The Framework
Not a formula. Not a curriculum. A framework — rooted in pursuing God and walking in the Spirit.
Everything in The Guild flows from posture. Not performance — posture. Hearts surrendered to God, willing to be led, honest about where you're falling short. The fathering, the friendships, the hard conversations with your sons — it all comes from that foundation.
Built on Raising a Modern Day Knightand years of trial and error. This is what we'd tell a dad starting from scratch today.
A word from Steve:
“Stop looking for the formula. There is no dad formula. There are no five steps to a perfect son. What there is: a group of guys willing to be honest, a God who redeems the mess, and the decision to keep showing up. That's it. That's the whole thing.”
Get Your Group
Find 3-5 dads. They don't need to be your best friends. They need to be willing to show up. Your church small group, your neighborhood, your kids' sports team — dads are everywhere.
Pick a Rhythm
Monthly is the minimum. Biweekly is better. Weekly if you can swing it. Put it on the calendar. Protect it. The rhythm IS the program. We rotated who led the message each meeting — everyone has something to bring.
Do Life Together (Dads First)
Meet without the kids sometimes. Build real friendships. Be honest about your failures. This isn't a performance — it's a brotherhood. Talk around fires. Get breakfast. Pray for each other by name.
Overflow Into Your Sons
Plan activities together. Campouts, service projects, rock climbing, fishing trips. Let your sons see dads who are real with each other. Have the hard conversations — lust, courage, faith, money. Don't wait until it's comfortable.
Bring In the Wives
Schedule regular 'board meetings' — all the couples together. The wives see things you don't. They know what's happening at home, what the boys won't tell you, where your blind spots are. The Guild wasn't just a dad thing. The wives made it better.
Build Toward the Goat Weekend
Each year, plan one big trip — we called ours the Goat Weekend. Nantahala Mountains, Friday to Sunday. The boys looked forward to it all year. It became the anchor that held everything together, even in the hard seasons.
Keep Going When It Gets Hard
COVID will happen. Schedules will conflict. Boys will push back. Some seasons feel like failure. That's normal. The value wasn't in the destination — it was in the journey. God redeems even the failures.
The 4 Pillars of Real Manhood
From Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis. These became our north star — not rules to enforce, but ideals to pursue together.
Rejects Passivity
Romans 12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world. A real man doesn't drift — he makes choices with intention.
Accepts Responsibility
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Own your life, your family, your mistakes.
Leads Courageously
Joshua 24:15
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Leading your family isn't about having answers — it's about going first.
Expects the Greater Reward
Revelation 22:12
Play the long game. The fruit of this work shows up in your son's wedding toast, in your grandson's character, in ways you won't see for years.
The Progression
Boys grow through three phases. The framework grows with them.
10–13
Learn & Train
The boys are watching everything. This is the season to build habits — showing up, listening, serving. They're learning what manhood looks like by watching their dads do life together.
13–16
Practice
Start teaching alongside dad. Be proactive about loving others. The boys take on more responsibility in the group — leading discussions, planning activities, mentoring younger boys.
16–18
Model & Teach
It becomes part of their character. They're not just participating — they're leading. Each year, boys pick a virtue (Faith, Love, or Courage) and complete a project, presenting it to the group for approval.
What We Taught (and Learned)
Each meeting, one dad led a conversation around a virtue. We rotated. Nobody was an expert — that was the point.
Ready to start?
Download our meeting framework, weekend planner, and conversation starters to get your Guild going this month.
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