View Lesson One

There is probably no other issue more emotionally stirring for men than longing for or not having a strong father and patriarch figure involved in a man's life. Few men have experienced the impact of a real man of God to follow and shape their lives after.

It is not surprising that men are attracted to strong leaders. They seem to be looking for something or someone to fill the void in their lives. What is sadder yet, few men are being challenged to become men of God and patriarchs.

Probably the most exciting, fulfilling, challenging, rewarding and creative expression of manhood is the possibility of developing young men to become patriarchs. Think about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, Peter, Paul and the impact they made.

"A patriarch is not a retired grandfather following the lead of his grandchildren: old, set in his ways, and basically out of it. A patriarch is working at something vital, plugged into his culture, leading his grandchildren and keenly aware of life's changes. He's inventive, alert, and challenging the socks off his children, his wife and the extended family around him as he grows in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord."

For a boy to become a patriarch he must go through four stages of development:

1. From a boy to a man
    
2. From a man to a husband
    
3. From a husband to a father
    
4. From a father to a patriarch

The stages of development can be illustrated by the use of an umbrella.

PATRIARCH: is a parent who has taken on a discipleship responsibility for an extended family.

FATHER: is a husband who has taken on the discipleship responsibility for his children.

HUSBAND: is a man who has taken on the discipleship and nurturing for his wife.

MAN: is a person who has taken on the discipleship responsibility for himself which is characterized by his teachability and his ability to give to others.

Each stage of development requires a decision to take on the next stage of responsibility. If that decision is not made, the male may physically progress to the place where he looks like a man, husband, father or patriarch, but will in essence be back where he made his last decision. If he has never made any decision, then he is in essence still a boy.

To take this one step further, failure at any level requires that one go back to the previous level and strengthen it. For example: if one is failing as a husband, the first thing a man must do to help his marriage is ask himself, "What is lacking in me as a man?"

Each stage of development should be understood as to who the male is inside rather than just what he does. For this reason, we will refer to each stage of development as the essence of a man, essence of a husband, essence of a father, and the essence of a patriarch.