Information

Maximized Manhood: A Guide to Family Survival - Edwin Louis Cole & Ben Kinchlow

Focuses on family: being a husband, father, relational integrity, spiritual leadership at home. Useful for ministries with a strong emphasis on families.

The Man in the Mirror: Solving the 24 Problems Men Face - Patrick Morley

Morley looks at 24 common struggles men face (identity, marriage, children, work, etc.) and offers solutions.

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul – John Eldredge

 Calls men to embrace God-given masculinity, adventure, and authentic living in Christ.

Kingdom Man: Every Man’s Destiny, Every Woman’s Dream – Tony Evans

 A challenge & encouragement for men to step into leadership spiritually, serve in their communities/families, and align their lives with God’s kingdom purposes.

Stepping Up: A Call to Courageous Manhood – Dennis Rainey with Tim Grissom & John Majors

 Practical guide helping men rise to the call of courage, responsibility, and spiritual leadership.

The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood – J. Josh Smith

 Ten biblical foundations for building men of character and faith.

Under Construction: Reframing Men’s Spirituality – Gareth Brandt

 Explores men’s spiritual development through vulnerability, community, and authentic discipleship.

Twelve Ordinary Men – John MacArthur

 Shows how Jesus transforms ordinary men into extraordinary leaders of faith.

Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood – John Piper & Wayne Grudem (eds.)

 Essays on biblical gender roles, leadership, and complementarian theology.

Disciplines of a Godly Man – R. Kent Hughes

 Classic guide to spiritual growth, focusing on prayer, purity, integrity, worship, and leadership.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women – Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn

 Offers insights into understanding women’s needs and perspectives, strengthening marriages.

Seven Seasons of the Man in the Mirror – Patrick Morley

 Walks men through seven key seasons of spiritual growth.

Fight: Winning the Battles That Matter Most – Craig Groeschel

 Encourages men to fight for faith, family, and integrity while relying on God’s strength.

Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life – Ken Costa

 Helps men discover their God-given purpose and live it with clarity and courage.

Play the Man: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be – Mark Batterson

 Calls men to step into biblical manhood, embracing courage, sacrifice, and discipleship.

Fathered by God: Learning What Your Dad Could Never Teach You – John Eldredge

 Guides men through the stages of masculine development and healing under God’s fatherhood.

Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance – Tony Dungy

 Leadership and life lessons on living with integrity, faith, and lasting influence.

The Journey of Desire: Searching for the Life We’ve Only Dreamed Of – John Eldredge

 Explores God-given desire and longing in the Christian life.

Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive – John Eldredge

 Encourages believers to live out of a fully awakened heart.

I Surrender All: Rebuilding a Marriage Broken by Pornography – Clay Crosse

 A story of restoration and hope for marriages hurt by addiction.

Brothers!: Calling Men into Vital Relationships – Geoff Gorsuch

 Builds strong, accountable relationships between men for spiritual growth.

Bringing Up Boys – James Dobson

Practical parenting advice for raising boys with strength, character, and biblical values.

The War Against Boys – Christina Hoff Sommers

 Cultural critique on societal shifts negatively impacting boys and young men.

Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time – Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker

 Widely used book on purity and overcoming sexual temptation.

Praying the Bible – Donald S. Whitney

 Teaches men how to pray Scripture, enriching prayer life.

Raising Emotionally Strong Boys – David Thomas

 Tools for helping boys build resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence.

The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within – Erwin Raphael McManus

 Encourages men to live bold, courageous, and untamed lives of faith, rejecting passivity and mediocrity.

Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Father’s Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood – Robert Lewis

 Offers a practical blueprint for fathers to mentor their sons into godly manhood.

No More Christian Nice Guy - Paul Coughlin 

“When Being Nice—Instead of Good—Hurts Men, Women, and Children” 

Point Man - Steve Farrar 

Farrar encourages and equips Christian men to lead their families successfully through the hazards of life. Find practical insight on topics such as a father’s influence, maintaining purity, and husband-and-wife teamwork. 

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP & PERSONAL FINANCE

• Dave Ramsey – https://www.daveramsey.com – Personal finance expert offering budgeting tools, financial education, and debt elimination strategies.

• Crown Financial – https://www.crown.org – Nonprofit providing biblical financial education and resources to manage money God’s way.

