Feel My Faith

Session 6 - I'll Just Do It Myself

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:58:00 -0500

People are complicated. People are frustrating. So men take on the mentality, "I'll just do it myself." While doing it yourself may make life more simple, it is an unrealistic expectation that will take a man to a place where the Bible says no man needs to be. Alone!

Discussion Guide

Session 5 - Unlucky or Invevitable

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:22:00 -0500

Some guys feel like the bad stuff only happens to them. They can't understand why they can't catch a break and they constantly battle defeating, defeating, and discouraging thoughts. Ecclesiastes 3 offers a redemptive perspective that you may not be as unlucky as some things in life are just inevitable. With the right perspective you can battle through the various seasons and enjoy life now. Discussion Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qfpA2swVWPVZCWgKDU-pfhOl7P5tc4tH/view?usp=sharing

Session 4 - Working for Nothing

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:09:00 -0500

A lot of men hate their jobs. Most men are dissatisfied with their work. But a redemptive change in perspective can help a man enjoy his life AND HIS WORK!

This content is part of a larger men's Bible curriculum: Ecclesiastes, Living on Empty designed to help a man deal with the unrealistic expectations that drain him and give him a redemptive perspective to enjoy life now.

Discussion Guide

Session 3 - Making Failure Fatal

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:06:00 -0500

It won't happen to me. I read the books. I went to the seminars. I sat in church. And it still fell apart. What did I do wrong? I hate my life. Many men have reached this rock bottom of despair when they think they did everything right and it all went wrong. What's the proper perspective on learning and applying wisdom to life? Wisdom will make life better but it won't make your life perfect.

Discussion Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IbCXJxiL30mmLg0_avuwEYK2qkY7cFVP/view

Session 2 - When More Isn't Enough

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:59:00 -0500

More pleasure, more power, more projects; most men think they need "more" to enjoy life. Solomon had it and did it but still ended up empty. Men, don't let your hobby become your mistress and lose your family.

This message is part 2 of a men's Bible Study curriculum on Ecclesiastes entitled Living On Empty.

Discussion Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xIXhEve1jD01YRinSeb9rGKGdcD7n2kO/view?usp=drive_link

Session 1 - Living on Empty

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:01:00 -0500

Unrealistic expectations will DRAIN YOU! Introducing a new series on the Book of Ecclesiastes entitled Living on Empty. This series will help a man gain perspective on the unrealistic expectations that leave him frustrated and weary with life and show him how to enjoy life now.

Session 1 challenges a man to have the humility to learn from another man's mistakes. Solomon had all the money a man wants. Solomon had all the power and experienced all the pleasure a man could ever desire. Yet at the end of it all, Solomon said he was empty. Why?

Listen in and learn from his mistakes.

Roundtable Discussion Guide

SESSION 4 - TAGGING OUT (Psalm 107)

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Teaching Manuscript (Rough Draft)

In tag team wrestling a wrestler has a partner standing on the apron. When a wrestler is worn down and about to be overcome by his opponent all he has to do is reach over and tag his partner’s hand for relief and rescue.

There have been some legendary tag teams like the Midnight Express, the Rock ‘n Roll Express, the Steiners, The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom, The Hart Foundation, and one of my favorites from way back, The British Bulldogs.

Psalm 107 is a unique Psalm that presents 4 men; each in a precarious situation. We have the wanderer, the prisoner, the sinner, and the sailor. In the midst of their battles they each reach a place where they realize that they can’t save themselves and so they cry out for God’s help. Each of the men find that God loves them, helps them and redeems them.

Psalm 107 is important because as men wrestle with life men also wrestle with wondering if God really loves them and will help them. Perhaps there has been a time of trial when a man reached out to God, wanting to tag out, get some relief, find rescue, and he feels that God did not answer. That sort of discouragement can certainly damage faith.

So let’s find out how we can tag out and get God’s help by reviewing the four situations. As we do so, see if you can discover a pattern. Also, place yourself beside each man. What are the similarities and differences in the situation when you tried to tag out, cry out to God, but didn’t get his help?

The Wanderers (vv. 4-9)

The wanderer wasted his life. As the Psalm describes him, he goes from place to place searching for satisfaction only for his soul to faint (v. 5) in the end. He tried his fill of all of it but only found it empty in the end.

The Psalm specifies only hunger and thirst. But these basic cravings represent all of the natural longings of a man’s body and soul. These encompass everything from a man’s desire for pleasure to his desire for provision. Men crave happiness and meaning. Every man desires a sense of destiny. That he is going to become someone significant, that his life will have purpose.

The problem is that men seek ways to satisfy these longings apart from the Lord. This leads a man to his various wasted places. Every man can identify some things he pursued thinking it would satisfy his soul only to find it empty and that he had wasted his life.

But the Psalm says in verse 6 that this man tagged out. He cried out to the Lord in his trouble and that the Lord delivered him from his trouble. But notice something about this Psalm. Though I am going to teach it in the singular so that you can personalize it. Notice that the Psalm is written in plural. Notice the use of the word SOME, THEY, and THEM.

There are lots of wonderers and all of them have found the same truth. That when they cried out to the Lord he delivered them from their distress.

How did he do it? “He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.”

In the next 3 cases we will see the power of God do some amazing things to change a situation. Sometimes men need that sort of intervention, but I think all men expect that sort of intervention. But oftentimes what a man needs is a new direction and a new destination. But the only way a man can be led is for him to commit to follow. In this case, to follow the Lord’s leading.

Once the wanderer followed the Lord’s leading, he came to a place where his soul was satisfied with only what the Lord could give (v. 9).

So let’s keep these observations in our mind and now travel on to the prisoner. Remember, notice the patterns. Put yourself alongside these men and in the end we will draw some conclusions.

The Prisoner (vv. 10-16)

The prisoner represents everyone who rebelled against God’s Word and found themselves in bondage. Verse 12 reflects a hard truth of life. There are some things that once you make the choice for them they will then begin to make the choice for you for a long, long time. The Bible teaches that not only does sin lead to death, but sin also leads to a life of bondage (Romans 6:16-19).

The prisoner finds that he is bound and cannot free himself and there is no one to help (v. 12). So in verse 13 he cries to the Lord in his trouble. He tags out. And God delivered him “them” from their distress.

Again, this is plural. There are many examples of God doing this. This is not an isolated testimony.

The Bible says that God “brought them out of darkness.” This is really important to point out. That verb in Hebrew is a hifil Imperfect. What does that mean? Hifil implies that the object of the verb is a participant in the action. So God is the cause. But the prisoner becomes a participant. It is imperfect, which means that the action is ongoing. If it were perfect that means the force was applied and the action is completed. But hifil imperfect means that God not only brought the prisoner from darkness, but that the prisoner continues to participate in what God is doing to bring him out of darkness.

Again, watch the patterns. Take mental notes.

The sinner (vv. 17-22)

The sinner represents our foolish decisions that bring painful consequences in our lives. This person may suffer physically, mentally, or financially. And he, like those before finds himself powerless to save himself (v. 18). So, here comes the 3rd repetition of tagging out. He cries to the Lord and the Lord delivered him from his distress.

This time the Lord sends out His Word. That is a powerful command that changes the situation. It shows the Lord’s authority. But it is also reflective of the power of God’s Word. God created the world with His Word. And God’s Word forms our world when we walk in it. The essence of foolishness is despising the Lord’s ways, His Word, His counsel.

