Southland Men: Brian Ray (Man on Purpose)

For most men, the key to our future and the quality of their life is in direct proportion with how we engage our past. We have to move towards our wounds in order to find healing. Regardless of our earthly father/step dad/absent dad, we need our good Heavenly Father to begin the work of healing us by fixing our past.

Our guest this week is no stranger to a challenging past. Brian and Scott sit down at the table to share from his life story of being put up for adoption and growing up in a tough family, but then allowing Jesus and godly people to help by acknowledging his wounds and finding healing. We’ll also dive into investing in our marriages, being an intentional dad, and expanding the circle through mentoring and discipling others.

 

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Brian takes the first 5 minutes of the episode to brag about his wife. It is so important to verbally express the things that you love about your wife. What are 2-3 things you are grateful for related to your significant other? Be sure to also express those feelings to them this week.

Brian mentions that despite everything that has happened in his life, he is a victor through Jesus, not a victim of the enemy. What have been the times in your life where you have felt like you were a victim of the enemy instead of being a victor through Christ? How has God been faithful through those times?

Scott and Brian take some time to talk through their relationship with their wives and kids and a word that summarizes their conversation well is intentionality. As men, we have to intentionally fight for what is most important. What are some ways you have been intentional in your relationships and what are some ways that you need to be more intentional?

Love for Jesus overflows into your love for your wife, which then overflows into your love for your kids. It has to be in that order. Do you find yourself prioritizing your kids over your wife? Do you find yourself prioritizing your wife over Jesus? What can we do to prioritize the right relationships so that we can best serve those we are about?

Read Ephesians 5:1-2. Think through some people who have made a strong impact on your life. Who is someone in your sphere right now that is doing what you want to be doing? Make a plan to talk to them this week to learn from them and to hear their story.

What are the areas in your life that you feel like you have to be perfect? Don’t put a burden on yourself that Jesus hasn’t placed on you. You don’t need to be perfect, because Jesus is perfect.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11. One of the best ways that we can love people as Jesus loves them is by speaking encouragement. Who is someone in your life that you can serve by encouraging them? It could be your wife, one of your kids, a co-worker, someone in your small group. Shoot them a text or give them a call and see how the Holy Spirit will move.

What else from the podcast spoke to you?

What did God/Holy Spirit speak/prompt/say to you?  What’s God asking you to do?  What does He want to give you?  What does He want you to lay down?

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