• Compass1 – https://www.compass1.org – Christian financial ministry providing tools for individuals and churches to manage finances biblically.

CHRISTIAN MEN’S MINISTRIES / SPIRITUAL GROWTH

• Men in the Arena – https://meninthearena.com – Resources to help men become better husbands, fathers, and leaders.

• Man in the Mirror – https://maninthemirror.org – Discipleship ministry helping men grow spiritually and lead with purpose.

• ManUp.org – https://manup.org – Bible study groups, curriculum, and resources for men’s spiritual growth.

• Every Man Ministries – https://www.everymanministries.com – Events, devotionals, and resources to help men grow in faith and relationships.

• WiRE for Men – https://wireformen.com – Free email devotionals offering practical spiritual insights for men twice a week.

• ManUp God’s Way – https://manupgodsway.com – Helps men grow in faith and leadership based on biblical principles.

• Man Church – Rick Burgess – https://manchurch.com – Men’s ministry offering resources and events to strengthen faith and leadership.

• Soulcon – Cody Bobay – https://soulcon.com – Combines physical fitness with spiritual growth for men.

• Iron Sharpens Iron – https://ironsharpensiron.net – Conferences and resources to help men grow in faith and leadership.

• Men of Iron – https://menofiron.org – Mentorship and discipleship programs for men to become leaders in their communities.

• Wild at Heart – https://wildatheart.org – Helps men discover and embrace their God-given masculinity.

MARRIAGE, FAMILY & PARENTING

• Focus on the Family – https://www.focusonthefamily.com – Resources on marriage, parenting, and faith to help families thrive.

• Family Life Today – https://www.familylifetoday.com – Helps couples and families build strong relationships and grow in faith.

• Love and Respect – https://www.loveandrespect.com – Resources for couples to strengthen marriages based on biblical principles.

• All Pro Dad – https://www.allprodad.com – Guidance and tools to help fathers build stronger relationships with their children.

MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY

• Plugged In – https://www.pluggedin.com – Christian-based reviews of movies, TV shows, music, and games for families.

• Common Sense Media – https://www.commonsensemedia.org – Provides age-based media reviews to guide parents on suitable content.

• VidAngel – https://www.vidangel.com – Streaming service that filters content in movies and TV shows.

• ClearPlay – https://www.clearplay.com – DVD/Blu-ray filtering system to skip or mute objectionable content.

ONLINE CHRISTIAN RESOURCES / ARTICLES

• Crosswalk Men – https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/men/ – Articles, devotionals, and resources to help men grow in their faith.

BLOGS

• Men in the Arena Blog – https://meninthearena.com/blog – Articles on men’s faith, leadership, and family.

• Man in the Mirror Blog – https://maninthemirror.org/resources – Articles and downloadable content for discipleship and spiritual growth.

• ManUp.org Blog – https://manup.org/resources – Bible study resources and spiritual guidance.

• Every Man Ministries Blog – https://www.everymanministries.com/blog/ – Daily devotionals and leadership series.

• WiRE for Men Blog – https://wireformen.com – Email devotionals for practical spiritual growth.

• Wild at Heart Blog – https://wildatheart.org/resources/ – Articles and teachings on masculinity and spiritual growth.

• Focus on the Family Blog – https://www.focusonthefamily.com – Marriage, parenting, and family faith resources.

• Plugged In Blog – https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/ – Media reviews and entertainment guidance.

PODCASTS

• Men in the Arena Podcast – https://podcast.meninthearena.org/ – Life, faith, fatherhood, and leadership.

• Dave Ramsey Show – https://www.daveramsey.com/show – Personal finance and biblical money principles.

• FamilyLife Today – https://www.familylifetoday.com/podcasts/ – Marriage, family, and parenting.

• Man Church – Rick Burgess Podcast – https://manchurch.com/podcast/ – Men’s leadership, faith, and biblical living.

• Soulcon Podcast – https://soulcon.com/podcast/ – Fitness and faith for men.

Startling Statistics

• The typical US Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% Female, and 39% male.

• On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s churches.

• This Sunday almost 25 percent of married church-going women will worship without their husbands.

• Midweek activities draw 70-80% female participants.

• 75% of volunteers are women.

• The average ratio of men to women in Christian colleges is about 1 male to every 3 females.

