Disciplines of a Godly Man

1.Hughes references Job's covenant with his eyes (Job 31:1) as a model for proactive purity. What does it mean to make a "covenant" with your eyes rather than simply trying harder in the moment of temptation? What is the practical difference?

1.Hughes frames a husband's love for his wife through the lens of Ephesians 5 — a self-giving, sacrificial love modeled on Christ's love for the Church. In what ways does this standard feel impossibly high, and in what ways does it feel genuinely motivating?

1.Hughes opens with the sobering reality that many men are physically present in their homes but emotionally and spiritually absent. What distinguishes a father who is merely *there* from one who is genuinely *engaged*?

1.Hughes notes that many men have acquaintances but very few — sometimes zero — genuine friends. Is that true of you? When was the last time another man truly knew what was going on inside your soul?

1.Hughes argues that the Christian mind does not develop automatically — it must be cultivated. What does it mean to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2) in practice? How is this different from just "reading more"?

1.Hughes points to Jesus himself as the primary model of devotional discipline — a man who, despite the demands of ministry, consistently withdrew to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). What does it say about the priority of devotion that *Jesus* needed this time — and what does it say about us when we skip it?

1.Hughes observes that prayer is the discipline most Christians feel guiltiest about and least satisfied with. Does that describe you? Why do you think prayer is so persistently difficult — even for men who are otherwise serious about their faith?

1.Hughes argues that a godly man makes corporate worship a non-negotiable priority — not attending when convenient but showing up as an act of covenant faithfulness. How have you thought about church attendance — as a priority or as one option among many?

1.Hughes defines integrity as wholeness — the word comes from the same root as "integer," a whole number. What does it mean for a man to be "whole" — undivided between his public and private selves? Where do you experience the most division?

1.James famously compares the tongue to a ship's rudder — a small thing that steers an enormous vessel (James 3:4). Hughes applies this to a man's life: the way you speak determines far more about the direction of your relationships and leadership than you might realize. Do you believe that? What evidence do you see of it in your own life?

1.Hughes grounds his discussion in the creation mandate — God placed Adam in the garden "to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15) *before* the Fall. What does it mean that work is a pre-Fall gift rather than a post-Fall curse? How should this change a Christian man's attitude toward his vocation?

1.The image in Hebrews 12 is of a long-distance race, not a sprint. Hughes argues that the Christian life is more like a marathon than a series of dramatic moments. Does your spiritual life feel more like a sustained run or a series of starts and stops? What accounts for the difference?

1.Hughes challenges the "Lone Ranger Christian" — the man who believes he can grow spiritually without meaningful involvement in a local church. What is wrong with this approach, theologically and practically? Have you ever been tempted toward it?

1.Jesus said "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). Hughes uses this to argue that a man's bank statements are a more accurate spiritual diagnostic than his prayer requests. What does your current financial behavior reveal about what you actually treasure?

1.Jesus redefines greatness as servanthood in Mark 10:42–45 — "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." Hughes argues this is not the absence of leadership but a transformed kind of leadership. What is the difference between servant leadership and simply refusing to lead?

1.Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we should glorify God in our bodies. Hughes argues this has practical implications for how men care for their health. How seriously have you taken this theological reality in your everyday physical habits?

1.Paul says he has "learned" contentment (Philippians 4:11) — implying it was not natural to him and required a process. Hughes argues contentment is a discipline, not a temperament. What is the difference between someone who is naturally easygoing and someone who has learned genuine contentment?

1.Hughes distinguishes between selfish ambition (condemned in Philippians 2:3 and James 3:14) and what he calls "godly ambition" — the burning desire to please God and advance his kingdom. In your current life, which kind of ambition is most in evidence? How do you tell the difference from the inside?

1.Looking back across all eighteen chapters, which single discipline was most convicting or most challenging for you — and why do you think that particular area hit so hard?