Men's Rally - Session 1 - Introduction - Wayne Jones
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Wayne Jones opened the Men's Rally at Linder Road Church of Christ by introducing the theme "Rooted and Grounded," which had been an underlying focus in the congregation for two years. Jones shared his background as a preacher since age 13 and current role as president of Bear Valley Bible Institute, emphasizing his genuine excitement to minister to the men present. He challenged a common stereotype that men cannot or will not change, arguing instead that churches have sometimes underinvested in men's spiritual development compared to women's or youth events. Jones asserted that simply being a church member, Bible class teacher, or holding a role does not automatically qualify men for the work God has called them to do. The session was designed to answer two foundational questions: What is our purpose as Christian men, and what type of men are we actually called to be? Jones introduced the central biblical image of a tree planted by rivers of water from Psalm 1, explaining that God's nature is to plant and root believers in His Word. This metaphor of being rooted by water serves as the foundation for understanding how God establishes and strengthens men in their faith, setting the tone for the remainder of the weekend's teachings.
Key Scriptures
he will be like a tree planted by rivers of water