Men of Vision Spiritual Growth Reflection

Every Friday morning, a group of men gather before the sun fully rises. Some arrive energized. Others arrive tired from travel, work, or a long week. Yet regardless of where we are mentally or physically, we show up with a common purpose: to grow as men of God.

This week's Men of Vision Spiritual Growth session centered around a simple but challenging question:

What is occupying your mind?

The conversation was rooted in Colossians 3:1-4, where Paul writes:

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

Simple words. Difficult application.

A Lesson from Love Island

The discussion began with a personal story.

Recently, I've been watching the reality television show Love Island with my daughters.

Now before anyone starts judging, let me explain.

As a father, I'm learning something many parents struggle with: there comes a season when you have to release control and remain connected. My daughters are growing into young women, and instead of standing on the outside criticizing what interests them, I wanted to enter their world and understand what they were seeing.

After a few episodes, I asked them a question:

"What are you learning from this?"

That question opened a deeper conversation about relationships, values, culture, and how the world influences our thinking.

Then one of my daughters asked me a question that caught me off guard.

"Dad, are we supposed to always have Jesus on our minds?"

For a moment, I didn't have a quick answer.

The question forced me to wrestle with what it really means to live with a Christ-centered mindset.

The Battle for the Mind

As we studied Colossians 3, one truth became clear:

The Christian life is won or lost in the mind.

Many of us spend time trying to change behaviors while neglecting the thinking that produces those behaviors.

Scripture consistently points us back to the importance of renewing our minds.

Paul writes in Romans 12:2:

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Transformation doesn't begin with behavior modification.

It begins with mental renovation.

During our discussion, we reflected on a commentary that described believers as needing to stay connected to the "Heavenly Broadcasting Network."

The challenge isn't simply avoiding bad influences.

The challenge is that many of us keep changing the channel.

We may leave a Bible study encouraged and inspired, only to spend the rest of the day feeding ourselves fear, negativity, comparison, anger, or distraction.

Eventually, what we feed grows.

What we focus on shapes us.

The Athlete Analogy

One participant introduced an interesting perspective.

He pointed to elite athletes like Stephen Curry, Jerry Rice, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady.

What made them exceptional wasn't talent alone.

It was focus.

Stories have been told about Jerry Rice carrying a football everywhere he went, obsessively studying and practicing his craft.

The point wasn't to glorify athletes.

The point was this:

If people can become world-class by focusing intensely on a sport, what might happen if believers applied that same level of intentionality to becoming more like Christ?

The comparison sparked a healthy debate.

Larry raised a thoughtful question:

"At what point does that kind of focus become idolatry?"

And that's where the conversation deepened.

When Good Things Become Gods

One of the greatest dangers for men is not necessarily bad things.

It's good things becoming ultimate things.

Careers.

Family.

Success.

Sports.

Hobbies.

Ministry.

Even noble pursuits can become idols when they occupy a place in our hearts that belongs to God.

During the discussion, I challenged the group to consider something many of us have witnessed.

Often we hear men say, "Family comes first" when it's time for Bible study, prayer, church, or men's group, we seem not to have the time.

Yet somehow that same principle disappears when it's time for golf, hunting, entertainment, or other personal interests.

The issue isn't family.

The issue is honesty.

Whatever consistently receives our highest devotion reveals what truly sits on the throne of our hearts.

Anything that supersedes God eventually becomes a god.

Excellence as Worship

Carlton offered an important perspective that helped bring balance to the conversation.

He reminded us that God gives each person unique gifts, talents, and opportunities.

Those gifts aren't meant to be neglected.

They're meant to be stewarded.

He referenced how Jesus met people where they were—using farming, fishing, and agriculture to communicate eternal truths.

Likewise, God often places us in specific professions, industries, and communities as mission fields.

Athletes like Tim Tebow and Jalen Hurts are examples of men who use their platforms to represent Christ.

The reality is that without excellence in their craft, they may never have been given the platform in the first place.

The same principle applies to all of us.

Whether you're a pastor, business owner, father, teacher, mechanic, coach, doctor, or construction worker, your profession can become a place where God's light shines through you.

The key question is not:

"How successful am I becoming?"

The better question is:

"Who receives the glory from my success?"

The Difference Between Stewardship and Idolatry

As the discussion continued, we landed on an important distinction.

Stewardship and idolatry may look similar on the surface.

Both involve commitment.

Both involve sacrifice.

Both involve focus.

The difference is found in the heart.

A man pursuing excellence to glorify God is operating from stewardship.

A man pursuing excellence solely for personal identity, validation, or self-glory is drifting toward idolatry.

God never called us to mediocrity.

But He also never called us to worship our gifts.

We are called to steward them faithfully while remembering the Giver is greater than the gift.

Putting on the New Nature

As we closed, we returned to Colossians 3.

Putting on the new nature isn't merely about changing outward behavior.

It's about allowing Christ to reshape how we think, what we value, and what we pursue.

The old nature is driven by earthly priorities.

The new nature is guided by eternal ones.

That doesn't mean abandoning our responsibilities.

It means approaching those responsibilities through a heavenly lens.

Being a better husband.

A better father.

A better leader.

A better employee.

A better friend.

Not because we're trying to prove ourselves, but because Christ is transforming us from the inside out.

Questions for Reflection

As you reflect on this week's discussion, consider these questions:

• What occupies most of my thoughts throughout the day?

• What am I consistently feeding my mind?

• Are there good things in my life that have become ultimate things?

• Am I pursuing excellence for God's glory or my own?

• How can I intentionally set my mind on things above this week?

The battle for spiritual growth begins in the mind.

The question is simple:

What channel are you tuned into?

As Carlton reminded us in the chat before we closed:

"Seek ye first the Kingdom."

That's where victorious Christian living begins.