Torch or Baton?

Torch or Baton? 

How will we secure the next generation of young men?

 

By Kenny Luck 

 

We have all heard it.  

 

One man passing the “baton” to another. A father passes a baton to a son, an outgoing CEO passes one to the incoming one, or a retiring athlete passes the baton to his younger successor. Nice idea but wrong metaphor when it comes to faith, mentoring, leading, and discipleship.  Why wrong?  Because from the first relays in ancient Greece to the world track and field championships of today runners who pass a baton stop running after handing it off.  One runner completely powers off and shuts down while the new baton carrier turns the afterburners on and powers up.

 

That’s why I prefer torches to batons when I talk about generational impact. Torches transfer the flame while continuing to stay lit themselves to shine light and ignite fires elsewhere.  If I were your pastor I would, without apology and as a man of God, want to “light up” your commitment to Jesus like a roman candle, throw serious passion on it, and then turn you loose to light others up. More specifically, I would commission all dads, mentors, and leaders in my church to take the torch of their commitment, ignite the flame of faith in another generation, and then, together, create unstoppable wildfires of revival, righteousness, salvation, transformation, and justice. Like Peter, I want to see the crazy, volcanic eruption of souls, young and old, lighting our world on fire with the Gospel.

 

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.” (Acts 2:17-19 NIV)

 

The spectacle Peter was both experiencing and foretelling of here in the Book of Acts was a theophany of God’s Spirit in history.  He saw a massive spiritual blaze full of people who were consumed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  More importantly, it was intergenerational!  Did you catch that? 

 

Young and old on fire for God – a hot, holy chaos.

 

 

GOOD, GODLY MEN ARE MADE NOT BORN

 

Before that hot, holy chaos of Pentecost came about Jesus modeled for us his process with the next generation of followers. His end game?  Three years. Twelve men. Twenty centuries of wildfires.  But how? When we watch the film of Jesus in the Gospels we see that movements always start with a personal invitation and an equally personal vision of significance for first followers. 

 

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men,”

 (Matthew 4:19 NIV)

 

More specifically, an invitation to imitation combined with a process of impartation (I will make you) was the secret sauce of successfully transferring the flame to the next generation of leaders.  Re-read that – it’s big.  Jesus knew this process would get him the product: men creating movements.  If you are a dad, an uncle, a grandpa, a coach, a mentor, or a high school group leader – don’t miss these words from the master mentor from Nazareth: “I will make you.”

 

Those four words communicate a powerful commitment to an intentional process.   The question all dads, pastors, and mentors of men (young and old) must ask themselves is this:  what’s my commitment to lighting up the next generation of those God has called me to ignite?  Second, ask yourself: what’s my personal process or pathway?  Then lastly, ask: is my process getting me the product?

 

Don’t rebuild the wheel dude. Just lose the baton and commit to the torch approach like Jesus.

 

“Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.”  (Proverbs 2:20 NIV)

 

 

MASCULINITY FOLLOWS PATTERNS

 

Every ethnic culture has its own unique flavor and expression of masculinity.  There are pecking orders, priorities set by peers, and pathways to success depending on the cultural norms.  As for me, I had no control over the male culture I was raised in (Pacific Islander and American) but I quickly learned on the playground what the priorities were for men if you wanted to climb the latter of success.   As I grew older, many of these priorities involved self-preservation, self-importance, and self-gratification at the expense of others.  Every male culture worldwide has a similar pattern married to its ethnic context and expression.  To this end, Jesus told his guys they were being called by him to pursue a different pattern.

 

Adult Jewish men were raised to think like this:  Thank God I am not a woman.  Thank God I am not a child.  Thank God I am not a gentile.  It was a toxic and broken male mentality that ended up creating a lot of suffering for others – especially women and children.  It was into this broken male culture of ethnocentrism, chauvinism, and religion that Jesus appears and starts defining a different pattern of masculinity.  He starts telling positive stories about a “Good” Samaritan.  He breaks man-code and says, “Let the children come” while he touches and blesses them joyfully.  He defends and protects women kicked to the curb by “the rules” of the day that favored men and forced many of them into prostitution to survive.

 

New pattern!

 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

 

 

I know all about creating new patterns as the son of a third generation alcoholic.  Jesus thankfully interrupted my own personal train wreck in that direction at the ripe old age of seventeen.  Six years later I was formally given the opportunity to change the pattern in my own family when I married my wife.  Twenty-seven years and three grown children later, my family will tell you that the pattern is broken in the Luck family.  My son Ryan saw and adopted a new pattern of masculinity – a Spirit-filled one.  He is no longer a slave to a generational bondage but has been securely loved out of it by his earthly and Heavenly Father. His sisters are not the innocent victims of a broken, unpredictable, and self-destructive father.   Instead, they are protected and provided for by a dad who tries every day to simply give to them the same grace and truth given generously to him by Jesus.

