American men really do connect with these films, because they find examples of masculinity they can relate to.

- Chris Messenger

The church is failing men because it is not being the church that Jesus came to establish.

The church is failing men because it is not being the church that Jesus came to establish. Men are failing the church because they are not living as the men they are called to be.

We want men to find God is really calling them to be about as men and how that connects with what they’re doing on this planet and unleashes them to make a difference. Because they become a MANALIVE!!

1 Samuel 17:19–51 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battleline, shouting the war cry……

21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the samewords as before……

And David heard him. 24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”……

28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 29 And David said,“What have I done now?......

Was it not but a word?” [Is there not a cause?] 30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before. 31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him……

Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”…… 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine….. 48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line tomeet the Philistine……

49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then Davidran and stood over the……

Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, Is there not a cause?

Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

That’s what I want for my life. To be caught up in the sweep of history. To be in the center of things. To be making a difference. To be at the heart of the struggle between right and wrong, good and evil. To live a life of significance.

But where can that happen in this world? How can I be a part of something that is bigger than I am? Where in life can something so grand be found?

We always have to be in the middle of the action 'cause we're the warriors. And without some challenge, without some war to fight then the warriors might as well be dead.

– Apollo Creed; Rocky IV

1 Samuel 17:26 What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?

1. The Blessing of Increase

Luke 16:10 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.

Desiring an increase IS NOT SIN….

Desiring an increase IS NOT SIN…. Hording the increase for selfish use, personal glory, or private gain is.

Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

2. The Love of a Woman

The cry of a woman’s heart is “Am I lovely? Will you pursue me? Do you delight in me? Will you fight for me?” Nothing is more devastating for her than to hear, “No. You’re not beautiful and no one will really fight for you.”

- John Eldredge, Wild at Heart

A man wants a battle to fight……A woman yearns to be fought for.

A man wants an adventure to live……A woman wants an adventure to share.

A man wants a beauty to love……A woman wants to someone to love her beauty.

Men will fight for the love a woman, it’s a cause we’ll die for!

3. The Freedom of Adventure

“It was the best time of my life.”

Couple the battle we’re called to fight, with the blessing of increase, the love of woman, and the promise of adventure and we are entering into what it means to be a MANALIVE!

There is a cause worth fighting for, and it brings the promise of increase, love, and adventure.

Discover who you were meant to be, and then do something that will rock this world. Step up to the plate and be the man God intended and you were designed for…… Stop hating church, instead become a MANALIVE!