Prophet, Priest, King, Warrior: Are You Filling Each Role?

About The Podcast

Pastor IV Marsh doesn’t have a typical living situation—he and his wife, their adult children, spouses, and their grandchildren all live under one roof. And that’s just the beginning. In this week’s episode, IV sits down with Nate Dewberry to discuss his unconventional life and what he thinks about the evolving role of men in the home, the tension between being a father and a friend, and how churches can do a better job of embracing and engaging masculinity in the church.

Show Notes

Timestamps

Discussion

1. Imagine you had a living situation like IV’s, with three generations living under one roof (If you’re a grandfather like IV, you’re living with your kids and grandkids; if you’re not, imagine you’re living with your parents and your own children.). What would that household look like? What would be challenging? What might be some added joys and benefits

2. Growing up, what were your parents’ expectations around independence once you or your siblings turned 18? What kind of support, financial or otherwise, could you expect when it came to college, living expenses, etc.? Did you feel like your parents still wanted to have a close relationship with you even after you left home? How did their expectations and desires shape you as a young adult?

3. Looking back on your relationship with your father as a young man, would you ever describe it as a friendship? Has it evolved into a friendly relationship as the two of you have gotten older? Would you describe your relationship with your own kids as a friendship (or friend-like)? Explain.

4. Have you ever made a bargain with God like the one IV made when his middle son was born prematurely? What did you want from God, and what did you promise him you would do in return? Did that experience deepen your relationship with God, or did it stay more transactional, based on what you needed from him?

5. Discuss the “prophet, priest, king, and warrior” concept. Which role do you feel is most natural for you? Which role do you struggle the most to fulfill? Why do you think that is?

6. Now let’s focus on the “warrior” role. How did your dad fill that role when you were a child? Did he make your family and those around him feel safe? Or did he make people feel uncomfortable or threatened? How has that made an impact on the way you perform the “warrior” role in your own household?

7. How do you approach situations where you’re not an expert, or where there’s a real chance of failure? Do you see these challenges as opportunities for personal growth, or does the chance of failure cause you to shy away from them entirely? If it’s the latter, has that caused you to miss out on opportunities you now regret passing up?

8. What does healthy masculinity look like to you? What are some cultural situations in which masculinity is expressed in an unhealthy way? On the whole, do you demonstrate healthy masculinity? If not, what are some ways in which you are likely to express unhealthy masculinity

9. Does your church offer any events or opportunities designed to appeal to men specifically? Have you participated in any of them, and do you think they do a good job of keeping men engaged? If not, what are some things you’d like your church to offer instead?