Forged Brotherhood: Michael’s Story

About The Podcast

A single dad of four in Columbus, Georgia, Michael Porter started listening to The Redeemed Man podcast two years ago and ended up becoming a leader of the ministry’s small online groups. In this week’s episode, Michael talks to Nate Dewberry about what he’s learned from other men along his way—the importance of community, the need for accountability, and the lies we believe that distance us from God.

Show Notes

Timestamps

Discussion

1. What main struggle, challenge, or shame brought you to The Redeemed community? How did you react the first time you met someone dealing with the same issues as you? Had you been convinced up to that point that nobody else was going through those problems, that nobody would be able to relate to you? 1 Corinthians 10:13

2. Discuss Michael’s observation that “your addiction can be yourself.” Have you ever gone through a period in your life when you became fixated on personal wealth, fame, or recognition but convinced yourself you didn’t have anything to worry about because you weren’t addicted to anything like drugs or pornography? Proverbs 16:18

3. Along the same lines, have you ever made an “idol” out of something that, on the surface, didn’t seem negative or self-destructive—your job, a hobby, or even one of your kid’s interests that started out benign but became unhealthy because you placed too much of your self-worth in it? Colossians 3:5

4. Of all the groups you’ve been part of in your life, particularly groups of men, to which one did you feel the greatest sense of responsibility? Why do you think you felt such a strong bond and intense desire not to disappoint those people?

5. Have you ever been in a position where life circumstances (for example, relocation, new job, school transfer, etc.) forced you to leave one group of people and begin building ties with another? What was the hardest part of that transition for you? How did you go about building bonds with a new group? Did you find that you were able to offer them something unique? Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

6. Michael says the two lies Satan works hardest to make us believe are “I’m too far gone” and “God can’t use me.” Talk about a time in your life when you convinced yourself of one (or both) of those false statements. What circumstances brought you to that point? Did your belief in those lies cause you to miss out on any valuable life opportunities? How were you eventually able to break free of those lies and live into the reality of God’s mercy and plan for you? 1 Timothy 1:15-16