The Male Growth Model – Update

By Michael Griego on October 3, 2025 • ( 2 )

Is there a model for ideal male growth and development? Yes. Have we lost our way? Not necessarily. Review this updated 5-stage male maturity model and be encouraged. ♦

All around us today are models of strong men, weak men, good men, and bad men. Even those broad descriptions can be widely interpreted based on an individual’s world view.

I will review here a Biblical view of what I call a Male Growth Model or a Male Maturity Model.

And it’s not about building muscles and growing huge.

It’s about the healthy upbringing and development of a child, created in the image of God, who in physical maturity moves through stages of pivot points and challenges that are critical for well-being and growth. Missteps by the boy/young man, and his father, along the path of development will have life-impacting implications.

The proof-point for any man is to simply consider his own life thus far. Or that of his own father.

That’s not to say that mistakes and failures in one’s past cannot be overcome. We all know plenty of examples of men that have survived big misses and struggles in their upbringing and yet still produced healthy and productive lives, marriages, families and launched a healthy next generation.

So, what’s the problem? Have we lost our way?

Not necessarily.

I am encouraged by the stirring of men of all ages who quietly (or not quietly) watch a world going side-ways, yet they themselves are committed to raising strong and good sons. It actually is a silent majority.

Think about it. What man wants to raise a weak, lost, or even evil son?

Ask any man. No one does.

It’s often that they just don’t really know how. And “winging it’ or making-it-up-as-you-go-along in fatherhood is not a recipe for success.

So, What Does the Bible Actually Say About This?
Good questions. But actually, the Bible does not spell it out specifically for us fathers. Maybe that’s the problem. You have to read it and study it or have someone teach and explain it well in context to fully understand the consistent practices of good fathering.

There is actually a good way and a poor way to raise a son from birth to manhood.

It’s helpful to see a broad picture in terms of a progression that moves over 5 distinct stages of development: Boyhood, Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, and Sage.¹ While this model applies to all men worldwide, I particularly align this with how we, as men, should progress and develop in Christian/Biblical wisdom and maturity.

We may normally think of modern male growth and development as a process that moves from childhood/adolescence, job/trade/college/university training, a sustained career, supporting a growing family, and then winding down into retirement.

But the Bible leaves us with other goals and objectives. Applying these Biblical truths and perspectives bring true value and richness to the entire spectrum of a man’s life. Even for the average Christian man, this model may challenge the current trajectory of one’s life.

Are There Any Good Biblical Examples?
Yes. There are numerous examples of men in the Bible that we watch grow from boyhood to adulthood. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, and Solomon are a few well-known Old Testament samples. We certainly know that these men, while Godly (at times), were not perfect men. Their lives are fraught with youthful arrogance, selfishness, early successes, failures, and mistakes.

Are we to live like these men? How do we map to their odd and peculiar lifestyles and Old Testament settings?

It doesn’t really seem to apply.

God’s Real Male Model
Actually, there is one definitive example in the Bible of a man that follows God’s intended male growth model. It’s Jesus. Yes, Jesus is the perfect man who, even in His short tenure on earth, left us with a real model to follow and even project into old age.

Look at Jesus in light of the 5 growth stages of a man’s life. To keep it simple, I use well-known guild tradesman terminology (Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master) front-ended by Boyhood and concluding with Sage:

1) BOYHOOD (Childhood and Adolescence, Age 0-17) – From birth a boy is under the watchful care of his parents and is to be raised spiritually and emotionally in the ways and teachings of the Lord. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings…” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

Jesus was raised as all Jewish boys at that time: “…bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

A young boy, any boy, through early adulthood should be taught a code of conduct (Biblical precepts) which teaches of a cause (God) bigger than himself. Anything less does a child, particularly a boy, a disservice.

Are you reading and teaching Biblical lessons to your son? Are you exposing him to good Biblical teaching? A father needs to be proactive here, as the modern culture, and even some churches, are often not helping.

2) APPRENTICE (Early Adulthood, Age 18-30) – At this point a young man settles into a work/vocation where he grows in skill and experience. Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24) Jesus became a carpenter under the tutelage of his earthly father, Joseph. “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55)

These can be years of experimentation in fields of vocational practice through trade schools and university training. But through age 30, they are years of skill development and honed expertise as a young apprentice. No need to rush or push. Things even out by the end of this stage.

Are you coaching and encouraging and praying daily for your developing son here? Even more important to be reiterating, in wise ways, the ways of God and encouraging his faith development. This is a critical time where sons go wayward due to poor choices and poor influences around them.

3) JOURNEYMAN (Adulthood, Age 31-45) – This next age bracket can be a time of flourishing and thriving at home and at work if the right decisions are made. Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go. (1 Kings 2:3)

At about this time, Jesus started His ministry. He, of course, did not live deep into this stage. We can imagine however that had He lived longer He would have continued to operate in His clear strength and calling. Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)

These are prime growth years of a man’s career when one is on the rise and progressing through the ranks. However, power and success in one’s calling and “wheelhouse” are often countered by doubts, mistakes and questions about relative performance, losses, setbacks, integrity, life-balance frustrations, marriage, and family pressures.

Often during this stage, poor choices are made about jobs, finances, relationships, and children. If ever the question ‘What would Jesus do?’ made sense, it could apply to these years particularly. You should continuosly be praying for God’s guidance over your son for key decision-making points here.

Additionally, for most men, at about the 3-decade mark, they come to that “fork in the road” job choice – that crisis of decision – to continue the status quo or take the risky road (think start-up, launching on your own, or moving into new responsibility in a company, etc.). All the more reason that one should seek God’s guidance in discernment and honest, surrendering prayer.

God will not forsake the man who seeks Him.

4) MASTER (Middle Adulthood, Age 45-60) – Having weathered the growth years of the Journeyman, a man’s productivity now peaks at the Master stage. Or it should. At this age he is mature and seasoned in knowledge, skills and application of all he has learned over decades of experience. Of course, Jesus operated like a young Master well before ever reaching this stage.

Masters are skilled workmen, managers, directors, vice presidents, presidents, owners and corporate/government leaders. Yet many men at this age are but fools, listening or following still only their own selfish desires and inclinations. Know that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

These are often the “wake-up” years for many men who reassess a life gone sideways. Fortunately, God is ever patient. For many, this is a time for rebirth and reestablishing faith and relationships. A maturing man here should be further honing a life of prayer.

5) SAGE (Late Adulthood, Age 61+) – Man was actually not designed for retirement. Man slows down and his productive years of labor wind down due to physical decline, yet the mind at this age should still be wise, tempered and ripe for the picking. Jesus would have been an incredibly wise older man. Even in His short life He modeled one who molds, mentors, develops and disciples the next generation.

The Godly sage-man should be what I would call “a fountain for youth” – of knowledge, guidance, assurance and teaching for his children and next generations. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

Consider the good fruit and impact of an aged man, not the trophy showcases or golf handicap.

The Road We Travel
For all men, it’s a long and winding road. The sooner we relinquish the reins of control to the all-wise God, the better the life in peace, wisdom, even joy. And not only for a grown man and his family, but for subsequent generations and all those he encounters and influences.

Are you on the right growth path?
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“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:3-5

¹ Boys to Men – A Growth Model, by Michael Griego, Biblical Viewpoint, https://biblicalviewpoint.com/2015/03/14/boys-to-men-a-growth-model/, 2015.