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.

January 2012

Four Week Study on Spiritual Leadership with provided study guide (no cost)

MASCULINE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
David Hall

Many of the problems in our modern churches are a result of men not taking their God-given leadership responsibilities seriously. Statistics tell us that when a mother comes to Christ, her family will join her at church only 17% of the time; but when a father comes to Christ, his family joins him 93% of the time. Jesus Christ calls men and fathers to be dedicated to their role as spiritual heads of both the family and the church.

Masculine Spiritual Leadership is a much-needed wake-up call to men of all ages. Dr. David Hall contends that the lack of male leadership in America's churches has led to a 'feminized' atmosphere that is incapable of preparing future men to lead and serve their families and communities. Masculine Spiritual Leadership will encourage, enlighten, and equip you to be the spiritual leader that God has called you to be. (2 DVDs, Run Time: 156 minutes)

SPEAKER'S BIO
Rev. David W. Hall serves as Senior Pastor of the historic Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Powder Springs, Georgia. He holds degrees from the University of Memphis (1975), Covenant Theological Seminary (1980), and the Ph.D. in Christian Intellectual Thought from Whitefield Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Ann, have three children.

February-March 2012

Six Week Series on Prayer

When God’s People Pray by Jim Cymbala