Kendrick Brothers Challenge Men to Step Up as Spiritual Leaders

By Eryn Sun, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, January 26, 2012

Men need to step up to their roles as fathers, husbands, and leaders instead of living halfheartedly, two Christian filmmaking brothers affirm.

Through The Resolution for Men, an inspiring book born out of their latest hit film "Courageous," Alex and Stephen Kendrick desire to help men do just that and "change course," becoming the men God intended.

"At home, men are notorious for being oblivious to the huge leadership vacuum their passivity creates," the brothers wrote, according to Lifeway. "They don't realize how negatively their wives and children are affected by their lack of spiritual direction and leadership."

The Kendricks state that the absence of fathers in the home today – one of the most prevalent social problems in America – caused a variety of problems among children, including crime, drug use, alcohol abuse, and behavioral issues, among other things.

Many children with absentee fathers would grow up and become dropouts, runaways or even rapists, all of which could be prevented if men began acting responsibly and courageously in the home, seeking to understand their purpose.

"A man cannot be passive about what Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end," the brothers noted.

The brothers' conviction about the need for more godly fathers led them to produce the movie "Courageous," which was released last September. As of Jan. 22, the movie – shot on a budget of $2 million – has brought in more than $34 million.

In the film, the four male characters pledge to take full responsibility for their families.

Building on the resolutions found in their movie "Courageous," produced by Sherwood Pictures, The Resolution for Men challenges men of all ages to become bold and intentional about embracing their responsibilities as leaders of their homes, marriages and children.

In the book, the Kendricks examine how to reconcile the past, re-engage in the present and move forward to pursue the character God desired in every man.

"The Resolution is a game changer," they stated. "It is a bold declaration stating that from this point on you are choosing to live for what matters most. It's established in your heart and then spoken from your lips, committing yourself to fulfill your God-given responsibilities and live your life with faith and integrity, expressing who you desire to be as a man and reminds you of your priceless influence on the next generation."

"We've met so many men who say they want to be the spiritual leaders of their homes but they've never seen what that looks like, they've never seen it modeled in their lives," Stephen Kendrick previously stated.

"The Resolution for Men unpacks the commitment that is featured in the movie 'Courageous' that the men make and we give you a vision for what it looks like for a man to spiritually lead his family from birth to death."

The first part of the book explores the impact fathers have on their children. The Kendricks voice the need for resolute men to "challenge the forces working to destroy biblical manhood such as divorce, life imbalance with work and family, inordinate amounts of hours spent seeking entertainment and even the church," Lifeway reported.

Casting a vision of biblical fatherhood, they advise on how to begin a legacy of biblical manhood and become a "chain breaker."

"What does it look like when you learn to forgive your dad if he's wounded you or hurt you and for you to begin to break the chains and leave a new legacy for your children and for your grandchildren?" Stephen said in a preview.

The next half of the book is dedicated to looking at every single resolution featured in the film including being a man of responsibility, demonstrating biblical manhood, loving wives with a Christ-like love, blessing children, and fighting for justice.

Nine appendices additionally offer insight into subjects like prayer and sex.

Though change is necessary and can be accomplished in every man, the resolutions offered in the book cannot be kept without the strength of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel, the Kendricks affirm throughout their chapters.

"We need a new generation of men like Jesus Christ … who say to God, 'Not my will, but Yours be done!' and at the end of their lives say, 'Father, I glorified You on the earth and I have completed the work You gave me to do,'" they expressed.

"By God's grace, we can each become that kind of man. A faithful man of resolution."

"We want to encourage you because our Father was a chain breaker in our lives," Stephen concluded. "He left a new legacy of spiritual legacy for us. And we're wanting men all over the world to begin to embrace God's awesome call for their lives to be the spiritual leaders of their marriages and their kids."

Authors Stephen and Alex Kendrick are both pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church. They also co-wrote the New York Times No. 1 bestseller, The Love Dare, based on their previous hit movie "Fireproof."

The B&H Publishing Group published The Resolution for Men and its companion book, The Resolution for Women, written by Priscilla Shirer. Both are designed to "inspire a revolution."

According to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, The Resolution for Men is currently ranked 11th on the ECPA Bestseller List for January 2012.