And even though healing and deliverance are both contingent upon God’s power as God is the primary mover in the situation, the verbs there are both imperfect meaning that the healing and the deliverance are ongoing. It was not one instance or action, but it is the initiation of an ongoing state of healing and it is the initiation of the process of deliverance.

The sailor (vv. 23-32)

The sailor is a professional. He knows how to handle his vessel. But the Psalm says that God raised up a storm so fierce that “their courage melted away in their evil plight.” They staggered like drunken men until they found themselves at their wits end (v. 27).

You story may or may not have found common ground with the first three, the wanderer, the prisoner, or the sinner. Each of them made bad decisions and paid the price. But here’s an instance of the sailor and the storm in which he was doing everything right and everything went wrong.

Despite different paths the sailor finds himself at the same point of need as the prisoner, or the sinner, or the wanderer. He cannot save himself. So he cries to the Lord. He tags out. The Lord stills the storm. And then look at verse 30. Like the Lord led the wanderer, like he delivered the prisoner, and like he delivered the sinner, the Lord brought them to their desired haven.

By now, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve become a Hebrew scholar. You guessed it! This is another imperfect. This one very similar to the one associated with the wanderer. There is a sense in which the Lord’s action isn’t completed, but his deliverance was only the beginning of his leading in the sailor’s life.

So now let’s pull some dangling threads together and find the patterns. In doing so it may help some men who wrestle with the idea that they prayed and God didn’t help.

Patterns:

1. The men could not save themselves. This is a consistent theme in Scripture with the gospel. We are all sinners and at some point we have to realize that we cannot save ourselves.

2. They all cried to the Lord. All four instances had the exact same stanza, “Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” Romans 10:13 says that all who call upon the Lord will be saved.

3. The Lord loved them. All four instances also repeat this stanza, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.” Some men simply don’t believe that God loves them. Psalm 107 is written to Israel in exile. As they are going through the trial they may struggle if God was still faithful and loving toward His people. The message of Psalm 107 is that He is . . . so cry out to Him.

4. In all four cases, the Lord responded to them. Again. Psalm 107 is written to the exile to encourage them to do as the 4 did in the Psalm and cry out to the Lord because He will respond.

5. In each case those who were delivered followed the Lord’s leading. This is where a lot of men fail in the tag out. What we want is for God to change the situation. Break open the bars of bondage. We want the Lord to give us satisfaction. We want the consequences of our foolishness to subside and for the storm to be stilled. And many men are looking for the possibilities of what God can do to change a situation as they are expressed in verses 33ff. But here’s my question if you’ve tried to tag out and call upon the Lord. Were you willing to follow the Lord’s leading? Did you just want relief in an instance or were you looking for His long term leading in your life? True deliverance isn’t an instance, it’s a leading, a direction that God takes you for the rest of your life as you follow Him.

6. And here’s that theme again we are finding in the Psalms – the idea of wrestling into worship. Each man does as verse 2 calls him to to, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Each man thanks the Lord for his steadfast love and offers songs and sacrifices in celebration of what God has done. Each man has a testimony and he worships God.

Discussion Questions:

Which of the 4 men most resembles your story? Explain your answer.
- The wanderer - a man who wastes his life always searching but never satisfied.
- The prisoner - in bondage
- The sinner - suffering the consequences of sinful choices
- The sailor - I found myself in a storm and could not save myself
The wanderer (vv. 4-9)
- What are some pointless pursuits men can chase, seeking satisfaction, only to find out later that they have wasted their lives?
- Look at verse 9. How does the Lord satisfy longing souls? How have you found this to be true in your own life?
The prisoner (vv. 10-16)
- Verse 11 says that this man found himself in bondage because he rebelled against the words of God. How does the wisdom and counsel of God’s Word keep a man from bondage?
The sinner (vv. 17-22)
- How does God use suffering to get a man’s attention?
- Verse 15 is one of four instances that celebrate the love of God. All four of these men learned in crisis that God loves them. Why is it that when men suffer, they often don’t believe God loves them? How does the truth of God’s Word correct this mistaken belief?
The sailor (vv. 23-32)
- The sailor experiences a miracle and in response worships God. Salvation turns sinners, wonderers, prisoners, and sailors into worshipers. If this is true, why are many men in the church reluctant to worship God?

Session 8 - Wrestling for Forgiveness

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 09:56:00 -0400

Manuscript (Rough Draft)

In 2024 at UFC 302, Kevin Holland put his opponent, Michal Oleksiejczuk (O-lek-SHAY-chook) in an armbar. An armbar is a submission hold that applies devastating pressure on the bones in the arm and counter-pressure on the elbow. Oleksieujczuk refused to tap out. Realizing his opponent would not give up, Holland applied more pressure and Oleksieujczuk’s arm snapped . . . but still refused to tap out. Hearing the sound and seeing the broken arm limp, the referee stopped the fight to prevent further damage. Despite the condition of his arm, Oleksiejczuk maintains that his arm did not break and that he disagreed with the referee’s decision to stop the match.

If UFC 302 were a Psalm, it would be Psalm 32. Here is the confession of David who was caught in sin but refused to confess. He is being slowly destroyed mentally, spiritually, and physically. As we go through the Psalm he describes the pain of holding on to sin.

What’s interesting is that modern medical science has found correlation between health and conscience. The Mayo Clinic and John’s Hopkins, both leading edge research hospitals, have published articles on the detrimental effects of a guilty conscience, unforgiveness, and even the refusal of one to forgive oneself. Research shows that people with prolongued guilty conscience suffer:

• Increased stress levels (raising cortisol levels in the body)

• Anger and bitterness

• Increased cholesterol levels

• Heart disease

• Reduced immune response

• The effects become more exponential as we age.

Basically this means that based on Psalm 32, it took medical science 3000 years to catch up on the damaging effects of sin on mind, body, and soul.

Psalm 32 is David in an arm bar. He had an affair with a woman. She’s pregnant. David had the husband killed and tried to cover it up. And though no one else knows what David did, it’s killing him. The more he refuses to confess and surrender, the more intense the pain of holding on. But later in the Psalm comes the contrast of relief when David finally confesses.

So a question we can explore in this session that connects with our condition is how much of your lingering issues of anger, stress, lack of sleep, loss of contentment, lack of happiness, body aches, poor health, marriage issues . . . might be caused because you are in an armbar but refuse to confess and be forgiven?

The Heaviness of Unconfessed Sin:

• When I kept silent – this is the catalyst for the misery. This is his refusal to tap out and describes anything a man might do to hide his sin.

o When you make the decision to sin, sin will then start making the decisions for you, particularly when you try to hide it.

o When this happens a man begins developing secret places in his soul. The heaviness begins when his relationships become hypocritical hiding places.

 He is conflicted

 He is not himself

 He is living a lie

 He has no fellowship because he is afraid of being found out

• Your hand was heavy upon me

o For those who know the Lord, they are familiar with this heaviness. Conviction is crushing. No matter where you go, no matter what you do, no matter even what you read in the Bible, or no matter the topic of a sermon you only hear one thing.

o So preaching makes you miserable. You don’t want to be around your friends. You can be at the ballpark, at the lake, or sitting in a stadium with your team winning the game – but you can’t escape the misery.

