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GROW IN CONFIDENCE. KNOW YOUR IDENTITY.
JOURNEY
FOR GUYS OF FAITH
DEVELOP FOUNDATION
The Quest to Develop Welcome to Brave & Bold Journey 3! In this journey, you’ll dive into topics that help strengthen your core—your integrity, character, values, and understanding of healthy friendships. These are godly foundations that will help you stand firm in what is good, right, and authentic, no matter what life throws your way. Whether you see yourself as a natural leader or a steady supporter, leadership is something you’ll step into at various moments in life—within your family, with friends, on teams, or in the workplace. Leadership and values are like the roots of a strong tree—they keep you grounded and help you grow tall and resilient. Developing leadership means learning to take responsibility, make confident decisions, and stand up for what’s right, even when it’s tough. Your values act as your compass, guiding you to honor not just others but also the person you are becoming. As you engage with these articles, may you continue growing into someone others trust, honor, respect, and look up to. Come to this journey with a teachable heart and, as in previous journeys, prepare to be surprised, challenged, empowered, affirmed, and transformed. Step by step, as you develop into the man God has called to be, you’re building your capacity to make a powerful, positive impact on the world. Let’s get started!
With gratitude, The Brave & Bold Team
BRAVE & BOLD Copyright © 2025-2026 Releasing Generations Published by Releasing Generations Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All articles, art, and photographs have been published and printed with the permission of their creators. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked (NIrV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIrV” and “New International Reader’s Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Art Direction and Graphic Design by: Ahava Design, LLC. Photos by Unsplash and iStock.
TheBraveSeries.com Through The Brave Series, we are on a mission to help youth and adults of all ages overcome insecurities about their value and purpose. The Brave Series empowers teens and adults to:
The Brave Series is a publication of Explicit Movement, one of three facets of the Releasing Generations organization. You can learn more about Explicit Movement at Explicitmovement.org
• Grow in confidence and emotional health.
Our leadership team has decades of combined experience working with, serving, and supporting teens, young adults, parents, community leaders, and church leaders within many denominations locally and globally.
• Gain wisdom and vision for their future, enabling them to step into their purpose and pursue their dreams. • Become aware and equipped to safeguard themselves and others from exploitation and sex trafficking victimization.
You are not alone in your struggles.
Learn more at TheBraveSeries.com or visit us at ReleasingGenerations.org
Brave & Bold Volume 03 (Faith) – 03/2026
FOR GUYS OF FAITH
DEVELOP FOUNDATION
The Journey: 03
Journey 01
Journey 02
HE IS BRAVE & BOLD Defining What is Brave & Bold
LET IT GO The Value of Forgiveness
KNOW YOURSELF Becoming Self-Aware
GOOD GRIEF Dealing with Losses in Life
STAND FIRM Being Secure and Confident
UNRAVELING EMOTIONS Navigating Anger, Fear, and Anxiety
CONNECTING WITH GOD Growing in Relationship with God
STAY THE COURSE Persevering Through Hardships
YOUR DESIGN Discovering Your Uniqueness
PARENTS AND YOU Exploring the Impact of Parents
BORN TO CREATE Activating Your Creativity
FORGED IN COMMUNITY The Value of Belonging to a Community
Discover Purpose
Dig Deeper
FREEDOM TO DREAM Dreaming Big for Your Life
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Develop Foundation
Journey 03
Journey 04
BUILDING YOUR CORE ................. .................10 Establishing Character
PORNOGRAPHY The Negative Effects of Pornography
VALUES TO LIVE BY .................... 24 Embracing Key Values for Success
OVERCOMING TRAUMA Understanding Trauma
LEADERSHIP ............................. 42 Becoming an Effective Leader
SEXUAL VIOLENCE Addressing Sexual Violence
FRIENDSHIP .............................. 56 Building Healthy Friendships
SEX TRAFFICKING Protect Yourself and Others from Victimization
GUYS AND GIRLS ....................... 72 Honoring Girls and Women
THE BROTHERHOOD The Value of Men Arising
HE PROTECTS ............................ 82 Guarding, Defending, and Supporting Others
RISING STRONG Onward with Vision and Purpose
Develop Foundation
Daring Pursuit
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BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Imagine a metal hammer pounding against a red-hot sword to shape it. Imagine the sound. We are like a sword being forged. Let’s take a closer look at the four major steps a swordsmith takes to craft a sword and see the connection to how we develop into great men. 1. Forging
DEVELOP.
So, how does a sword come to life? Forging first involves the swordsmith melting and blending different metals to create a super strong new metal that can slice through just about anything.
by Damon Gohata
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We first need the right raw materials to create the strongest metal alloy. This chapter will give you the right foundational components to build your life on. To be forged well, be open to embracing positive, life-building mindsets and perspectives from others.
meant to be. It’s hammered, remodeled, and thrown back into the fire time and time again. This whole intense process sorts out flaws and reinforces the weak spots that might mess up the sword’s strength and impact when needed. All that hammering strengthens the metal, making it more durable and resilient so it’s less likely to break in battle.
