Book excerpt: Mighty Men of Valor have three distinct characteristics; strength, courage, and passion. In this Bible study we unpack the first characteristic, strength. Men need strength that comes from God alone, the kind of strength He gave men like Gideon (who lived at a time when everyone did what was right in their own eyes), David and his band of mighty men, and Jesus' early church followers. The world, the flesh, and the devil wage constant battle against us and seek to usurp God's rule over His creation. To fight these enemies, God calls and empowers men to be Mighty Men of Valor. Gideon is one such example. "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12, NKJV). As the angel of the Lord greeted Gideon in Old Testament times, He invites you to become one of God's choice warriors. He will use the 10 lessons in this compact Bible study to help point the way. You'll be guided on this journey by men from Scripture as well as church history and the present day who will serve as mentors of godly strength. You'll also journey deep into the "living and active" word of God (Hebrews 4:12), which He will use to shape you in this process. God is calling us to develop our "spiritual muscles" of love, winning others to the kingdom of God, and building them up in Christ. That's what Mighty Men of Valor: Book 1 - Strength is all about. As with the additional Bible studies in this series-Mighty Men of Valor: Book 2 - Courage and Mighty Men of Valor: Book 3 - Passion-this study can be used in three essential ways. Use these studies as a daily devotional. We strongly encourage every man to take time out for a daily meeting-or appointment-with God. Work through these studies with another man. Think of this as walking "Side-by-Side," meeting weekly for mutual growth, support, and accountability. Connect with other men in a triad or small-group setting. Think of Jesus, who invested in a small group of 12 men, guiding them on the spiritual journey. Make A Mark Ministries is a ministry of Sure Passage