Agora for Men!

Week 1.

We're All A Bit Like Jacob.

You know that feeling when Jacob in the Bible, in Genesis 28:16 (ESV), wakes up and says, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it"? Let's be honest, we're pretty good at keeping things in separate boxes, aren't we? Sundays, we might nod along, acknowledge God's there, that he's got a role in our lives. But then Monday rolls around, we're back on the tools, or in the office, and suddenly it's like he's taken a break. We go about our week like his truth doesn't matter much to our Monday-to-Saturday grind.

But He's Not Just a Sunday God.

The God who made the whole universe, including those long work weeks, is not just a Sunday God. He's always there, always relevant. Think about what it says in Jeremiah 23:24 (ESV): "Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him?" declares the Lord. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the Lord. He's everywhere, not just in the church.

The Trap of Going It Alone.

Initially, it feels good to crack on ourselves, get a bit of credit, and make some headway. But sooner or later, we all hit that wall where we realise true meaning, true purpose, it isn’t found when we cut God out of the picture. The longer we try to live that lie, the more those weekdays feel hollow and pointless.

Finding Holy Ground in the Everyday.

But here's the good news: if we decide to actually look for him, right where we are, where we spend most of our waking hours, we can start to regain that meaning. We can figure out why he's got us in these spots and what he has planned for us there. And guess what? Those everyday moments, those work sites, those kitchen tables – they can become holy ground too.

So, What's Next?

It's pretty simple, really.

• Open your mind: Start genuinely believing that God is with you, right now, this very day, this whole week.

• Ask him to show up: Don't just expect him in church. Ask him to make himself known in your work, in your home, in the thick of it all.

• Turn your thoughts to him: Deliberately focus on him, especially in those moments or places where, in the past, you've completely forgotten about him.

It's about shifting your perspective, recognising that the God of the universe isn't just for Sundays, but for every single moment of your life. It makes sense, doesn't it?