• Summer heat – conviction becomes like summer heat, it drains you, wears you down and you can’t find relief.

• Sorrow – v10 he summarizes the experience as “many are the sorrows of the wicked.” Persistence in sin and a lack of confession will effect everything else in a man’s life. You can’t compartmentalize it.

The Relief of Surrender

The Blessedness of Forgiveness:

• V. 5 – forgiveness begins with God – it is immediate. There are numerous places where the Bible reveals we have a forgiving God full of grace and mercy. We have forgiveness because of the finished work of Jesus Christ in atonement.

o Verse 2 – the blessing is two-fold

 The Lord does not count sin

 But the man is no longer living in deceit

• V. 6 – 7 – forgiveness with God releases guilt, but confession in a fallen creation often comes with consequences. David suffered some devastating effects of his sin on his family. But a man who has truly confessed his sin to God, finds that God will help him navigate the rough waters of consequence.

• V. 8 – he makes God’s Word his guide – like a navigator steering a ship through the fog with the instruments. He can’t trust what his eyes see, but he can trust the path the instruments lay out for him.

• V. 9 – The worst thing a man can do is return to stubbornness

• V. 10-11 There is sharp contrast in two paths – choose wisely!

Discussion Questions:

David’s story of covering up his sin is not uncommon in men. How does hidden sin effect men: Relationally? Mentally? Physically? Spiritually?
If sin brings such misery, why do men continue to sin and refuse to respond to conviction?
Scan through Psalm 32. Which verse or verses describe your personal experience? How so?
Verse 2 says that when a man confesses his sin that the Lord counts no iniquity against him.
- Biblically, why is this true?
- Mentally/Spiritually, why is this so difficult for men to believe?
Verse 2 says that a man is blessed, “in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
- Explain the meaning of this verse in your own words.
- What is the relief in a man’s life when he doesn’t live a lie?
Verses 6-7 refer to how a man who confesses may experience difficult consequences.
- How does the fear of consequences keep a man from confession?
- Scan verses 6-8 - make a list of the ways God helps a man through the consequences of confessed sin.
Verse 9-10 refers to the stubbornness and the sorrow of a man living with unconfessed sin. What is the breaking point when a stubborn man moves from the sorrow of verse 10 to the gladdness and joy of verses 11?
What are your takeaways from this session?

Session 7 - The B-I-B-L-E and a Man's Battle for Purity

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:03:00 -0400

Roundtable Questions:

Which statement best describes your relationship to the Bible (please explain your answer)

Disengaged - I have one but hardly ever read it.
Discouraged - I read it but don’t understand it.
Disturbed - I read it but I don’t like it.
Disciplined - I read it regularly.

BEST EFFORT - Verse 10 says that this man seeks God, through His Word, with his “whole heart.” What’s the difference in a wholehearted effort towards God’s Word and a half-hearted effort towards God’s Word?

What changes do you need to make so that you are wholehearted and bringing your BEST EFFORT to God’s Word?

INVESTIGATE - Read back through the passage. What are the various synonyms the writer uses for the Bible?

List 3 attitudes the author shares in his approach to the Word of God.
What did you notice as you reread the passage that you didn’t notice the first time through the passage?

BEST VERSE - what verse (or verses) speaks the most to you as a man as you read this passage? Why?
LISTEN/LEARN - rewrite or rephrase your best verse(s) in your own words.
EVALUATE - what will you change based on what you learned from the Word of God in this session?

What is a recent situation you would have handled differently had you known the truths from Scripture you learned in this session?

Rough Draft Teaching Manuscript:

10/8/2025

THE B-I-B-L-E and a Man's Battle for Purity

In the venue of professional wrestling there are various title belts for which competitors aspire. At last check there are 17 active championships in the WWE brand and depending on what week you ask there are 23 in the WWF.

So what are the title belts of the Christian life? To what goals do you aspire?

I would say that many men want happiness and prosperity from their Christian lives. Many men may not say it, but by their actions I think many men think that following Christ should exempt them from suffering. And they operate on the premise of a false theology that if they do enough for God and live well for God then they should be blessed and bypass suffering.

If those are your aspirations in following Christ; prosperity, happiness, and a life of relative ease then you will soon be disillusioned with Christ and Christianity.

In the Bible, the undisputed title of championship Christianity is as Paul described in Philippians and that is to know Christ and to attain the resurrection. The Bible speaks of the reward of pleasing God and receiving a well done, good and faithful servant. There is a reward for faithfulness in suffering. There is a reward for faithfulness in waiting. If we are thinking of rewards and goals in the Christian life as belts for which we should aspire, there are probably several we could mention.

But what about purity? But if purity were a championship belt. How many men are training to win and fighting a good fight against temptation?

I think many men might be giving up on this goal due to something that is implied in the opening question of the second stanza of Psalm 119. “How can a young man keep his way pure?”

The way the question is stated implies:

• Can a man keep his way pure? Is it even possible? It is perhaps the most difficult fight for any man.

• The addition of young man doesn’t exempt older men. I think it is a mistake to think that only young men experience great temptation. I consider myself to be an older man now and I can tell you that I understand the question now better than I ever have. The question is really asking how can a man keep his way pure given his wrestling with the temptations that began in him as a young man. It’s almost as if he’s saying, if this will work for a young man it will work for any man. He’s saying that if you will start this as a young man it will work for you as a man the rest of your life.

The answer comes in the second sentence. “By guarding it according to your word.” Notice he doesn’t say by God taking temptation away. It doesn’t say by greater will power. It says by guarding it according to the Word of God.

Gaurding is a term that implies constant readiness. It means that I am every applying what I am learning from the Word of God. I am doing what it says. As I do what it says, it purifies my life.

Purity in Psalm 119:9 isn’t perfection. It is:

• Removing the tarnish of sin past so I don’t repeat them

• Breaking the bondage of sin present so I am not controlled by them

• Avoiding the foolishness of sin by making me wise about God’s ways

And though we may not attain perfection in this life, it does not keep me from aiming at perfection.

And the way that happens is by a man guarding his way in the Word of God.

When it comes to the Bible, for many men the Word of God is like a house alarm they never arm. They pay the monthly subscription but somewhere along the way they got out of the habit of turning it on. The same is true of God’s Word. They have a Bible somewhere in the house – but God doesn’t call a man to have a Bible. He calls a man to aim for purity by guarding His way with the Word of God.

• God doesn’t call us to read the Bible – He calls on us to guard our way with the Word of God.

• God doesn’t challenge us to do a devotional - He calls on us to guard our way with the Word of God.

• God doesn’t even call men to study the Bible in the sense of becoming more knowledgeable about what it says – in fact, the Bible say that knowledge for the sake of knowledge will puff you up, make you proud – NO – God doesn’t call on us to learn the Bible – He calls on us to guard our way with the Word of God.

When it comes to winning championships, athletes have to have the right attitude and approach in their training, preparation and practice. If you are going for a title when it comes to purity, you need a championship attitude and approach daily in the Word of God. So in this session we are going to glean some principles from the passage about a man’s attitude toward the Word of God. If I am going to keep my way pure by guarding it according to God’s Word, what needs to be my daily attitude toward the Word -what’s the mindset?

And then, what is the approach? How do I get into it in such a way that it guards my way and helps me be a man who walks in purity before God?