 

Similarly, the next generation of men Jesus called would break the existing cultural pattern referred to by him as the “world” (cosmos or “culture” in Greek).  Like Jesus, their new perception of God, of things masculine, and their new pattern of living (modeled by him) would be adversarial and unpopular to the majority of their male counter-parts. He didn’t sugar coat it.

 

“If you belonged to the world (kosmos), it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world (kosmos), but I have chosen you out of the world (kosmos). That is why the world (kosmos) hates you.”  (John 15:19 NIV)

 

It was going to be culture versus Christ. Playing the middle just vaporized.

 

Turn on cable news and you see exactly what I am talking about.  It’s broken male expression on crack.  You gasp at the behaviors of the next generation of men (young and old) who are actively conforming to the broken and Christ-less male culture they see as the strongest way to be, believe and behave.  Unlike so many of my pastor friends I don’t despair.  I have a front row seat and great view of the emerging movement of young men in Every Man partner churches keeping me encouraged that all is not lost.  These churches are intentionally and aggressively producing courageous dads, older brothers, mentors, coaches, educators, and youth workers who are modeling and messaging for the next generation a Spirit-filled and Christ-centered way to believe and behave as men.  They are creating contexts for fishing for men and have a plan to feed them.  They are getting fathers IN, HEALTHY, STRONG, and GOING into leadership in the family and in the community.  To the delight of the women and children connected to these churches, young men are being integrated into healthy men’s communities that are producing next generation husbands and dads. At a time when healthy men are in high demand but low supply I see why they are ecstatic.

 

These caring dads, individuals, mentors and pastors are extending a burning torch of Christ-filled commitment into the chests of the next generation.  Like Jesus, they are saying with their actions and investment of time in young men “Follow me as I follow Christ!”  These torch-bearers and fire-starters are waking The Sleeping Giant.

 

There is a rise of guys.

 

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

 

 

Leaders engaging the process of helping the next generation with intentionality and quality are gathering eager young men.  Together, fathers and sons, coaches and players, mentors and mentees are blazing their way toward a destiny that Jesus not only modeled but promised would eventually bring him back.

 

Whose flame are you igniting or fanning?  Do you need help?  Does your church need help reaching men in the congregation and community?

 

Start lighting men on fire for Christ now!

 

CLICK HERE for how to get started and sign up for the Every Man Ministries Newsletter.

KENNY LUCK is an ECPA Platinum Award Winning Author, who has authored and co-authored 20 books for men. Kenny is the president and founder of Every Man Ministries. As the former men’s pastor at Saddleback Church in California and current leadership pastor at Crossline Community Church, Kenny has found the proven way to improve men’s ministries around the world. Sleeping Giant is this blueprint, and gives men the tools they need to lead and understand their own men’s ministry. Watch Kenny’s teachings at EveryManMinistries.com and start your men’s group today!

 

Follow Every Man Ministries now on FacebookTwitter (@everymm,) and YouTube.

 

 

612 Responses

  1. viagra price mexico [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]viagra uk otc[/url] get viagra prescription

  2. cheap generic viagra pills [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]VGR Sources[/url] buy generic viagra without a prescription

  3. sildenafil 20mg prescription cost [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]VGR Sources[/url] viagra cost in mexico

  4. real viagra no prescription [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]where to purchase female viagra[/url] sildenafil generic without a prescription

  5. buy sildenafil no prescription [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]viagra price in usa[/url] viagra tablets for sale uk

  6. pfizer viagra 100mg price [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]purchase viagra in india[/url] price viagra

  7. average cost of viagra [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]VGR Sources[/url] viagra online using paypal

  8. where to purchase viagra online [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]where can i buy viagra online uk[/url] how to purchase viagra online in india

  9. viagra 100mg tablet online [url=https://vgrsources.com/#]VGR Sources[/url] best price for sildenafil 20 mg

  10. atorvastatin nursing consideration [url=https://lipipharm.com/#]Lipi Pharm[/url] No RX Lipitor online

  11. Best price for Crestor online USA [url=https://crestorpharm.shop/#]CrestorPharm[/url] Crestor Pharm

  12. No RX Lipitor online [url=http://lipipharm.com/#]Lipi Pharm[/url] does atorvastatin lower testosterone

  13. can you take ibuprofen with rybelsus [url=https://semaglupharm.com/#]Rybelsus online pharmacy reviews[/url] what happens if you miss a dose of rybelsus

  14. Safe online pharmacy for Crestor [url=https://crestorpharm.shop/#]Crestor Pharm[/url] CrestorPharm

  15. FDA-approved generic statins online [url=https://lipipharm.com/#]what are side effects of atorvastatin[/url] Cheap Lipitor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg

