In this Episode we focus on the statement from our ManDown Ethos that is focused on spiritual disciplines. Colby Garman and Bobby Gomez talk about the important gospel framework the supports a healthy engagement in spiritual disciplines and explore the different ways spiritual disciplines can help us grow toward loving God and Loving our neighbor. You can read the section of the Ethos we focus on in this episode below:

MATURE MEN PRACTICE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

As men we take responsibility for engaging in the exercises of body, mind, and soul, that have benefitted Christians of the past in their spiritual growth. We value the practices of daily Bible reading, prayer, generous giving, uncelebrated service to others, quiet meditation on the Word, confession of sin, prioritizing congregational worship on the Lord’s Day, and other practices that deepen our experience of God and His grace. We seek to learn the well-worn paths of past saints that nourish the soul and help us commune with God. We don’t practice these spiritual disciplines from a desire to gain God’s approval or be seen by others. We engage in them so that through them we might open our hearts to ongoing experiences that will form us in our inward affections toward God and man. We recognize that a lack of practice in spiritual disciplines cuts us off from ongoing opportunities to commune with God as He graciously meets us in spiritual practices and transforms us by His grace. Although we do not consider spiritual disciplines to be the only means of growth, we embrace their value to train us in godliness.

1 Timothy 4:7–10. [7] Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; [8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. [9] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. [10] For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (ESV)

In this episode we are talking with Tim Speace about The ManDown Ethos and focused on "Mature Men Walk With Others". We discuss some of the barriers men face to genuine friendship and what is at stake in deepening our relationships with one another. Read the Ethos statement below and join us for the conversation:

MATURE MEN WALK WITH OTHERS

Men thrive in communities of mutual faith, values and support. Together as men we will not live our lives in isolation, but embrace practices of genuine fellowship and friendship. We will seek to allot the necessary time for our lives to be open and visible to other men who can sharpen us and speak into our lives with genuine insight. We will also seek to provide the same advantage of godly counsel and wisdom to others from a place of genuine support and friendship. We believe that through a community of genuine relationship we will have the courage to pursue dreams and callings given by God that far exceed what we could do alone. As a matter of joyful conviction we find it valuable to walk together in every season, experiencing moments of high importance, difficult burdens, and light-hearted fun. We recognize that many men in our society and workplaces need us to take the initiative to provide a meaningful community that welcomes them into the experiences of healthy masculinity. In our present cultural moment, this task is of heightened importance, as many men have been left without models of godliness as they enter their careers, become husbands, and raise children. We believe this is an opportunity that God has given us to make an impact beyond our individual circle of influence.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12. [9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (ESV)

In this special episode we dive deeper into the connection between leaning into God's mission and the growth of our faith. Tim Long joins us as we talk about stepping into moments of faith, leading your family on mission, and principles for getting started.

In this episode we talk about our Ethos Statement, Mature Men Live On Mission. We invited Cody Davis and Noah Clifton to join us and talk about what they saw growing up in the early days of Pillar Church in the lives of everyday people who committed themselves to the work of advancing the gospel together. As we talk we share some answers to the question, What does it actually look like to live on mission in our everyday lives?

MATURE MEN LIVE ON MISSION

There are many valuable, noble, and worthwhile pursuits for men to engage in throughout their lives. As Christian men who follow Jesus we recognize the priority of Jesus calling for each of us to follow Him in His mission to proclaim the gospel to all nations. From where we live to the ends of the earth we will consider it our corporate and individual mission to engage in the advance of the gospel. In doing so we seek to leverage our gifts and skills to serve our community and partner with gospel advancing church plants around the world. We believe these natural gifts, skills, and abilities are gifts from God that can be leveraged in unique ways in different contexts and we are ready to offer them to the Lord for His service. We not only seek to respond to the opportunities God brings our way but consider it our responsibility to strategize together how we can take ground for God’s Kingdom in the world through active mission.

Ephesians 2:10. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)

In this important episode Colby Garman has a one on one conversation with Caleb Nelson as they talk about the Ethos Statement "Mature Men Deal with Their Darkness". Throughout the episode Caleb shares some of his personal journey dealing with challenging circumstances and personal issues in his own heart and life that really undermined his faith for a significant season. He also shares the ways in which God has led him to face some of his darkness and find grace and renewal. Listen along and check out the Ethos statement below.

