January 21, 2026 - What Is Man?
GOD CREATED MAN TO RULE EARTH LIKE HE RULES HEAVEN
January 21, 2026 Men’s Event
what is man?
Notes from the 1-21-2026 Strong & Godly Men meeting: “What Is Man?”
1) Welcome and the Strong & Godly Men Model
Summary:
The gathering opened with a welcome to both returning and newer men, a reminder that Strong & Godly Men meets quarterly, and a reaffirmation of a simple, repeatable framework designed so no one feels behind or disconnected from the vision.
Direct quotes:
“The best thing to do to get kinda up to speed on what this is… go to strongandgodlymen.com and just watch the last ones.”
“I do want this to develop into something a little bit more proactive.”
“I’m not much of a planner… I’ll come and preach. You guys figure out stuff you want to do.”
Action invitation:
Men were encouraged to initiate both recreational and spiritual activities and take ownership of community-building.
“If somebody has an idea… axe throwing or shoot some guns… go witnessing… let me know and then… you can plan it.”
2) Vision: Men as the Glue and the Leadership Gap
Summary:
Men’s leadership was framed as a vital but often underdeveloped component in church culture, with an invitation to grow in leadership without hierarchy, control, or imposed structures.
Direct quotes:
“People always say women are the glue of the church… but really, the leadership that men bring… is kind of lacking in general church wide.”
“I’m not going to give you some type of hierarchical structure of what you’re supposed to do.”
“I want you to get a vision yourself from God.”
3) The Two Anchors: Build for Eternity and Lead with Purpose
Summary:
The core pillars of Strong & Godly Men were reaffirmed as building on Christ for eternal value and leading with purpose.
Direct quote:
“It’s really about building for eternity and leading with purpose.”
The Four Leadership Arenas
Summary:
Leadership was again defined across four practical arenas, emphasizing intentional growth through identifiable steps rather than vague ambition.
Direct quotes:
“You’re leading yourself, you’re leading your family, you’re leading in the body of Christ and then you’re leading in the community.”
“Pick an area that you want to see grow and improve… make a plan, define some steps, move forward.”
Examples of “leveling up” shared in the room:
Health (“Health’s a big one.”)
Quality time and leadership in the home (noted as overlapping with family leadership)
4) “I’m In… Now Let’s Go” — Ownership Without Obligation
Summary:
Commitment to the church was described as a voluntary tipping point marked by purpose rather than obligation, control, guilt, or dead works.
Direct quotes:
“This is probably your church at this point… Now, let’s link arms and get to work.”
“It doesn’t shift to now I own you… and it still doesn’t shift to now you owe me.”
“It’s generosity out of… purpose… for what we’re doing here.”
Missional emphasis:
“We got a community to reach… ministries… a building to build… a community to gain more influence in.”
5) Foundational Passage: Work That Matters Eternally
Summary:
The Strong & Godly Men framework was rooted in restoring dignity to men who often feel unseen, emphasizing that everyday decisions and faithful actions matter eternally to God.
Direct quotes:
“This structure just was a download… your work matters. What you do matters. Your choices matter.”
“All believers will go before the judgment seat of Christ… our works will pass through the fire.”
“It’s not to determine whether or not you’re saved… it’s that which you have done… has the opportunity to be rewarded.”
“There’s no throwaway days. There’s nothing that doesn’t matter.”
1 Corinthians 3:9–15 (KJV)
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Direct quotes:
“We are God’s fellow workers… not working to get into heaven… now that we’re righteous, we’re linked arms.”
“The fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work.”
“I love the distinction between work and self.”
Assurance and Confidence in Judgment
1 John 4:17–18 (KJV)
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Direct quotes:
“We should be confident in the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in this world.”
“There’s no condemnation in Christ.”
6) “What Is Man?”
Summary:
The focus shifted from productivity to identity, confronting the belief that humanity is inherently worthless and restoring a biblical view grounded in creation, image-bearing, and dominion.
Direct quotes:
“Most Christians have the view of humanity as we’re worthless… God… holds His nose when He looks at us.”
“Before the fall, how did God see man? Because really, before the fall is still how God feels in His heart toward mankind.”
“When He sees humanity, He sees Himself.”
Creation and Dominion
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Direct quotes:
“Let us make man in our image… and let them have dominion…”
“The Almighty… made us to rule on this earth like he rules in the heavens.”
“We’re many versions of him in this earth.”
Formation and Intention
Genesis 2:7–8 (KJV)
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”
Direct quote:
“If you make something, it’s a very deliberate process… there’s an intention for it.”
David’s Wonder
Psalm 8:3–6 (KJV)
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.”
Direct quotes:
“What is man that you’re mindful of him…”
“You’ve made him a little lower than… Elohim… you’re closer to God than angels are.”
“Glory and honor can mean dignity and worth.”
7) Hebrew Word Study: “Adam”
Summary:
The Hebrew word Adam was explored as a conceptual picture of humanity as a God-breathed gateway between heaven and earth.
Letter breakdown:
Aleph — strength, source, leader
Dalet — door, access, gateway
Mem (final form) — water, womb, hidden depths
Conceptual conclusion:
“Man is the God-breathed gateway through which spiritual life flows into the world.”
Direct quotes:
“That’s what we are… we host the presence of God in our hearts… to let Him flow into this world.”
“We walk into a room, we bring God there.”
“It should be a life bringing experience… people just feel God when you’re around.”
Psalm 24:7 (KJV)
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”
8) Transformation Anchor: Identity Before Behavior
Summary:
Transformation was framed as the result of believing what is already true in Christ, rather than striving to become righteous through effort.
Direct quotes:
“Transformation… is believe the truth of who we are, so that the fruit follows.”
“You are holy and you are righteous—now live like it.”
“When you believe you’re righteous, grace will be present…”
9) Group Discussion Highlights
Summary:
Discussion explored dominion, purpose before the fall, and a non-fear-based understanding of eternal reward.
Highlights:
Creation purpose preceded redemption.
Children and humanity were framed as expressions of love, not tools for tasks.
Building materials were reframed as quality and motive rather than type.
Direct quotes:
“It’s not necessarily the what… it’s about the quality… as long as it’s on the foundation.”
“There is a third component… it is building and leading, but it’s serving.”
