Equipping the Man in the Mirror January, February, March 2011 by Stephanie Lopez

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Table of Contents

The 2012 Man in the Mirror

Annual Summit

January/February/March 2012

Featured Articles

q First Things First by Brett Clemmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 q Seven Tips to Develop Your Own Bible Reading Plan by Dr. Patrick Morley. . 4 q Men’s Discipleship All-Stars at FUEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 q A Powerful Life (excerpt from the New Book Man Alive) by Dr. Patrick Morley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Resource Tools

q Equipping Your Men’s Small Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 q How to Use This Devotional. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 q Resource Catalog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Devotions

q January 2012 Devotions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 q February 2012 Devotions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 q March 2012 Devotions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort In the Walt Disney World® Resort

We invited Dave Wertheim to be our guest devotional writer for this issue. Dave is Founder/President of Men U for Transformed Lives and Man in the Mirror’s Northern California Ministry Consultant/Field Trainer. He also founded and directed ministries to men at three churches and is a respected and sought after speaker, trainer, Bible study leader, motivator, and encourager. Check out Dave’s devotionals, adapted from his new book, Men U: Courses for a Transformed Life, on page 46. Follow the One-Year Bible reading plan by reading the daily Scripture at the end of each devotion. To see the complete reading plan, go to www.oneyearbibleonline.com.

NETWORK

Meet and get to know denominational leaders, national/regional ministry leaders, pastors, field trainers, area directors and other leaders from all over the country. Build new relationships and get “re-fueled”.

LEARN

Come and learn from the “who’s who” in men’s discipleship – pastors, men’s ministry leaders and ministry professionals.

EQUIP

PARTICIPATE

Weigh in on next steps for men’s discipleship – new products, services, tools and strategies. Help shape the future of men’s discipleship.

WORSHIP

We’re excited to have worship leader Jonathan Schroer this year. Join this gathering of men (and women) as we worship the One who called us to this work.

PRAY

Learn about the latest developments in reaching men and developing a sustainable, effective ministry. Leave with practical tools that you can implement the day you get back.

You can’t get FUEL-ed without it. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.“ -- Galatians 6:9

mimsummit.org | (800) 929-2536

At the end of many of the devotionals you will find an abbreviation for a resource that expands on the devotional material. For more information about the Man in the Mirror Bible Study (MIMBS) go to www.maninthemirror.org/archives/categories. :MIMBS 1—Doing Business God's Way—People :MIMBS 2—Doing Business God's Way—Planning :MIMBS 3—How Many Ways Can A Man Me Saved? :MIMBS 4—Hanging Out With Jesus: Salt and Light :MIMBS 5—A Man's Guide to the Bible :MIMBS 6—A Man's Guide to the Bible

:MIMBS 7—What Do These Rocks Mean? :MIMBS 8—Can I Be Happy Without My Sin? :MIMBS 9—Is It Really Worth The Effort? DITM—Dad in the Mirror, Chapter 11 TS— Ten Secrets for the Man in the Mirror, Chapter 7

Equipping the Man in the Mirror: January/February/March 2012, Vol. 7, No. 1 Publisher: Man in the Mirror, Inc. • CEO: Patrick Morley • Executive Editors: David Delk and Brett Clemmer Publication Manager: Lucy Blair • Art Director: Cathleen Kwas • Writers: Lucy Blair and Ruth Ford Office: 180 Wilshire Blvd., Casselberry, Florida 32707 Phone: 800-929-2536 • Fax: 407-331-7839 • Web site: www.maninthemirror.org Copyright © 2012 by Patrick Morley and Man in the Mirror, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscription Information: One year—$25. Two years—$43. For reprint requests or bulk subscriptions call 407-472-2100 or send an email to EQMIM@maninthemirror.org and ask for reprint permissions. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. SAll rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

First Things First

A New Career?

by Brett Clemmer, Vice President, Man in the Mirror

Everyone knows we have a “men problem.” Now you can be part of the solution.

Man in the Mirror is currently seeking 330 Area Directors to help churches across the nation disciple men.

The new year is a time of reviewing and renewing. It’s important to make sure we’re on the right road as we rush ahead at the speed of life. That’s one of the reasons we schedule the FUEL Summit so early in the year. It’s a time to gather, reflect, recharge and get equipped for the year ahead. We hope to see you at the FUEL Summit on February 9-11. Numerous “shining stars” in the men’s discipleship movement are participating and contributing at the Summit this year. Many of the features in this issue of Equipping the Man in the Mirror spotlight the work and expertise of these dynamic leaders. Dave Wertheim, with Men U for Transformed Lives, is our guest devotional writer this issue. Dave has had a successful career in business, and has also been a vital part of a large ministry to men in his church in the Sacramento area. He has coordinated regional efforts to help churches reach and disciple men in his role at MenU and as a field trainer for Man in the Mirror. We’ve spotlighted ministry leaders and their resources on page 7. These ministries are making an impact for the Kingdom, and may have resources you can use in your own efforts to draw men closer to Christ. We’re also excited to announce Pat’s latest book, Man Alive, being released in midJanuary. There’s an excerpt from the book on pages 58–59. Pat’s book challenges men to find the answers to seven primal needs in the I’m not relying on the economy most reliable place possible, or my finances to tell me how God’s Word.

(

– LEARN MORE – AND HELP GET THE

WORD OUT Patrick Morley, CEO

I’m doing or what I’m worth. I’ve

)

One of the things we hope been called to a great mission to do with the Summit and by a Father who loves me!” this issue is to help men truly lead. It’s been a rough few years economically. It’s been especially hard on men who have struggled to find good jobs to support their families. It’s been a struggle for churches as they face budget shortfalls that accompany their congregation’s economic woes.

It would be easy for many men to shrink back. But now is not the time! We need leaders to step up. It’s time for Godly men to say, “I’m not relying on the economy or my finances to tell me how I’m doing or what I’m worth. I’ve been called to a great mission by a Father who loves me!” We need to band together, hold each other up in prayer, and strive to see God glorified. That’s what building a community of leaders is all about. We hope you will be inspired by this issue of Equipping the Man in the Mirror, and that, if you can, you’ll join us in Orlando in February for extra encouragement. Sign up today—FUEL is our “spiritual stimulus package” for the people of God. With you in the great adventure,

www.MIMareadirectors.org 3

Seven Tips to Develop Your Own Bible Reading Plan Dr. Patrick Morley

A man who became a Christian bought his first Bible. He held it up and said, “Have you seen this thing?” The Bible is daunting. At roughly 770,000 words, that’s about 2,500 normal book pages—equivalent to 12 non-fiction books! Bible reading falls into that special category of things we all know are important but struggle to do, like diet and exercise. Every year since 1988 I’ve read the Bible cover to cover. This is certainly not required, but I’ve learned some things along the way that may be helpful to you. As you might suspect, I’ve encountered every imaginable distraction from lack of motivation, inability to concentrate, and outright laziness to barking dogs and making the mistake of checking my email just before I planned to read! There have been times of emotional weariness, physical tiredness, and spiritual warfare. Nevertheless, I succeed because I have a plan. If you already have a plan, great. But if you don’t—and even if you do—here are seven tips to help you make the most of reading your Bible. At the end is an exercise, “My Bible Reading Plan,” for you to complete.

1. A Purpose for Reading First, what is your purpose for reading the Bible? When I attend a meeting I like to ask, “What’s the purpose of our meeting today?” It helps us stay on target. Uppermost, I read the Bible for communion with God. Christianity is a relationship with the Father who lavishes His love on me. When I read the Bible I am literally spending time with the living God who delights in me. The Bible, along with prayer, allows us the experience the holy presence of God for a few moments. Communion is what keeps me coming back. For everything else, there’s Google. I also read the Bible for discipleship—to grow and mature in faith. So, my purpose is for communion (knowing) and discipleship (growing).

2. A Fixed Routine Second, what is the best time of day, frequency, place, and amount of time for you to read the Bible? My best time is early morning, because I’m fresh. I grab a cup of coffee and settle into a favorite chair for an unhurried time of prayer and reading the Word of God. If it fits your personality, it’s a good idea to have a set schedule.

Daily Bible reading (often called a “quiet time” or “personal devotions”) makes sense for the same reasons we recharge our cell phones. Of course, things come up—an argument with your spouse, an alarm that doesn’t go off, early meetings, or cranky kids. On average, I read about five days a week. How much time you spend reading is completely a matter of personal preference, but I like to read the passages listed for one day from an annual Bible reading plan.

3. Pray Before Reading Third, how should you pray when reading your Bible? It’s a good idea to pray when you read. How I pray connects to my purpose: communion and discipleship. I start by bringing myself into the presence and power of God. I usually start by praying, “Father, I come to meet with You. Please meet with me, Your much loved son. (Then I will usually add a few sentences, mostly repeating Scripture about God’s love for me and my love for Him). “Jesus, I come to meet with You. Please meet with me, Your much loved servant. (Again, I add sentences like, “I surrender my life today to Your Lordship.”) “Holy Spirit, I come to meet with You. Please meet with me, Your much loved vessel. (Plus the additional sentences like, “Lord, I invite You to disciple my heart, to reveal what’s inside of me, and to speak to me.” Also, I pray about things as I read.

4. It’s Always Good to Have a Goal Fourth, what is your goal for reading the Bible? My friend, Tom Skinner, said, “When you set a goal you are literally writing history in advance.” If you’re new to the Bible, your goal might be, for example, to read a chapter a day in the New Testament five days a week. (If you did this you would read all 260 chapters of the New Testament in one year: 52 weeks x 5 days = 260 chapters). I don’t micromanage it. Instead, I set one annual goal each year: to read through the Bible cover to cover. I don’t worry if I miss a day or two. Call me “inconsistently” consistent. I like the flexibility of chasing down rabbit trails, like looking up all the verses in the Bible on, say, “God’s will.” As I write this, I’m 20 days behind in The One Year Bible. It doesn’t matter. By December 31 I’ll catch up. You may prefer shorter goals. God has no set formula for Bible reading.

5. Increase Your Comprehension Fifth, what can you do to increase your learning and retention? I mark up my Bible. Some may consider the Bible too reverent to mark. But from a learning theory perspective, writing things down improves my comprehension. I’ve got margin notes, underlines, arrows, check marks, asterisks, and a few chicken scratches I can no longer decipher! continued on page 60

Man in the Mirror would like to thank all the sponsors of:

Men’s Discipleship All-Stars at FUEL

The men’s discipleship movement is filled with awesome leaders who God has used to build highly effective ministries. We are honored to be partners with these leaders, and grateful that several will be joining us at the FUEL Summit to lead breakout sessions. We asked several of them to share some insights into their ministry, including a success story and what they offer to men’s leaders.

Ray Hilbert Since 1998, thru its proven Christian Roundtable Group Program, Truth@Work has served hundreds of Christian business owners and high capacity marketplace leaders and executives, helping them accomplish several major objectives: 1) Live out their Christian faith in and thru their businesses and organizations; 2) Grow in their Personal-Professional-Spiritual lives; 3) Enhance their business/ professional leadership skills; 4) Improve business performance and provide “bottom line results” thru implementing proven Biblical principles/practices; and 5) Experiencing a “safe and confidential place” to process their real world issues with a group of their marketplace peers who “truly get it.” “The Truth@Work Roundtable has truly been a life and business changing experience for me,” said Kevin, a business owner, after his rountable group helped him solve a business problem that saved him $300,000 and allowed him to make a major donation to an orphanage in Mexico. Truth@Work provides a powerful model that helps Christians in business grow their organizations and build them on proven Biblical principles and practices. www.truthatwork.org Ray will be leading a breakout session on the Christian Roundtable Groups at FUEL.

Dave Wertheim Men U for Transformed Lives seeks to help men experience transformed lives through discipleship and spiritual growth. One 40-year-old professional shared: “For years, I went through the motions but was not living out my faith. Worse yet, I had hidden sin that kept me away from God and other godly men. The principles from Men U for Transformed Lives were the keys to unlock my intimacy with Christ, my wife, my family and my brothers in Christ. I simply don’t see how you get to know Christ and the life He has for you without these principles.” A rancher/businessman wrote: “Men U’s no-nonsense, biblical approach has helped me view life through God’s perspective and impacted me dramatically. I’m now totally focused on allowing the Holy Spirit to transform every aspect of my life—for the rest of my life.” continued on page 9

Can’t go to the training?

Men’s Discipleship All-Stars at FUEL continued from page 7 We help men understand that their history does not need to dictate their destiny. Using common situations that every man encounters, Men U for Transformed Lives offers biblical and practical tips that can reshape a man’s decisions, relationships, and spiritual life, leading to a life that’s really worth living. www.davewertheim.com Dave will be leading two breakout sessions at FUEL on marriage and small groups.

