Dear New Hope Men,

 

I am writing you this note to invite you to be part of a Bible study & prayer time for the men of New Hope.  We started this ministry about 2 years ago & have now worked our way through the books of Deuteronomy & Hebrews.  We are starting a new study in the Minor Prophets beginning this Thursday Sept 13 at 6:00am at the church building.  I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed this group (that would take too long).  I know I would not have studied Dt or Hebrews like I did if I were not part of this group.  I have been greatly helped.  My guess is that most of us men are not reading & praying through the whole Bible too much – nor spending too much time spiritually connecting with a few other men.  Here are the basics things about what we are calling  “Men of God” Fellowship.

 

What is our vision?   The vision for this group to put ourselves in a place for the Holy Spirit to shape us more & more into “Men of God” by reading & praying through the whole Bible - book by book.  We want to experience the Word of God itself shaping our lives as men, in the context of a group of men, so that we are pleasing God & bearing more fruit in our roles as husbands, dads, employees, sons, brothers, & guys who want to be “keeping company with God”.    Our philosophy is not to read the latest “men’s books” (we are not opposed to that & may occasionally do so), but to mainly read & be shaped by the written Word of God, chapter by chapter, book by book. 

 

Why study the Minor Prophets?  Because these 12 books (from Hosea-Malachi) are part of God’s Word & so are literally “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).   In short we need the message of these books in order to to be “men of God”!  All of us already in this group feel this is a portion of God’s Word we don’t know very well & so we are eager to learn.  We need these books to be forming our lives.

 

How do I prepare?  Our only expectation is for men to read one chapter a day from the Bible (about 5 min a day) & look for ways to turn that reading into prayer, worship & practical action.  Our assignment for this coming Thursday is to read & reflect on Hosea 1-3.  What most of us will do is simply read Hosea 1 on “day 1”.  Then Hos 2 on “day 2” & so on.  Even if you miss 4 days of the week you will have read whole passage!  If you read daily you will have read the section twice – all in 5 minutes a day. 

 

What do we do from 6-7am?  We spend our time in the following way:

·        6:00-6:15am – Brief teaching time as a large group (currently 8-14 guys attend)

·        6:15-6:45am  - Small group discussion in groups of 4-5 men.  Our discussion is centered every week on these 4 questions:

a.       Q #1: What is one central teaching of this passage that feeds your soul?  (What is one central teaching of this passage?  Seek to connect your response to the text itself & its context)

b.      Q #2:  What is one way that this passage helps you see & savor God?  (What is one central truth @ God in this text?  Again, connect your answer to the text & its context)

c.       Q #3:   What is one way that this passage steps on your “toes”?  (What is one central application, a reproof or correction, of this text, especially for men? Again connect your application to our text & context)

d.      Q #4:  Is there “one more thing” you want to say or ask about this passage? 

·        6:45-7:00am – Prayer huddles of 2-3 men in which we share 1 personal prayer need & seek to pray that mornings text into one another’s lives. 

Note:  we start promptly at 6:00am & end promptly at 7:00am.  We have coffee & juice available before & after we meet for those who are interested 

 

What if Thursday at 6am is a bad time?  If you are interested, but Thursday morning is a bad time let Pastor Jeff, Chuck or Bob know.  We would love to help you start another group that would meet for the same reasons but at a different time.  

 

In closing I just want to say that I want you to feel very encouraged & welcomed, but not arm twisted, to be part of this men’s fellowship in the Word of God.

 

Sincerely – your brother in Christ,

 

            Jeff Whitt