As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 [ESV]) What does it mean to act like a man? That’s the question I asked myself a couple of years ago, and since I love reading, I searched out several books on the topic. Not all of them were memorable or helpful; some I barely remember reading, but the following 5 have been the most helpful to me. For those who are looking to start this journey or want to revisit the basics, this is the roadmap I would suggest. Stop 1 is What is a man? As with any journey, you need to know where you’re going and whether it’s worth going there or not. Stop 2 is the man’s role in the family. Stop 3 is the man’s role in the church. Stop 4 is the man’s role in society. Lastly, stop 5 is challenges that will face leaders along the way.
What is a man? It’s Good to Be a Man
The first step in any journey is figuring out where you’re going and why. Michael Foster and Bnonn Tennent excellently describe the destination and why it’s important. They start by tearing down the cultural concept of masculinity and then building it back up on the foundation of biblical principles. In doing this, they help you understand who God created you to be and give you the confidence to move forward on mission. Without this understanding and confidence, moving forward is going to be a mess. Being confident in your masculinity will give you the strength to be a leader in your home, church, and society.
Role in the family: Family Shepherds
Once you’ve figured out where you’re going, you’re ready to start leading your family to be a biblical family. Psalm 128 talks about how blessed your family is when you fear the Lord. In this book, Voddie Baucham has outlined what it means to shepherd your family well. He works through discipling your family, loving your wife as Christ loved the church, disciplining your children, and evaluating your personal lifestyle. In all of these areas, Voddie shows you how to glorify God.
Role in the church: Men and Women in the Church
Moving forward to these next two steps will require that you are doing well in the previous step. Once you’re leading your family well1, you’re ready to take on the next step: leading in the church. In this book, Kevin DeYoung masterfully works through the passages in Scripture that outline what the biblical roles for men and women are. He then addresses common objections and draws applications from those passages. We need not be ashamed of God’s design for men and women in the church.
Role in society: Men and Marriage
You may not end up being a leader in the church, but you will be a leader in society, whether in business, community, or government. God created the world to be led by men, and that’s what George Gilder shows in this book. He points out how men and women were created differently and that society will be led by men, whether constructively or destructively. The central premise is that “Civilization is built by men with families to feed.”2
Challenges faced as leader: Leadership and Emotional Sabotage
In all of these areas, you are going to face challenges. People will seek to steer you through manipulation or shout you down. Not everyone is on board with men leading, so a strong backbone and a high emotional pain tolerance are necessities. In this book, Joe Rigney seeks to help you do just that. The key is to fear God rather than man.
Conclusion
Now, having read these books, I have a better understanding of what it means to “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 [ESV]) My goal in sharing these is that you will grow in that understanding as well. I have read a couple of these more than once, and I plan to revisit all of them regularly. The insights found in these books have been a great help to me.
I would encourage you to commit to reading one of these books a month. You can reflect on where you are in the journey and start where you feel you are. The goal is to be moving toward biblical masculinity. You won’t stumble into it–you will have to work for it, and I believe these books will help guide you on the journey.
Adventure In The Word 
Leave a comment