Rod Handley Character that Counts (CTC) exists to “communicate life principles of character, integrity and accountability.” It was born out of a passion to communicate the power of accountability in developing godly character in the lives of men. Over the past 10 years, thousands of accountability groups have launched as a direct result of the CTC message.

Then bring the training to you!

This innovative, two-part courseware provides everything needed to take leaders through a comprehensive training and strategic planning process for men’s discipleship.

One man’s wife is a huge fan: “Thank you for all you are doing in the lives of men. My husband has changed 100% for the better since he began attending your weekly meetings. Our marriage has significantly improved…not to mention his business, our family life, finances, etc. I could go on and on. We are truly blessed. Thank you again.”

Eight sessions per course on video Participant textbooks to take leaders deeper

workbooks to help you Participant Course One: Foundations introduces the No Man Left transform the principles into a Behind Model and provides an in-depth examination of the specific, customized plan for your principles successful churches are using to disciple men. church Expand on Foundations with Course Two: Methods & Tactics, and learn how to adapt what you’re already doing to be more effective; build and strengthen leaders; and identify gaps and overlaps in your discipleship programs.

A facilitator’s guide to help you be successful Flexible packages to suit every church, convenient online ordering, and new, lower pricing

Summit Special: 25% off any Courseware purchase! Order by March 1st. For more information about how to get started, call a National Ministry Consultant at 800.929.2536 or 407.472.2100.

We help men get connected to one another through genuine and authentic accountable relationships. Scriptures such as Proverbs 27:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 3:13 and James 5:16 tell us it is vitally important for men to pursue these types of relationships. When men live in isolation, they are dangerously close to peril. Accountability is freedom!! www.characterthatcounts.org Rod will be leading two breakout sessions at FUEL on living a pure life in an impure world and developing and sustaining character and integrity.

Phil and Paul Downer Discipleship Network of America (DNA) seeks to win and disciple people to become disciple-makers in the church, community and marketplace. We offer resources and conferences for men and couples in churches and on military installations. Through the ministry of DNA, we have heard many testimonials. One wife indicated: “I was full of hate for my husband and dead-set on getting a divorce when God used a DNA marriage conference to change my heart. Now my marriage is restored!” A men’s leader said, “Our ministry has just taken off ever since the DNA men’s conference we held. It took the vision and commitment of our congregation to a whole new level!” DNA models, teaches, and carries out a tested relational discipleship model for building strong relationships that become vehicles for sharing truth which in turn God uses to transform a life. It is an approach that transcends personal differences and makes it possible for any person to see him or herself as a means by which God’s powerful love can transform the life of another person. www.dnaministries.org Paul and Phil Downer will be leading two breakout sessions at FUEL on reaching hurting men and igniting a discipleship movement in your church.

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Equipping Your Men’s Small Group

Get all your men engaged in the regular study of God’s Word by using this magazine as a small group tool. At the end of each week’s devotions, you’ll see a box containing discussion questions and exercises. These can form the basis of your time together. These pages supplement those questions with additional steps. If you use this magazine with your men this quarter you will have:

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Small Group Guide continued from page 11

q 1/1-1/8: In this week’s devotions, you’ll focus in on what it means to serve God in your work place. SAS (Suggested Application Step): How would your coworkers or employees describe you? Share with the group a few words that come to mind. Is that how you want to be known by your colleagues? Throughout this next week, examine how you are perceived at work. Look for at least one way to show God’s love to a coworker and come back next week ready to share that new experience with the group. q 1/9-1/15: These devotions teach you about the correlation between faith and planning. SAS: From several different versions or translations, read Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plan.” Decide on one translation of the verse to memorize. Meditate daily on that verse every morning of this next week. From last week, how did God use you in the life of one of your coworkers? q 1/16-1/22: In this week of devotions you’ll learn about the difference between

the deceit of religious behavior and the true gift of being born again. SAS: Spend a few minutes discussing the relationship that God desires to have with His children. Is that relationship based on good, religious behavior? If not, what is that relationship based on? Close your meeting in prayer and give God praise for His gift of salvation and the relationship He wants with each and every one of His children.

q 1/23-1/29: Our devotional theme this week is that God wants to use

you as “Salt” and “Light” to show His love to the world. SAS: List some ministries or agencies in your community that are acting as “salt” and “light” to people. (Ex. Food banks, foster care agencies, Salvation Army, etc.) How can you get involved in those ministries? Decide on one specific activity the group can join or initiate to actively show God’s love to your corner of the world.

q 1/30-2/5: This week your men will see the mighty ways that God’s

Word, the Bible, is used in the lives of those who seek Him. SAS: At the end of each day’s devotional, there is a Daily Reading of Scripture (from the oneyearbibleonline.com). As you read through those this week, allow the Scripture to penetrate your heart and mind. Ask God to show you more of Him through His words. Next week, share something you learned from the Daily Readings of God’s Word.

q 2/6-2/12: This week you will learn about God’s transforming power in your lives. SAS: One of this week’s devotionals tells us that a transformed disciple is: Called to live in Christ, Equipped to live like Christ, Sent to live for Christ. What do those three phrases mean to you? Do you believe you are Called, Equipped and Sent? Are you all helping to equip the men of your church for discipleship? In what ways? From last week’s Daily Readings, what did you learn from those passages of Scripture?

q 2/13-2/19: This week you’ll look at the importance of instilling Christlike love in the hearts of your children and grandchildren. SAS: Discuss the attributes of God as your Heavenly Father. Are there attributes of your Heavenly Father that you have yet to show as a father to your own children? What attribute is that and how can you begin to show your children/grandchildren? Divide into groups of 2-3 and spend some time in prayer for one another as you pursue showing the love of God to your children. q 2/20-2/26: This week’s devotionals address the great opportunity we are

given to witness or tell others about Christ’s love for them. SAS: Ask each man to write down the name of a family member, neighbor, colleague or friend who needs to hear about God’s love. Now write down the reasons you have been hesitant to talk with them about your faith. Discuss ways to bridge that conversation in a comfortable relaxed way. Make an appointment or breakfast meeting with that person to begin this dialogue.

q 2/27-3/4: These devotions remind you that memorials or monuments of faith are important for building your faith and the faith of others around you. SAS: The devotional on page 45 suggests ways to pass on your faith to your family. Discuss those suggestions with your group. Spend a few moments sharing some of the significant spiritual times in your lives. How do you feel listening to the stories of other men? How are these stories an encouragement to you? q 3/5-3/11: This week you'll see how God desires to work in your

marriage, family, church and work. SAS: Talk about the ways each man can set his mind on things above. How would your marriage, family and work life change if you committed to that act each and every morning? Are you willing to do that this week?

q 3/12-3/18: Our devotional theme for the week is allowing God to have control over the difficult areas of your life. SAS: Have you ever been truly honest about your true struggles in dealing with your thoughts, your words, the conflicts of life or your devotional life? What has kept you from sharing those things? (Shame, criticism, embarrassment, etc.) Have you been honest with yourself and with God about those issues? How can our group pray for you about those things?

q 3/19-3/25: These devotions help you focus on allowing God to deal with sin in

His way. SAS: Read Psalm 139 aloud to the group. What does this passage say about the heart of David? What does it tell you about his relationship with God? What words would you use to describe David’s psalm? (Ex: honest, desperate, broken, open, etc.). Using David’s example in Psalm 139, write a letter to God this week and be honest with Him about your heart.

q 3/26-3/31: These devotions teach about the process of becoming

a mature disciple of Christ. SAS: On a whiteboard or large piece of paper, make two columns with these headings “Immature Christian” and “Mature Christian.” Ask the men for words that describe a Christian in each category. What does it take to go from immature to mature in your walk with the Lord? Decide on a specific change you want to make in your life this week.

How to Use This Devotional To make the most of Equipping the Man in the Mirror, we have dissected a devotional so you don’t miss any aspect of the magazine (see below).

Completion checkbox

Source material

Correlating Scripture

Discussion/journal questions

One-year Bible daily reading

q Sunday—January 1 • Summarizing the Law and the Prophets So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 The Bible clearly teaches that a person’s relationship with Jesus should affect all other relationships. Often we think of that primarily in terms of our closest relationships—like family and friends. But what about work relationships? Every person has the same allotment of time—168 hours per week. If you sleep eight hours per night, that means you’ll be awake about 112 hours each week. The activities associated with work—getting ready for work, commuting to and from work, and actually

working—will absorb about half that time. So if you are like most of us, a block of about 56 hours each week is already committed to work. Most people spend much of their day working with people. You may spend more time with the people at your job than you do with any other group. Workplace relationships are opportunities given to us by God. Scripture gives clear direction about how we are to treat people so we can be God’s instrument to transform lives. MIMBS 1 Re-read today’s Scripture. Is it hardest for you to apply that at home, at church, or at work? Explain your answer. Daily Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6

Monday—January 2 • Dealing With Difficult People

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:38,39, 43-45a Researchers have concluded that the top reason why CEOs fail in their positions has to do with their people skills. They can be tremendously talented in other areas, but if they lack people skills, they face a limitation that is very difficult to overcome. Basically, on any given day, every person you meet is a confluence of complexity and an amalgam of inconsistencies. And in business, we must deal with people in so many different categories. We have dissatisfied, unappreciative customers. We have non-performing employees. We have over-reaching, controlling bosses. In that context, how does faith affect our relationships? Jesus calls us to live with an attitude of non-retaliation and tolerance. He calls us

to be thermostats in the world around us, rather than simply being thermometers. He doesn’t want us to simply record and mirror emotions around us. He wants us to live so that people identify us as disciples, altering our environment by demonstrating love and respect, even when it seems to be undeserved. MIMBS 1 Think of one person at work who is easy to get along with, and one who is difficult. How do you treat them differently? Does that difference reflect the attitude recommended by today’s Scripture? Get input from men in your group. Daily Reading: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:133:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

Tuesday—January 3 • Grace or Grudge? If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:46-48

There are situations in our workplace that are out of our control. We may have to work with bosses or clients who are difficult. We may work alongside people who don’t like us or coworkers with whom we’ve had conflicts. This passage reminds us of a Christian’s duty in the workplace. Don’t get the mistaken idea that Jesus intended us to grin and bear difficult situations. A lot of Christians succumb to that mentality as it relates to their circumstances, but then they hold grudges against the people involved. Those grudges affect how they see all customers, or all employees, or all bosses. They assume that all customers will take advantage of them, or all employees will not

perform well, or all bosses will behave like jerks. Jesus didn’t call us to ignore conflicts. He called us to be agents of grace in difficult situations, so we can bring about change. With every person you meet, you can extend grace or you can hold a grudge. You cannot do both. MIMBS 1 Describe the most difficult situation you faced with people within the last week. Did your external and internal responses extend grace, or did they expose a grudge? Explain your answer. Daily Reading: Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:74:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

q Wednesday—January 4 • Honest Communication in Business

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Matthew 18:15 Businesses depend on customers, yet dealing with those customers can be difficult. Sometimes they hold a deal open indefinitely without actually committing to anything. Sometimes they refuse to pay. We can wrongly assume that Christian forbearance requires us to ignore those types of issues. In contrast, Scripture actually calls us to approach even those relationships with honest communication. I once had to call a customer who had been negotiating a deal with me for six months. I said, “We’ve been at this for a long time. I think it would be smart for both of us if we bring this to a

conclusion, unless there is some compelling reason that I don’t know about.” I chose words that invited a legitimate response. Each situation requires a different action, but without honest communication, you won’t know how to proceed. At some point, every person in your life will irritate you. You must choose whether you will have the courage to live by grace, pursuing honest communication. If you choose instead to ignore difficult issues, you’ll have a hard time avoiding bitterness. MIMBS 1 Describe a “worst case scenario” for you, as far as an unresolved issue with a customer or client. Now write what you would say to introduce an honest discussion about that issue. Share your thoughts with another man. Daily Reading: Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23

q Thursday—January 5 • Grace for Bosses and Other Authority Figures Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8 Today’s Scripture addresses slaves and masters, but it also calls believers in contemporary workplaces to serve as if God is our boss. That should raise the quality of our work. However, it also is true that some bosses aren’t very much like our loving God. Bosses can be completely unfair. If you’re in that situation, and you choose to stay, make sure you have the attitude that you will respond to your boss with grace. When I was in school, I had a class with a specific professor whom I felt had been unfair. I discovered he had a real-life hero, and by chance in my travels, I ran across a photo of that hero. I bought the picture and gave it to him. He said, “I appreciate this so

much. I never had a father. Even though this man is dead, I’ve looked to his example for guidance.” I learned a lot about the professor that day, because I chose to grace him rather than holding a grudge. It changed our relationship, and today we are friends. Grace can change situations that seem impossible. MIMBS 1 Recall a time when an expression of grace changed the attitude of a superior toward you. What lessons can you apply from that experience? Daily Reading: Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:126, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—January 6, 7, 8 Grace for Those Who Serve Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you. Proverbs 9:9-12

Peter Drucker, the foremost management consultant of the 20th century, said that, even among those excelling in hiring, about one-third of their employees will be excellent. Another third will be average, and a third will fail. Clearly, if you are a Christian leader in business or in another venue, you will need to graciously confront those who simply aren’t meeting expected standards. Sometimes honest communication will correct the situation. A friend approached me for advice. He had hired a young man fresh out of college. “He has a terrible work ethic,” my friend said. “He comes to work late at least once a week, and he takes long lunch breaks. He takes personal calls at work.” I asked three questions: 1) Did you give this young man a written job description? 2) Have you established a written policy for your entire workplace, related to these types of issues? 3) Did you communicate to this employee the method in which you prefer to receive performance reports? At the most basic level, a good boss mentors employees to understand expectations. Only rarely can an employee hit a bullseye if

he doesn’t even know where the target is. On the other side of the coin, a good boss recognizes the efforts of good employees. Several years ago I sought out our warehouseman. He had been in charge of a staff of 120 in the corporate world before coming to our ministry. I had never heard of any warehouse problems since he came on staff. I stopped by one day to thank him, and I believe I saw a tear in his eye. A simple “thank you” means a lot. Whether we are dealing with performing or nonperforming employees, as Christians we should extend grace. MIMBS 1 If you are a boss, have you done an effective job of communicating expectations to your staff members? If you are not a boss, can you recall a time when you benefitted from someone mentoring you?