• Women are:

• 100% more likely to be involved in discipleship

• 57% more likely to hold a leadership position in the church

• 54% more likely to participate in a small group

• 39% more likely to have a regular devotional time

• 29% more likely to attend church, read their Bible, and share their faith.

• Of the 72 million children in America under the age of 18, 33% will go to bed tonight in a home without a biological father.

• Children who live absent from their biological fathers, on average, are more likely to be poor, experience educational, health, emotional and psychological problems, be victims of child abuse, and engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological mother and father.

• Currently, 57.7% of all black children, 31.8% of all Hispanic children, and 20.9% of all white children are living in single-parent homes.

Tony Evans, in his book Kingdom Man, writes:

• Roughly 70% of all prisoners come from fatherless homes.

• Approximately 80% of all rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes.

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.

• 63% of all teen suicides occur in homes where the father was either abusive or absent.

• Virtually every adult social pathology has been linked to either fatherless homes or homes with a father and/or husband who was absent, abusive, or neglectful.

Evans goes on to write, 

“The inmates at the prison I visit came from different cultures, backgrounds, generations, and experiences. They had committed different crimes. But one thing that most shared was that they had either come from a fatherless home or a home where the father was absent, neglectful, or abusive.”

There is a “Men Problem” in America!

Taken from "The Measure of a Man" by Gene Getz

Two paragraphs in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus give us a powerful profile for testing our maturity levels in Christ (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-10). The following list depicts spiritual qualifications from both letters:

• Overall spiritual maturity (a well-rounded man)

• Above Reproach (a man of good repute)

• The husband of one wife (morally pure)

• Temperate (balanced in words and actions)

• Prudent (wise and humble)

• Respectable (good role model)

• Hospitable (unselfish and generous)

• Able to teach (communicates sensitively in a non-threatening and non- defensive manner)

• Not addicted to wine (not addicted to substances)

• Not self-willed (not self-centered and controlling)

• Not quick-tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)

• Not pugnacious (not abusive)

• Gentle (sensitive, loving and kind)

• Peaceable (non-argumentative and non-divisive)

• Free from the love of money (non-materialistic)

• Manages his own household well (a good husband and father)

• Loving what is good (pursues godly activities)

• Just (wise, discerning, non-prejudiced and fair)

• Devout (holy, devoted to God)

• Self-controlled (disciplined)

From the book "Biblical Manhood" by Stuart Scott

Jesus, the God-Man, is portrayed in Scripture as the only perfect man (1 Peter 2:21-22). As a result, He is the perfect picture and example of what one should strive to be as a man (1 John 2:6). He is the pristine example of masculinity in every way. Surely no one would say any quality He possessed was unmanly. The following are characteristics of the Perfect Man, Jesus:

• Did the will and work of the Father

  • Not working toward his own success/desires

  • John 4:34; 5:30; John 8:28-29

• Was filled with the Spirit

  • Not the world or its ways

  • Luke 4:1,14

• Gave the gospel to others

  • Mark 1:14-15; John 3-4

• Lived a holy, obedient life

  • Not sinful

  • 1 Peter 2:22; Phil. 2:8

• Sought to meet needs of others

  • Not uncaring/self-focused

  • Matthew 4:23: Luke 4:18-21

• Sacrificed self and own desires

  • Not self-preserving/selfish

  • Luke 22:42; Phil. 2:6-8

• Was gentle whenever possible

  • Not harsh/demanding

  • Matthew 11:29; John 21:15-19

• Led the disciples and others

  • Not a follower when he shouldn’t be

  • Luke 9:1-6; John 6:2

• Showed initiative when He should have

  • Not waiting for someone else

  • Mark 6:34-44; Luke 6:12-16

• Confronted when necessary

  • Not a compromiser/man-pleaser

  • Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 11:15-18

• Was decisive according to God’s revealed will

  • Not wishy-washy or afraid

  • Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 8:31-38

• Fulfilled responsibilities

  • Not irresponsible

  • John 17:4; John 19:30

• Was diligent

  • Not lazy or a quitter

  • John 5:17; Heb. 12:2-3

• Served and listened to others in His leadership

  • Not proudly lording it over others

  • John 13:12-17; John 6:5-10

• Glorified another (the Father)

  • Not greedy for attention or recognition

  • John 8:50-54; John 17:1,4