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Day 1: The Fumble – Dropping the Ball of Discipleship

In this study, we will reference the word Patros; it is a Greek word found throughout the Bible. It's a term and title of honor, it can be translated to mean leader, elder or father; it refers to a man of faith. A Patros is a man who seeks to positively impact his family, his community and the world.

In the game of football, a fumble changes the momentum if the defense strips the ball and it hits the turf, and everyone scrambles. Here is the hard truth as men, we’ve fumbled the responsibility of fatherhood and discipleship, and passing the faith forward; and the next generation is paying the price. But the good news is there’s still time to recover the ball.

From Abraham to Jesus, there was a clear handoff. Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaac fathered Jacob. Jacob’s lineage led to the Lion of Judah—Jesus. The faith was passed forward; one man to the next. But today, so many men are sitting on the sidelines while the game is being played. We've stopped passing on wisdom, identity, and purpose to the next generation.

Jesus didn’t just show up out of nowhere—He came from a long line of faithful men who, despite their flaws, chose to walk with God and raise up sons and spiritual sons who would do the same. This is the call of Matthew 28: go and make disciples; pass the faith forward. It's not optional and it's God’s game-winning strategy for eternity!

So maybe you have fumbled in the past, but now it is the time to "pick up the ball" and run the play of passing forward the faith.

Call to Action:
Identify one younger man in your life. Reach out. Make time. Start the hand-off of the faith.

Patros Prayer:
Father God,
I confess I’ve dropped the ball with discipleship at times. Help me recover it with purpose. I want to be a man who passes down faith, wisdom, and courage. Use me to disciple the next generation, and make me bold enough to stand in the gap and help others grow closer to You!
In Jesus' Name, Amen!