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I think we need to be real with who we are in Christ. We are all not worth the prices that Jesus payed Are mens group goes through a book of the bible .but must of the time we end up sharing what we are struggling with. this is good to keep it reel and to help us grow.

As a teacher (of a mens bible study) I can say that the last thing we need is another study session. What IS needed is more application and accountability in the studies we already have.

That's usually the hard part. That requires that we take an honest look at ourself, see what we need to do, see if the applicability of the study can be useful in the context of dealing with our own sin, then seeing if it can be generally applied.

ex. Say I'm struggling with online porn. and I'm studying Proverbs 5...the application for me would be, if I read on to 5:8-14 that would be the long term effects of adultery on a marriage. with 12 & 13 being the reason I didn't listen...

I'd have to be responsible enough to seek someone who would keep me honest (or that I could trust enough to be honest enough to admit when I mess up) so that we could begin again..

But the real reason behind it is because I was deceived (or worse, not deceived by sin) then I would need to find and application based on this principle (man loving the darkness, sin loving the darkness) and how that can be eradicated or alleviated using the information from Prov 5 and elsewhere. and make the the general principle or the general principle could be that godlessness leads to spiritual darkness but has other repercussions as well.

Get it?

there are of many applications, one interpretation (Hebrew to English) but many applications...depends on the needs of the group.

_________________
MikeC1956
Asst Admin

know that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23b NET

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fides quarens intellectum, credo ut intelligam
faith seeking knowledge, believe to understand

all quotations are by bible translation indicated.

what I have found though, is that if you push too hard, no one will show, or few will show...

one of the churches I used to attend had a Saturday morning breakfast, Bible study and Prayer group

the food got them there, mostly, and quite regularly

_________________
MikeC1956
Asst Admin

know that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23b NET

Statement of beliefs
Code of Conduct
The Bible NETwork Blogs
The NeXt Bible Learning Environment
BeneSHOP: Help support Bible.org at no additional cost to you when you shop!

fides quarens intellectum, credo ut intelligam
faith seeking knowledge, believe to understand

all quotations are by bible translation indicated.

Yes it is true Mike, that if you press too hard no one will show but, conversly if you don't press hard enough no one will grow. Perhaps the best way is to let iron sharpen iron (porv 27:17). I mean what man is afraid of a little chalange in life?

Oh I agree 100%. Perhaps have a study on that...beginning at verse 11 and reading through to 20...adultery is mentioned several times, mentioned are reading the verse in context really can draw out the applications. And that's the thing of it. My thought on this:

talk to the men, let them know that, "we're gonna try something different" Begin with showing that verse in context...everything seems to conclude with that verse also. But really that's just me...with my 2¢. I don't know any of those men.

but running a search using the following words "the incidence of adultery among Christians compared to non-Christians." There are many referrals to The Barna Group, a Christian polling organization.

_________________
MikeC1956
Asst Admin

know that your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23b NET

Statement of beliefs
Code of Conduct
The Bible NETwork Blogs
The NeXt Bible Learning Environment
BeneSHOP: Help support Bible.org at no additional cost to you when you shop!

fides quarens intellectum, credo ut intelligam
faith seeking knowledge, believe to understand

all quotations are by bible translation indicated.

I have found that if you allow men to vent a little they begain to trust a little. If you can prove the answer to their vent from scripture thay will trust more. In our group we vent alot, but then we allow each other to, from scripture, prove, disprove, or even reprove the other. Adultry is the biggest problem we as men face, Matt 5:28 says it all. You don't even need to got down the shmuty road and lust is right there. Just so I don't loose or confuse you, I am part of two mens groups. One is a closed group, that's were I get my accountability, the other is open to all men( that is the one I teach) but, either way the men I assocciate with now that I will push them untill they either give up on them selves and not grow, or face them selves and grow in the light of scripture.

Keeping it real in churches should be something we all partake in. I find that far too many Pastors and Elders are not real, so the congregation feels if they aren't why should I.

Too many issues and struggles that we as fallen people even tho we r now redeemed in Christ, just are ignored. That could never happen in my church. The church has that same mentality, "Don't ask don't tell". I am not advocating that people should just go out and blurt out what their current or past struggles are but I do think that by nor discussing topics in the pulpit, that people remain in bondage.

People need to be shown that there is a way out of their additions and struggles. Who better to share freedom with others in the body than those who have struggled and are aggressively walking in freedom. Realizing that freedom is a choice. That each struggler must make everyday. Having accountability groups and partners are no good if people are all not going to be real or feel free to say what needs to be said. In love of course.

Far too many 'Men's Groups" are nothing more than a spiritual sporting clubs where we talk about everything but what really needs to be addressed. I love sports as much as the next guy, but as passionate as we are about our favorite teams, we should have the same passion to be conformed into the image of Christ and facing our brokenness in whatever areas of our lives that may be, and all get down, dirty and real.