Daily Reading: Genesis 13:5-19:38, Matthew 5:27-7:14, Psalm 6:1-8:9, Proverbs 1:29-2:15

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For January 1-8: Ask the men in your group to name their three priorities at work. •• What were the most popular answers? (Possible responses: make money, please the boss, be productive or serve God?) •• What gets in the way of serving God at the work place? •• What change of heart and mind do you need to better serve the Lord at your job?

Monday —January 9 • God’s Plan Will Prevail

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 When Tom Watson was CEO of IBM, he elevated a young man to lead a major project. That young man promptly lost $10 million. Watson summoned him to the corporate office. The young executive walked in and said, “I guess you’ll want my resignation.” Watson replied, “You have to be kidding! We just invested $10 million in your education. You’re not going anywhere!” Perhaps you haven’t experienced a loss of this magnitude, but I’ll bet you’d agree with this young man, based on your own experiences, that life can take an unexpected turn. Yet Scripture indicates we can rest on the 100 percent certainty that, regardless of the circumstances, God’s plan will prevail.

That doesn’t excuse us from planning and preparation. But it does offer great comfort and even freedom in the process of strategizing, because we know we can never thwart God’s plan. We can set our course, knowing that even if our plans seem to lead to ruin, God will take care of us by His grace and mercy. Our plans always are under the protection of His plans. MIMBS 2 When have you found God’s overarching plan protecting you in a difficult time? Share your experience with another man. Daily Reading: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

Tuesday—January 10 • Planning and Faith So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these tings will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34

Today’s passage encourages Jesus’ followers to live without worry, trusting God to provide the necessities of life. I’ve run into some Christians who seem to believe passages like this require a Christian not to plan. In context, though, this passage simply points out the danger of obsessing over worldly needs and desires. It doesn’t warn about planning for the future, but rather, it warns about following a plan that leads to an unworthy goal. Planning and faith are not mutually exclusive. In fact, Scripture quotes God as saying, “My purpose will stand …What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:10-11). God is

not haphazard. He’s a planner. The secret to success, then, is to figure out how to bring our plans into alignment with God’s. Everything we desire and plan to do hinges on alignment with God’s plan, because as the world’s wisest man Solomon reminds us, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). MIMBS 2 Describe one goal for which you are planning. According to today’s Scripture, is that a worthy goal? Explain your answer. Daily Reading: Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6

Wednesday—January 11 •

Giving Thought to Your Steps

The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. Proverbs 14:15 Brad Bloom was approached to become the CEO of Olive Garden at a time when the business had experienced a 12 percent sales drop the previous year. Before accepting the position, he went “undercover,” working in different capacities at several Olive Garden restaurants. He accepted the CEO position saying, “I want Olive Garden to be a fine dining experience.” He kept a list of things he would change, based on his observations in the restaurants he had visited. Brad began working toward his overall goal. He increased training for all employees by about 500 percent. He empowered managers at the local level. In short, he planned, and then he followed through. The results were phenomenal. Olive Garden experienced 33

quarters of consecutive growth, and profits rose 600 percent. Credit that success to Brad’s determination, which was directed by careful planning. Some Christians live like walking by faith means you must forsake planning and determination. But God asks us to faithfully serve Him, and that faithfulness often includes careful planning. Faith coupled with determination and planning can mesh together to achieve great goals. MIMBS 2 Who in your life best shows the combination of faith, determination, and planning? What successes have you seen as a result? Daily Reading: Genesis 24:52-26:16, Matthew 8:18-34, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 3:7-8

Thursday—January 12 • Reporting to the General The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

The first part of today’s verse recalls the importance of preparing before going into battle. The second part reminds us that even the best battle plan can fail, unless God ordains otherwise. You could say we are like lieutenants and God is a very good General. He gives lots of leeway to plan our own battles. But He ultimately calls the shots. I don’t see that as a limitation of freedom. I see it as a comforting assurance of God’s ongoing grace, covering our lives. When our plans bring success, we must stay humble, recognizing God as the author of all victory. When plans don’t lead to the success we expected, we can trust God’s

protection. We can trust that He will not allow us to destroy ourselves. When our strategies fail, we can trust that God is working things for our good, rather than our harm. And He also is working to bring our plans into alignment with His. We need to seek His insight for our long-term thinking, setting our minds to pursue His glory in every plan we make. MIMBS 2 Think of a situation you are facing that requires planning. Rewrite today’s Scripture passage so it applies directly to that situation. Daily Reading: Genesis 26:17-27:46, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 10:16-18, Proverbs 3:9-10

Friday, Saturday, Sunday —January 13, 14, 15 Steps Directed by God

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? Proverbs 20:24 I had pestered my wife for about 10 years, because I really wanted to live on the water. At one point, we agreed we would wait about two more years, allowing our children to finish high school, and then we could move. About the time we made that agreement, I was taking a shortcut to my house when I saw a sign: “Lake Front Property for Sale.” I wasn’t considering buying it, but I mentioned it to Patsy that evening, and we looked at it together. My usually deliberate wife said, “Let’s buy it.” I made an agreement with the seller, and we shook hands on it. A couple of hours later, my phone rang. “Pat,” the seller said, “this man asked if I ever wanted to sell the lot, would I see if he could buy it. After I left you, I called him, and he wants the lot. I feel duty bound to you, so if you give me $10,000 more than he will give me, it’s yours.” I knew my plans were protected by God’s plans. If the sale fell through, it was because

this wasn’t the best plan for me. And if we did purchase the property, it would mean my plan was aligned with God’s. After chatting with the seller for a while, I said, “If this is God’s sovereign plan for us to have this lot, then there is nothing you or I can do to prevent that from happening. If it’s not His plan, then no amount of my begging will make a difference. So do what you need to do.” The man paused about 20 seconds, and he said, “Okay —since you put it that way, you can have the lot.” Not all circumstances work out that way. But if we hold tightly to God and loosely to stuff, we can trust God to align our plans with His, so that He is directing our steps. MIMBS 2 Are you confident that your steps are directed by God? How does that trust (or lack of trust) affect you when your plans succeed? How does it affect you when your plans fail? Daily Reading: Genesis 28:1-32:12, Matthew 9:18-11:6, Psalm 11:1-13:6, Proverbs 3:11-18

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For January 9-15: Have someone to read the devotional, “Planning and Faith” from Tuesday, January 10. •• How do faith and planning work together? •• Are you a planner? What happens when life doesn’t go as you planned? •• Have you been able to let God establish your plans? Why or why not?

Monday —January 16 • The Mirror of Scripture

When I was young, I had no spiritual interest. My family went to church and I participated in religious activities because I wanted to look good. But I was busy setting goals and getting my own way. The more I achieved, the more miserable I became, and I blamed my wife. God humbled me, not by removing things, but by giving me so much of what I wanted, I gagged. I ranted at my wife, thinking I could gain freedom if I found words to express my burden. My wife began to cry. Holding my gaze for a brief eternity,

she simply asked, “Is there anything about me that you like?” I felt like I had been hit with a cattle prod. I wandered into my office and sat staring out the window for the rest of the morning. The situation left me thinking, “You really are a nobody headed nowhere.” I was failing and I had no hope. When I reached that point, I took my first real step toward God’s grace. MIMBS 3 What was your first real step toward God’s grace? What did God teach you? Share your experience with another man. Daily Reading: Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20

Tuesday—January 17 • I Can’t “Measure Up” This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22–24

I started my journey toward God, logically enough, by visiting a church. My wife and I met two young couples there who took an interest in us. One night one of the women asked, “Are you a Borneo Christian?” “A Borneo Christian?” I asked. “What’s that?” “I asked if you’re a born again Christian,” she laughed. I really thought she said “Borneo.” I didn’t have a clue what it meant to be born again. All I knew was that, on my own, I would never “measure up.” Throughout the Bible and history we have

seen men facing that same dilemma. Martin Luther struggled with knowing he fell short of God’s righteousness. He asked, “How do I, a sinner, find acceptance with a righteous and holy God?” Since the beginning of time, men have asked that question. Thankfully, the answer doesn’t really depend on us. MIMBS 3 When have you found yourself trying to measure up to God’s standards? What were the implications of that? Daily Reading: Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 3:21-26

Wednesday—January 18 • Being Born Again

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—January 20, 21, 22 • A Gift from God

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. John 3:3 Though a Pharisee, Nicodemus was pretty much like you and me. When he saw Jesus, he basically said, “I know you’re from God, because I’ve seen Your miracles.” Jesus didn’t respond to that statement, except to say, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Jesus was talking to the kind of guy who goes to a weekly Bible study, and who is active in his church. He was talking to a moral guy who probably fasted and tithed and did other spiritual disciplines on a regular basis. Jesus’ response must have been confusing. Our Lord saw a distinction

between being part of God’s Kingdom and being religious. In God’s Kingdom, everything we do is worthless if we aren’t born again. Starting over— being born again—means we rely on our heavenly Father to show us how to live. MIMBS 3 How does “born again” describe what happens when a man accepts Christ as his Lord and Savior? Talk about this with some other men. Daily Reading: Genesis 37:138:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16:1-11, Proverbs 3:27-32

Thursday—January 19 • Mercy Rather Than Effort It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16

Jesus informed Nicodemus that no one can see God’s Kingdom without being born again. Like many men today, the term confused Nicodemus. “‘How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’” (John 3:4) I believe Nicodemus was the kind of guy who would do the right thing, if he just knew what it was. Jesus explained that, for a man to enter God’s Kingdom, he must be born of water (the flesh) and of the Spirit. And He indicated anyone who would believe in Him, and in His sacrificial death, would have eternal life (John 3:15).

C.S. Lewis noted that the main point of Christianity is this: as the result of Jesus’ death, God justifies us and gives us a fresh start. We can’t earn it through religious behavior. We only gain righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ—through His mercy rather than our effort. MIMBS 3 Have you ever tried to earn God’s favor with righteous behavior? What helped change your mind and heart? Share the good news with another man this week. Daily Reading: Genesis 39:1-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalm 17:1-15, Proverbs 3:33-35

For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 In the 1700s, in England, John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield led a student group called “The Holy Club”. Trying to find acceptance with a righteous God, participants spent hours in personal Bible study. They prayed, fasted, took communion, carried on rigorous devotions, wrote in journals, and did good deeds. One evening, years later, John Wesley was listening to a reading of Martin Luther’s preface to the book of Romans, and everything changed. He wrote in his journal, “While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation.” This great man wasn’t lacking religious zeal. By all outward evidence, he seemed to be a godly man. But he came to realize that we can never achieve our own righteousness. We find God’s approval by believing and having faith in Jesus. To be born again means believing that Jesus is who He says He is—God’s Son. It means believing He died on the cross to

take the penalty for our sins. And it means believing He’ll do what He promised—He’ll give eternal life. John Wesley had been extremely religious. Yet until he accepted God’s gift of salvation, he wasn’t born again. Martin Luther had been extremely religious, living as an Augustine monk, but for a long time he wasn’t born again. Likewise, Nicodemus was extremely religious, but he wasn’t born again. Man’s only hope is in the true gift of God’s salvation. MIMBS 3 If you’ve been going through the motions of “being religious,” and you’re not born again, please pray this prayer with me. If you are born again, please rededicate yourself through this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I believe You died for my sins. I believe if I put my faith in You, You’ll forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I accept the gift of being born again, and by faith I receive Your grace. Amen. Daily Reading: Genesis 41:17-45:28, Matthew 13:24-14:36, Psalm 18:1-50, Proverbs 4:1-13

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For January 16-22: On a whiteboard or large piece of paper, write down the men’s answers to: What is the difference between religious behavior and being born again? •• Have you spent time trying to behave religiously? What impact did that have on your life? •• What factors led you to receive God’s gift of salvation? How has your attitude toward God changed since that time? •• What advice would you give to those caught in the trap of religious behavior?

