Equipping the Man in the Mirror Oct, Nov, Dec 2010 Devotional by Stephanie Lopez

Don’t just read about it—experience it! Introducing: The Marriage Prayer Seminar for Couples

The Marriage Prayer Seminar emphasizes the importance of prayer in marriage and features the elements that build a thriving marriage. At this 2-hour seminar, together we will walk through this prayer and address topics like: • Faithfulness • Security • Conflict • Purpose • Unity • Sex • Encouragement • Finishing Strong

Have fun with this seminar. “Sweeten” your event by serving a dessert, or holding a “date night” dinner followed by a seminar. Please call 800-929-2536 for more ideas or to schedule a Marriage Prayer Seminar at your church today.

Pray Together—Stay Together. Divorce rates drop dramatically to less than 1 % for couples who pray together.

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Table of Contents October/November/December 2010

Featured Articles

q Becoming Other-Focused in a Me-First World by David Delk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 q Celebrating Men of Action by Brett Clemmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 q Ten Questions for Jeﬀ Kisiah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 q —The 2011 Man in the Mirror Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 q Looking for Ways to Serve This Christmas? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 q A Man’s Guide to Service by Dr. Patrick Morley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Resource Tools

q Resource Catalog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 q Equipping Your Men’s Small Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 q How to Use This Devotional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 q From the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Devotions

q October 2010 Devotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 q November 2010 Devotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 q December 2010 Devotions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Follow the One-Year Bible reading plan by reading the daily Scripture at the end of each devotion.

At the end of many of the devotionals you will ﬁnd an abbreviation for a resource that expands on the devotional material. If you’d like to order a book like A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines, go to http://bookstore. maninthemirror.org/ or for more information about the Man in the Mirror Bible Study (MIMBS) go to www.maninthemirror.org/biblestudy/register.htm. MIMBS 1—Show Men How to Share the Gospel MIMBS 2—Show Men How to Sustain Their Strength MIMBS 3—Hanging Out With Jesus—An Irresistible Invitation MIMBS 4—Hanging Out With Jesus—He Finds Us MIMBS 5—Hanging Out With Jesus—Destiny MIMBS 6— What Happens When I Die?

MIMBS 7—What Is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? MIMBS 8—The Holy Spirit MIMBS 9—God’s Transforming Love by David Delk MIMBS 10—Jesus Takes the City By Storm MIMBS 11—A Man Making a Difference AMGSD—A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines (Chapter 11, A Man and Service)

Equipping the Man in the Mirror: October/November/December 2010, Vol. 5, No. 4 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, Ruth Ford, Jamie Smith Office: 180 Wilshire Blvd., Casselberry, Florida 32707 Phone: 800-929-2536 • Fax: 407-331-7839 • Web site: www.maninthemirror.org

Copyright © 2010 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 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are taken from the The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All 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.

Everyone likes giving and receiving gifts at Christmas. Even people without faith exchange presents in December. Sounds like an opportunity to us! How could you help them find the Greatest Gift that could change their lives? Man in the Mirror is offering dynamic books for between $1 to $2 each to reach people this Christmas Season. Use the GREATEST GIFT GIVEAWAY by (1) ordering books to give away to people attending Christmas Services and (2) equipping your members to reach your community by giving them away to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Millions of people will fill churches this Christmas for the first time all year. Don’t miss this opportunity to offer them the Greatest Gift… a relationship with Jesus Christ. Books available in cases of 12 or 48 by Patrick Morley, Max Lucado, Sheila Walsh, Gene Getz, Mark Batterson, John MacAuthur, and more.

Becoming Other-Focused in a Me-First World

by David Delk, President, Man in the Mirror . In our book The Dad in the Mirror, Pat Morley and I noted how diﬃcult it is to raise unselﬁsh children in today’s culture. Because of economic progress over the last few centuries, most children in America don’t have to work in order for their family to survive. And, in the last 75 years, disposable incomes and free time have risen enough that children have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of hobbies, interests, and fun activities. Basically, for eighteen years our children can easily get the message that it is all about them. And then we wonder why as young adults they are so self-focused?