And I want to make this easy by creating an acronym B-I-B-L-E.

B – BEST EFFORT (vv. 10-12) – The only way a man can walk in purity is for him to come to the Word of God with his best effort. This is described with the words, “with my whole heart I seek you.” This is important because he doesn’t want his life to wander off from the commandments. So if we are to have a life that doesn’t wander off – think of how we need to approach the Word so we don’t wander off. When it comes to God’s Word are you giving it your BEST TIME of the day? Do you protect that time or do you pick up the Bible if you have time? Are you making time? Are you just reading verses or are you giving your whole heart to what it says? Because notice verse 11. He stores up the Word in his heart so that he may not sin. He doesn’t just read some verses. He wants to master the content. He wants it to get down into his heart so that it impacts his life. Head knowledge isn’t enough. So, he brings a teachable spirit (v. 12). I’m not here to just do my devotion, I’m here to learn. I want to grow. I want to mature. I want to hear from God.

I – INVESTIGATE – in every stanza he has a different synonym for the word of God. So as he goes through the Bible notice that he’s gleaning and thinking about the statutes, all the rules, the way of God’s testimonies, precepts and ways. He’s not rushing through. The cardinal offense in most Christian’s approach to the Bible is that they read it too fast. They need to slow down and see all that’s there. Ask investigative questions. Circle words. Observe the text with who, what, why, when, where type questions. EMAW questions. Maybe 2 Tim 3:16 – method – reproof – what am I doing wrong – correction – how do I make it right, training – what repetitive action/decision do I make

B – BEST VERSE – EMAW cred. – In what you are reading, what is the best verse or verses? What are the ones that are speaking to you? Sit down on it. Maybe underline it or write it out. Here is where you are picking up on that desire to be taught, you are delighting in a verse. You are setting yourself up to mediate on it now. Maybe you memorize this verse – maybe one a week.

L-LISTEN/LEARN – notice he says in verse 13 that with his lips he declares all the rules of your mouth. You haven’t learned it until you can explain it. And maybe this is where you do a rewrite of a verse. Maybe you journal some stuff about it. But whatever you have to do to meditate on it – get quiet before God and let him speak to you about that verse.

E – EVALUATE – Verse 16 says that he won’t forget the Word. He doesn’t just read the verse of the day and go on about his day. He is intent to do something about what God says. Also, evaluate yourself based on the best verse and what it means. And either that evening or the next morning – evaluate the decisions of the day based on what you learned in God’s Word.

Conclusion:

God calls men to battle for purity. And the only way that happens is with an attitude and an approach that I want to win this battle. We must be on guard – always applying God’s Word.

Session 3 - Angry, Aggravated, Worn Down Man

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 2 Oct 2025 16:22:00 -0400

How is your attitude? Are you angry, aggravated, worn down and burned up? Psalm 37 describes that feeling as "fret." Fret is about friction. And Psalm 37 warns that it leads to bad decisions. If you need relief, follow these 5 commands.

Discussion Questions:

Name something that frustrates you.
When you are frustrated are you:
- A groundhog - I’m going down in my hole, LEAVE ME ALONE!
- A dog - I’m going to bark (A LOT) but I probably won’t bite.
- A tiger - Corner me and I’m going to attack.
- A squirrel - I’m probably going to do something stupid like dart back out into the road and get ran over.
Verse 3 calls on a frustrated man to trust God and “befriend faithfulness.”
- What are some ways a man can fulfill this command when he is frustrated?
- When you are frustrated are you more prone to seek the Lord or to stray away? Explain your answer.
Verse 4 calls on a frustrated man to delight himself in the Lord.
- What was something that in the beginning was really frustrating to learn but now it is something you enjoy?
- What made the difference?
- Why do men seem to delight more in everything else BUT the Lord?
- If a man were to “delight himself in the Lord” what might be some changes he would make in his life?
Verse 7 calls for a frustrated man to “be still” before the Lord. Verse 8 commands him to refrain from anger. What are some ways a frustrated man can obey these commands before he does something sinful?
Look at verses 16-17.
- Explain the meaning in your own words.
- Do you believe this is true? Why or why not?
- How might this perspective help a man not to fret in frustration?
What are your takeaways from this session?

Reading for Next Session: Psalm 107

Wrestling into Worship is a men's curriculum based on selected Psalms from the Bible.

Does the Bible Say Sex is Bad?

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 22:15:00 -0400

You are burdened for your family and friends to know Christ. And you've invited them to church before but it wasn't effective. Why not?

Paul was effective in reaching the lost for Christ. 1 Corinthians 9 reveals his mentality and shows you how to win your friends and family to Christ.

SESSION 2 - BATTLING THROUGH MY MESS WITHOUT MAKING MORE MISTAKES (THE HOLINESS OF GOD)

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 3 Sep 2025 12:28:00 -0400

There have been some infamous contests in sports history where an athlete crossed over into another sport. In 1994, NBA legend Michael Jordan played professional baseball with the AA Birmingham Barons. Jordan hit 3 home runs and stole 30 bases, but he couldn’t hit a curve ball. And with a meager .202 average the NBA’s greatest player couldn’t make it on a major league baseball roster. Jordan returned to basketball and went on to win 3 more championships and was named league MVP in 1996 and 1998.

Though fictitious, a crossover that grabbed my attention as a child occurred in the 1982 film Rocky III when Rocky took on a wrestler named Thunderlips (played by Hulk Hogan. Rocky was tossed, slammed, and eventually thrown out of the ring as Thunderlips went into a fit of rage, determined to embarrass the boxing champ.

Every man has his battles. And there will be times in which he finds himself fighting on multiple fronts. And in some situations, much like a crossover athlete, the battle can be unfamiliar.

Such is the situation in Psalm 18. David is a king and a commander. He is a ruler and a warrior. In verses 4-5 David describes his turmoil. He is about to get tossed over the top rope. He is wrestling for his life.

In verse 6 David cries out to the Lord for help. God heard David and answered him. God rescued David from “my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me (v. 17).”

Like David was a king and a warrior, men are dually employed. Men crossover in their roles as:

• Husbands and may find that they must fight for their marriage.

• Fathers and may find that he must battle for his children.

• Workers, employers, managers and may find that he must take a stand for God in the workplace as he is called to compromise his faith.

• Members of a church where a man may teach or lead. As such he constantly finds himself in spiritual battles, pushing back on the darkness in his community as he seeks to fulfill the Great Commission and to make disciples. He may find himself called within the church to stand for sound doctrine.

And a man may find himself in more than one of those battles at any given time.

And when a man is in the throes of battle, like David describes in verses 4-5, he may feel like he is in over his head. So, a question arises. Not only how he can have victory, but how can he avoid making mistakes, maybe even a moral failure, that make a bigger mess than the one he is already in?

This concern is at the heart of the celebration in Psalm 18. Not only has God given David victory (v. 17), but God has minimized David’s mistakes (v. 23).

In the midst of our battles, we want to know the right way to go, the right thing to do. So imagine, in every future fight you are going to face (18:31-39) that the Lord:

• Equips you (v. 32)

• Strengthens you (v. 32)

• Secures you (v. 33)

• Guides you (v. 34)

• Protects you (v. 35)

• Supports you and helps you stand (v. 35-36)

• Gives you victory (v. 37-39)

The way David secured a righteous victory was by following a Holy God in his battles. If a man follows the Lord, the way he fights and wins will reflect the character of the God he follows.