Monday—January 23 • Statements from Jesus

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20 Many people have made statements that sounded true but turned out to be ridiculous. Decca Recording Company, in rejecting the Beatles in 1962, stated: “We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” Ken Olsen, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, stated in 1977: “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.” There are many statements that Jesus made—especially in the Sermon on the Mount—that sounded ridiculous and counter-cultural to those listening. Today, many of His statements are a complete reversal of what we’ve been taught by the world. But in order to become disciples of Jesus, we must realize that what may be

foolish by human standards is wisdom to us. Being meek and humble, making peace instead of insisting on our own way, even mourning—Jesus said these things bring blessing. Not because they are fun or inviting, but because in the midst of these times, we can best be imitators of Christ and remember our need for a loving God. MIMBS 4 What are a few statements made by Jesus that sounded ridiculous to those who heard them? In the Book of Matthew, chapters 5–7, which of Jesus’ statements do you find particularly challenging? Daily Reading: Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19

Tuesday—January 24 • Salt

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 When Jesus calls us to be the light of the world, it’s a pretty tall order. After all, Jesus Himself is often referred to as the Light. How can we be light in human form? Light shows the way and it dispels darkness. A little light goes a long way; if it was pitch black and I lit a single candle, I’d find my way around remarkably well. C.S. Lewis wrote an article about a day he was in his tool shed. It was dark, but there was a thin crack above the door that allowed a beam of light to shine into the shed. He pointed out that typically we don’t see the light; it just is. This time, however, he could see the light. As we go about our days, we may be light and the light just is. But imagine how

q You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13 As disciples, we are the salt of the earth. What does this really mean? It’s difficult to rise to the challenge of Jesus if we don’t know what being salt looks like in human form. Salt is a preservative. However, it is also capable of retaining its own characteristics; salt goes down into meat without becoming meat. Salt seasons and enhances flavor. Salt makes you thirsty. You would die without salt—it’s vital to life. What is it to “lose” our saltiness? In Jesus’ day, salt came from the Dead Sea and the sun could actually leach out the flavor, rendering it useless. Then people would throw

it down on the roadways to cut down on the weeds in the road—it would literally be “thrown out and trampled by men.” We are called to be salt to all mankind. Don’t allow anything to leach out your saltiness! To lose our ability to influence the world without becoming worldly will only result in being trampled by the world itself. MIMBS 4 What opportunities are there for a Christian to be “the salt of the earth”? Is anything leaching your saltiness away? Commit to share this with a brother and pray for each other daily. Daily Reading: Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:29-16:12, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 4:20-27

Wednesday—January 25 • Light

that light appears to the people who desperately need it beaming into their darkness. The moonlight that enables us to see at night is actually just the sunlight reflecting off the moon. This is the kind of light we are called to be to the world: a reflection of the Son to a dark world. MIMBS 4 What are some ways you can be light in human form? As a dispeller of darkness? As a guide? Talk with other men in your group about a practical step you can take this week. Daily Reading: Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 5:1-6

Thursday—January 26 • Salt and Light in Action Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15

At the gym, I struck up a conversation with two guys. It turned serious and a window opened up for me to share. I talked about the necessity of not quitting on your dreams, expecting opposition, and work ethic. But when I walked away, I realized that I’d just offered up a positive mental attitude—a self-help pep talk—instead of the Gospel of Christ. Each time you encounter someone, you have the option to be salt and light or not. It’s not easy or natural—it takes some intentionality. How many times have we all showed kindness, understanding, or given advice but failed to even mention Christ? Recently I was eating lunch with a friend in a café and just before we were about

to pray over our meal, my friend asked our server what we could pray for her about. She seemed surprised, but began to tell us with great emotion what she was going through, and the three of us prayed together. It would have been automatic to give her our order, thank her for our food, and leave the tip on the table, but my friend was committed to being intentional about being salt and light. MIMBS 4 How do you feel about the prospect of being salt and light to every person you encounter? Overwhelmed, excited, fearful, apathetic? Why? Daily Reading: Exodus 2:11-3:22, Matthew 17:10-27, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 5:7-14

Friday, Saturday, Sunday —January 27, 28, 29 Our Responsibility In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Consider for a moment what the world would look like without the Church. Who would be serving the lowly, fighting for justice, and calling for mercy? Who would be bringing the gospel of hope and salvation? We have a lot of critics, but no rivals. Salt and light in action is powerful and is changing the world. What exactly is our responsibility as disciples? We are to be faithful and intentional about being salt and light to others. However, we aren’t responsible for the outcome. You may have someone in your life that you’ve been witnessing to for years without any fruit. God is pleased because you’re faithful. We don’t do this in order to see a particular outcome; otherwise we all would quit from discouragement. Although trying to change the world is exciting and admirable, it’s not enough of a motive to keep you going day after

day as a disciple, especially when results are lacking. Instead, a big enough motive to keep you going is the knowledge that when you’re salt and light, regardless of the outcome, God is glorified. As obedient sons, we’re enhancing the reputation of our Father and bringing Him honor. And inevitably, some of the people to whom you’ve been salt and light are going to turn and give praise to God as well. We all have the choice to be salt and light to every person we encounter or not. If we do, there is an opportunity for God to receive the glory He is due. MIMBS 4 Think of the people you encounter in a given week: guys at the gym, waitresses, vendors, bank tellers, cashiers, etc. What are tangible ways that you can be salt and light? Pray with some other men for the boldness and compassion to be obedient to Jesus’ call. Daily Reading: Exodus 4:1-9:35, Matthew 18:1-19:30, Psalm 22:19-24:10, Proverbs 5:15-6:5

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For January 23-29: After reading this week’s devotions, how would you describe the meanings of “salt” and “light”? •• Why do you think those two words are used to describe a Christian’s role to the world around them? •• What person or ministry has been “salt” or “light” to you? •• What are some tangible ways our groups could be “salt’ or “light” to members of our community?

Monday —January 30 • Don’t Neglect God’s Word I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:15-16

Occasionally an email list of “ironies” arrives in my in-box. I saw one that asked: •• Why do sick people have to walk to the back of the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions, while healthy people buy cigarettes at the front counter? •• Why do we have answering machines to screen our calls, and then call waiting so we don’t miss anything? •• Why can a pizza delivery person arrive at my house more quickly than an ambulance? Life is full of ironies, even when it comes to spiritual choices. Charles Spurgeon lamented that, for every 10 men who are willing to die for the Bible, only one actually

reads it. King David was a man after God’s own heart, but he didn’t grow into that stature by fighting for the Bible. His heart became more and more like God’s as he read and meditated on God’s ways. In today’s passage, David wrote, “I will not neglect your word.” People all over the world respect the Bible. But only a small percentage of those people actually read it and base their lives on it. MIMBS 5 If you are reading this devotional, you probably already have a deep respect for God’s Word. Are you reading it regularly? And are you basing your life on it? Explain your answers. Daily Reading: Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 6:6-11

Tuesday—January 31 • God’s Word Is Our Weapon Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul compared God’s Word to a sword. The Book of Hebrews supports this saying, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). I encourage men to ask three questions when they read Scripture: •• What did the author mean? •• What is the timeless message? •• How does it apply to me? These passages clearly present God’s word as a weapon against our spiritual enemy. God’s Word will expose the things within us

that need to change, so we can align with His character. We can easily fool ourselves if we aren’t anchored in God’s Word. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God reminded us that our hearts are “deceitful above all things.” But He added, “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind” (Jeremiah 17:9, 10). A man cannot legitimately judge his own actions and motivations. To reflect God’s character we must rely on the standard of God’s Word. MIMBS 5 How do the Scriptures outlined in today’s devotional apply to you? Daily Reading: Exodus 12:14-13:16, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalm 25:16-22, Proverbs 6:12-15

Wednesday—February 1 Do You Own Your Bible, or Does It Own You? Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed … Acts 17:11-12

Most of us will not invest regular time in Bible reading if we do not understand and appreciate its purpose. I have two reasons for committing to a regular time of study. The first is communion with God. I enjoy discovering new things about God’s character and His desire and purpose. As these things are revealed to me, I feel like I know Him better and love Him more. I also read so I can mature in my ability to distinguish right from wrong, and in my ability to choose what I know to be right. I am striving to reach a point where I don’t own my Bible, but rather it owns me.

One thing that helps me stick to this regular commitment is that I’ve set aside a specific time. Early morning works best for me. I get up, pour a cup of coffee, and then sit in a comfortable chair where I won’t be distracted. Knowing the purpose of my reading helps me plan for it and stay committed to the task. MIMBS 5 Do you own your Bible, or does it own you? How did you come to that answer? Share your thoughts with another man. Daily Reading: Exodus 13:17-15:18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 26:1-12, Proverbs 6:16-19

Thursday—February 2 • Prayer Coupled with Scripture When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

I don’t read my Bible solely for the sake of information. I want to understand how the principles apply to my life. So I always begin my reading time with prayer. I want to commune with God in a way that helps me internalize the truths He wants me to learn. In my prayer, I recall that Father God has lavished His love on me in making me His child. I verbally surrender my life to Jesus, expressing my desire to live under His direction and Lordship. And I recognize the Holy Spirit as my Guide who will reveal truth. I close out my prayer by saying something like this: “I love you with all my heart. And now I

am going to read Your Word, and I invite you to tutor my heart. Show me what is inside and speak to me.” This activity helps me to properly consider the sacred place I am about to enter. I want to hear God speak to me, and I want Him to disciple me into the truth. MIMBS 5 Name one thing that God has personally revealed to you or awakened in you within the last month, because of personal time spent reading the Bible. Daily Reading: Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26

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Friday, Saturday, Sunday—February 3, 4, 5 Plans and Distractions

The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 A friend once asked, “If I offered you $10 million to read your Bible from cover to cover in the next year, would you do it?” Few people would refuse that offer. In fact, they probably could finish earlier than anticipated. Yet the Psalmist declared God’s Word to be more precious than wealth. A person who understands Scripture’s eternal value obviously will want to study it. But many fail because they don’t have a plan, or they give in to distractions. Many plans exist to help you read through your Bible in a year. They are available at websites and in bookstores. One of my favorites is The One-Year Bible. Offered in several translations, it divides the entirety of Scripture into daily readings. I give myself some flexibility, and if I don’t complete all the readings, I make it up when I can spend more time. When my mind wanders, I assume there are four possible causes: the will, the flesh, the devil, or the Holy Spirit. I try to discern the source. If it’s the will, the flesh, or the devil, then I take control and bring my mind back to Scripture. Sometimes that requires additional prayer or spiritual warfare. Sometimes it requires reading the passage

aloud to keep my mind engaged. But suppose I read a text, and suddenly I am convicted about an attitude or habit. Even if it takes my attention away from the reading, I assume the Holy Spirit is leading me, and I go with it to make sure I don’t cut short His guidance. However my reading time proceeds, I don’t stop until I have what I call a moment of humility. That’s when I feel God’s presence sweeping over me, and I know I have truly communed with Him. MIMBS 5 Explain how you will discern among the sources of distraction when you are reading your Bible. How will you deal with the different sources? Ask some other men how they deal with distractions. Daily Reading: Exodus 17:8-23:13, Matthew 22:34-24:28, Psalm 27:7-29:11, Proverbs 6:277:23

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For January 39–February 5: If someone asked you, “Why do you read the Bible?” what would your answer be? •• What words would you use to describe the Bible? (Ex. History book, love letter from God, playbook, guide, etc.) •• Do you read God’s Word on a regular basis? If so, what does that time in His Word mean to you? •• If not, why has it been difficult to establish that habit?

Monday—February 6 • Chasing After the Wind I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:14

Steve married his high school sweetheart. With a friend, he started a profitable real estate brokerage. He invested $10,000 in Google’s initial stock offering. When Steve was 10 years-old, he professed faith in Christ, but he never invested much time in activities helping his faith to grow. Lately he’s been depressed. Like King Solomon, who wrote today’s Scripture passage, Steve has achieved all of his goals, but he simply isn’t happy. He met a church acquaintance named John for lunch. Steve explained, “I think I need to rethink my paradigm. When I look at my current trajectory, I don’t like what I see 10 years from now. Do you have any suggestions?”