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At the same time, even people who don’t have a relationship with God know deep down that sacriﬁce and service to others is a noble thing. Every day there are numerous Jesus thought service to links on Facebook and Google to stories of how someone others was so important sacriﬁced for the good of others. that He linked it to our Jesus thought service to love for God. others was so important that he linked it to our love for God. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…love your neighbor as yourself.”

Yet today most men spend the majority of their time focused on themselves. Even men who are living careful, moral lives tend to be self-focused. We worry about our agenda, our bank account, our security, our plans, our vacation, etc. What about for you? Take a moment and compare how much time you’ve spent in the last week thinking about and working for your own needs. Now compare that to the time you’ve spent serving someone else. If you’re like me, that’s a harsh reality to face. So how do we move beyond this to a focus on others and the calling God has given? It starts with understanding Christ’s love for you and then allowing that love to overﬂow in the lives of others. This issue of Equipping the Man in the Mirror is designed to kick-start that process. Our goal is to help you put your faith into action, as well as help you help other men you know. We hope you’ll be encouraged, challenged, convicted and motivated to actually do something for someone in the name of Jesus. After all, that’s one of the things that true manhood is all about.

Celebrating Men of Action by Brett Clemmer, Vice President, Man in the Mirror .

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. —Mark 10:45

Getting Men to Serve Daniel loves to help people in the church with handyman projects around their house. Luis is always willing to help fix a car. Paul works on the church website, adding new pages, forms, and multimedia files. Do you know guys like this? Here’s an interesting thing I’ve noticed about these men. They often don’t seem to think that they’re very “spiritual.” Often, these are not the guys teaching Sunday School classes or small groups. They don’t tend to get excited about systematic theology. Instead, they are “doers of the Word.” Why is it, I wonder, that we look at the teachers and preachers and think, “Well, those are the spiritual guys”? We get sucked into the intellectual conceit that maturity in the faith is pretty much based on what you know and how well you express it. Somewhere along the way, the American church—especially those from the more conservative, evangelical side—seems to have lost touch with a simple fact: Jesus talked a lot about serving the poor and helpless. The real spiritual giants in my church, I’ve concluded, aren’t primarily found among our elders— though I have a lot of respect for our elders. No, they’re the guys with dirty fingernails and sunburned necks. They are helping the single mom whose hot water heater broke at midnight on a weekday. They are heading to the Gulf Coast and Haiti. They are doing something.

Called to Serve Called to serve. It’s almost a cliché at this point. As Christian men, we all know that we are “supposed” to be involved in helping the poor, feeding the hungry and sharing the gospel. Many Christian men do just that. I’ve heard that phrase “doers of the Word” so much, I forgot where it came from. It’s a phrase from the King James Version of James 1:22. In the NIV it says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Several verses later, James says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

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to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (v. 27). In general, Christians are committed to being “pure and faultless.” I’ve seen bloggers and preachers get pretty crazy over theological nuances. Disagreements lead to thousands of words of rebuttal, followed by hundreds of comments from like-minded followers. Theological discourse is great. I think these writers are devoted to keeping our belief systems from being “polluted by the world.”

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Serving others is not just vital to our own faith life; it is also a key to reaching men.

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But just like these defenders of doctrine wouldn’t want to allow half a heresy to pass, we must not allow ourselves to accept half of pure and faultless religion. We are consistently called—by Jesus (Luke 10:30-37), Paul (1 Timothy 6:18), the writer of Hebrews (10:24), and James—to serve those less fortunate. In His famous story, Jesus had the “spiritual” people pass the man who’d been robbed and beaten before the Samaritan outsider stopped to help him. Anyone see a message there?

Men Want to Do Something Serving others is not just vital to our own faith life; it is also a key to reaching men. In a time when it seems like the church is having trouble attracting men to the gospel, could it be that part of the problem is that we’re not doing enough? Men are wired for tasks, for accomplishing things. For some guys, an invitation to a church service or rally may not be nearly as attractive as: “Hey, some guys from my church are painting a widow’s house this weekend. We need some more help. Can you come?” The gospel at its best is relational. It draws people into community. Sitting in a circle with five men you don’t know very well is not most guys’ idea of a good time. Working together gives you an opportunity to really get to know each other. As Geoff Gorsuch from the Navigators says, “Men build relationships shoulder to shoulder in shared experiences.” Offering men the opportunity to serve and sacrifice calls on the best impulses in each of them. Have you ever noticed when people talk about “life-changing experiences” it is often a missions trip or service project? Perhaps the Holy Spirit has better access to our hearts when our brains are engaged in serving others. oth

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Ten Questions for Coach “K” Serving the Gulf Coast Harvest Community Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has reached out to the Gulf Coast in multiple service trips. These trips led by Jeﬀ Kisiah (Coach “K”) have had a great impact on the locale they served, the men who served and the church as a whole.

