. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, and genuine newness is possible in Him.

Following Jesus doesn't magically erase the consequences of yesterday. Broken trust may take time to rebuild. Damaged relationships may take time to heal. Some consequences may remain. But you can still make a different decision today.

You can become dependable.
You can become sober.
You can become honest.
You can become faithful.
You can become responsible.
You can become patient.

You don't have to spend the rest of your life proving everybody's negative opinion of you correct.

Today's Challenge: Identify one thing from your past that is still controlling a decision you're making today. Then ask yourself: If my past didn't get to make this decision, what would obedience to God look like today?

Then do that.

One decision. One act of obedience. One step forward.

Join Us Saturday - If this message hits close to home, there is a chair for you at the Sharpening Men Breakfast.

We meet every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building/fellowship hall at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

The breakfast is completely FREE and open to men age 18 and older.

Whether your story includes addiction, jail, divorce, failure—or maybe you simply know you're not yet the man you need to be—come as you are and come willing to grow.

🌐 Visit SharpeningMen.org
📧 Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org
🎧 Follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next episode.
📲 Share this episode with one man whose past has convinced him that his future is already decided.

Your past does not have to be your future.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Breakfast Podcast, Tom challenges men to take an honest look at the fruit their lives are producing. Are you becoming more dependable, honest, disciplined, generous, and useful to the people around you? Is God’s grace changing the way you live when nobody is watching?

Using Ephesians 2:10, we look at what it means to be God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. We aren’t saved because of our good works, but genuine grace should produce change in the way we live, work, serve, forgive, give, speak, and take responsibility.

You don’t need a title, a platform, or a perfect past to make a difference. You can encourage someone, keep your word, help a man who is struggling, become a better father, make amends, mentor someone younger, or be the first man in your family to break a destructive cycle.

Today’s challenge: Do one good thing deliberately that you would not have otherwise done - and don’t look for recognition. Just do it because you’re learning to walk in the good works God has placed in front of you.

Join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast!
If you’re near Blytheville, Arkansas, come join us every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for a completely FREE breakfast for men 18 and older. We meet in the back building/fellowship hall at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315. You don’t have to have your life together. Come as you are—but come willing to grow.

- Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information.

- Questions, comments, or just need someone to talk to? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

- Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

- Share this episode with one man who needs to be reminded that his life still has purpose.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom challenges men to examine where their sense of worth really comes from. Your performance can change. Your possessions can disappear. Relationships can struggle. People’s opinions can turn. And your past may contain things you genuinely regret. But none of those things have the authority to determine your value.

Your worth begins with the God who created you.

Using Psalm 139:14, we look at the difference between honestly admitting, “I’ve done wrong,” and accepting the destructive conclusion, “Therefore, I’m worthless.” Sharpening Men isn't about making excuses for failure. If you've hurt someone, make it right. If you're dealing with addiction, deal with it. If you've been irresponsible, start becoming responsible. But don't turn repentance into a life sentence of shame.

This episode challenges you to identify the false labels you've been carrying, reject their authority to define you, and take one practical step that agrees with the man God says you're becoming.

With God, people change.

Come Have Breakfast With Us - If you're around Blytheville, Arkansas, you're invited to the Sharpening Men Breakfast every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. We meet in the back building/fellowship hall at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely FREE and open to men age 18 and older.

You don't have to be a “church guy.” Maybe you've been away from church for years. Maybe you've never been involved in church. Maybe you're fighting an addiction, you've been locked up, or you've simply made a mess of some things.

You're still welcome.

Come eat breakfast, sit down with some other men, and start moving forward. No pretending. No perfect men. Just men learning to follow Jesus and become the men God created us to be.

Visit: SharpeningMen.org
Email Tom: tom@sharpeningmen.org

Listen, share this episode with another man who needs it, and join us as we keep sharpening one another.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

A man can be 18, 30, 50, or 70 years old and still blame other people for his problems, refuse correction, lose his temper when he doesn't get his way, break promises, avoid difficult conversations, and expect somebody else to clean up his mess. At some point, a man has to decide: It's time to grow up.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Breakfast Podcast, Tom looks at 1 Corinthians 13:11 and Paul's words: “When I became a man, I put away childish things.”

Notice that Paul says, “I put away.” That's intentional.

Other men can encourage you, mentor you, confront you, pray for you, and walk beside you—but there are some things nobody else can put away for you. Eventually, you have to take responsibility for your own life and decide that some things end here.

So this episode asks some uncomfortable questions. Maybe it's time to stop explaining it, stop defending it, and simply say: “That ends here.”

Come Have Breakfast With Us

If you're anywhere around Blytheville, Arkansas, come have breakfast with us Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. We meet in the Fellowship Hall/back building at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315.

It's completely free and for men 18 and older.

You don't need church clothes. You don't have to bring a Bible. You don't need to know anybody. And you don't need to clean yourself up before you walk through the door.

Maybe you haven't been to church in years. Maybe you're struggling with addiction. Maybe you've been in jail or prison. Maybe you've made some mistakes you're not proud of. Maybe you're trying to rebuild your marriage, family, finances, or life. Or maybe you're simply a man who knows there are some areas where you need to grow.

Come anyway. You're welcome at the table.

We're going to eat, talk, open the Bible, and help each other become better men. We aren't gathering because we've arrived. We're gathering because we haven't. Every man has something that still needs sharpening.

Think of One Man

Before you move on to something else, think of one man who might need something like this.

Send him this episode and say:

“Breakfast Saturday at 9. Come with me.”

That's it. One man reaching out to another man.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for breakfast information, podcast episodes, resources, and ways to connect.