John asked three questions: 1) Do you have a best friend? 2) Are you in a small group? 3) Are you reading the Bible daily? Steve had to answer “no” to all three questions. Take some time to do your own inventory. If you look 10 years down the road, do you like what you see? By making some lifestyle changes, you can influence that trajectory. You can experience a transformed life. MIMBS 6 How would you answer the three questions above? How has that made a difference in your life? Daily Reading: Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 7:24-27

Tuesday—February 7 • Defining Transformation Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God —this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

God wants to transform our lives, but it’s hard to cooperate with Him if we don’t really know the goal. A person who experiences God’s transformation is someone who has become a true disciple and a Biblical Christian. I believe that has three facets. A transformed disciple is: Called to live in Christ. Equipped to live like Christ. Sent to live for Christ. We answer the call to live for Christ when we are born again. Today’s passage talks about the equipping process that enables us to live for Christ. It says we will be “transformed by the renewing of our

minds.” We cooperate with this by educating our minds to think the way Jesus thinks. We do this through reading His Word and submitting to good Biblical teaching. And we accept our place in God’s plan to redeem others when we live before them as an example of His character. That is the essence of transformation which God has in mind for every person who professes Christ as Savior and Lord. MIMBS 6 Have you been born again? If you haven’t, why not? And if you have, how are you educating your mind to think like Jesus thinks? Daily Reading: Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 8:1-11

Wednesday—February 8 • Hindrances to Transformation

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 Today’s passage reminds us that the process of renewing our minds through Scripture is not without opposition. Other voices try to gain a hearing with deceptive philosophies and traditions. Jesus met a group of synagogue leaders whose questions revealed their focus on details without allowing God to change their hearts and minds. Jesus told them, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Jesus’ reply illuminates two things that stand in the way of Biblical transformation. We either lack the Scriptural knowledge, or we lack the ability to act upon it. I’ve interviewed many godly men and women, and I found every one of them

had a love relationship with God that came from steeping themselves in God’s holy Word. The Bible is both the knowledge and power of God. We are transformed as we experience the residue of communion with the Living Word, which brings sinners into the power and presence of the Almighty God. We don’t have to micro-manage transformation. Just be with God. MIMBS 6 How are you tempted to micro-manage your transformation? Share with another man a time when you have “just been with God” and how it affected you. Daily Reading: Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:3126:13, Psalm 31:9-18 ,Proverbs 8:12-13

Thursday—February 9 • Finding Adequate Knowledge As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love …. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:9, 15

There is no greater love than that extended by God to His Son Jesus. In this passage, Jesus says He extends that same love toward those who follow Him. Then He notes that He hasn’t held anything back from His disciples. Everything that was revealed to Jesus is available to us. We also have the presence of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called our “Advocate” (John 14:26). What we do is a reflection of who we are. As we spend time with Jesus, He will transform us, and it cannot help but affect our attitudes and actions. Our lives don’t change because we try to alter our behavior. Change happens as we spend time with God.

If you cook, you know that a complicated recipe is much more difficult to master than a simple one. The more ingredients you add, the harder it is to produce the desired dish. Transformation really is simple. It has one major ingredient—spending time with Jesus, getting to know Him through His Word. Over time your life will change, because you will be transformed from the inside out. MIMBS 6 In what area of your life do you most need to see God’s transforming power? Write a prayer asking God to change you as you spend time with Him. Daily Reading: Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 8:14-26

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—February 10, 11, 12 Finding Adequate Power Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

Almost every person you meet is battling some sort of problem. Some have issues at work. Others just received a difficult diagnosis. Still others have money problems or relational problems. Christianity does not promise that God will change our circumstances. Yet in spite of that, even when we contend with the same problems that unbelievers have, we are better off. The fruit of the Spirit is far different and better than the fruit of the flesh. Today’s passage promises that, as we get to know God better and we submit to Him, He will change us so we desire and act upon those things that will fulfill His purpose in our lives. I heard about someone who was crying himself to sleep because his back was hurting so badly. His doctor gave him exercises, but he wouldn’t do them. That man has the knowledge required to help his situation, but he does not have the power to act on the knowledge. In the spiritual realm,

Jesus does not leave us in that place. He gives both knowledge and power. The great basketball coach John Wooden once said, “The athlete that says something cannot be done should never interrupt the athlete who is doing it.” In a similar way, lots of people say it’s impossible to lead a transformed life. But then again, lots of people are doing it. You may not be satisfied with your progress, but I guarantee, something changes with every moment you spend with God, exposing yourself to His Word. You don’t need to sit around and fret about where you will be in 10 years. Just be with God. In a decade or so, you’ll be surprised at the differences in your life. MIMBS 6 Why does a person need both knowledge and power to make lifestyle changes? How have you seen this in your life? Daily Reading: Exodus 30:11-35:9, Matthew 26:4727:31, Psalm 32:1-33:22, Proverbs 8:27-9:6

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For February 6-12: Ask someone to read aloud the devotional from above, “Finding Adequate Power.” •• What kinds of struggles do men face today? •• What kinds of struggles are you facing today? •• Discuss how you can be of help to one another and spend a few minutes in prayer bringing those struggles before the Lord.

Monday—February 13 • A New Command

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 (nkjv) No matter what path your children take when they grow up, relationships will remain a huge part of their life. They will have friends, coworkers, neighbors, and often, a spouse and children of their own. The key to these relationships is the ability to love others from the heart. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” Then He amplifies His words by adding, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The members of the early church knew the power of this. Julian the Apostate reportedly said, “Those impious Christians. They support not only their own poor, but ours, too!” He could

resist everything except their love. In our “me-first, fast-paced, online, happiness-now” culture, we find that kind of selfless, irresistible love in short supply. This shortage presents a great opportunity for Christians—not only to demonstrate love in our own lives, but to pass this trait along to our children as well. The only way Christians will change the world is for us to pass on a heritage of active, transformational love. —&DITM Have the men in your group write down some practical ways they can display and instill Christ-like love to their children. Daily Reading: Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8

Tuesday—February 14 • Loving Others Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3

When Jesus tells us to love one another, what is He really asking us to do? We find a great definition of love in Philippians 2:3: “In humility consider others better than yourselves.” Love actively works for someone else’s good rather than its own. When you love someone, you feel naturally concerned for what they want and what seems best for them. Your personal interests recede to the background as you promote the interests of another. As a freshman in college, David woke up every morning and asked himself, “Self, what do you want to do today?” When he met Ruthie during his sophomore year, that all changed. Instead of waking up and saying, “What do I want to do today?” he asked, “I

wonder what Ruthie is going to do today? I wonder what we could do together.” He went from being selfish to being “otherish.” Model “otherishness” to your children. Show them by your own actions that love cares about the welfare of others; that it focuses on the other person instead of oneself. Find specific ways to meet needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and the world. &DITM To what degree are you “otherish”? Think of some practical ways you can teach your children or grandchildren to put the interest of others ahead of their own. Daily Reading: Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10

Wednesday—February 15 • Love Takes Risk

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.” Matthew 5:44 (nkjv) Why do children have trouble loving others? Their own sinful attitudes are part of the problem: selfishness, pride, an unforgiving spirit, and more. But quite often, the toughest barriers to overcome are fears about the things other kids may do to them. We have to be honest with our kids and grandkids; love carries real risks. They may suffer in the short run. If they make an effort to reach out to someone new, they run the risk of rejection. If they speak to a hurting person when they don’t know exactly what to say, they risk feeling foolish or awkward. Love requires them—and us— to take that risk. So what will motivate your children to take the risk? They will love with abandon only after they’ve felt what it’s like to be loved with abandon. They need an absolute assurance of the love of Christ before they will have the freedom to truly love others.

You can help them gain this assurance by showing them the unconditional love of Christ through your own love, and by praying that God’s love will so fill them that they can’t help but love others. &DITM Talk to the men in your group and find out two things: how often they tell their children or grandchildren that they love them, and how often they pray that their children will learn how to love. Daily Reading: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12

Thursday—February 16 • Family Matters For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free. 1 Corinthians 12:13 (nkjv)

We have a lot to overcome to help our children love others. Unlike Eastern culture, where the good of community takes center stage, American culture focuses on what’s good for the individual. Our educational system, the media, advertisers, and even employers clamor for us to think about ourselves and put our own needs first. In a society like this, relationships with other people become only a means to attain our goals. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Our Father.” Why not, “My Father”? We say, “Give us today.” Why not “Give me today”? God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit exist in an eternal love relationship with one another. Being

made in God’s image means that we, too, were made for relationships with God and others. When we are in Christ, we are part of a new community. We have a new identity because we have become part of God’s family. If we don’t equip our children to love others as a core value, they will miss something essential about who they are in Christ. &DITM Do you remember a time when friends weren’t there to help you? What did that feel like? Why is this so central to who we are? How can we help our kids learn this lesson? Daily Reading: Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:292:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—February 17, 18, 19 Dealing with Disappointment Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

One night David’s son had a hard time going to sleep. He was looking forward to something special the next day—visiting a theme park with some friends. After several false starts, he finally found the words to tell his mother what troubled him. “Whenever I look forward to something,” he said, “I picture how it’s going to be in my mind. But then when it actually happens, it’s nothing like that. I picture it as a 10, but when it happens, it’s only a 2.” It pains us to watch our children deal with disappointment and suffering. But it gives us a wonderful opportunity to father our children’s hearts. What can we do to help our children learn from times of disappointment? Allow Them to Feel the Pain. Don’t offer platitudes or unwanted advice when your children hurt. Empathize with them and allow them to express how they feel. Help Them Face Reality. When the time is right, talk with your kids about their feelings. Help them understand that the Bible says we will always be disappointed and frustrated in this world because of the Fall. Explain to them that this world is not their home (1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:9-12), and because of that, their hearts will always long for something more.

Point Them to a True Hope. How easy it is to become complacent and believe that this is all there is! After all, most of us have a pretty good life: air-conditioning, a television set, computer games, and plenty of food. Who needs heaven? Times of disappointment present a great opportunity to point our children to something beyond this present life. The Bible says that one day God will restore the world to the way He intended it to be. Help your children allow their disappointments to increase their longing for God’s kingdom to come. Our children will react to disappointment in one of two ways: They can harden their hearts and fortify themselves against the pain, or they can allow God to soften their hearts as they experience His love and hope in a broken world. Father your children’s hearts through times of disappointment so they can love God and others. &DITM Find out how the men in your group handle their children’s disappointment. Talk about this key issue in light of today’s devotion, and if you feel it’s warranted, adjust your approach accordingly. Daily Reading: Leviticus 4:1-9:6, Mark 2:134:25, Psalm 36:1-37:29, Proverbs 10:1-5

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For February 13-19: Share some things you learned about love from your family members. •• How are you showing your children or grandchildren what it means to have an attitude of “otherishness”? •• How can a small child demonstrate an attitude of putting others first? A teenager? A young adult? •• Look for ways your children are displaying an “otherishness” attitude and affirm that action or attitude.

Monday—February 20 • Finding Happiness

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10b (nkjv) One of the ways God completes our happiness is by giving us the privilege of helping other men find theirs. And the first way to do that is by leading them to Jesus Christ. Some time ago a friend of mine was hired to consult with DreamWorks on their movie, “The Prince of Egypt.” His task was to comment on whether the movie was staying true to the Christian faith. The staff wanted to know exactly

what makes a Christian. After my friend explained what it meant and how a person could become one, a puzzled employee asked, “You mean anyone can be a Christian?” The good news about Jesus is the most hopeful story a man can hear. Yet many people only know Jesus through gross caricatures, unfair stereotypes and faulty spokesmen. That’s why you, as a “normal” person, can be such a valuable ambassador for Christ. You have the ability to catch men off guard as you present the truth of the Gospel. &TS Talk to other men about their experiences sharing their faith. Focus on the joy and happiness they felt, as compared to other things that make them happy, such as careers and earthly relationships. Daily Reading: Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:265:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7

Tuesday—February 21 • Change Your Story Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17b (nkjv)

When former football superstar Deion Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons, he returned a punt for a touchdown. Sanders bought Gucci watches for the entire punt return unit to show his appreciation for the crucial role they played in his success. Some time later Sanders became a follower of Jesus Christ. The story is told of the day when Sanders, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, had again returned a punt for a touchdown. A teammate, who had coincidentally played with Sanders in Atlanta, remembered the watch incident and asked him, “Hey Deion, are you going to do it again?”

“No,” he said. “I’m going to buy everybody an NIV Bible.” Now why would Sanders give an answer like that? God changed his story. A man who experiences a great restaurant can’t wait to tell his friends about it. In a much greater way, a man who experiences Jesus Christ is eager to share Him with others. &TS Do the men you know regularly share their faith with other men? Talk about some of the reasons why they do, or why they do not. Daily Reading: Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:2143, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9

Wednesday—February 22 • Show and Tell We loved you so much, that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:8

A few years ago, some friends of ours watched as a violent tornado ripped through their neighborhood, destroying just about everything in its path. One home was completely wiped out. Many others were battered. A Christian man who lived on their street decided to mobilize churches to offer help to the community. He went door-to-door, canvassing the neighborhood and taking inventory of the needs. Soon people began streaming into the area to bring relief. They brought meals, hauled away trash and provided child care. Everyone in the community was overwhelmed with gratitude. They saw just how good the story of the Gospel can be.

