Men, The Ascent begins September 14. This is our next 40-day challenge, and we are going up the mountain with Jesus. For 40 days, we are walking through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ clearest teaching on what life in the Kingdom actually looks like. This is not just another Bible study. This is formation. Jesus steps onto the mountain and confronts everything we chase, fear, worship, hide, and call strength. He flips our view of the Kingdom upside down. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Love your enemies. Pray in secret. Fast without performing. Do not store up treasures on earth. Do not be anxious. Seek first the Kingdom. That is the road we are walking for The Ascent. And we are not meant to walk it alone. So here is the charge: Start building your fire team now. Who are the two to four men you know, like, and trust? Who are your ride or dies? Who are the men you want beside you as you follow Jesus? Who are the men you are willing to open Scripture with, pray with, tell the truth with, and surrender with? Start there. Forge Tribe is not trying to administratively manufacture brotherhood. We are not saying, “Come join our friend group.” The invitation is not just to enter our brotherhood. The invitation is to bring the gospel into yours. If The Crucible meant something to you, do not just consume what God gave you. Steward it. Invite somebody. And do not just invite men who will participate. Invite men who will invite men. Invite men who can gather their own two to four guys and bring the gospel into their brotherhood too. That is the heart of this. 2 Corinthians says, “For the love of Christ controls us.” It says we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. That is not abstract. That is not just for pastors or missionaries. That is your actual life. Your friends. Your brothers. Your roommates. Your coworkers. Your unit. Your golf group. The men God has already placed near you.

Brothers, our next 6-week Fire Team study starts the week of June 7 and runs through July 18. We’ll be walking through Joby Martin’s book, Stand Firm and Act Like Men: Becoming the Man You Were Created to Be Instead of Who the World Says You Are. This is not a book club. It is not a classroom. It is a Fire Team. Each week, we’ll read one chapter, do the “Doing the Stuff” challenge, meet with 3–5 men, and talk honestly about what happened in real life. The goal is simple: transformation over information, obedience over knowledge, honesty over image management, and brotherhood over isolation. Here’s how it works: - Join a Fire Team of 3–5 men. - Read only the assigned chapter each week. - Do the weekly challenge. Joby calls it “Doing the Stuff.” - Meet weekly with your Fire Team. Here is the link to the guide: https://www.skool.com/forgetribe/classroom/d4c7860c Tell the truth and help your brothers obey Jesus. If you want in, comment below with: 1. “I’m in” 2. Best days/times you can meet 3. Whether you’re willing to lead a Fire Team Check out the attached video. If God is stirring something in you, step in. Ready, break!

We had a strong first session with Dr. Dave Ruth this morning. The conversation centered on biblical forgiveness, the danger of passivity, and the difference between simply avoiding pain and actually dealing with it before God. A few of the biggest takeaways: Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt did not happen. It is refusing to let that hurt continue to control your heart. Passivity can look like strength. Ignoring conflict, compartmentalizing pain, or convincing ourselves we have “moved on” may actually be a way of avoiding what God is asking us to face. Biblical strength is not hardness or control. It is power submitted to God. We also spent time clarifying the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiveness can begin in your own heart. Reconciliation takes two people and may not always be possible, even when it remains the goal. This was an honest, direct conversation rooted in Scripture, and next week Dave will begin moving more specifically into the process of forgiveness. We meet again Saturday, August 8, at 0700 ET on Google Meet. The link is on the Skool calendar. You do not need to have attended the first session to join us. Bring your Bible, come ready to engage, and invite another man who may need this conversation.

Every man has been wounded. Every man has wounded others. And every man eventually has to decide what he’ll do with both. Forgiveness isn’t pretending the offense never happened. It isn’t excusing sin or ignoring justice. It’s releasing our right to vengeance and trusting God with what only He can carry. Over four Saturday mornings, Dr. Dave Ruth will lead us through what Scripture teaches about forgiveness, grace, strength, and freedom in Christ. If you’re carrying resentment, anger, shame, or unresolved hurt, I believe this study will challenge you and help you take the next step toward freedom. We’ll meet virtually on Google Meet at 0700 ET each Saturday: - Saturday, August 1 - Saturday, August 8 - Saturday, August 15 - Saturday, August 22 Whether you’ve been with Forge Tribe for years or this is your first time joining us, you’re welcome. Bring your Bible, a notebook, and come ready to engage. The Google Meet link is available on the Skool calendar. If you’re joining us, respond to the poll below, so we know to expect you. And if there’s another man who could benefit from this study, invite him to join you. Freedom is rarely found alone.

It’s been incredible to see the response so far. We already have six Fire Teams signed up for the Stand Firm and Act Like Men study. If you’ve been thinking about joining, it’s not too late. Over the next six weeks, we’ll be walking through Joby Martin’s book together in small groups of men who are committed to showing up, telling the truth, and helping each other grow in our faith. And don’t worry—nobody is asking you to take cold showers, run marathons, or commit to some extreme challenge. The weekly challenges are practical applications from the book itself, designed to help you put what you’re learning into practice in everyday life. If you’re looking for accountability, encouragement, and an opportunity to grow alongside other men who are trying to follow Jesus faithfully, this is a great place to start. If you’re interested, send us a message and we’ll help get you connected to a Fire Team.