Have a question, comment, prayer request, or something you'd like us to discuss? Email Tom at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

No pretending. No perfect men. Just men learning to follow Jesus and become the men God created us to be.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, we look at the kind of strength God calls men to develop. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 tells us to stand firm, “act like men,” be strong—and do everything with love. Biblical strength isn't weakness, but neither is it uncontrolled anger, pride, or brutality. Sometimes courage means standing your ground. Sometimes it means walking away from an addiction, telling the truth, setting a boundary, admitting you're wrong, or simply saying, “Brother, I need help.”

Today's challenge: do one courageous thing governed by love. Make the call. Have the conversation. Tell the truth. Ask for help. Stand your ground.

Come eat breakfast with us! The Sharpening Men Breakfast meets every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building/fellowship hall at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315. It's completely free and open to men 18 and older. Come as you are—no pretending and no perfect men required.

-  Visit SharpeningMen.org for breakfast information, episodes, FAQs, resources, and ways to connect.

-  Need someone to talk to or have a question? Email tom@sharpeningmen.org.

-  Think of one man who needs to hear this message about real strength and send this episode directly to him.

- Follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next episode.

-  You don't have to do life alone. You don't have to keep living the way you're living today.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Breakfast Podcast, we confront the shame and labels that can follow men for years. Whether your story includes prison, addiction, a broken marriage, failure as a father, financial struggles, or simply disappointing yourself, your past may be part of your story, but it does not have to determine the man you become.

Scripture teaches that God has crowned man with glory and honor and entrusted him with purpose and responsibility (Psalm 8:4–6). Repentance matters. Consequences are real. Making things right matters. But there is a tremendous difference between saying, “I did something wrong” and believing, “I am worthless.” Identify the label you've allowed to define you, then take one specific action today toward becoming the man God is calling you to be.

Join us for the Sharpening Men Breakfast every Saturday at 9:00 a.m. in the back building/fellowship hall at Ruddle Road Church of God, 1400 S. Ruddle Rd., Blytheville, AR 72315. Breakfast is completely free and open to men 18 and older. No pretending and no requirement that you have your life together—come eat with us and grow alongside other men.

Visit SharpeningMen.org for more information and our FAQ, or email tom@sharpeningmen.org with questions, comments or if you just need someone to talk to.

Oh, and if you know a man who believes his life is over because of something he's done, send him this episode.

We need each other. Nobody gets sharp alone.

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Breakfast Podcast, we talk about one of the foundational marks of biblical manhood: responsibility. Your work, family, finances, relationships, word, abilities, and spiritual life all require a man willing to stop making excuses, quit blaming others, and take ownership of what God has entrusted to him.

Obviously, the Bible teaches us that a man’s primary duties before God are to: fear (respect & be in awe) God, obey Him, love Him completely, and love others. (See Ecclesiastes 12:13, Matthew 22:37-40) – but that is requires us to do our responsibility in other areas as well.

The challenge today is simple: identify one responsibility you've been neglecting and do something about it. Make the call. Apologize. Pay the bill. Finish the job. Show up. Take ownership.

If you're near Blytheville, Arkansas, join us Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for the free Sharpening Men Breakfast—men 18 and older. No perfect men required; just men willing to grow.

Visit SharpeningMen.org to learn more.
Questions, comments, or need someone to talk to? Email tom@sharpeningmen.org.
Share this episode with another man who needs to hear it.

Nobody gets sharp alone.

Culture has plenty to say about what a man is supposed to be. Maybe your definition came from your father, other men you grew up around, movies, television, sports, the streets, or simply from trying to survive. But there's a more important question: Does our definition of manhood line up with the One who created men in the first place?

In this episode of the Sharpening Men Podcast, Tom goes back to Genesis 1:26–27 and the beginning of manhood: God created man in His own image. We were created by God, for God, to reflect God, to be loved by God, and to love Him.

Biblical manhood isn't about having big muscles, growing a beard, acting tough, never showing weakness, or pretending you've got everything figured out. It's about becoming the man God created you to be.

So here's the challenge: Where did you get your definition of what a man is? What ideas about manhood have you picked up along the way that don't line up with Scripture? What masks, expectations, and false definitions need to come off?

That's what Sharpening Men is about. We aren't gathering because we've arrived or because we've figured everything out. We're men trying to learn, grow, follow Jesus, and help sharpen one another along the way.

Come Eat Breakfast With Us

If you're in the Blytheville area, come eat breakfast with us Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. It's 100% free.

You don't have to belong to a church. You don't have to know the Bible. You don't even have to own a Bible. And you definitely don't have to have your life together.

Maybe you haven't been inside a church in years. Maybe you're fighting addiction. Maybe you've recently gotten out of jail or prison. Maybe you've made some serious mistakes. Maybe you're trying to put your family or your life back together. Or maybe you're simply a man who realizes there has to be more to life than what you've been living.

You're welcome at the table.

Just show up. Grab some breakfast. Meet some men. Sit down with us. Nobody is expecting you to pretend to be something you're not.

Don't Come Alone

As you listen to this episode, think about one man.

Not everybody in your contacts. Just one guy.

Maybe it's a coworker, brother, son, neighbor, old friend, or somebody you know who's going through a rough season. Send him this episode and tell him:

“I thought about you when I heard this. Come eat breakfast with me Saturday.”

That's how brotherhood starts—one man reaching out to another.

Learn more about the Sharpening Men Breakfast & Podcast, including what we do, when and where we meet, and answers to frequently asked questions at SharpeningMen.org.

Questions? Want to talk? Have something you'd like us to address on the podcast? Visit our website at www.sharpeningmen.org or Email Tom directly at tom@sharpeningmen.org.

No pretending. No perfect men. Just men learning to follow Jesus and become the men God created us to be.

Nobody gets sharp alone.