The apostle Paul understood the importance of proclamation—“telling” the good story. But he also championed the idea of incarnation—“showing the story.” In a world saturated by words, people have begun to say, “First, show me. Then when I have come to trust you, you can tell me.” A man’s receptivity to what we “proclaim” will rarely exceed the authenticity of how we actually live. &TS Talk to the men in your group about what they can do to show the Gospel to the people of your community. Daily Reading: Leviticus 13:1-59, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 39:1-13, Proverbs 10:10

Thursday—February 23 • What Holds Us Back? Two are better than one ... for if they fall, one will lift up his companion. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 (nkjv)

One of the reasons men can be spiritually apathetic about their neighbors is this: we don’t care about people we don’t know. When you get to know someone personally, you begin to see past the thin veneer of the “everything is great” mentality—the lie men tell almost all of their acquaintances. You learn of the aches and pains, the disappointments and heartaches. You feel the sting of broken marriages or the anguish of a business failing. The life of Jesus demonstrates that our message is not merely proclamation, but also incarnation. Our spiritual interest in others will be in direct proportion to how well we get to know them personally.

Here’s an idea: don’t try first to be a better witness. Just be a better friend. Build deep, meaningful relationships with lost men. After you get to know them, love will compel you to share the difference Jesus makes. You’ll never be more interested in someone’s salvation than when you’re interested in them personally. &TS Are you willing to make a commitment to be a better friend to three lost men? If so, see the Reach Three strategy on page 6 of this issue. Daily Reading: Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—February 24, 25, 26 Men Who Witness More

I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever. Psalm 45:17

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5 Most men have it in their hearts to do the right thing. Witnessing is one of those things. If you desire to share the Gospel, here are a few suggestions that can motivate you to witness more often. Have Something To Give Men. If you have read a book that was meaningful to you, and it does a good job of explaining the Christian faith, why not adopt a ministry of giving that book to men in need? You might even consider selecting several different books for various needs and crises. Have Somewhere To Send Men. Most churches have men who regularly lead other men to Jesus Christ. They probably teach Bible studies, organize prayer breakfasts or lead small groups. Learn who these men are. Establish contact. Get to know them personally. Then, when you have a man who needs spiritual help, you will have a place to send him. Have Something To Say To Men. Most men are terrified to talk about their faith. Why? Because they lack confidence and experience. The best way to gain confidence

and experience is to receive hands-on training about how to share your faith. Your church may offer such a course. If not, find out who in your community does, or contact Evangelism Explosion International. Have a Plan To Reach Men. In the same way your business would founder if you didn’t have a goal and a strategy, you will most likely not effectively witness without these two crucial ingredients. You may want to consider the “Reach 3” strategy explained on page 6. If you don’t adopt that plan, find one you can adopt and begin to implement it. The happiest men I’ve known have been witnessing Christians. They understand that Christianity is Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Everyone is invited to step inside the circle. Hindus and Buddhists, agnostics and atheists, Republicans and Democrats, Jews and Gentiles. We don’t have to “fix” men. All we have to do is teach them biblical principles, and the Holy Spirit will make the application come alive in them. &TS How many men have you been able to share your faith with in the last year? Is that enough? What will make next year different? Daily Reading: Leviticus 15:1-20:21, Mark 7:18:38, Psalm 40:11-42:11, Proverbs 10:13-17

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For February 20-26: From the devotional above, read the suggestions that may help motivate you to witness more. •• How did you come to know about your need for Christ? •• Did someone share their faith with you? If so, what did that mean to you? •• Do you feel your story of faith is important to share with someone? How could you actually do that this week?

Monday—February 27 • Powerful Pasts

It’s funny what memories stick with us from our youth. One Saturday, my family piled into the car and headed to an Inter-coastal Waterway bridge. My mom gave us long strings with chicken necks on the end of them. We hung our “fishing lines” over the bridge and spent the afternoon catching crabs. I don’t know that my parents set out to make a memory for us, but some 50 years later, it’s as vivid in my mind as the day it happened. Memories are powerful. When those we have loved pass away, we cherish those reflections of time spent together. At family reunions, we laugh and giggle over our Uncle Joe’s inability to sing or Grandma’s secret recipe. At a baby’s birth, we compare the newborn’s face to

their father’s or mother’s baby picture. What gives memories their power? They are our history. Those memories have formed us and shaped us. The same is true for our spiritual memories and milestones. Those moments when God has empowered, touched and marked our lives combine to build a strong, spiritual foundation for our walk with Him. MIMBS 7 Think of a time from your childhood. Why do you think that memory came to mind? What role did it play in your development? Daily Reading: Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:129, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18

Tuesday—February 28 •

Spiritual Moments

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18 I was an altar boy and it was my big day to receive the alms basin from the ushers. I dressed in the traditional black robe with a white smock. In the Florida heat, I was dripping in sweat and gnats were swarming around my face. I remember my parents look of pride on the front row. They remember me wobbling to and fro and they feared that I may faint from the heat. In my family, this event became a spiritual memorial. It was a significant religious moment for me, and for my family. We all remember that day. Many of us can recall a spiritual time spent around a campfire at church camp or a special moment at vacation Bible school.

Many spiritual events mark us and shape our walk with God. They remind that God has loved us and worked in our lives for years. The ways He touched our hearts as children, teens or young believers show His care and concern for our lives. We all need to take time to remember the ways that God has led and provided. MIMBS 7 Was church an important part of your life as a child? If so, how did that mold you? If not, what effect did has that had on your spiritual journey? Share your experience with another man. Daily Reading: Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Wednesday—February 29 •

Spiritual Memorials

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. Joshua 4:21-23a It’s hard to imagine what Washington D.C. would be like if all the statues, all the monuments, and all the memorials were removed. It would no longer attract many visitors. Veterans would have no reason to travel there to pay homage to their fallen brothers. Presidents and statesmen could be forgotten. It might feel like our history was erased. Our Capital’s memorials are visible reminders to our nation; they leave a trail, they make a record, they document what has happened. Spiritual memorials do the same thing for

us. They are visible reminders of specific points when God intervened in our lives. When Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan River, God made a way for them through the river on dry land. Joshua wanted them to remember what God had done. He told the people to build a memorial of rocks, taken from the river, and build a monument to God’s mighty work. This effort gave the participants a memory of God’s work. It also let others know how God had provided a way for the people of Israel. MIMBS 7 Is there a time in your life that clearly shows God had His hand on you? Have you thanked Him for that time and shared that experience with others?

Thursday—March 1 • From Generation to Generation The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

Some children receive a Bible from a church confirmation class or at the time of their baptism. High school graduates get Bibles as gifts and even newlyweds receive a family Bible to mark their union. Why do we give and receive Bibles for important occasions? It marks the significance of the occasion. We pray that our child will read the Bible and it will become a part of their heart. We hope the young couple will make the Bible and God the foundation of their new life and family. In the past, a family Bible was passed down from generation to generation. They were used to record births, deaths and weddings. They also recorded the spiritual life of a family that might include baptisms,

dedications and prayers. That history gives future generations a path and an example to follow. The verses or sermons that impacted your grandfather may help you see and understand his journey. The answers to prayer that your great, great uncle received could encourage your prayer life. What a priceless gift for a family to look back and see God’s hand at work in their family for decades! MIMBS 7 When did you receive or purchase your first Bible? If it was a gift, what did the giver hope you’d receive from that gift? If you purchased it, what were searching for? Daily Reading: Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—March 2, 3, 4 •

Pass It On

Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, Your mighty miracles to all who come after me. Psalm 71:18 (NLT) I must admit I have many pictures on my camera that have never made it off the memory card. But in some homes, families create a wall of photos; a staircase or hallway may be filled with pictures and mementos. The collage may include school pictures, family photos, wedding or graduation pictures and even old photos of family members from days gone by. A grandmother’s christening dress or a greatgrandfather’s medal may reside behind glass. Perhaps there’s a picture of a 50th wedding anniversary celebration or a newborn’s arrival in the hospital. Are these walls simply decoration or do they serve a greater goal? I think we enjoy those walls and photos because we can track our progress as a family. The pictures give more meaning to “birth” days and vacations. They help us remember a beloved relative or a sentimental moment in life. What spiritual memorials or monuments are you giving to your children and grandchildren? What important spiritual moments in your life do they know about? How have they seen God’s work in your heart and life? How can we pass on the history of our faith to future generations? A family Bible or a spiritual journal is a wonderful way to begin the process. Sitting

with a grandchild and sharing a story of God’s faithfulness is a treasured gift. Take your teenager to a concert of a popular Worship Band. Buy a Christian book for you and your son-in-law to read and discuss. Use a moment with your daughter to give God praise for answering prayer or providing a need. Sharing our faith with our family is vital. It creates time for discussion. It gives weight to a life of faith. It teaches and reminds children and grandchildren how God has worked in your life and how He can do the same for them. Don’t miss the opportunity to pass it on! MIMBS 7 Ask the men in your group about ways they are sharing and passing on their faith with their families. What ideas did you get about spiritual memorials or monuments you can give to the future generations of your family? Daily Reading: Leviticus 25:47-Numbers 3:51, Mark 10:32-12:17, Psalm 45:1-47:9, Proverbs 10:22-25

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For February 27-March 4: Read this verse aloud to the group. “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” (Psalm 71:18). •• What does this verse mean to you? •• Have others shared their significant spiritual moments with you? How did that encourage you? •• When you think back to important times in your own spiritual life, what comes to mind?

Monday—March 5 • A Transformed Life Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

God loves you just as you are. He sent His Son to die for you and pay the price for your sins. You cannot earn God’s love through good works. God couldn’t love you more if you were Billy Graham, the Pope, or Mother Theresa. And He wouldn’t love you any less if you were a serial killer or had committed some other heinous crime. The dichotomy is that God loves you just as you are, but He certainly doesn’t want you to stay the way you are. God wants you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Is this possible? The Word of God declares that He is in the business of life transformation. I grew up in a Jewish home and really did not

know God. For more than 30 years I’ve seen His principles working in my own life, and have witnessed hundreds of men have their lives transformed through their obedience and dependence on God. Your history does not need to dictate your destiny. You can change. You can be transformed. Will you let Him? —Dave Wertheim Do you believe that God is able to transform your mind and life? What areas would you like to see Him transform? Take some time right now and ask Him. Daily Reading: Numbers 4:1-5:31, Mark 12:1837, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26

Tuesday—March 6 • Transforming Your Marriage Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Ephesians 5:25-26 (nasb)

Our relationship with our wives is one of the most critical relationships we will ever have. Developing the best possible relationship takes time, energy, focus, and positive, godly habits. Paul compares this relationship to the way Christ loved the church sacrificially. This may seem like an unattainable goal. With the Holy Spirit guiding us we have the ability to love, cherish, and adore our wives and transform our marriages. Perhaps this means serving her and meeting her needs even when we don’t really feel like it. Maybe she needs words of affirmation, non-sexual touch, or a compassionate, listening ear. It might mean apologizing for something we’ve done or forgiving

her for something she’s done (forgiving like Christ forgives us). There are numerous ways that we can demonstrate love for our wives. When we love with the right attitude we bring glory to God. Will you invest sufficient time to assess and understand her needs and love her as Christ loved the church and transform our marriages? —Dave Wertheim What would your wife say is the one thing you could do that would most clearly demonstrate your love for her? Are you willing to do it? Share this with some brothers and commit to pray for and check in with each other. Daily Reading: Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:3813:13, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 10:27-28

Wednesday—March 7 • Becoming a Transformed Dad These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

When our sons were in elementary school, my wife, Rose and I were junior high directors at our church. We participated in many fun events with the group. One day one of our sons asked, “Do you love the junior high kids at church more than us?” It was like a stab to our hearts. Surprised, we replied “Of course not, why would you ever say that?” He explained, “You always do fun things with them and never do those same things with us!” We were shocked. What would you do in our situation? We were committed to serving God and felt called to lead that ministry. However our kids felt the ministry got our firstfruits and they got the leftovers. It was quite a dilemma. We prayed, sought godly counsel and came up with a solution that was satisfactory to all. We began taking our sons with us on some of the appropriate events,

and when they couldn’t come with us they got equal or greater time at a family event of their choosing. We found solutions that everyone felt good about which transformed our parenting. —Dave Wertheim What areas in your parenting do you feel you can improve on? Do you need to invest more time with your children? What plan or actionable step are you willing to take to accomplish this? Daily Reading: Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:1437, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30

Thursday—March 8 • Becoming a Transformed Churchman Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

