Act Like Men: What boys need to know to become mature godly men

I have three energetic but wonderful sons, and for the past several years I have sought to find some sort of boyhood to manhood scope and sequence list that could help me and other fathers know what to be striving for (spiritually, developmentally, and practically) in raising our sons.  I have asked many older and wiser fathers who have raised godly young men if they knew of anything like this, but no one knew of any such list. So, after much time, conversations, and research I have compiled a list that I hope will be helpful for my sons and yours.  But, why make a list?  Why have such goals?

I believe we live in a time of perpetual adolescence.  A time when many fathers are not training their sons up in the Lord, but also are simply not training their sons up at all except to enjoy their entertainment or sport of choice.  In I Corinthians 16:13 Paul writes, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”  We also read in Luke, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).  Notice it says that Jesus grew in respect with men, even as a preteen boy.  Yet, He also grew up in respect to God the Father. When I look to the scriptures I see a call to fathers to raise their children up . . . to train them.  Why?  So that they can live a godly life (1 Thessalonians 4:11) before God and man to the glory of God the Father. I want to know how best to do this. The heart behind this list is to have something for fathers to strive for in their training, but also to have something those young men can set as a goal and put sweat into to achieve.

I wrote this list with my children in mind.  Thus, it is very contextual.  This list is not universal.  If you are reading this and you live in Miami, Florida, the whole “driving in the snow” will likely not be a need for your son.  In your context you might want to think, “When should my son know how to prepare a house for a hurricane?”  This list doesn’t have to be your list.  However, my hope is that maybe you will take this list and make it your own.  Use what is useful and helpful and toss the things that are not useful for your context.  My encouragement would be for you to think through the list and see what you would want to add to it, and then add to it and start the process with your sons.  Your desired age may look different than this one, but let me persuade you to not set the bar low.  Remember the words of the great missionary, William Carey, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”  If you want your sons to attempt great things for God, you have to put them on that trajectory to do it now—when they are young.  So, make a list; check it twice.  Act like men and teach your boys to do the same.