•How did the first mission trip to the Gulf Coast come about? Hurricane Katrina completely devastated a large section of the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. Eight weeks later, I traveled 675 miles to serve as a Rapid Response Team Chaplain for Samaritan’s Purse. In addition, I wanted to prayerfully consider a community to adopt for future mission trips. Lakeshore, Mississippi, became that location.

•Was Was your team well-prepared for what they encountered there? While New Orleans had received the majority of media coverage, Hancock County, Mississippi, was truly “Ground Zero” of the storm. Our initial reaction while observing the overwhelming, catastrophic devastation was: “Pictures do not do this justice!” It became imperative to prepare future teams for what Katrina survivors were encountering through post-traumatic stress syndrome.

• Did anything surprise you on that first trip? We were surprised with the “appetizer eﬀect” of a regional mission trip. Many of our team members were participating as “rookies,” and it revealed the beneﬁt of providing such an opportunity prior to having them consider an international trip.

• How many trips has Harvest made to the Gulf? About how many guys have participated in those trips? Sixty-five different men have participated in 14 total trips, with many of them making multiple trips due to the impact on their lives and the significant relationships built with the local residents. Trip #15 is being planned for later this year.

•How many people have you served during those trips? What kinds of services did you provide to those in need? We’ve been strategically involved with several hundred local residents so far. We have done construction, served in the distribution center (food/clothing/etc.) and

had numerous “people touches” (encouragement visits/prayer). Mercy ministry is an allencompassing kingdom endeavor.

•How did those trips change the lives of those you ministered to and those that ministered? James Bobbitt, a resident of Lakeshore, Mississippi, became “The Face of the Storm” from Hurricane Katrina for our various teams. I have seen God work in James’ life to mold and shape him more into His image. His selfless nature, determined spirit, grateful heart and unique personality have impacted not just me, but everyone else who came into contact with him.

• What has the impact of those trips been on your church as a whole? On your men? One major result has been deepening relationships. Acquaintances in the congregation became friends on these various trips. DTQ, or Drive Time Questions assisted in this process. These conversation starters were helpful in getting better acquainted on the 675-mile journey. We would travel in a caravan of multiple vehicles, and switch passengers at each 225-mile mark.

•What is the most important heart attitude you need as you serve others? Before you pack your bags, you must prepare your heart. This is crucial to being able to serve God eﬀectively on any mission trip. Flexibility and cooperation are two key essentials for every mission team member.

•What have you personally learned about leading and serving others? The resolve of the South Mississippians impressed many of us who came to the region to serve. Their comeback from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina provided real inspiration.

•What would you tell another church looking to start service trips to those in need? The “No Man Left Behind” training emphasizes reaching a man’s head, heart and hands. We have seen these Gulf Coast Trips accomplish all three—practical ministry among local residents with our hands, listening to amazing stories from Katrina survivors with our heads, and reﬂecting with teammates around a campﬁre at night with our hearts. May God continue to provide His sustaining grace to our friends in South Mississippi.

• JEFF KISIAH Jeﬀ Kisiah (Coach “K”) is the Associate Pastor and Men’s Ministry Coach at Harvest Community Church in his hometown of Charlotte, N. C. He has been happily married to his wife, Candie, for 30 years, and they have been blessed with two children (Kristi and Brooks) and a new granddaughter, Madison.

Man in the Mirror F

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New Lower Price

The first 20 orders get Pat Morley’s new book, A Man’s Guide to Work FREE!

