Cross Training Ministries Podcast

No one seems to know what it means to be a man.  Joe Barnard gives us some clarity.  Here are five theses on manhood. Need more help? Go to https://www.xtrainingministries.com/

In this final episode of this mini-series, we discuss ten rules for fighting against Satan's devices. Walk by the Rule of the Word of God. Make the Bible your guide and authority. Obeying God’s Word keeps you in the safest path, while abandoning it opens the door to Satan’s devices. Beware of Grieving the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps you discern Satan’s snares and gives s...

Men, you need to be equipped to fight back against sin and temptation. This is the second of a three episode mini-series where we are learning from puritan Thomas Brooks on how to recognize Satan's tactics and strategies of temptation. Need more help fighting sin? Check out Joe's book Surviving the Trenches .

Men, you need to be equipped to fight back against sin and temptation. Join us as we learn from puritan Thomas Brooks on how to recognize Satan's tactics and strategies of temptation. Need more help fighting sin? Check out Joe's book Surviving the Trenches .

We live in a time of unprecedented religious interest among men. Are you equipped to help the spiritually curious men around you get on a path of growing in Christ? Don't leave your friends spiritually stuck. Get a copy of Joe's newest book The Road Back to God - it's a guide for men who are dissatisfied by the modern world.

Can you relate to any of the following... starting prayer and then getting distracted starting prayer and then abruptly ending it starting prayer and giving up because nothing seems to be happening  starting prayer and then giving up for no reason at all In our last episode of this series, we're going to trouble-shoot some of our common prayer problems with Richard Baxter.

The idea of preaching the gospel to yourself seems to have gained a lot of traction over the past few years. This is, however, an old tactic used by Christians throughout history to fight for a heavenly mind. Richard Baxter is chief among these. In this episode Baxter coaches us on the work of consideration, wrestling with reason, activating the affections, preaching to yourself, and more. A few q...

In this episode Andy, Joe, and Evan break down Richard Baxter's definition of heavenly contemplation. They also talk about the best time (specific, frequent, seasonable), place (in private), and temper (a clear and solemn mind) for practicing this discipline. Baxter's definition of heavenly contemplation: the set and solemn setting of all the powers of your soul in meditation upon your e...

In Scotland, there are hills full of sheep. If you watch closely, you can see sheep doing a lot of things - but there is one thing I've never seen a sheep do: look up at the sky .  You can have a brilliant sunrise in the sky, or there can be a million shining stars with a glorious full moon, but the sheep never look up - in most cases there faces are always in one position: l ooking down at t...

Men are passive about their thought life and emotional life. We act as if our thoughts and emotions are like the weather: beyond our reach and out of our control. This is strange. There are a lot of trustworthy Christian guides from the past that indicate that there are ways in which we can direct our mind . One of the greatest of these guides is Richard Baxter. In this series we're going to...

Each generation of men come with their own unique traits and worldview.  How do you take a group of men, men of all ages, and lead them on a path of discipleship? In this episode, my friend Jason Wood helps me wrestle with this question. Jason is the Pastor at Faith Presbyterian Church in Covington Louisiana, and is on the front lines of discipling men. Listen in as he shares insights about discip...

What are the unique challenges and opportunities when discipling Boomers? Joe and Evan discuss strategies that work and don't work when reaching Boomer men for spiritual growth. If you want help discipling one of your friends - no matter what generation they come from - you can get helpful resources from our website. https://www.xtrainingministries.com/

What are the unique challenges and opportunities of discipling men of Gen X? Listen to find out strategies for reaching men of Gen X for spiritual growth. If you need help discipling your friends - no matter what generation they come from - check out our website to get resources that will help you along your journey. https://www.xtrainingministries.com/

What are the unique challenges and opportunities that come with discipling men of the Millennial generation?  Joe, Evan, and Andy discuss the unique characteristics of Millennials, and the best strategies for inspiring them toward spiritual growth. They also discuss five hard truths that Millennials need to swallow (all taken from Richard Rohr).  Life is hard You are not that important Your life i...

We're kicking off a new short series answering the question: What are the unique challenges of discipling men of each generation? In this episode we'll look at Gen Z. What are the unique traits of this generation? What are the strategies and tactics that will help you disciple Gen Z men? Listen to find out. Also, you'll hear a new voice this episode. A true Scotsman, Andy Murray, wi...

What comes to your mind when you hear the term "toxic masculinity"? In this episode, Joe and Evan discuss Nancy Pearcey's book, and talk about the different types of masculinity that have surfaced throughout history. Which type of masculinity is informing the way you treat your family, your work, your vision for life? The 5 types of masculinity we discuss: Charles Ingalls Elon Musk...

What is a manly man? This week Joe and Evan read Mansfield's Book of Manly Men - and pulled out key insights for ordinary Christian men. In this conversation they answer: What is manliness? Do we see it in the Bible? Is it a virtue? What is at the core of manliness? What are optional cultural accessories? What are the dangers/distortions of manliness? How do you develop manliness? Subscribe t...

What does it mean to be a man? This week Joe and Evan read Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, and discuss the insights that are helpful for ordinary men. Subscribe to our newsletter to get blog posts, book summaries, and conversation guides for all of the books covered in this series.

In this episode Joe and Evan discuss J.C. Ryle's book Thoughts for Young Men . Ryle is helpful in urging young men toward godliness. Godliness is not a extra feature of manhood. Men are made for God therefore mature men are godly men. Godliness is both the destination of the manhood journey and the road. Check out Joe's book Surviving the Trenches for more help on the road to godliness.

Is there a pathway out of boyhood and into manhood?  This week Joe and Evan interact with Jason Craig's book Leaving Boyhood Behind. Jason says, "masculinity is a gift that is received and responded to". Learn what this means, and how it fits into Joe and Evan's ongoing journey toward a clearer definition of Biblical masculinity.

What are the differences between a boy and a man? What are the roles that boys need to be raised to fill? How can we form boys to become the men that our families, churches, and communities need? These are the questions that Doug Wilson tries to answer in his book Future Men.  In this episode, Joe and Evan interact with Doug's book as they continue their journey to bring clarity to the questi...

We're on a journey to bring clarity to the question: "What does it mean to be a man?" Along the way, we are going to read and interact with a variety of books that attempt to answer this question.  First up: The Masculine Mandate by Richard Phillips This book gives us the opportunity to think about God's design for men as outlined in Genesis. We'll talk about bearing God&a...

During the Christmas season it’s easy to be distracted by busyness. We want to help you to break through the overwhelm of this Christmas season, and set your mind on Christ. Download the hymn and follow along. Looking for a guide to more meditations like this? Check out Hymn Workouts

If you've been a Christian for any length of time, then you've likely attended some sort of conference or retreat. And if you haven't, then you've at least seen them promoted online, in a podcast, or through your local church. These events have become a staple in the modern Christian life. So...what's the big deal?? Is it really worth your time and effort to attend a weeke...

Men need mentors. Every man has a critical juncture ahead of him in life - leaving home, getting married, having kids, career change, mid-life crisis - where he will need the hard won wisdom of another man who has walked with God through the challenges of life. This episode of the Cross Training podcast is all about helping you see the value of a mentor. Joe and Evan are going to show you the path...