Epaphroditus - a True Man

The point: Consider what you believe constitutes a real man, especially for boys aspiring to manhood.

Martin uses the image of the Marlboro Man (marble between lips, leathery face, cowboy hat, squinting at the sun) to represent a common, yet false, worldly ideal of manhood, contrasting it with biblical truth.

Is it when he can clasp a marble between his lips? And look out from his leathery face and underneath his cowboy hat, squinting at the setting sun as he overlooks his herd of horses? Is that what makes a man? Well, if you look at the Marlboro ads long enough, you'll think that's what a man is.

3:32 - 3:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider what you believe constitutes a real man, especially for boys aspiring to manhood.

He describes another worldly caricature of manhood: sprouting chest hair, musk oil, and drinking a six-pack of beer, to highlight superficial and ungodly definitions.

Or is it being able to sprout some hair high enough on your chest that when you open your collar it'll spill over and splash on some brooch or chaps or musk oil cologne and have a real macho look about you? Is that what it means to be a man? Or is it being able to belt down a six-pack of bud with the boys? Is that what makes a man?

3:59 - 4:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider what you believe constitutes a real man, especially for boys aspiring to manhood.

Martin presents the image of a young man with a wasp-like waist, Herculean shoulders, and rippling biceps, attracting attention from ladies, as another false ideal of manhood.

Let me speak to you young men who are out of boyhood and half-wearing between being boys and men. What in your minds will constitute you a man? Is it being able to make all the eligible young ladies turn their heads when you walk by because of your wasp-like waist, your broad Herculean shoulders, and your rippling biceps? Is that what makes a man?

4:28 - 4:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider what you believe constitutes a real man, especially for boys aspiring to manhood.

He uses the image of a man with up-to-date clothes, a nice car, and a wallet full of money to illustrate a materialistic and superficial definition of manhood.

Is it being able to afford right up-to-date clothes, nice-looking car, and always having a wallet full of tens and twenties? Is that what makes a man? What in your minds is a man?

4:57 - 5:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the significance of Paul calling Epaphroditus 'my brother.' He highlights the vast cultural and religious chasm that naturally separated Paul (a proud Jew) from…

Martin uses his own experience of having two brothers and seven sisters to explain the natural intimacy and privilege of family relationships, setting up the spiritual brotherhood between Paul and Epaphroditus.

Brothers are those who by virtue of common parents share in the unique relationship of family intimacy and privilege. Being born in a family of ten children I have two brothers and seven sisters. Now what constitutes Eric and David my brothers is that we share common parents and by virtue of that common parentage we have entered into the uniqueness of family intimacy and family privilege. Now in what sense could Paul identify Epaphroditus as his brother?

13:02 - 13:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the significance of Paul calling Epaphroditus 'my brother.' He highlights the vast cultural and religious chasm that naturally separated Paul (a proud Jew) from…

He explains that Epaphroditus's name likely derived from the Greek goddess Aphrodite, suggesting a pagan background, which would have made Paul's calling him 'brother' even more astonishing due to Jewish prejudice.

On the surface of things this doesn't appear as an amazing statement but when we dig beneath the surface it is one of the most amazing things Paul could do in describing Epaphroditus as his brother. You see the name Epaphroditus is taken from the name of one of the Greek goddesses, the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite. And in all likelihood, though we cannot prove it from the scriptures, Epaphroditus could well have been given this name because his own parents were worshippers of the Greek

13:46 - 14:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that no man begins to be the man God intended him to be until he is in Christ and part of the brotherhood of faith.

Martin contrasts the world's use of 'brother' (loving only one's own kind and hating others) with the church's true brotherhood, which unites people of diverse backgrounds through a common experience of grace in Christ.

brother in that cause but oh the hatred the venomous vitriolic hatred to those who do not share that cause in our day we have many groupings of people delighting to use the term share it is cut off and regarded with animosity but oh what a marvel a true church is any true church where there are found together men and women of diverse backgrounds racially culturally educationally religiously differing perspectives by nature upon the vast spectrum of all of the concerns of life sitting here this morning I could begin if I had the time

21:40 - 22:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Glorify God by diligently working at your appointed task with all your might, as unto the Lord.

He recounts a story of a preacher's son asking, 'Daddy, if you ever stop preaching, will you have to go to work?' to illustrate the common misconception that ministry is not 'work' or 'labor'.

son said to him daddy if you ever stop preaching will you have to go to work now let's hope that when the little boy asked the question what he had in his mind is will you have to go to work at a job such as other men have to work at but in the minds of many the question is taken at face value they don't regard the ministry as a labor if you got the gift of gab spend a few minutes getting a few thoughts together and just let it spill out but that's not the view the apostle had of the work of the ministry he called Epaphroditus his fellow worker or fellow laborer now remember the mission of Epa...

25:20 - 26:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn to graciously accept and embrace the structures of authority God has placed over you, particularly parental authority.

Martin uses the analogy of bastard children who lack a father's discipline (from Hebrews 12) to emphasize that embracing parental authority and discipline is essential for true manhood, not a curse.

of your father and your mother don't tolerate it as a necessary evil embrace it as a wonderful blessing from God God says that the tragedy of bastard children is that they have no father who will care for them enough to discipline them Hebrews 12 Paul in that passage I'm sorry the writer to Hebrews in that passage says we are all partakers of the discipline of God if we're the sons of God for what son is there whom a father does not chastise if you are without chastisement then are you bastards illegitimate children that no man is willing to come forward and claim as his own and therefore a ch...

46:29 - 47:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Earn credibility by being trustworthy and faithful in small, mundane tasks, like taking out the garbage thoroughly.

He recounts the story of Gideon's army being tested by how they drank water to illustrate that faithfulness and true character are revealed in seemingly small, mundane actions, not just grand gestures.

worthy of that trust you're gaining some credibility with mom and dad you say pastor that's ridiculous a little thing like you remember how they tested the true soldiers among the 30,000 in the days of Israel's warfare don't you God said to Gideon too many men 30,000 we're going to separate the men from the boys and I can just imagine what happened that morning when news went through the camp 30,000 we're going to hand pick a real commando group and I can imagine those soldiers polishing their spears loosing up their muscles getting ready to throw their javelins polishing up their armor and on...

49:25 - 50:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Press after the standard of biblical manhood by spending time on your knees, praying for God's Spirit to mold you through His grace.

Martin uses the parable of the wicked servant who accused his master of reaping where he did not sow to challenge those who claim God's standards for manhood are too high, implying they are making excuses for their own lack of self-denial.

remember what he said oh I knew you were a hard master reaping where you did not sow in other words the unfaithful servant said you know you're the kind of man that goes on out to a field you never put any seeds in it you never cultivated it you never fertilized it you never watered it and yet you seek to get a harvest now that's what some of you say you say oh that's standard that's too high God doesn't put any seeds in grace God won't cultivate and fertilize those seeds of grace to make me that kind of man you better stop accusing God of being a hard master some of you fellas that's a cop ou...

56:04 - 56:47 Read in full sermon