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About arise my son

paraklesis: encouraging, exhorting, and coming alongside one another, as we seek to be more like Christ. The ultimate paraklete is the Holy Spirit.

We’re a group of guys seeking to become more like Christ. We want to do it intentionally. We know that means doing it in community. We’re writing about our experiences here, and hope it can be an encouragement to you.

Interested in connecting? Reach out - we’d love to hear from you.

Why is it called arise my son?

ARISE - Throughout scripture, the theme of rising or being raised up is prevalent. This is seen most notably in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (e.g., Luke 24:1-7), where the Son of God rises from the dead, but also in those he called to rise up (Luke 7:11-17; John 5:8-9). The word "arise" often indicates a call to action or movement. It is about awakening from a state of death, complacency, or passivity and into a state of life - specifically new life in God. We seek to move from passive engagement in faith to intentional action and growth in Christ.

MY SON - The term "son" is symbolic of the identity all believers have as children of God (e.g., Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 3:26) and the shared identity we have in Christ. “My son” serves as a reminder of who we are and whose we are.

Scriptural grounding

Hebrews 3:12-14

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Philippians 1:27 (and 28-30)

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel

Hebrews 10:23-25:

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort [parakaleo] one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you

Areas of focus

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men -Colossians 3:23

Men like to be great. We play sports and seek to win. When we’ve outgrown our own playing days, we’re often rooting for a pro team or crafting our own fantasy teams to cheer to victory. Or maybe it’s vying for your voice to be heard in academia, or for the next promotion at work. We see in the Mark 10:35-37 those men closest to Jesus were no exception - jockeying to be in places of honor.

But it is telling how Jesus responds. He didn’t say “don’t strive” - he merely directs them on what that striving should look like.

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” - Mark 10:43-44

So what does looking great look like? According to scripture, it’s being a servant - taking a relational position below someone else to lift them up. Some key relationships men have that we should strive to be great in include our roles as husbands, fathers, in our church, and in our daily work.

Great Husband

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church - Ephesians 5:25-30

Great Father

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. - Ephesians 6:4

Great Church Leader

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. -1 Corinthians 12:12

Great in our Occupation

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men -Colossians 3:23