Spirit-led discipleship, courageous fatherhood and intentional leadership. These were among the main topics highlighted as more than 200 men recently gathered at Cartersville First Baptist in Georgia for an Iron Sharpens Iron men’s conference.
Among the event’s main speakers was Christian filmmaker Stephen Kendrick of Kendrick Brothers Productions.
Kendrick, who with his brothers has produced films that have challenged men toward biblical leadership and family faithfulness, made clear the need for men to follow Christ personally rather than merely inherit Christian language. He recounted the impact of seeing a father learn to walk with God despite not having a strong model in his own childhood.
For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.
“If you didn’t have a godly father in your home, you have a heavenly Father who’s perfect,” Kendrick said during the March 21 event, urging men not to settle into passivity or resignation. He challenged them to surrender leadership of their lives to Christ.
Spirit-led discipleship
Kendrick also pressed into the theme of Spirit-led discipleship. He explained that God never intended for them to obey Scripture or lead their families by sheer willpower. He described the Holy Spirit as God’s enabling presence within believers, and called men to daily submission.
“It’s amazing when you discover that God never intended for you to obey his word on your own, which you can’t,” he said.
Kendrick led the men through Scripture, highlighting the Spirit’s role in guiding believers, calling them to cultivate sensitivity to God’s prompting in ways that align with the Word of God.
“You need to learn to walk by the Spirit,” he said, “and be led by the Holy Spirit.”
He urged men to pursue spiritual habits that keep them attentive and responsive to the Spirit. Sin, distraction and complacency hinder the relationship with the Spirit, he explained.
“The Holy Spirit is the hand in the glove of your life,” Kendrick said, emphasizing that the commands and promises of the New Testament are given to believers who are empowered by God’s Spirit.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Henry Durand and originally published by Georgia’s The Christian Index.