The Lord will help you win His way, the right way, in a way that reflects who God is.

God is holy. The holiness of God is explicitly mentioned throughout the Psalms. An example would be Psalm 99 where we are called in verses 3 and 5 to praise the Lord. Why? It goes on to repeat in both verses that we praise the Lord because, “Holy is he!”

What does it mean that God is holy and what are the implications of His holiness as he leads me through my battles:

1. The holiness of God means that God is unique. He is unlike any created thing. This means that God’s ways are not the world’s ways. Because of God’s holiness, His ways are not obvious. You can’t just do what you feel. You can’t just do what everyone else would do in the same situation.

2. The holiness of God means that God is morally pure. God leads His people to do things in wise, righteous ways. We cannot fight evil with evil. You can’t fix what’s wrong by doing wrong. When we follow the Lord we do not seek revenge, but righteousness.

And the Bible says that because God is holy, His desire is for you to be holy, even in our battles. This holy influence on David’s life is reflected in Psalms 17 and 18 as he celebrates how the Lord brought him to victory. We will glean some verses from the text and see how a holy God not only helps a man win in his battles but helps him win the right way.

Because God is holy:

• I will be careful about what I say (17:3)

The battle is a trial. Psalm 17:3 reveals that God is not only concerned about your circumstance but your character. God uses the battle to mold his man!

In 17:3 David says that God tested and tried David. But David, “Purposed that my mouth will not transgress.”

Think of how many battles where you, as a man, made a mess, not based on what you did, but based on what you said. You may be right in the decisions you are trying to lead your family, business, or church to make. But we all know that words can do a lot of damage.

You may be fighting for your marriage, but make sure you don’t wound your wife with your words.

You may see that your kids are straying off into danger. But make sure your words don’t drive them further away.

You may have the best idea for your business but forfeited your right to influence this situation based on foolish words said in the past.

A holy God tests us in our battles so be sure that what comes out of our mouth is pleasing to Him.

• I will hold myself to a standard so that God can righteously answer my prayers (17:6, 18:6).

Your moral life effects your prayer life. Often we need to ask God to clean up the man before we ask God to clean up the mess. David wanted to ask for God’s help, but David made sure that he was right with God.

Are you right with God?

The Bible makes it clear that if we regard iniquity in our heart, He will not hear (Psalm 66:18).

As a pastor I’ve met a lot of men who lived in sin but got serious about their faith when the bullets began to fly in their battle. So they prayed. But nothing happened. And many of those men got angry at God. Some even gave up on God.

The problem wasn’t that God didn’t care or didn’t exist. The problem wasn’t that prayer failed them. The problem was that they weren’t repentant. They wanted to persist in sin but get a holy God’s help.

James 4:1-4 teaches that if God cannot righteously answer our prayers, He won’t. God won’t become an enabler to your self-centeredness. His concern in answering prayer is His Holy glory! Pride is no motive for prayer. Because God is holy, sin and selfishness should have no place in prayer.

• I will get in God’s Word so I can know what pleases God (vv. 21-23).

When we are in the midst of the battle our emotions and opinions tend to take over. In verses 21-23 David made sure that his decisions were not based on what he felt or thought. David said that his concern was to keep the ways of the Lord. “All of his rules were before me.” And because David was concerned to obey God, “I was blameless before Him and I kept myself from guilt.”

When a man is in a situation where he feels like he is in over your head, he gets desperate. He starts swinging emotional, opinionated haymakers hoping to land a knockout blow and end the situation quickly. But a man would do well to deny his emotions and set aside his opinions and instead get in the Word and learn the ways of God.

God loves to give His people wisdom (James 1:5). A wise man doesn’t make decisions out of desperation but based on the revelation of a Holy God that is found in God’s Word, the Bible.

• I am careful that I let God’s Word shape my attitudes and my actions (vv. 25-28).

The old saying in computing is “junk in, junk out.” The same can be said for our souls. In verses 25-28 David was careful in the battle that his attitude reflected God’s attitude. If he wanted God’s mercy, David needed to be merciful. If David wanted to be saved, then he needed to be humble, not prideful.

Sometimes God doesn’t deal with the battle because He’s dealing with the man. Again, a holy God won’t bless sin. So, we must be careful in the midst of the battle that we keep a check on our attitudes and our actions so that they please God.

• My faith is increased (29-30).

Throughout the Psalm David gave testimony of how God worked in the battle to help him overcome his enemy.

If a man follows God in the battle he will not only come out with victory, but a testimony. He will be able to share stories of what God has done in his battles to show himself mighty and faithful.

In the midst of the battle David’s faith increased. Verse 29 doesn’t necessarily mean that God made David into an incredible athlete, a superman who could leap tall walls with a single bound. But David is expressing confident faith that as he followed God that there would not be a single thing that came against him that God did not have something for him.

And how does this sort of faith increase in a man? It isn’t in miraculous strength or mystical feelings. But notice verse 30. David’s faith increased as he realized who God was in his holiness:

i) This God – His way is perfect. His way is better than my way.

ii) The word of the Lord proves true. He has revealed to me the path that pleases Him.

iii) He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. I can trust and follow the Holy God in the midst of my battles.

Conclusion:

As a man you have various roles and there will be times in which you fight multiple battles. But when you pray and employ the help of the holy God, His ways become your ways. His righteousness becomes your concern. You minimize mistakes that are often made from emotion. Instead of harsh words doing damage out of desperation, you are careful to follow God’s Word and do things and say things that are pleasing to Him.

In his wrestling David learns to worship. He grabs on to a holy God and learns that His ways are right. His way is best. David praises the Lord for his help.

When a man grabs onto a holy God in his wrestlings, when he is overwhelmed, he will get the help of God but he will also walk away in worship. He will gain a testimony of God's holiness, faithfulness, and goodness that he can share with others.

When you are overwhelmed and the battle unfamiliar, cry out to God and He will help you.

Discussion Questions:

Michael Jordan tried baseball. Rocky wrestled Hulk Hogan (fictitiously) but it didn’t go well. What are some other crossover athletes or matches you can recall that didn’t end well?
What is a role in your life or a situation where you feel like you are in over your head?
- What are some mistakes you’ve made in difficult situations?
David turned to the Lord in the midst of his battle and he testifies in Psalm 18 that, the Lord “made my way blameless.” In each verse below explain how turning to a holy God in the midst of a battle:
- (v. 32a) equips a man and trains a man (v. 34) for what he is facing.
- (v. 32) strengthens a man through his battle.
- (v. 35) protects a man, lessens the blows and the damage.
Look at verses 37-39. Is there a man at the table who can share a story of how he turned to God in the midst of a battle and the Lord gave him victory?
When a man turns to a holy God he will win in ways that reflect God’s character. Turning to a holy God helps a man minimize the mistakes he is prone to make as he wrestles with the various issues of life. Read each of the following verses and explain how turning to God in our battles:
- Psalm 17:3 - makes a man more careful about what he says.
- Psalm 18:6 - makes a man more prayerful and intentional about what he asks the Lord to do.
- Psalm 18:21-23 - makes a man more diligent to be in the Word so he knows how to obey God.
- Psalm 18:25-28 - makes a man more humble in his battles.
- Psalm 18:29-30 - increases a man’s faith.
What are your takeaways from this session?