  16. Rybelsus for blood sugar control [url=https://semaglupharm.shop/#]SemagluPharm[/url] SemagluPharm

  17. Buy statins online discreet shipping [url=https://crestorpharm.com/#]can you take crestor and metoprolol together[/url] crestor strength

  18. prednisone cream brand name [url=https://prednipharm.com/#]Predni Pharm[/url] how can i get prednisone online without a prescription

  19. buy prednisone online without a script [url=https://prednipharm.com/#]Predni Pharm[/url] prednisone 5 mg brand name

  20. LipiPharm [url=https://lipipharm.com/#]Lipi Pharm[/url] can you eat bananas if you take atorvastatin?

  21. Order cholesterol medication online [url=https://lipipharm.com/#]Lipi Pharm[/url] ezetimibe with atorvastatin

  22. PredniPharm [url=https://prednipharm.shop/#]how to get prednisone without a prescription[/url] Predni Pharm

  23. CrestorPharm [url=https://crestorpharm.shop/#]Online statin therapy without RX[/url] Crestor Pharm

  24. precio de crestor 20 mg [url=https://crestorpharm.shop/#]crestor cholesterol medicine side effects[/url] CrestorPharm

  25. Cheap Lipitor 10mg / 20mg / 40mg [url=http://lipipharm.com/#]Generic Lipitor fast delivery[/url] Lipi Pharm

  26. Affordable Lipitor alternatives USA [url=https://lipipharm.shop/#]Discreet shipping for Lipitor[/url] LipiPharm

  27. www canadianonlinepharmacy [url=https://canadapharmglobal.shop/#]global pharmacy canada[/url] best online canadian pharmacy

  28. canada pharmacy online [url=https://canadapharmglobal.com/#]safe canadian pharmacy[/url] northwest pharmacy canada

  29. purple pharmacy mexico price list [url=http://medsfrommexico.com/#]п»їbest mexican online pharmacies[/url] mexican rx online

  30. Meds From Mexico [url=https://medsfrommexico.com/#]Meds From Mexico[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies

  31. canada rx pharmacy [url=https://canadapharmglobal.com/#]canadian pharmacies comparison[/url] canadian 24 hour pharmacy

  32. canadian pharmacy drugs online [url=https://canadapharmglobal.com/#]canada ed drugs[/url] canada rx pharmacy world

  33. legit canadian pharmacy [url=https://canadapharmglobal.com/#]canadian pharmacy reviews[/url] canadianpharmacyworld com

  34. best online pharmacies in mexico [url=http://medsfrommexico.com/#]mexican drugstore online[/url] best online pharmacies in mexico

  35. contorno ojos avГЁne opiniones [url=https://papafarma.shop/#]farmacia antonio[/url] cepillo dental oral b io

  36. Papa Farma [url=https://papafarma.shop/#]lubricante efecto calor – opiniones[/url] isdin antibiotico

  37. movicol soluciГіn oral en sobres [url=https://papafarma.shop/#]farma online[/url] epiduo forte precio espaГ±a

  38. Papa Farma [url=https://papafarma.com/#]para que sirve la diprogenta[/url] crema diprogenta precio

  39. Svenska Pharma [url=https://svenskapharma.shop/#]Svenska Pharma[/url] pris receptbelagda läkemedel

  40. mjuk bettskena apotek [url=https://svenskapharma.shop/#]apotek expressleverans[/url] krage hund apotek

  41. pharmacie de g [url=http://pharmaconfiance.com/#]paracГ©tamol et insuffisance rГ©nale[/url] Pharma Confiance

  42. bureau de change lourdes [url=https://pharmaconfiance.com/#]prix lysopaine pharmacie[/url] Pharma Confiance

  43. Pharma Confiance [url=https://pharmaconfiance.shop/#]achat viagra en europe[/url] Pharma Confiance

  44. internet apotheek nederland [url=http://medicijnpunt.com/#]medicatie online[/url] apotheek on line

  45. netherlands online pharmacy [url=https://medicijnpunt.shop/#]apotheek nederland[/url] medicatie bestellen apotheek

  46. cialis india online pharmacy [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.shop/#]Pharma Connect USA[/url] PharmaConnectUSA

  47. cialis commande [url=http://pharmaconfiance.com/#]Pharma Confiance[/url] test candidose verre d’eau

  48. tamoxifen online pharmacy [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]Pharma Connect USA[/url] Pharma Connect USA

  49. pharmacy today [url=http://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]people’s pharmacy lisinopril[/url] online pharmacy depo provera

  50. Medicijn Punt [url=https://medicijnpunt.shop/#]Medicijn Punt[/url] online apotheek nederland zonder recept

  51. 24 hours pharmacy [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]allegra pharmacy prices[/url] buy viagra pharmacy online

