Description:

This five-lesson study guide examines the five commands given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, and how we can learn to enact them in our lives on a daily basis.

Message from Marsh: “May your personal walk with the Lord lead you to be transformed, renewed, and blessed.”

Marsh

Founder/President

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Five Challenges for Men

Lesson 1 – Be on Your Guard

(www.mensgroup.org – “Original Study”)

Lesson Focus: Attention should be given to living the Christian life daily. A key element for men is their continual alertness to deception, idolatry, and the lure of immorality.

“Blessings abound for each one who keeps a close watch on how he lives and stays true to what is right for the sake of his own salvation and the salvation of those around him.” –C. Marsh Bull

Starting Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in you and all that your word instructs us to do. Help us to understand the blessing of staying alert to temptation and being ever watchful of our testimony about you before others.

Opening Questions:

1.      When in your life has a coach, leader, pastor, wife, or friend confronted you with a comment or statement that challenged your thinking?

2.      What did they say and how did you respond?

Scripture Passage: “Be on your guard” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Story: David had been on the run from King Saul for several years hiding in different places when his current location in the wilderness of Ziph was betrayed to Saul by the Ziphites.

Saul immediately traveled there with the intent of capturing and killing David. That night, Saul’s men slept in a ring with Saul and his commander, Abner, at the center. David and his friend Abishai snuck into the camp stepping over soldiers until they stood over Saul, sleeping like a baby. However, David would not kill Saul but took his spear and jug of water.

When they were a safe distance away, David shouted down and woke up Abner and said to him, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?” (1 Samuel 26:15-16)

Challenge Explanation:

In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul writes four concise statements using military metaphors to capture the imagination of the reader and bring clarity to his meaning. The Corinthians lived under the Roman Empire’s heavy hand and soldiers were present every day in full array.

The first of the four statements is a command to keep watch, stay awake, and be alert. And this could be translated as “keep on doing what you are already doing. Don’t stop, continue.”

As we have already discussed, these believers were living in a hostile environment with many opportunities to be lured away from their new Savior. It was important for them to guard their life diligently, to make no allowances for sin, and not allow anyone to sneak up on them.

Paul was emphasizing, “don’t be careless, indifferent, or easily deceived, but be watchful as would a sentry who must stay alert, awake, and aware of his surroundings even at night when others would be sleeping.” A sentry’s punishment for not doing so could be the loss of his rank, court marshal, or even the loss of his life.

Discussion Questions:

1.      If you have been in the military or are familiar with the military, in your own words how would you describe the challenge of being on guard?

2.      David’s story was about when King Saul and Abner were caught off guard. Tell your story of a time you were caught off guard, and what was the result?

3.      What other words would you use to characterize being on guard?

Application:

1.      How would it look for your life to “be on guard” perpetually?

2.      If you were aware of this idea previously, in what ways are you presently “on guard?”

3.      How well are you guarding your mind (what you think about), heart (what you feel), hands (what you pick up), feet (where you go), eyes (what you look at), and ears (what you listen to)?

4.      What would you do next to implement the action of being on guard in your life?

 Closing Prayer: Father, we are aware that sin is all around us and that it seeks to draw us in and capture us in its web. Help us to be alert to sin’s temptations and help us to encourage others who also seek to be alert in their struggle to be victorious. Create in us a picture of what it would mean to guard our lives daily.

 

Additional Resources:

Read similar “on guard” verses for a better understanding of this phrase: Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 7:2; Malachi 2:15-16; Luke 12:15; Philippians 4:7; 2 Peter 3:17-18.


Continue to Lesson 2 – Stand Firm in the Faith

Or use these links to navigate to various parts of this study:

Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Summary

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