MENS 252 WEEK 1 | Pastor Eddie Vargas
MENS 252 WEEK 1
Luke 2:52 tells us that as a young man, Jesus increased in four key areas:
Luke 2:52 NIV
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
Wisdom (mental health & spiritual discernment)
Stature (physical health)
Favor with God (spiritual)
Favor with man (social & relational influence)
2. This is the 252 Challenge – four quadrants where every man is called to grow intentionally so we can fulfill God's purpose over our lives.
a. Jesus modeled spiritually balanced and holistic growth, and as men, we're invited to follow His example in these areas.
I. OUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION IS ESSENTIAL
Every man and disciple of Jesus must start by laying down a strong spiritual foundation in Christ.
a. Without this foundation, every area we try to grow in crumbles into failure, hurt, and dangerous religious works.
Jesus grew in favor with God through obedience to God, His will, His prayer life, and His intimacy with the Father.
1 Corinthians 3:11
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
John Maxwell says:
"Growth doesn’t happen by accident; growth happens by design."
Colossians 2:6–7
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith."
Quote:
"A man without a deep root in Christ is like a house built on sand—impressive on the outside, but it won't stand when storms hit."
John 15:5
"Apart from Me you can do nothing."
We can build careers, companies, and accomplishments, but without God we lack eternal structural integrity in our foundation.
Pastor Tony Evans says:
“A kingdom man is a man who positions himself under God’s rule and brings God’s rule into everything around him.”
So before we lead our families, before we lead teams, before we lead businesses—first and above all else—we must be led by the Spirit and the Word of God.
(Q) Ask yourselves honestly: How can I improve, and what actions do I need to take to grow in this area?
II. A new Creation has Mental Freedom
1.Men are called to live mentally free with the mind of Christ.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
a. Too many of us are bound by worry, anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, and negative thinking.
·Jesus grew in wisdom – not just knowledge, but godly discernment and peace.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Philippians 4:6-7 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Quote: "The battle for a man's life is often won or lost in his mind. Renew it daily in Christ, and you'll walk in true freedom."
2.Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Replace lies with God’s truth. Guard your inputs – media, conversations, entertainment.
a.Choose mental freedom: forgiveness, gratitude, and focus on what's pure & Holy.
Philippians 4:8-9
8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
A free mind leads to clear decisions, stronger leadership, and peace that draws others to Christ.
·You were never meant to live in confusion but in wisdom, know how to apply the truth of God’s word in every area of our lives.
(Q) What has you confused? What has you living with anxiety, doubt & depression?
Confusion causes anxiety. Not knowing what to do can become a vicious stronghold that must be pulled down and torn apart by the truth that sets us free!
·Jesus is that truth!
1 Corinthians 14:33
33 For God is not the author of [a]confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
This is why our foundation in Christ and His Holy Spirit is so important…
Romans 8:5-6
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(Q) Ask yourselves and be honest… How can I improve and what actions do I need to take to grow in this area.
III. Financial Freedom is OUR goal
Proverbs 22:7
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."
1.Stewardship of finances in the Bible is .
a.Scripture repeatedly connects money, the heart, faithfulness, worship, and obedience to God. In fact, how a person handles money is often presented as a direct indicator of their spiritual condition.
2.Financial Stewardship Reveals the Condition of the Heart
a. Jesus directly tied money to the heart.
Matthew 6:21Jesus said:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
b. Money reveals what we love, trust, and prioritize.
Matthew 6:24:
“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.”
·
This shows that money competes for lordship in the human heart.
Theologian John Wesley famously said: “Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
·His point was that money becomes spiritual when it is governed by God’s purposes rather than human greed.
3.Stewardship Is a Test of Spiritual Faithfulness… Jesus explicitly taught that how we handle money is a test of spiritual trustworthiness.
Luke 16:10–11 NIV Jesus said:
“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much… If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
a. Notice what Jesus calls money: “worldly wealth.” Yet He says how we handle it determines whether God entrusts us with spiritual things.
Stewardship therefore becomes a training ground for spiritual maturity.
4. Financial Stewardship Is an Act of Worship
a. Giving and generosity are described in Scripture as worship offered to God.
In Proverbs 3:9:
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your crops.”
·The key word is honor. Money becomes an instrument of worship when it is placed under God’s authority.
b.Paul also described generosity as a spiritual sacrifice in…
Philippians 4:18:
“They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
OUR MONEY AND HOW WE USE IT MATTERS TO GOD!
5. Stewardship Demonstrates the level of our Trust in God!
a. Financial stewardship often requires faith and dependence.
Luke 12:15
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Greed reflects misplaced trust in wealth, while stewardship reflects trust in God.
1 Timothy 6:17:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth… but to put their hope in God.”
Pastor Tim Keller once said: “Jesus talked about money more than almost anything else because money is where we most quickly replace God.”
6. Generosity Advances God’s Kingdom
a. Financial stewardship becomes spiritual because resources fuel the mission of God.
2 Corinthians 9:6–8:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly… God loves a cheerful giver.”
Generosity becomes a way believers participate in God’s work in the world.
7. The Bible treats money as spiritual because it involves:
a. The heart — what we love and prioritize (Matthew 6:21)
b. Faithfulness — a test of trustworthiness (Luke 16:10–11)
c. Worship — honoring God with resources (Proverbs 3:9)
d. Trust — reliance on God instead of wealth (1 Timothy 6:17)
e. Stewardship — managing what belongs to God (Psalm 24:1)
f. Kingdom impact — advancing God’s work (2 Corinthians 9:6–8)
Because of these truths, money is one of the most spiritual subjects in the Bible.
In fact, Jesus spoke about money and possessions more than almost any other topic, because financial stewardship reveals who truly rules the human heart.
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
"Financial bondage keeps men from their calling. True freedom comes from stewardship: work diligently, give generously, save wisely, and trust God as Provider."
(Q) How do I break a cycle of constant debt
Answer > Learn to trust God in tithing faithfully. Budget with purpose. Live below your means so you can give above.
·When we're financially free, we lead our families with confidence and serve the kingdom without distraction.
(Q) Ask yourselves and be honest… How can I improve and what actions do I need to take to grow in this area.
IV. WE all need to focus on OUR Physical Health – Stature
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."
1.Men are supposed to be physically healthy to fulfill God's call.
a.Our bodies are tools for ministry – strong enough to serve, enduring enough to persevere.
·Jesus grew in stature, preparing His body for the demands of His mission.
Proverbs 3:7-8
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
Quote: "A weak body limits a strong calling. Honor God by stewarding your health – eat wisely, move intentionally, rest well."
Prioritize sleep, nutrition, exercise, and avoiding excess. Physical vitality equips us to lead families, serve in church, and endure trials.
a.Your body is God's temple – treat it that way.
Closing Declaration >Brothers, stand with me if you're able.
(Q) Ask yourselves and be honest… How can I improve and what actions do I need to take to grow in this area.
Let's declare this together:"In the name of Jesus Christ, I commit to the 252 Challenge. I will lay a rock-solid spiritual foundation in Christ alone.
I will live in mental freedom with the mind of Christ over every thought and worry.
I will pursue financial freedom through wise stewardship and generous living.
I will honor God with a physically healthy body, strong for His calling.
Like my Lord and Savior Jesus, I will grow in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man.
I am not my own – I am bought with a price. I declare victory over bondage, weakness, and distraction.
Today, I step into the 252 MAN God created me to be – for His glory, my family, and the kingdom. Amen!"