  52. doxycycline target pharmacy [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.shop/#]online pharmacy college[/url] store pharmacy

  53. online pharmacy propecia [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]vancouver pharmacy viagra[/url] finasteride 1 mg online pharmacy

  54. provigil overseas pharmacy [url=https://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]anastrozole online pharmacy[/url] PharmaConnectUSA

  55. cheap scripts pharmacy [url=http://pharmaconnectusa.com/#]cymbalta pharmacy coupons[/url] PharmaConnectUSA

  56. IndiMeds Direct [url=https://indimedsdirect.com/#]IndiMeds Direct[/url] buy medicines online in india

  57. northern pharmacy canada [url=https://canrxdirect.com/#]CanRx Direct[/url] canadianpharmacyworld

  58. Online medicine order [url=https://indimedsdirect.shop/#]indian pharmacy[/url] indian pharmacy paypal

  59. TijuanaMeds [url=https://tijuanameds.shop/#]reputable mexican pharmacies online[/url] TijuanaMeds

  60. precio wegovy [url=https://farmaciaasequible.com/#]parafarmacia 7 palmas[/url] Farmacia Asequible

  61. enclomiphene testosterone [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]enclomiphene citrate[/url] enclomiphene best price

  62. enclomiphene for sale [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]enclomiphene for men[/url] enclomiphene for men

  63. enclomiphene best price [url=https://enclomiphenebestprice.shop/#]enclomiphene for sale[/url] enclomiphene price

  64. enclomiphene for men [url=https://enclomiphenebestprice.shop/#]enclomiphene for sale[/url] buy enclomiphene online

  65. Farmacia Asequible [url=http://farmaciaasequible.com/#]sildenafil mujeres[/url] Farmacia Asequible

  66. Farmacia Asequible [url=https://farmaciaasequible.shop/#]Farmacia Asequible[/url] para quГ© sirve el movicol

  67. Farmacia Asequible [url=https://farmaciaasequible.com/#]brentan para que sirve[/url] mi farmacia barata

  68. provigil internet pharmacy [url=https://rxfreemeds.shop/#]methadone online pharmacy[/url] american pharmacy cialis

  69. farmacia a domicilio cerca de mГ­ [url=https://farmaciaasequible.com/#]Farmacia Asequible[/url] parafarmacia o farmacia

  70. enclomiphene price [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]enclomiphene for sale[/url] enclomiphene buy

  71. en la farmacia [url=https://farmaciaasequible.shop/#]Farmacia Asequible[/url] Farmacia Asequible

  72. Farmacia Asequible [url=https://farmaciaasequible.com/#]Farmacia Asequible[/url] Farmacia Asequible

  73. pharmacy online store malaysia [url=http://rxfreemeds.com/#]RxFree Meds[/url] target pharmacy zocor

  74. enclomiphene best price [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]buy enclomiphene online[/url] enclomiphene

  75. enclomiphene for men [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]enclomiphene for sale[/url] enclomiphene price

  76. enclomiphene citrate [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]enclomiphene testosterone[/url] enclomiphene online

  77. enclomiphene price [url=https://enclomiphenebestprice.shop/#]enclomiphene testosterone[/url] enclomiphene buy

  78. enclomiphene for sale [url=https://enclomiphenebestprice.shop/#]enclomiphene citrate[/url] enclomiphene buy

  79. buy enclomiphene online [url=http://enclomiphenebestprice.com/#]buy enclomiphene online[/url] enclomiphene testosterone

  80. best online pharmacies in mexico [url=https://meximedsexpress.shop/#]MexiMeds Express[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies

  81. propecia online pharmacy uk [url=https://medismartpharmacy.com/#]MediSmart Pharmacy[/url] drug store pharmacy near me

  82. IndoMeds USA [url=http://indomedsusa.com/#]reputable indian pharmacies[/url] world pharmacy india

  83. IndoMeds USA [url=http://indomedsusa.com/#]indian pharmacy paypal[/url] cheapest online pharmacy india

  84. viagra indian pharmacy [url=http://medismartpharmacy.com/#]cobix generic celebrex pharmacy[/url] levitra coupons pharmacy

  85. MexiMeds Express [url=http://meximedsexpress.com/#]MexiMeds Express[/url] buying from online mexican pharmacy

  86. best online pharmacies in mexico [url=https://meximedsexpress.com/#]pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa[/url] MexiMeds Express

  87. reputable mexican pharmacies online [url=https://meximedsexpress.shop/#]MexiMeds Express[/url] MexiMeds Express

  88. MexiMeds Express [url=https://meximedsexpress.shop/#]mexican drugstore online[/url] buying prescription drugs in mexico online

  89. reputable mexican pharmacies online [url=https://meximedsexpress.shop/#]MexiMeds Express[/url] п»їbest mexican online pharmacies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *