Men of Vision Spiritual Growth Session

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Have you ever stopped and wondered what it would really mean to be more like Christ?

Not halfway committed. Not picking and choosing the parts of Christianity that fit comfortably into your life. But truly becoming more like Him.

That question sparked one of the most powerful conversations during our Men of Vision Spiritual Growth session.

One brother shared something many of us have probably felt:

"We pick and choose the things that are Christ-like to do. We try to forgive. We try to turn the other cheek. But there's so much more to it."

He wasn't wrong.

Many of us admire Christ's character, but when it comes to fully surrendering our lives, trusting God with our future, finances, relationships, careers, and purpose, that's where faith gets tested.

It's one thing to say we trust God.

It's another thing to actually take the leap.

What Would It Mean to Be Fully Like Christ?

One brother took the conversation even deeper.

He said maybe the question isn't simply becoming more like Christ.

Maybe the question is:

What would it look like to be fully like Christ?

That thought can be intimidating.

We talk about God's blessings.

We talk about His goodness.

We talk about His provision.

But what would life look like if we were fully surrendered?

Fully obedient?

Fully trusting?

The truth is, most of us can't even imagine it.

Yet that's exactly the journey God calls us into.

Not perfection.

But transformation.

Jesus Chose to Understand Humanity

As we reflected on Christ, we considered something interesting. Jesus was fully God and fully human. He chose to walk among us. He chose to experience hunger, pain, rejection, temptation, disappointment, grief, and suffering. Why?

Because He wanted to understand humanity from our perspective.Not because He lacked knowledge. But because He chose relationship. He chose empathy. He chose connection.

In many ways, Jesus stepped into our world to fully understand what it means to live as a human being.

And if we're going to become more like Christ, perhaps we must also be willing to understand ourselves more deeply.

God Had a Design for You Before You Were Born

Our foundational scripture came from Psalms.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
— Psalm 139:13-14

This passage reminds us of something powerful:

God didn't accidentally create you.

He intentionally designed you.

Before anyone knew your name...

Before you made your first mistake...

Before you experienced your first success...

God already had a plan.

He was knitting together your personality, strengths, gifts, experiences, and purpose.

One brother put it perfectly:

"God knew us from the beginning. Before we were who we were, He was still developing us."

That's a powerful truth.

You are not random.

You are not an accident.

You are God's workmanship.

Stop Letting Failure Define You

Many men struggle because they define themselves by their failures.

A failed marriage.

A lost opportunity.

A mistake from the past.

A bad decision.

A season of addiction.

A criminal record.

A setback.

But here's the reality:

Your mistakes don't cancel God's design.

David was a shepherd.

A warrior.

A poet.

A king.

A man after God's own heart.

Yet David also failed in major ways.

And still, God used him.

The same is true for us.

God's purpose for your life is greater than your worst mistake.

Understanding How God Wired You

One of the biggest challenges men face is trying to live someone else's life.

Society tells us who we should be. Social media tells us who we should become. Culture tells us how success should look. But God created each man differently. That's why we introduced the DISC behavioral framework. DISC doesn't determine your identity. It simply helps reveal observable behaviors and tendencies that God has wired into you.

Understanding your behavioral style helps you understand:

• How you communicate

• How you make decisions

• How you lead

• How you handle conflict

• How you connect with people

• Where your strengths naturally show up

The Four DISC Styles

D – Dominant

These men are driven.

They are direct.

They are decisive.

They want results.

One brother described himself this way:

"The buck stops with me. I take care of my people. No matter what it is, I find a way to get it done."

That's the strength of a high D.

They solve problems.

They take ownership.

They move things forward.

I – Influencing

These men are connectors.

They love people.

They inspire others.

They build relationships naturally.

As I shared during the session, this is where I tend to operate.

My gift is speaking.

Connecting.

Building relationships.

Helping people see possibilities.

That's part of how God wired me.

S – Steady

These men are supporters.

They're dependable.

They're patient.

They're often the calm presence in the room.

They genuinely care about people and want to serve others.

These are the men who quietly show up when everyone else leaves.

C – Conscientious

These men love structure.

They value accuracy.

They pay attention to details.

They're the ones reading the policy before making a decision.

They want to do things correctly.

They're planners.

Thinkers.

Problem solvers.

Your Strength Is Also Your Blind Spot

Here's something important every man needs to understand:

The same strength that helps you succeed can become a weakness when overused.

A driven man can become controlling.

A relational man can become a people pleaser.

A supportive man can avoid necessary conflict.

A conscientious man can become overly critical or hesitant.

This is why self-awareness matters.

When we understand how God wired us, we begin to recognize where we need the Holy Spirit to refine us. Not because our strengths are bad. But because every strength needs to be surrendered to God.

What's Your Superpower?

Toward the end of our conversation, we challenged each man with a simple question:

What's your superpower?

What makes you uniquely you?

One brother said his gift was communication. Another said his gift was connecting with people. Another described himself as driven and committed to serving others no matter what was happening in his own life.

As men shared, something became clear:

God doesn't call us all to serve Him the same way. He calls us according to how He created us. The goal isn't becoming someone else. The goal is becoming the man God designed you to be.

Final Thoughts

God didn't make a mistake when He made you.

Your personality.

Your experiences.

Your strengths.

Your story.

Your journey.

Every piece has been woven together by a God who knew exactly what He was doing.

The challenge is understanding how God wired you and allowing Him to use those strengths for His glory. When we understand how we're wired, we begin to understand how we're called. And when we understand how we're called, we can take another step toward becoming more like Christ.

Reflection Question:

What is the unique strength God has placed within you, and how might He be calling you to use it to serve others this season?

Men of Vision exists to help men grow spiritually, lead courageously, and discover the purpose God has placed on their lives. Join us as we continue the journey of becoming the men God created us to be.