The church might be one of the most challenging places to demonstrate a transformed life! Why is that? Each of us has our own unique giftedness, personality, preferences, and wiring as we come together to worship. Unfortunately, our uniqueness can also create friction. The music is too loud or soft, fast or slow, appealing or unappealing to our tastes. The leadership isn’t leading the way “we would lead” if we were in charge. The people—well the people that attend can just rub us the wrong way. Many of these concerns arise because our focus is on us—our comfort, preferences, or likes. What if we changed our focus and truly set our minds on things above? What if we made it our life goal to

help transform the church we attend into the absolute best place to worship, grow, serve, and minister? What if we prayed for God to receive the glory in all things and became active and supportive of our church? We could become the kind of servant that leaders love to lead. We could become the kind of leader that servants love to follow. —Dave Wertheim With some brothers, talk about things you set your mind on. Make a list of things from above and earthly things. What would it take to focus more on things above? Daily Reading: Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:121, Psalm 51:1-19, Proverbs 10:31-32

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—March 9, 10, 11 Becoming a Transformed Worker You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14

When I became a Christian, I was a computer performance expert. I worked in a benchmark testing center calibrating new products for a hardware manufacturer. We were releasing a new product and I was invited into a meeting with the senior leaders. They asked me to review an announcement script for a videoconference broadcast to our worldwide sales teams. Reading the script I politely explained that I could not broadcast this information. “Why not?” they asked. Reluctantly, I shared, “Because the performance information is NOT TRUE.” The most senior manager jumped up and shouted, “Get him out of here. I told you he would never work out.” I left the conference room and drove home—scared, dejected, and unsure of my future. I had a house payment and a young family. How would I explain this to my wife? I felt the Lord assure me that if I stood firm for Him He would protect me. He

didn’t say I’d keep my job, only that He would support me through the process. When I arrived the next day, my general manager asked to see me. “This is it,” I thought as I slowly walked into his office. He explained, “Yesterday you may have gotten the impression that we wanted you to misrepresent the performance of our new product.” I replied, “That’s exactly what I thought.” His response: “We want you to market it and put the best possible spin without misrepresenting it. Can you do that?” I replied, “Yes, but I need to have creative license over the performance statements.” He agreed! Jesus was glorified because I stood firm for Him. My company acknowledged that my approach was better and they were protected from slipping down the slope of misrepresentation. You may be the only Jesus some people you work with will ever see. —Dave Wertheim Have you had your integrity or ethics challenged at work? Did you handle it in a God-honoring way? Pray that God would give you strength as you stand for Him in your workplace. Daily Reading: Numbers 11:24-16:40, Mark 14:22-15:47, Psalm 52:1-54:7, Proverbs 11:1-6

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For March 5-11: Reread the devotional "A Transformed Life" on page 46. Discuss what this sentence means, "Your history does not need to dictate your destiny. •• Between marriage, parenting, the church and work, which area is the most challenging to living a transformed life? •• What are the challenges you face in this area? •• What are some adjustments you would like to make, and how can you support each other?

Monday—March 12 • Transforming Your Sex Thought Life I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. Job 31:1

Satan wants to have his way with us, and will use our worldly, sinful desires to tempt us and trip us up. Will you let him? Will you walk naively into his traps and clutches? Sexual temptation is powerful. Satan masterfully uses our own bent and desires against us—if we let him. Jesus knows what we need in order to stand fast against Satan’s wiles. Since God is for us, who can be against us? There are techniques that can help, habits that can be developed, and victory can be yours. Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to take captive sinful habits that have kept you in bondage for far too long? Here’s one habit to get you started: Make a covenant

with God not to allow lust to have a foothold in your life any longer. As Job did, make a “covenant with your eyes.” Honor Christ—and women, His creation— by looking a woman in the face, and nowhere else! Ask Christ to transform your thought life, and do your part by willfully avoiding sin. —Dave Wertheim What are the greatest challenges to maintaining your sexual purity? What are some habits you could develop to safeguard your heart and mind? What commitments are you willing to make for further victory? Daily Reading: Numbers 16:41-18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7

Tuesday—March 13 • Transforming Your Tongue Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

I grew up in the New York City housing projects. I learned and used the language of the “hood” to survive. When I surrendered my life to Christ, over time I became sensitized to profanity around me. We have seen an incredible downward spiral regarding our tolerance of unacceptable language. It’s difficult to find a decent movie without profanity. You hear language on TV now that would have been censored just a few years ago. Profanity has become commonplace in business meetings, sporting events, restaurants, and public transportation. What is a godly man to do? First, commit yourself to using language that glorifies God. Then,

invest your life in people. This can earn you a platform to speak truth into their lives. One friend commented that my talk with him about his use of profanity had a significant impact on him. That discussion started a process that culminated in him accepting Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior! May the Holy Spirit transform your tongue! —Dave Wertheim Do you have an issue with profanity? Are there specific situations where you are more vulnerable? How can your tongue be used to bring glory to God? Daily Reading: Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8

q Wednesday—March 14 • Transforming Your Response to Conflict If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Romans 12:18 (nasb) No challenge will stretch a man more than adversity that comes through conflict. Typically, men retaliate or retreat; it’s either fight or flight. We are wired for competition and when anyone challenges us, it’s “Game on, baby!” How we handle conflict can often be seen in the way we drive: merging onto the highway, finding a parking spot, or racing to beat someone to a light or lane. We see it in business, fraternal organizations, neighborhoods, friendships, and even families. How conflict starts isn’t important; it’s what you do about the conflict that matters. Your attitude often determines everything. That’s why the apostle Paul states, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace

with all men”. You can make the first move towards reaching a resolution or defusing a conflict. Even if the other person makes no effort to reconcile, that still doesn’t release you from the responsibility to demonstrate Christlikeness. Try responding in love, no matter what. You will both be blessed in the process! —Dave Wertheim What is your typical response when you are challenged? Are you a peacemaker or do you tend to magnify conflicts? Is there a specific conflict that you need to work towards resolving? What should your first step be? Daily Reading: Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:2656, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 11:9-11

Thursday—March 15 • Transforming Your Devotional Life In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Mark 1:35 (nasb)

Most men struggle to find daily time alone with God. Why? It takes time, it takes consistency, and it takes discipline. How much time do you invest with God? Don’t include going to church or serving God in a ministry, but rather just being with Him: praying, reading His Word, meditating on His attributes, praising Him, memorizing Scripture, or listening to His voice. Often we are so caught up in making a living we don’t have time to make a life. Many men are so busy working, running their kids around, or playing, that God gets the leftovers. I’m a big believer in not trying harder, but rather training better. Identify what works best for you. Find time you’re already investing and include devotional time with it. Examples include: reading while exercising, praying while walking/jogging, listening to inspiring music/messages while commuting or exercising, capitalizing on waiting time, worshipping while working in

the house/garden, or meditating on God’s creation and majesty when outdoors. The God of the universe is waiting for you, will you meet with Him? —Dave Wertheim How would you describe your devotional time? What are you doing when you feel closest with God? Are there opportunities to commune with Him that you have been missing?

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—March 16, 17, 18 The Gift of a Transformed Life

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35b (nkjv) My blood pressure (BP) has typically averaged 130/78—decent for a man in his mid-50s. Recently my BP had been rising, averaging 145/87 and peaking at 174/87. I wasn’t alarmed due to stress and a hectic schedule—but I monitored it. Then chest pains started during exercise. Almost daily I rode a bike for 30 minutes and walked for 60. Towards the end of these workouts my chest tightened with shortness of breath. Nothing severe—I gave it a 2 on the pain scale and the discomfort subsided when my workout concluded. I thought I had a chest muscle pull from lifting weights. After all, I was in relatively good shape, not significantly overweight, ate healthily, and worked out 5-7 days a week. When the symptoms began increasing in intensity and frequency I consulted a doctor. My cardiologist performed an EKG (with normal results) and scheduled a nuclear stress test. After the stress test I was instructed to immediately report to the hospital for an angioplasty and stent insertion. During the procedure they discovered that two heart arteries were 99% blocked and I was one step away from a heart attack! I was a walking time bomb and didn’t know it. Fortunately, the Lord spared my life. But even if He hadn’t, I know where I would

have been going—to heaven to spend eternity with Him. But it got me thinking: How many people around me are ticking time bombs, but don’t even know it? Have they heard about Christ yet? Could God use me to speak His truth into their lives? Jesus proclaims that the fields are ready for harvest. We are His workers. Best of all, the harvest is white for harvest. In other words, people are just waiting to hear the good news! Don’t miss the opportunity to share the Gospel. Life is too short for missed opportunities. —Dave Wertheim If you were to die today do you know where you would be spending eternity? What about the people you know and care about—are you assured of their salvation? Who do you know that needs to hear the life-saving gospel message? Daily Reading: Numbers 24:1-28:15, Luke 2:13:22, Psalm 59:1-61:8, Proverbs 11:14-17

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For March 12-18: What attributes characterize a believer or a Christian? •• How would the people who spend the most time with you characterize you? Would “Christian” be near the top of the list? •• Each guy, make a list of 3 people in your life who don’t know Christ. Share the names, and commit to praying for each other and these people, that God would present opportunities for them to hear and accept the Gospel.

Daily Reading: Numbers 22:21-23:30, Luke 1:57-80, Psalm 58:1-11, Proverbs 11:12-13

Monday —March 19 • Sin Is Like a Drug

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2 The writer of this psalm, King David, had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then committed murder when he ordered her husband Uriah to be abandoned in battle. David knew about big sins. Of course he also had all the normal failings of every man. So this psalm reflects the pain that David felt after laboring for a long time under the pressure of sin. Many men toil under a load of sin, day after day—even year after year. You know people who have not been able to escape a specific sin. You may find yourself in that place today. Perhaps you’ve done the same thing for years, believing it would make you happy. Perhaps you’ve lied on your income tax return, or padded your expense account.

Maybe it’s sexual fantasies. Perhaps you abuse your authority, because it feels good to have power over people. Sin is like a drug. It promises to make you happy, but the pleasure fades. Then you feel more miserable than before. The path to happiness is not in harboring our sin. It’s in confessing and letting Jesus deal with it. MIMBS 8 The path to happiness is in confessing and letting Jesus deal with sin. In your own words, explain what confession means. How can you make it more a part of your life? Daily Reading: Numbers 28:16-29:40, Luke 3:23-38, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

Tuesday —March 20 • God’s Discipline When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Psalm 32:3, 4

Do you know someone who has harbored a sinful attitude or behavior until it has become habitual? He might think he’s hiding his obsession, but you know something is wrong. Your acquaintance simply doesn’t look well. From this psalm, it seems like David sank to that level also. In today’s passage he basically said, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body started wasting away.” Once sin’s immediate gratification eroded, David found himself groaning under the weight of his transgression. Like a good dad, God disciplined David for his disobedience. Imagine yourself as the father of a 3-yearold boy who willfully decides he cannot be happy without playing in the middle of a busy street. Because you love that child, you would restrain him and teach him the proper place to play. God’s long-term

purpose in discipline is not to break us, but rather to make us into wise and mature men. When a man refuses to confess his sin, God will allow sin’s consequences to make that man groan. God doesn’t do this to shame us. Rather, He wants to train us. MIMBS 8 What is the difference between shaming and training? Share with another man how you have seen this in your own life. Daily Reading: Numbers 30:1-31:54, Luke 4:130, Psalm 63:1-11, Proverbs 11:20-21

Wednesday—March 21 • Forgiveness and Restoration Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:5

I don’t think many people consciously go around saying, “I can’t be happy without my sin.” And yet, anyone who refuses to confess and give up a transgression ultimately believes Satan’s lie that sin will somehow bring fulfillment and happiness. Today’s passage reveals that David did not experience relief and peace until he acknowledged his sin and quit trying to cover it up. Because he humbly confessed his sin before his heavenly Father, David experienced forgiveness and restoration. As a result, he said, God became his “hiding place,” his protector, and his deliverer. You might think you can’t be happy if you give up your sin, but it’s actually just the opposite. After he confessed, God gave him every reason to be happy. David summarized his advice like this: “Do not be like

the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (Psalm 32:9-10). MIMBS 8 Explain how a person who hangs onto his sin is like a horse or mule that must be controlled by a bit or bridle and won’t come when called. Daily Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:39, Luke 4:315:11, Psalm 64:1-10, Proverbs 11:22

Thursday—March 22 • Known and Unknown Sins Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

After he sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered, David went quite awhile without confessing and getting his relationship with God back on track. We don’t really know how he managed to ignore his sin for so long. But after God’s prophet confronted him, David wrote Psalm 51, requesting God’s mercy and saying, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3). With God’s help, David dealt with the sins he knew about. In Psalm 139, though, David seems to go deeper, asking God to reveal the sins that had escaped his attention. David admitted that, without God’s help, he could not even understand his own ability to be offensive

to God. He basically said, “I’ve confessed the sins I know about. Now, please reveal the ones I don’t know about, so You and I can deal with them together.” David wanted to eradicate from his life anything that did not please God. Do you share his desire? Are you ready to ask God to reveal the sins you haven’t yet recognized? MIMBS 8 On a scale of 1-10, how serious are you about your relationship with God? Do you share David’s desire to eradicate anything in your life that does not please God? Explain your answer. Daily Reading: Numbers 33:40-35:34, Luke 5:12-28, Psalm 65:1-13, Proverbs 11:23

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—March 23, 24, 25 The Power of Desire When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15

Several years ago, I wanted to get rid of one car so I could buy another. I wanted to list my car on a website that targets people who want to buy cars like mine. I sent an email on a Tuesday afternoon, and when I arose the next morning, I found no one had answered me. I had a strong desire to get that car on the market, so I could use the money from the sale to purchase the one I wanted to buy. So I found another way. I searched until I found another website, and by 6 a.m., I had the car listed elsewhere. Desire will find a way for fulfillment. James wrote that temptation happens when people are dragged away by their evil desire. But desire can be a powerful force for good as well. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah told us that God would make a new covenant. This one would be different from the old covenant, because God would put it in our minds and write it on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33). In other words, God promised to mold our desires so they become like His, and that naturally will alter our actions. That’s an important point, because it is possible to clean up your behavior without actually changing what’s in your heart.