MATURE MEN DEAL WITH THEIR DARKNESS

It is always tempting to deal with the darkness in the world around us or the darkness that we see in others rather than to journey inward and deal with the darkness we find in ourselves. Every man has aspects of sin, past trauma, unreconciled experiences, and personal disappointments that can dominate their inner life and undermine their pursuit of good things. We believe the gospel frees us from the hiding and false performance that comes with seeking to cover over our darkness instead of addressing it and dealing with it. As men who believe that God is light and have encountered His grace, we exercise courage to address the experiences of the past and weaknesses of the present with genuine honesty. We anticipate the power of God that is at work in the honest confession of sin and admission of weakness and through it experience the genuine fellowship that it promises with God and one another.

1 John 1:5–7. [5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. [6] If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV)

We are joined in this episode by Jamie Limato as we focus on the statement Mature Men Take Responsibility. As we talk we dig into the text of Genesis 3, talk about substitutes for Taking Responsibility and try and offer some vision for young men as they look to strengthen this area of their life.

The full statement from the ManDown Ethos can be read below

MATURE MEN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
One of the tragic things about the fall of mankind into sin is the rejection of responsibility that plays out in the lives of men ever since. In the garden as Eve was tempted we read that her husband Adam was with her. In the previous chapter he had been tasked with stewarding the instruction of God for the garden, including the warning not to eat of the tree they were now being tempted by. Instead of taking responsibility, he is passive and stands by while Eve succumbs to the temptation of Satan. When the time for accountability comes, he blames Eve, and he blames God, but never takes responsibility. Jesus, the second Adam accomplishes our Salvation by doing precisely the opposite. He takes responsibility for our sin and future, even though he had not sinned himself. As men who are being renewed to bear the image of God we endeavor to be people who take responsibility. Our families, our churches, and our society, need men who will take responsibility for the problems, challenges, and opportunities we face. Through doing so, we expect to experience the work of God restoring by grace, what sin has marred in our nature.

Genesis 3:6. [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (ESV)

In Episode 2 we are talking with Stu Fugler about the second statement from our ManDown Ethos, Mature Men Master the Scriptures. In this episode we talk about the challenges and barriers men face to studying the Bible as well as practical tips for growing in your mastery of God's Word.

The full statement from the ManDown Ethos can be read below:

MATURE MEN MASTER THE SCRIPTURES
As men we reject the anti-intellectual spirituality that neglects serious study of the Bible and important theological reflection. Through daily

reading, focused study, and sound instruction of one another we seek to build up our understanding of the whole counsel of God’s word. We believe that the Scriptures hold ever deepening insight and stabilizing foundations that equip us to navigate a world that builds its ideas on sinking sand. While valuing devotional reading, we also pursue focused study of God’s word to help us have a clear vision of God’s nature, understand the human condition, and contend for the faith with one another and those around us. Through this study of God’s word we seek to move from recognizing God’s truth to being able to wield the sword of God’s word and articulate its doctrines in a compelling manner.

2 Timothy 3:14–17. [14] But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it [15] and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

It's the official Episode 1 of the first season of our ManDown Podcast. On this episode Colby Garman, Bobby Gomez, and Joe Craft cover the first concept in The ManDown Ethos and focus on the importance of grasping the gospel.

The ManDown Ethos is our vision for pursuing the laid-down in following Jesus into mature manhood. You can read the first statement and its explanation here:

MATURE MEN GRASP THE GOSPEL
The gospel is the power of God at work in us through the promise of Christ’s all sufficient work on our behalf. Everything that makes genuine

growth as a man possible is rightly powered by a deepening understanding of the gospel and its fruits. As men we recognize that a weak grasp on the gospel leaves us looking to other things for power and security that cannot deliver on the promises they hold out to us. With a clear understanding of the gospel at the center of our lives we are able to capitalize on the many other benefits of practical wisdom and holistic development inside a framework that is life-giving and centered on God as the one who brings fruit and maturity. A firm grasp on the gospel protects us from a counterfeit vision of masculinity and helps us see the events of our lives through the primary narrative of God’s saving work in the world.

Romans 1:16–17. [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV)

Each episode we will focus on one of the 8 statements that make up our ManDown Ethos.