SESSION 1 - TAPPING OUT

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:32:00 -0400

This message is for a teaching series I am sharing at Liberty's The Man Church. The series will offer expository lessons from various passages in the Book of Psalms. Doubts about God. Questioning God. Anger at God. These raw emotions and responses to the trials of life are in every man and they are in the Psalms. Posted here are rough drafts of teaching notes as shared at Liberty Baptist Church, Chatsworth, GA.

TAP OUT – SURRENDERING TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

1. INTRO

In MMA fighting and wrestling one of the ways to win a match is to force your opponent into submission. Upon realizing he is powerless to resist, the defeated foe taps out to end the match. He is finished fighting and willfully submits.

One of the common storylines in Scripture is man’s sinful resistance to God’s will. Much of our wrestling with God is outright rebellion and our stubborn refusal to submit.

This storyline is reflected in Psalm 115. This Psalm is written at a time when Israel is flat on the mat, broken and busted. The people sinned against God and turned to idols. God’s countermove was to allow Israel to suffer the consequences of her decisions. The people looked to idols to prosper and protect them, but the false gods failed. Israel was invaded by an enemy, and the people were taken into exile.

Will Israel tap out? Will they repent of sin, return to God, and submit to His ways and His will. We hear this call for repentance and submission in Psalm 118:9, “O Israel, Trust in the Lord!”

Trust the Lord! Tap out! Submit!

In this session we are going to look at how we are ruined in rebellion through idolatry. We will then see the blessing of tapping out and learn why and how we should trust the sovereign God revealed in the Bible.

2. MAIN MESSAGE

A. Tapping out from idolatry (115:2-8)

i. Israel learned the hard way that idolatry always ends the same – it overpromises and under-delivers. When men turn away from God there will be some hard lessons learned.

1. Idols promise prosperity but always make you pay (115:4). Verse 4 describes the allure of the silver and gold of idols. It’s a common story. A man gets carried away in something that he thinks will make his life meaningful. Maybe he thinks it will make him rich. Perhaps he sees his power and influence increasing.

a. Men can be carried away in any number of things that fit this category: sports, work, hobby, social media, sex. All of these things have the glimmer of gold. They shimmer like silver. BUT WHEN THEY BECOME IDOLS THEY BECOME COSTLY.

b. Radio personality, author, and speaker Rick Burgess often says that “Football is a wonderful thing, but it is a horrible god.” There are many things of which we could say the same. Otherwise enjoyable, needful, even wonderful things can become horrible gods. Verse 4 describes them as the “work of human hands (115:4). Before long a man has invested himself, his time, and his effort into something he can’t sustain or he may find that he’s never satisfied. And then it begins to cost him:

i. Maybe his job

ii. Maybe his testimony

iii. Maybe his marriage

iv. Maybe his children

WE WANT OUR IDOLS TO PROSPER US BUT THEY WILL MAKE YOU PAY.

2. Men who give their life to idols lose their life to idols (115:5-7). Verses 5-7 describes a problem with idols. We want to find fulfillment in them, but they are only empty in the end.

a. Idols are parasitic. A parasite is a creature that attaches to a host and sucks the life out of it. Idols are parasitic in the sense that when we seek life in them, they suck the life out of us. Verses 5-7 mock the foolish lifelessness of idols, but the verse implicitly states the insanity of idols. Men want them to speak and respond. They want answers but get nothing.

b. They want to find life in them, but will eventually find them empty and lifeless. Israel has found her idols to be empty. And many men are like Israel in Psalm 115. They have nothing left. They gave themselves to something that turned out to be empty and meaningless.

3. Verse 8 states the ultimate tragedy of idolatry. “Those who make them become like them.” After it drains a man and he is emptied out the man figures out that all an idol is, is the worst version of himself. And it is here that a man learns that EMOTION IS A BAD THEOLOGIAN.

a. An idol may be made by a man’s hands, but it is first manufactured in a man’s mind.

b. And this is often the starting place where a man turns away from God. He THINKS he knows who God is. Instead of getting in God’s Word and finding out how God REVEALS who He is, the man allows his anger, disappointment, misguided aspirations, his pleasures, and his opinions to shape what he believes about God. And it doesn’t matter if an idol is on a shelf, in your hand, or in your mind . . . it’s a false God.

c. Many men turn to idols because they have trust issues. They can’t trust the Lord (v. 9) because they’ve never been able to trust anyone. They’ve been beaten, lied, to and mistreated. Maybe they had a father, mother, or a wife walk out on them. A man who has experienced these abuses and tragedies may fail to trust God either because he thinks God is like those who have let him down, or he may believe God is responsible for allowing those tragedies to take place. This anger can become idolatrous! TAP OUT and TRUST GOD!

d. The one true God has revealed Himself in His Creation and in His Word. No one manufactures Him. He is who is, no matter what a man thinks or feels. But this is where men make a tragic mistake and think that they can shape, control, or wrestle God. The wrestling begins in their mind with false beliefs about who God is.

B. B. Submit to the Sovereign God (115:1-2, 9-18) - As he did with Israel, God can bring a man into submission by allowing him to be overcome by the consequences of his misplaced trust . . .his idolatry. So, it’s time to tap out. It’s time to submit.

i. The concept of sovereignty is stated succinctly in Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the heavens; HE DOES ALL HE PLEASES. When referring to God, sovereignty means that God has a plan. God will accomplish His plan. He is in control. He is undefeated and “undefeatable.” IF YOU WISH TO WRESTLE THE SOVEREIGN GOD, YOU WON’T WIN – You’re better off to TAP OUT and SUBMIT.

ii. Submission is painful but it will bring you to a pleasant place of worship because of who God is. If God were as awful as our idols, the truth of God’s sovereignty would be horrible. But the truth of God’s attributes as revealed in Scripture mean that God’s sovereignty is GOOD NEWS for every man! Surrendering to God’s sovereignty is good because:

1. God is loving (v. 1) – We cannot gauge God’s love based on what we think or feel. We gauge God’s love based on what the Bible says about God’s love and how He has demonstrated that love in the sacrifice of his son (Rom. 5:8). God’s love never fails. And His love is expressed in The Gospel. Repent of sin. Turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. RESPOND TO GOD’S LOVE BY TAPPING OUT AND SURRENDERING TO HIM.

2. God is faithful (v. 1) – God does not lie. He does not fail. He has a proven record of keeping His promises and doing what He says He will do. SO TRUST HIS FAITHFULNESS BY GETTING IN GOD’S WORD AND DISCOVEREING GOD’S PROMISES. TRUST HIS PROMISE.

3. God is powerful (v. 3). The essence of God’s sovereignty is His ability to do what He has determined to do. His plans never fail. SO YOU CAN:

a. FEAR THE LORD (V. 12-13) Verses 12-13 reflect something true of God’s people. God has determined to bless them. It’s part of His covenant with them. He does bless them. He will bless them. So fear the Lord. Tap out from idols and make Him the priority of your life. Part of what it means to fear the Lord is that God comes first. You respect Him and revere Him. When you make decisions, the fear of the Lord calls you to ask how your decision will be viewed by Him. I’ll do right because I want God’s blessings and I want to please Him.

b. ASK FOR GOD’S HELP (V. 14-15) Notice how these verses are expressed as a prayer or as a blessing. You can tap out and turn from idols, no longer going after glittery, empty things, but by asking God to give you His help and His favor. Tap out in prayer!

c. WORSHIP THE LORD IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE (V. 16-18) Because God is in control, the Psalmist ends by essentially saying, no matter what’s happening, I’ll worship God. No more idols for me – I tap out! This man has moved from wrestling into worship!

