SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES

Session 1: Authentic Manhood

I. The Measure of a Man.
A. The secular standards of manhood are often gauged by:
1. Physique - his manly looks, fitness, and abilities
2. Power - his influence and authority over others
3. Prosperity - his money, the kind of car he drives, or how big his house is
4. Prowess - his ability to attract and seduce women, and father many children
B. Crisis of Manhood
While the above qualities of manhood are not intrinsically evil, it is the lack of other meaningful qualities that
actually makes a real man incomplete. In other words, they
are called "half-men."
1. Men can be physically strong but without internal strength and discipline, they are unable to control their
passions and urges.
2. Powerful men who do not understand the meaning of justice, mercy, and stewardship can become corrupt
officials. Worse, they can become dictators causing the suffering of millions.
3. Prosperous men have the ability to bless others with their wealth. But without a
generous heart, selfishness can set in a man's heart causing him to acquire more
for himself but never really find any satisfaction.
Nagsabi siya ng isang talinghaga sa kanila na sinasabi: Ang bukirin ng isang mayamang lalaki ay
nagbunga ng sagana. Nag-isip siya sa kaniyang sarili. Sinabi niya: Ano ang aking gagawin? Wala akong pagiimbakan ng aking ani.Sinabi niya: Ganito ang aking gagawin. Gigibain ko ang aking kamalig at magtatayo ng
higit na malaki. Doon ko iiimbak ang lahat ng aking ani at aking mga mabuting bagay. 19 Sasabihin ko sa
aking kaluluwa: Kaluluwa, marami ka nang natipong pag-aari para sa mga darating na taon. Magpahinga ka,
kumain ka, uminom ka, at magsaya ka.Ngunit sinabi ng Diyos sa kaniya: Hangal! Sa gabing ito ay babawiin sa
iyo ang iyong kaluluwa. At kanino kaya mapupunta ang mga bagay na inihanda mo? Ganito ang mangyayari
sa kaniya na nag-iimpok ng kayamanan para sa kaniyang sarili. Hindi siya mayaman sa harap ng Diyos.
- Lukas 12:16-21
4. Men who judge their masculinity according to their sexual prowess only end up using women.
II. Bestowing Masculinity
A. No self-made man
Masculinity is not something a man discovers by himself. It is defined and bestowed upon him by other men.
1. Family -

2. Community -

3. Church

B. A Path to Authentic Manhood

Robert Lewis highlights three important elements what knighthood did for a man:
1. It provided a vision of manhood.
2. It defined a code of conduct.
The Knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood The Knights Code of Chivalry described
in the Song of Roland and an excellent representation of the Knights Codes of Chivalry are as
follows:

To fear God and maintain His Church

To serve the liege lord (a feudal superior or sovereign/ king) in valour and faith
To protect the weak and defenceless
To give succour (assistance and support in times of hardship and distress)to widows and
orphans
To refrain from the wanton giving of offence
To live by honour and for glory
To despise pecuniary reward
To fight for the welfare of all
To obey those placed in authority
To guard the honour of fellow knights
To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
To keep faith
At all times to speak the truth
To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
To respect the honour of women
Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
Never to turn the back upon a foe

Of the seventeen entries in the Knights Codes of Chivalry, according to the Song of Roland, at least 12
relate to acts of chivalry as opposed to combat.
3. It gave man a worthy cause to fight for.
III. Raising Modern-Day Knights in SFC
Raising modern day knights is not an impossible concept. Consider the similarities we already have in
community with that of the process of knighthood.

IV. Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Man?

A. What are the obstacles to becoming a modern day knight?
1. Our comfort We can become too complacent and comfortable in our routine that we are not interested in
pursuing growth and development of our values, morals, and principles. If we are to be real men, we should
not be afraid of the challenge to rise up and become even more holy and dedicated to the Lord.
2. Our tendencies We may feel unworthy of the call to become knights for God because we know we will
only fail due to our weakness. However this is exactly why we should become knights in the first place! All men
are weak and the path to knighthood will help us overcome these weaknesses. By admitting we are weak, He
will become our strength. (Read 2 Corinthians 13:9)

3. Our unwillingness We may find ourselves simply unwilling to embrace this call. Our pride in our
achievements in serving God could blind us from realizing that we are in need of constant transformation by
Christ. We must be open to the ways on how God can continually fashion us to be real men.
B. Attitudes we must take on
1. Humility God doesnt seek those who think they are something in the eyes of the world. He seeks out the
lowly just as He did when Jesus picked out his 12 disciples. Come as you are. Let God have his way with
what you can offer at this time.
2. Obedient The path to knighthood is a path of obedience to God and his Word. Obedience is a tool that
God uses to fashion us to become the man we were meant to be.
3. Available When God calls us, we must be available to heed Him. We must be ready to detach ourselves
from this world lest we suffer the same fate of the rich young man who failed to follow Christ because he was
concerned about his possessions (Luke 18:18-25).
V. Conclusion
The world is in a crisis due to the absence of real men. The consequences are tragic from
dysfunctional dads to power-hungry presidents, men have lost their true purpose. The world has defined what
manhood means. We need to unlearn all these standards and turn to Christ as the real definition of manhood.
We must look at the model of knighthood as a means to not only live out the Christian ideals but as a step to
imitating Christ. Taking on the call of being knights for God will help us to transform into the man that God
intends us to be.
VI. Questions for Discussion
1. As I growing up, who were the man that influenced my life?
2. What did these men taught me about manhood?
3. What do I think are the qualities of an authentic (real) man?
4. What has my father taught me about manhood?
5. What qualities of a knight do I want to live out in my life?