Men’s Fraternity 2011-12

Spiritual Handyman Series – What’s in Your Toolbox?

Fall 2011

How will we use our 12 Fridays productively until we start the Spiritual Handyman Series in January?

We believe there is inherent value in men gathering to fellowship with one another and there are many options for fruitful discipleship you can exercise with a group of men on Friday morning. Consider one of the activities listed below:

1.   Accountability group (We will provide helpful questions for each of the twelve weeks from September 23 –December 16.)

2.   Bible Study – it doesn’t have to be from a companion book. Consider gathering with a group of guys to read through a book/chapter of the Bible and discuss what you are reading. The reading can be done during Friday morning group or during the week, or both. This just depends on how your group would like to structure the study. Of course, you may know of a great companion book to aid your study so feel free to do so.

3.   Classic Christian Literature – Take a book that you haven’t read in years, or a classic that you always wanted to read, and read it. Then talk about it. A great one to start with is the C. S. Lewis book The Screwtape Letters. The chapters are short, just a few pages, but hard hitting and generate a lot of discussion. If you are more ambitious, tackle Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan.

4.   Dead Theologians Book Club – They don’t have to be dead, but there are a lot more of them dead than alive so your options are more numerous. Maybe you have wanted to jump-start your devotional life, either your own or with your wife or family. Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening provides a short reading for each time of the day. Your group could commit to read these devotionals during the week and discuss the most important things you learn as a result.

5.   Living Theologians Book Club – There aren’t as many of these, but they seem to be pretty prolific, and there are some great books out there that have been mentioned in Sunday services. A couple examples are Francis Chan’s Crazy Love and David Platt’s Radical. If this appeals to you, connect on Friday mornings with some like-minded guys and you’ll have no shortage of suggestions of books to go through.

6.  Scripture Memorization – Arm yourself with the Word of God! There are great resources out there that provide preprinted cards (for example, visit: http://www.desiringgod.org/store/other-merchandise/fighter-verse-pack-esv). Commit with a group of men to memorizing a scripture a week and then do it. You’ll be amazed how often the Spirit will bring these verses back to your mind and it will make it significantly easier to pray.

7.   Something I haven’t listed above. You’re a child of God, exercise your Imago Dei and be creative.Starting early in 2012 we’ll look to offer two relatively short topics for concentrated study. These are subject to change but represent the plan at the present time.