Religious people can be very self-righteous. We can look down on others who don’t live up to our behavioral “standard.” Jesus regularly confronted the most religious people of His day about this tendency. Selfrighteousness and pride are anchored in proving ourselves right—not in admitting we are wrong. Pride always stands opposed to true confession of sin. And without confession, we will never truly be in agreement with God about our failure and our need. MIMBS 8 List your five strongest desires. Are they in alignment with God’s Word? Will they lead you to sin, or to confession? Daily Reading: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46-4:49, Luke 5:29-7:10, Psalm 66:1-68:18, Proverbs 11:24-28

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For March 19-25: Ask each man to share what it means to allow God to search your heart. •• What keeps men from asking God to search their hearts? •• What do you need to believe about God to be able to ask Him to search your heart? (Ex. He’s good, He loves you unconditionally, etc.) •• Have you ever asked God to search your heart? What happened?

Monday—March 26 • Helping People Mature in Christ

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:27-29 The U.S. is home to about 113 million men aged 15-years-old and older, and 69 million of those men make absolutely no profession of faith in Christ. Only about six million men in the U.S. are involved in any type of ministry that helps them to mature in their relationship with Christ. That’s just one of every 18 American men, engaging in a ministry that intentionally helps them learn about Jesus and become more like Him. Today’s passage records the Apostle Paul’s vision for helping people grow and become “fully mature in Christ.” Another word for this is “discipling” – introducing people to relationship with Jesus, and helping them become more and more like Him. Frankly,

this type of ministry is hard work. Yet it imitates Jesus’ example while He lived on earth. Jesus selected 12 men, into whom He poured the majority of His energy and time, reproducing His own character and priorities in the lives of His followers. Jesus never said this type of ministry would be easy, but He did promise it would be worthwhile, because it would yield tremendous results. MIMBS 9 In your own words, define what it means to be “fully mature in Christ.” Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Tuesday—March 27 • Go and Make Disciples Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-19

Today’s passage is traditionally called “The Great Commission.” It capsulizes Jesus’ final instructions to His followers just before He returned to heaven. Sometimes in Christian groups, we hear this passage so often that we get immune to it. We lose sight of its weight and grandeur. Occasionally we need to revisit this event and realize what Jesus was really saying. Jesus started with a significant statement declaring His place in the universe. He rules everything. He truly is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the President of presidents, the CEO of CEOs. He basically says, “Everyone in the world eventually will report to me, because I have all authority.” Based on that understanding, He tells His followers to “go and make disciples.” He

did not say we should sit in our churches and wait for people to come to us. He said we should go to where the people are, and introduce them to the incredible fact that the Lord of the Universe wants to be in relationship with them. MIMBS 9 Are you living daily with the realization that you are in relationship with the ultimate authority in the entire universe? How does that affect your motivation to “go and make disciples”? Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

Wednesday—March 28 • What Is a Disciple? To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21

People have different mental pictures of what it means to be a disciple. Some people believe a disciple is someone whose behavior fits a certain standard. They may believe, for instance, that a disciple is someone who does not smoke or drink or attend R-rated movies. Other people define discipleship in terms of spiritual disciplines. To them, a disciple is someone who reads his Bible every day and prays. And still others believe a disciple is defined by his contribution in service to a church body or ministry organization. This group concentrates on recruiting men to be ushers or deacons, filling various responsibilities.

In reality though, a disciple is someone in the process of discovering who Jesus is. This person doesn’t just want to know more about Jesus – he wants to know Jesus. He doesn’t pursue information for the sake of greater knowledge, but he seeks to imitate our Lord’s attitudes and actions. A disciple is simply a person who spends time with Jesus and learns to imitate His example. MIMBS 9 Compare the various definitions of discipleship listed above. What differs in the true Biblical definition of discipleship from the three views explained in the first paragraph? Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

Thursday—March 29 • Justification and Sanctification “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus said that making disciples boils down to two activities: baptizing people in the name of the Trinity, and teaching them to obey all of Jesus’ commands. In theological circles, we describe those two processes as: justification and sanctification. Justification describes God’s activity of making sinners righteous through Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf. Sanctification describes the process of surrendering our lives to God in an ongoing relationship, so that we become more and more like Him by following His example and obeying His commands. When Jesus gave the command found in today’s Scripture, He was talking to people who already were His disciples. He

simply said, “Go and make more people who are like you. Introduce them to Me through salvation, and then teach them to obey the things I’ve already explained to you.” Clearly, Jesus expects His followers to pursue relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. He also expects His followers to engage in some way in teaching others to do the same. MIMBS 9

Friday and Saturday—March 30, 31 Love the Lord Your God One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40

The primary call on a disciple’s life is to lovingly tend to his relationship with God through on-going faith, repentance and obedience. Becoming a disciple is not defined by not doing “bad things,” or by doing more “good things.” Ultimately, a true disciple will eliminate negative influences and attitudes and behaviors from his life. He also will connect to more and more positive influences and attitudes and behaviors. But his primary call is to pursue a loving relationship with God. Everything else will flow from that. If you’ve been acquainted with Man in the Mirror Ministries, you may know my dad’s story. When he was two years old, his father abandoned him. Despite having many negative experiences to overcome, my dad accomplished many great things. I have tremendous respect for him, because even without a positive example to follow, he passed on to me a great heritage of integrity and hard work. He taught me the proper way to treat a woman. But he did not teach me to be a disciple, because he never learned it himself. My dad held a position of great responsibility in a church, but he

didn’t learn how to be a disciple. Instead, he learned how to be an usher and a deacon. He left the church at age 40. Worship, tithing, and serving – they’re all important. But discipleship is the portal priority to all the other things that God wants to teach us. When we obey the “most important commandment” by loving God with everything we have in us, He will deal with those other issues, bringing them into alignment with His will and purpose. MIMBS 9 When we obey the “most important commandment” to love God completely, how does He bring other issues in our lives into alignment with His will and purpose? Share your experience with men in your group. Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-17:20, Luke 8:40-9:27, Psalm 71:1-72:20, Proverbs 12:5-9

For Your Small Group

❏❏ For March 26-31: According to Matthew 22:37, 38, what is the first and greatest commandment?

How are you helping others to pursue a relationship with God? Take one practical step to help another man this week.

•• What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart?

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4

•• What does it mean to love the Lord with all your mind?

•• What does it mean to love the Lord with all your soul?

A Powerful Life

An excerpt from Pat’s new book, Man Alive . Excerpted from Man Alive by Patrick Morley Copyright © 2012 by Patrick Morley. Excerpted by permission of Multnomah Books, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The word “power” in the Bible is the Greek word dunamis, from which we get dynamite. An Army chaplain had a huge boulder in his backyard that he wanted to get rid of. He knew an Army explosives expert, so he asked for help. The chaplain suggested they put some dynamite on top of the rock to break it up. The explosives expert laughed. He said, “If we just detonated explosives on top of the rock, it would barely take a chip out of the rock—and we would shatter every window within a twoblock radius! “But I can do anything with that rock you want. I can leave the rock intact and throw it anywhere in your backyard you want. If you want it split in two, I can do that. If you want me to pulverize it, I can make that happen. You just tell me what you want, and I can shape a charge that will direct the power of the blast to do whatever you want.” That’s the kind of immense, versatile power that Jesus envisioned in making the statement in Matthew 22:29. He had the same thought in mind later when He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8, niv, emphasis added). In the Scriptures and in the Holy Spirit, you already have at your disposal the power—the dynamite—of God to change your life.

a powerful life transformed by Christ—not without ongoing opposition, but equipped and trained with the power to prevail. You don’t have to settle for being half alive.

Powerful, Transformed You I’m going to show you how God has provided ways for you to transform that raw, restless energy you feel into a powerful spiritual life. In each of the following chapters we’re going to flesh out one of these seven primal needs:

1 To not feel like you have to do this alone. believe—really believe—that God loves and cares about you 2 To personally. 3 To understand how your life has a purpose—that your life is not random. o break free from the destructive behaviors that keeps dragging you 4 Tdown. 5 To satisfy your soul’s thirst for transcendence, awe, and communion. 6 To love and be loved without reservation. 7 To make a contribution and leave the world a better place. We’ll explore how it feels when it’s not going right, what makes it so hard, and what to do about it. We are men unwilling to settle for spiritual mediocrity. I’m praying that God will satisfy your hunger for a powerful, transformed life and supernaturally elevate you to a whole new level of feeling alive from which you refuse to return. We are part of something bigger than ourselves, you and I. We share a common bond. And there are others too— millions of us.

(

It’s your destiny to lead a powerful life transformed by Christ

)

Everywhere. Men unwilling to settle for spiritual mediocrity. Men unwilling to settle for anything less than becoming fully alive.

Where Do We Go from Here? What I’m proposing in this book is a huge promise—not from me, but from God’s Word. Jesus said it Himself: My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10) That’s quite a promise. The premise of this book is that you don’t have to settle for being half alive. You can heal each of your inner aches and pains. You can be the good soil. You can be transformed. God will change your life, one verse at a time. It’s not self-indulgent for you to become the man God created you to be. In fact, it’s your destiny to lead

Let’s go get it. For more information on Pat's new book, go to www.manalivebook.com or come to FUEL.

• Dr. patrick morley

After building one of Florida’s 100 largest privately held companies, in 1991 Dr. Patrick Morley founded Man in the Mirror, a non-profit organization to help men find meaning and purpose in life. Dr. Morley is the bestselling author of 13 books including The Man in the Mirror, No Man Left Behind, Pastoring Men, and A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines.

Seven Tips to Develop Your Own Bible Reading Plan continued from page 5 You can also journal in a notebook, on a computer, on scraps of paper, or in the margins of your Bible. I do them all. You may concentrate better with a display screen than a hard copy. Or if you learn better by listening than reading, the Bible is available in all popular audio formats. It’s totally up to you. Memorization is an important part of my plan. I keep a list of verses I’m working on. At this point in my journey, it’s rare to find myself in any situation without a verse coming to mind. Another part of your plan could be to teach the Bible. Preparing Bible lessons drives me deeper into the Bible than anything else.

6. What to Do When Your Mind Wanders Sixth, what will you do when your mind wanders? My mind wanders all the time. And to be honest, I like it. There are four possibilities when my mind wanders: the world, the flesh, the devil, or the Spirit. When your mind wanders, you have to figure out which one it is. If it is the world, the flesh or the devil, then of course you want to reel it back in. However, if I read and my mind races to a relationship that’s not right, or I’m convicted of a sin, or prompted to some good deed, then I let the Spirit speak. When I read a sentence that impacts me, I like to linger, letting the Word soak into my soul. What if your mind wanders because you’re tired and exhausted? When I get that way, I try to read out loud. If I still can’t concentrate I just stop and live to read another day!

7. Know What Keeps You Coming Back for More Seventh, figure out what keeps you coming back for more? My commitment is to stay at it each day until I have what I call “a moment of humility,” an overwhelming sense of God. It could be an insight, a sense of awe, or feeling completely and totally loved. It’s a moment when the power and presence of God washes over me. I’m not looking for a self-help book. I want the truth. The truth is what’s relevant and applicable. That’s what keeps me coming back. Assignment: Formulate your own “Bible Reading Plan" by answering these questions.

My Bible Reading Plan ✔✔ What is your purpose for reading the Bible? ✔✔ What time of day suits you best? ✔✔ How often do you read, or plan to read, the

Bible?

✔✔ Where’s a comfortable place to read for you? ✔✔ How much time do you spend, or want to

spend, reading the Bible?

✔✔ How do you pray, or want to pray, when reading

your Bible?

✔✔ What is your goal? ✔✔ What can you do to increase your learning and

retention?

✔✔ What can you do when your mind wanders? ✔✔ What keeps, or will keep, you coming back for

more?

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