3. CONCLUSION

Let’s end with verses 9-11 which call for us to tap out and trust God. Notice that the text says that God is our help and our shield. A shield doesn’t stop the shot from being fired, but it does mitigate the damage.

Many men make a tragic mistake soon after they surrender. They start wrestling God again. How so?

They get into a trial and get angry again because somehow, they believed that once they surrendered there would be no more battles to face! WRONG. When you surrender to the Lord the battle with your flesh and the world has only just begun.

Surrendering to God doesn’t mean you are now exempt from the trial, it means now that you stay behind the shield. You get in his word, you get on your knees, you do what God says, and you seek His protection and help. Worship isn’t just singing songs in church – worship is obedience to trust God through a trial!

TAP OUT and STAY SURRENDERED TO GOD!

Discussion Questions:

Successful wrestlers often have notorious submission holds that cause their opponent to tap out. Name a few of the most famous ones (example: Ric Flair and the figure 4 leg lock).
If the issues of life were wrestlers (money, marriage, self-control, anger . . .) which are the ones who seem to always get you flat on the mat and won’t let go?
- What are some of the false idols men turn to in tough times?
As sovereign, God calls on men to trust Him.
- What are some trust issues in your past that make it difficult for you to trust God?
- Would someone at the table mind sharing a short story of a tough time that caused you to tap-out and turn to God?
Verse 1 says God is faithful and that He loves us with steadfast love. What are some of the other characteristics of God the Bible reveals that give us good reason to “tap out” and trust Him?
Verse 3 says that “God does all that he pleases.” That means that God has a plan and will accomplish His plan. As a man surrenders, trusts, and waits on God, what were some of the disciplines Brian discussed that men are called to do that are implied in verses 12-18?
- How are you doing with these disciplines of daily trusting God?
Verses 9-11 calls God our shield. The shield doesn’t stop the shot, but it does reduce the damage. Many men get angry at God because they think that if they trust Him that they won’t have trials. Why is this a false (unbiblical, idolatrous) expectation?
How does Ephesians 5:16 call for a man to posture himself in trials?
What are your takeaways from this session?

Leading Your Children to the Lord

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:14:00 -0400

As parents, there will be some intimidating conversations with your children. Sometimes they ask questions we just don't know how to answer.

As a pastor, I have found that parents are especially intimidated by having spiritual conversations with their children. So when it comes to those questions, people want to call the preacher.

And while I love talking to children about the Bible, you don't have to call the preacher. You can have these conversations with your kids. And when it comes to salvation, don't worry that you're going to mess it up.

In this message I share some practical insights about how to lead your children to the Lord. I address some common misconceptions and give you the tools and Scriptures you need to be an effective parent.

How to Build a Christian Home

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 20 May 2025 15:01:00 -0400

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they were raised in a Christian home. Were they? Were you?

What is a Christian home? How do we make sure that our philosophy of parenting, work, and marriage aren't just cultural concepts covered in Christian language?

This message takes a look at the household code of Colossians 3:17-4:1.

Teach Them Diligently, The Commands Part 1

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 6 May 2025 13:14:00 -0400

God commands us to love Him. But the nature of humans is to not only disobey a command, but to do the exact opposite. This is especially true of children. So isn't giving a child the command to love God one of the worst things you can do in raising godly children?

In this message I begin talking about the commandments in Exodus 20. Why did God give us commands? What do they reveal to us about the human condition? How do you teach them to your children?

Teach Them Diligently

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:29:00 -0400

I began a new sermon series this past Sunday entitled Teach Them Diligently. This series will focus on parenting principles from the Bible. The call of God for parenting is counter-cultural. It does not depend on the institution, the government, or even the tabernacle/church. God's blueprint for parenting prioritizes the home. Here's the message. I'll post more of them in the weeks ahead. Also, I am posting the audio on my FeelMyFaith podcast channels and the video on YouTube as well.

Why Did Jesus Die for Me? Redemption

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:35:00 -0400

When Jesus died for you He didn't pay the price for you to go to Heaven. He paid the price for you! Jesus redeemed you from sin.

In this message Brian explains what redemption means from Ephesians 1:7. He also uses an illustration to help us understand the power of two little words sprinkled throughout Paul's letters, "In Him" or "In Christ." What does it mean that we have redemption "in Him?"

Listen on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.

Can I Stop Sinning?

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 11:01:00 -0400

Jesus died for forgive us of all of our sins, true. But he also died so that you would stop sinning? Is that even possible?

This message looks at the doctrine of sanctification from Romans 6. The way you get out of a sinful habit is the same way you get into a sinful habit, daily decisions. Every decision is directional. Sanctification is a million little choices to obey Christ from the heart.

What is Justification?

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:57:00 -0400

You have an eternal RAP sheet. Every sin counts against you but there is one thing that counts for you, the death and resurrection of Christ.

If you repent of sin and turn to Christ by faith He will deal with the condemnation that is against you for your sin.

In this message we explore the doctrine of justification from Romans 3.

Reconciliation: Repairing Your Relationship with God

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:54:00 -0400

You need more than love! Jesus died for you so that He could repair your relationship with God. It's called reconciliation.

In this message we look at Romans 5 and how the death of Christ can repair your relationship with God.

What's So Amazing About Grace?

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 4 Jun 2024 15:01:00 -0400

Grace is amazing but it is not automatic. Many people know the words to the song but have yet to access saving grace.

What is grace? Why do we need grace? How does one receive grace? The answers to these questions are in Romans 5. As we discover the answer to these questions it also helps us answer the question that is the concern of this series, why did Jesus die for me?

Convinced and Convicted by the Love of God (Session 2)

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:08:00 -0400

1 Thessalonians 1:3-4

(Session 2)

Many men come to a turning point in life in which they realize something is missing and they are searching for meaning. These men may have plenty of money and have accomplished enough goals but find that even still, something is missing.

Some men have made a mess of things. Maybe the marriage is shaky. Perhaps they are suffering the consequences of poor choices. Whatever the reason, they know that something needs to change.

Either path brings men to a similar point. These men get involved in church. They sense that they need to do something for God. Initially they find the experience refreshing and fulfilling. It’s a welcome change. But be careful if this describes you, because there is a danger of eventually flaming out.

Through my years of ministry I’ve seen men excited and energetic about the Lord as they involve themselves in church only to end up as empty as they were before they started.

Why does this happen?

The basis of faith is important. Guilt motivates change but it is gratitude that sustains it.

The basis for faith isn’t a man convinced that he needs to do something for God. The basis for faith is a man convicted by what God has done for him.

The gospel is the act of God demonstrating His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

Notice how Paul describes the motives and responses of the Thessalonians’s faith and how it compels them to worship and serve God.

“… remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Thess. 1:3-5)

The Thessalonians didn’t make a change because they were dissatisfied with their life. They did not seek to get involved in Christianity or the church because they were looking for ways to improve their lives or increase happiness. They began under conviction that they were sinners who deserved the wrath of God. Yet they were also convinced that God loved them and gave His Son’s life for their salvation. Hence Paul describes them as “loved by God” and chosen.

