2026 Week 8 GraceMen Weekly Update

Brothers, as we step into Week 8, we’re reminded that following Jesus is not something we were ever meant to do alone. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. This week’s focus invites us to slow down, look around, and ask who near us is carrying more than they can handle. Renewing your mind is not just about what you think in private, but how you show up in the lives of other men in real, practical ways. As you read, pray, and reflect, ask the Lord to open your eyes to one brother whose load you can help shoulder and trust that as you do, He is quietly reshaping your mind to look more like the mind of Christ.

Prayer:

God, help me to bear the burdens of my brothers and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Meditation: 

We are not meant to follow Christ in isolation. Who is carrying a load right now that you could help shoulder?

Quote:

John Calvin “‘Bear one another’s burdens.’ The weaknesses and sins under which we groan are called burdens. Nothing is more suitable in this exhortation than to remind us that our brothers’ sins and sorrows are weights we are called to help carry, not stones to throw at them.”

Events:

Thursday - February 19, 2026

• Morning Bible Study - 6am thru 7:15am 
• At the Church in the Prayer Room
• Beginning our new series "Everyday Wisdom: Walking with Christ & One Another through the Book of Proverbs"
• Ian McConnell will be facilitating "Wisdom vs. Folly"

Saturday - February 21, 2026

Morning Bible Study - 7am

• At the Church in the Prayer Room
• We will be in Week 6 of our 10 Week study on John Calvins "On the Christian Life"
• Facilitator: Eugene Allen
• Let Eugene Allen know if you are interesting in joining in.

Book Recommendation:

Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love by Edward T. Welch

Men often struggle with the very things Edward Welch addresses most directly in Side by Side: the reluctance to admit weakness, the discomfort of asking for help, and the tendency to keep relationships at a safe, surface level. Cultural expectations of masculinity frequently equate strength with self-sufficiency and silence, leaving many men isolated in their struggles with sin, anxiety, marriage difficulties, vocational stress, and spiritual dryness. Welch dismantles this false equation with a liberating biblical truth—your neediness is not a sign of failure; it is the very thing that qualifies you to walk alongside others.

For men who feel unequipped to have meaningful spiritual conversations, this book is remarkably practical. Welch does not ask you to become a therapist or a preacher. He teaches you how to ask better questions, how to listen beneath the surface, how to sit with a friend in pain without rushing to fix things, and how to speak honestly about sin without self-righteousness. These are skills that transform marriages, friendships, fathering, and leadership in the local church.

Perhaps most importantly, Welch addresses the pride that keeps men from confessing sin and seeking prayer from other believers. He normalizes vulnerability not as weakness but as the posture God designed for his people—dependent on him and interdependent with one another. The men who lead best, love best, and endure best are not the ones who appear to have it all together; they are the ones humble enough to say “I need help” and courageous enough to step into another man’s mess and say “I’m here.”

If you are a man who wants deeper friendships, a stronger marriage, and a more Christ-shaped presence in your church, Side by Side is an essential read.

New Blog Articles:

A Year of Biblical Manhood: Introducing Our 2026 Content Strategy

The Prize: What Are We Actually Running And Fighting For?

Navigating Anxiety as Men of Faith: A Biblical Guide to Finding Peace

Strengthening Your Marriage Through Better Communication: Practical Steps for Husbands

Coram Deo,
GraceMen