What Makes A Man | 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Published June 24, 2026
"What Makes a Man?" Father's Day sermon by Austin Garrett — 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, June 21, 2026, with silhouettes of a father and two children at sunset

A Disney movie might not be where you expect a lifelong question to begin—but for one pastor, it was.

As a kid, he watched Mulan on repeat. One song in particular stuck with him: “Make a Man Out of You.” It raised a question that followed him from childhood into adulthood, through friendships, through seasons of growth, and eventually into fatherhood:

What makes a man?

It is a question many men ask. Culture offers plenty of answers- strength, success, charisma, confidence, but they often feel incomplete. For some, the search becomes even more personal when responsibility grows: marriage, children, leadership, legacy.

But Scripture does not leave us guessing.

A Better Definition of Manhood

In 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (NIV), the apostle Paul gives a clear and compelling picture: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

In a world full of confusion about masculinity, this passage offers something better, not a cultural stereotype, but a Christ-centered calling.

Paul is writing to a church in Corinth marked by compromise, division, and immaturity. His closing words function like a final charge, a rallying call for faithful living. At the center is the command to “act like men,” surrounded by four defining traits that show us what that actually means.

1. A Man Is Watchful

To be watchful is to live with spiritual awareness.

Jesus used this same language in the Garden of Gethsemane, urging His disciples to stay alert so they would not fall into temptation. Likewise, 1 Peter 5:8 warns that our enemy prowls like a lion, looking for someone to devour.

This is not about paranoia; it is about preparedness.

A godly man pays attention to his vulnerabilities. He knows where he is most tempted, whether in pride, anger, lust, passivity, or distraction, and he guards those areas intentionally. He does not drift through life unaware; he stays spiritually awake.

2. A Man Stands Firm

To stand firm is to persevere.

Life will test every man. There will be seasons of loss, uncertainty, conflict, and pain. The question is not whether hardship will come; it is whether you will remain faithful when it does.

Standing firm means refusing to give up on your faith when life gets hard. It means holding your ground when compromise would be easier.

James 1 reminds us that trials produce perseverance, and perseverance produces maturity. Over time, steadfast faith shapes men to look more like Jesus.

3. A Man Is Strong

Biblical strength is not about physical power or outward toughness; it is about deep trust in God.

In Joshua 1:9, strength and courage are rooted in one truth: “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

A strong man is not self-reliant; he is God-reliant.

He faces challenges with confidence, not because he has all the answers, but because he knows who does. His strength is revealed in faith, humility, and obedience.

4. A Man Loves

This may be the most surprising, and most important, command of all.

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

The word Paul uses is agape: a self-sacrificing, others-first love. It is the same love God showed us through Jesus.

In a culture that often equates love with weakness, Scripture declares the opposite. Love is strength at its fullest expression.

This love shows up in everyday moments:

  • In how a father speaks to his children

  • In how a husband navigates conflict

  • In how a son cares for aging parents

  • In how a man treats strangers, coworkers, and even difficult people

Not some things. Not when it is easy. Everything.

The Foundation: A Father’s Love

At the heart of this calling is not performance, but identity.

We do not strive to become men so that God will love us. We pursue godly manhood because He already does.

Jesus told a story about a father whose son ran away, squandered everything, and returned home expecting rejection. Instead, the father ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.

That father is a picture of God.

He is watchful, waiting for His children.
He stands firm, never abandoning them.
He is strong, able to save and restore.
And He does everything in love.

This is the love we have received, and the love we are called to reflect.

Becoming the Man God Created You to Be

So, what makes a man?

Not culture.
Not charisma.
Not status or success.

A man is watchful.
A man stands firm.
A man is strong.
A man does everything in love.

And ultimately, a man looks like Jesus.

If you read that list and feel like you fall short, you are not alone. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has already succeeded where we have failed. He was watchful where we were careless, steadfast where we wavered, strong where we were weak, and loving even in the face of our sin.

Through Him, we are not just forgiven, we are formed.

At The Crossing, this is the kind of manhood worth pursuing. Not for our sake alone, but for our families, our church, and our community.

Because when men live this way, it is better for everyone.

And it all starts here: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Ready to Go Deeper?

1. Watch the Full Message
This blog is based on the sermon "What Makes A Man | 1 Corinthians 16:13–14." Watch the full message in our sermon library and hear it the way it was preached.

What Makes A Man

2. Explore the Men's Summit Series
Want to go even further? Our Men's Summit 2026 series tackles the real battles men face — passivity, pride, lust, anxiety, and isolation — with biblical honesty and practical truth. It's one of the most direct conversations we've had about manhood.

Men's Summit Playlist

3. Find Your People in a LifeGroup
The qualities in 1 Corinthians 16 — watchfulness, steadfastness, strength, love — don't grow in isolation. They grow in community. LifeGroups are where men sharpen each other, do life together, and walk out their faith week to week.

LifeGroups

-Post contributed & edited by Dave, one of our amazing volunteers!

In 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, the apostle Paul gives a closing charge to the church in Corinth: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Paul was writing to a church marked by division and immaturity, and these verses function as a final rallying call for faithful, mature Christian living. The passage outlines four defining qualities — watchfulness, steadfastness, strength, and love — and presents them as the standard for how followers of Jesus should live.

According to 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, a godly man is defined by four qualities: he is watchful (spiritually alert and aware of his vulnerabilities), he stands firm (persevering in faith through hardship), he is strong (trusting in God rather than relying on himself), and he loves (acting with self-sacrificing, agape love in every area of life). These are not cultural ideals — they are a Christ-centered calling rooted in Scripture.

The phrase "act like men" in 1 Corinthians 16:13 is not a call to cultural stereotypes of toughness or dominance. In its original context, Paul is urging the church to move from spiritual immaturity to courageous, Christ-like living. To "act like men" means to be watchful against temptation, to stand firm under pressure, to draw strength from God, and to do everything in love. True biblical manhood is defined by Christlike character, not cultural performance.

Agape is the Greek word Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 16:14 — "Let all that you do be done in love." It describes a self-sacrificing, others-first love — the same love God demonstrated toward us through Jesus. Unlike emotional or romantic love, agape is an active, intentional choice to put others above yourself. For men, this means leading with love at home, in relationships, at work, and in the community. Far from being a sign of weakness, agape love is strength at its fullest expression.

The love described in 1 Corinthians 16:14 shows up in the ordinary moments of family life — in how a husband navigates conflict with patience, in how a father speaks to his children with encouragement, in how a man remains present and engaged rather than passive or distracted. The other qualities apply too: a godly husband is watchful over his home, stands firm when life gets hard, and draws his strength from God rather than from his own self-sufficiency.

Yes. The Bible's call to godly manhood is rooted in identity, not performance. We don't pursue these qualities to earn God's love — we pursue them because He already loves us. The gospel declares that Jesus has already succeeded where every man has fallen short. He was watchful, steadfast, strong, and loving in ways none of us can fully be on our own. Through faith in Him, we are not just forgiven — we are being formed. Past failure is not disqualifying; it is the very place where grace begins.