Do you believe God loves you? Do you believe God has chosen you?

The proper starting place for faith is conviction over sin (guilt) while also being convinced of God’s overwhelming, sacrificial love for sinners (gratitude).

Because the Thessalonians were loved by God and chosen Paul characterizes their response with three phrases in verse 3:

Work of Faith
Labor of Love
Steadfastness of Hope

A man may have good reasons he wants to change and improve his life. He may see church as good for his family. It may help his marriage. The morals taught in church may help him clean up the messes he made and prevent him from making more mess in the future, but if that man isn’t convicted by the gospel and convinced of the love of God his motivations are not in the proper place and he will eventually disconnect and flame out. Why? Because unlike the Thessalonians that man:

Works for God’s favor rather than working from faith.
Labors out of legalism rather than love.
He is destabilized by doubt rather than being strengthened with steadfast hope.

The right starting point of being both convicted by the gospel and convinced of God’s love is critical to connecting to God and others from the right place. The right starting point will sustain you and keep you from flaming out. Based on how Paul describes what he sees in the Thessalonians, ask yourself 3 questions:

Question #1: Do I work from faith or work for favor?

The the word “of” is the smallest of the sentence but it makes all the difference. The little word “of” means that it is a work that springs forth from the sustaining waters at the fountainhead of faith.

The work of faith describes what a man does from His relationship with the Lord as opposed to simply doing a work for the Lord. The work of faith is sustained by being daily in the Word of God and in prayer. It is concerned with obedience. The work of faith describes a concern for daily doing God’s will.

The work of faith is enjoyable as one sees God working. For a man, the work of faith is his greatest adventure as he is pressed into that place where He knows that if the Lord does not intervene that it is a work doomed to fail.

A work of faith can only be done by a man who is convinced of God’s love for him. He knows that he has been chosen for faith. He is overwhelmed with the gratitude that we see in Paul in 1 Thessalonians 1:2. There is not one thing God would require of him that a man who works from faith would not do or could not do because he knows that God’s love for him does not depend on his success or failure. He is not compared to others. He is convinced that he is loved by God and he is ever grateful.

We will look at this principle more in the next session, but a man who knows he is loved by God can obey God’s command to love others. He can and will by faith extend to others the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love that God has extended to him.

A man who is not convinced of God’s love for him will flame out as he works for God’s favor. He is doomed to fail to make his good works outweigh his sinful deeds in a futile attempt to convince God to love him.

The word “chosen” in 1:4 mans that God selects us out of His love and mercy, not out of a merit of our own doing. But the man who is not convinced by the gospel that God has lovingly chosen him, is left only to attempt by his own talent and good works to try to get God’s attention like a silly kid in a kickball game who feels like he’s about to be the last pick.

And that man will soon be drained and lose his motivation. He will compare himself to others and feel that God favors others more than him. That man will have a hard time connecting to others if he is jealous of them. Not matter how false or misguided the feelings, he will resent others if he thinks that God loves them more than him.

A man who works for God’s favor will be a frontrunner. He can easily love others when he feels like life is going well and he is more fortunate. But when life gets difficult he will disconnect. He pities himself. He is envious of others and he will become angry at God. Do I work from faith or work for favor?

Question #2: Do I labor out of love or out of legalism?

Labor is hard. Work requires a lot of energy, sacrifice, and commitment. But there is a saying that describes how doing something you love empowers you instead of drains you. It’s the idea that if you love your job you’ll never work a day in your life.

When it comes to faith, if you know that God loves you and has chosen you to serve Him, then you will keep your hand to the plow no matter how difficult the labor.

But a man who starts out wanting to do something for the Lord, not convinced of God’s love, will labor out of legalism. He will try to live up to an endless set of rules.

Guilt has it’s place. It is the pain of guilt that convinces a man something needs to change. Guilt will get you in the game but it won’t keep you there.

Legalism will choke the life out of a man. He’ll serve the Lord dutifully for a time, but he will soon realize that if he’s trying to earn the favor of a Holy God that what he does will never be enough.

But those who realize that Jesus loves them and died for them don’t labor out of guilt, but gratitude. So what is your starting point? What is your motivation? Do you labor out of love? If so, the love of God will energize you? Or do you labor out of legalism? Legalism will drain you and you will disconnect from God. You’ll stop serving Him and you’ll stop serving others.

Labor because God loves you and you will love your labor! You will love the God who loves you and you will love those God calls you to serve and love.

Question #3: Am I characterized by steadfast hope or am I destabilized by doubt?

To fully appreciate how the love of God has transformed the Thessalonians people you have to understand the historical context. 1 Thessalonians is one of Paul’s first letters. It is written about 10-15 years after the resurrection. Heresy is increasing in the church. As you can see by 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 there were more questions than answers. Persecution is also on the rise. The Roman Empire is hostile to the fledgling church and this new version of Judaism called Christianity. Turning to Christ comes at a cost.

Despite the instability the Thessalonians were characterized by steadfast hope. They are steady. Why? Because the starting point of their faith was that they were convicted by the gospel but they were convinced of God’s love for them.

Does the stability of your faith, your service for the Lord, your commitment and passion in worship depend on how it’s going or where it’s going?

A man who isn’t convinced of God’s love is emotionally destabilized by “how it’s going.” If things are going well, he feels like God loves him. If life is hard, he feels like God’ has for some reason grown cold towards him.

The Thessalonians had questions. There were a lot of blanks that they still needed to be filled in when it comes to Biblical faith. Their situation was unsteady but they had steadfast hope. Why? Because they were convicted by the gospel and convinced of God’s love for them.

Conclusion:

Let’s revisit the initial question. Did your faith begin because you were convinced you needed to change and do something for God or was it because you were convicted of sin but overwhelmed by His love for you?

If you are uncertain of God’s love for you, you will disconnect. You will not work from faith but you will work for favor. You will labor under the crushing weight of legalism and never measure up to the standard. But if you understand how much God loves you then you will labor out of love. You will love God and love your labor! Doubt is crippling. If the determining factor for whether or not God loves you is based on how it’s going instead of where it’s going you’ll never enjoy steadfast hope.

Because you are a sinner Jesus had to die for you. Because God loves you, Jesus did die for you. You are loved and chosen by God so work from faith, labor out of love, and be stabilized by hope. The starting point for faith makes all the difference in how and why you connect with God and others. Guilt will get you in the game but it is gratitude that will keep you there.

Test the Spirits

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:20:00 -0400

If you are playing checkers while everyone else is playing chess you are going to lose the game! That's especially true in the game of life.

We often seek material solutions for spiritual problems. John offers game changing information in 1 John 4:1-6. He tells us that if we want to understand more of what's happening in the falling away of our families, our children, and our churches that we need to "test the spirits."

How do you test the spirits? What does it mean to test the spirits? What changes when one tests the spirits?

How to be Happy

bbranam@rbconline.net (Brian Branam) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:06:00 -0400

Everyone wants to be happy. God is concerned for your happiness. But happiness does not come by "getting." Happiness is achieved by "becoming."

When you keep in step with the Spirit He will transform your life from a self-centered wasteland to a fruitful, virtuous walk with God.

This message explores Galatians 5:16-26.