Fire also refines. Let the tough times and words of challenge reveal and burn away the impurities and negativity in our lives that hold us back.
Listen well to the words of these mentors who will help build your character core and stir up in you the guts to keep going. If we allow the wisdom of the wise to shape us, we will become adaptable, strong, and resilient rather than being easily broken and weak when faced with challenges.
2. Shaping This new metal mix then goes through the shaping stage. Usually, the metal isn’t put into a mold. Instead, the smith keeps pounding on it with a hammer to shape it into the weapon it’s
3. Sharpening After it is shaped, the swordsmith grinds away at the edges and dull parts of the sword to sharpen it to a fine edge. We’ve all got some rough edges—our lives are a work in progress. If you are open to learning, prepare to be sharpened into your best self. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT 4. Decorating Finally, the sword is decorated with a beautiful handle so that the warrior can hold the weapon, and it can be a glorious symbol of victory when the battle is won. Imagine your life being a combination of purpose and beauty—like a beautifully crafted sword made with the artistry and creativity of a master craftsman. This is you—there are so many marvelous, creative facets to who you are that are meant to shine. Just as a sword goes through stages to become something powerful, you’re also being shaped into a force to be reckoned with. Get ready to jump into the following chapters focused on building you into a guy who stands strong with purpose and confidence!
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“The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” Proverbs 11:3 AMP
Chapter 01
Building your Core
Where is your core? It is the central part of your body, including your abs. Building a strong core is about getting your core muscles to work as a team. This helps boost your balance and stability and makes you stronger overall.
The lessons in this chapter are like building blocks for life and leadership—they’ll help shape who you are. Your character is built on the beliefs and habits that guide how you treat people. A solid core will help you overcome tough times and act as a compass that will point you toward making the right choices for the right reasons!
In the same way, building a strong, godly core of character and integrity will give you the stability and balance needed for long-lasting success in life. But like building muscle, building a strong core requires effort, work, and being intentional.
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FAITHFULNESS. by Pat McFall
“If we are faithful to God in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious trials of life.” Hudson Taylor
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As young men, it can be challenging to remain steadfast in our faith, especially in a culture that promotes pleasure and self-indulgence as if they are life’s highest good. However, God offers us a kind of soul satisfaction in Him that no one and nothing else can compete with. That’s why a life of faithfulness to Him in every area of our lives is so important. It’s a response to God’s goodness, grace, and love toward us. Let’s explore a few places where we can practice faithfulness to God, encouraging us to be the kind of men God created us to be.
showing love to those around us, and resisting temptations that could harm our relationships. Remember, direction flows through relationships. Is God first in your life? Are you the kind of friend who encourages and supports those around you? Are you someone that your friends can count on? Are you honoring your mom and dad? The answers to these questions give insight into where we may need to grow in our faithfulness.
The little things
Spiritual growth
The first area where faithfulness to God is essential is what you and I call “the little things.” Yup, those small, seemingly insignificant actions of faithfulness. It’s easy to think that only significant actions or epic moments matter in our lives, but the small things we do daily grow us the most. Jesus said in Luke 16:10 NIV, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” If we want to be trusted with greater responsibilities and opportunities, we must be faithful in the small things.
The last area of faithfulness we’ll discuss is focusing on our spiritual growth. More and more, our world is trying to grab the attention of young men. Advertisements tell us to look over here or to buy this product so that we’ll feel cool or accepted. One of the best ways you and I can grow spiritually is simply to stay focused. Our day is full of distractions that try to pull us away from God. Video games are on our phones, tablets, consoles, and computers, and doom-scrolling our way through TikTok, Instagram, or endless news stories isn’t helping anyone. Even good things like sports or school can consume much of our time and attention. In the meantime, God invites us to grow and deepen our experience of His love for us. King David said the only thing he would ask God for is to dwell in God’s house and to look at the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4). Can you imagine having that kind of relationship with God? A faith that is so blown away by God’s goodness that no sports victory, perfect score, or distraction could compete with it.
I want you to understand that some of the most important things that you will do, no one will ever see. But God sees. The moments of desperate prayer as you seek God in a challenging situation. The diligent mornings of getting up and reading your Bible so that you can hear God’s voice before you hear anyone else. The moments of kindness and excellence at school or work that no one is ‘high-fiving’ you for. Showing up on time and doing what you say you will do. The hidden moments of faithfulness in the little things deepen a mature character and enable you to have greater influence in life. Relationships
Being faithful to God as a young man is not easy, but it is possible. By being faithful in the little things, focusing on good relationships, and being intentional about our spiritual growth, we can honor God and experience His blessings in our lives.
Another area where faithfulness to God is essential is in our relationships. As young men, we face numerous temptations and pressures that can erode our commitment to God and create tension between us and others. However, Proverbs 3:3-4 NIV reminds us, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
Remember God’s words to another young man named Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV.
So how do we win favor and a good name?
With God’s help, we can remain faithful and live a life that honors Him.
We win favor and a good reputation by prioritizing our most important relationships, being faithful in our commitments,
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