“[This study] helped our group dig deeper… and gave each of us a mission outside of our group.” —Rex T., West Virginia

Work A Man’s Guide to Work New for 2010! The color of your collar doesn’t matter. This book lays out a “theology of work” to help you turn your working life into a spiritual adventure. Your job can be fully satisfying…a career that pleases the Lord. $15 each; 5 for $65; 10 for $114

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or Featured Resources Spiritual Growth A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines Do you long to be close to God? To walk in His ways? To capture His joy and excitement for your life? Someone once said, “Life is in the details.” This certainly holds true when it comes to our spiritual walks.

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A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines Book and DVD Combo With each combo you’ll receive a copy of the book; a free DVD with 2-3 minute segments from Pat Morley’s teaching that can be used to kick off a weekly small group meeting; free accountability cards to promote vulnerability and open discussion; and a free sample issue of Equipping the Man in the Mirror (one for each book ordered). Also check out our website for discounts on 5, 10, 15 , 20, 36 books! $55 per set

All I can say is that new and old Christians alike owe it to themselves to read this material. Rather than just tell you what habits you should be forming (or pointing out what you’re doing wrong), it gives practical advice for forming those habits in your daily life. —Matthew, Burton, MI

Drive Time for the Spiritual Disciplines Do you have ears and a car stereo? Do you lead a small group? This Drive Time CD Series can meet your needs. It addresses many of the issues and details of a Christian’s walk with God such as prayer, worship, the Sabbath, fellowship, counsel, fasting, stewardship, service, spiritual warfare, and evangelism. The series includes Prayer and the Man in the Mirror (3 CDs), God and the Man in the Mirror (3 CDs), and Spiritual Disciplines (12 CDs). This series includes 18 Audio/Video CDs plus a CD visor case for your car. All CDs include: 30-minute message from Pat Morley’s Bible Study; group discussion questions; and message transcript.

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Books by the Box Titles Available in Boxes of 12 and 48

Special Books for Men... New for 2010! R.C. Sproul probes into the depths and riches of The Holiness of God with great reverence, respect, and honor. His theology is sound and his illustrations are excellent. Not only does Sproul portray the true character of God but he also describes what that means to us as Christians. 12 for $28 or 48 for $80 New for 2010! In He Chose the Nails, Max Lucado invites us to understand the symbols surrounding Christ’s crucifixion and celebrate the significance of the promises they offer. From the sign in different languages tacked to the cross (“I will speak to you in your language”) to the burial clothing (“I can turn your tragedy into triumph”), he speaks of each symbol as a “gift of grace” that reveals God’s love for mankind. 12 for $23 or 48 for $78 Back by popular demand! Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, Wild at Heart is a guide to understanding Christian manhood. John Eldredge gives women a look inside the heart of a man and gives men permission to be what God designed them to be—-passionate, alive, and free. 12 for $26 or 48 for $82 In his book, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, Pastor and author Mark Batterson says your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase: risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. Unleash the lion-chaser within! 12 for $23 or 48 for $78

Special Books for Women... New for 2010! Get Off Your Knees and Pray is a woman’s guide to real prayer— a perfect blend of practical advice, personal stories, and biblical truth to help you achieve greater intimacy with God through prayer. Prayer is not just a few sentences to God while on our knees. It is living out our ongoing, every-moment commitment to God. 12 for $23 or 48 for $78 New for 2010! They were ordinary, common, and in some cases shockingly lowcaste, yet each was made extraordinary by her life-changing encounter with God. Twelve Extraordinary Women is a poignant and personal look into the lives of some of the Bible’s most faithful women. Their struggles and temptations are the same trials faced by believers today. 12 for $23 or 48 for $78

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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.

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e the m you want to shar ho w h it w n me e ✔ Contacted thre zing 1 Gospel. undation by memori fo al itu ir sp ur yo ✔ Strengthened if you Corinthians 15:58. the week to see ut ho ug ro th e tim ✔ Evaluated your a fisher of men. are being used as ith health, nister to people w mi to ep st te re ✔ Planned a conc or other needs. financial, emotional s and abilities for s to use your gift ay w w ne ed lor xp ✔E from your eternal purposes. l different people ra ve se h it w en ✔ Discussed heav everyday life. a “kingdom your life that need of s ea ar ed tifi en ✔ Id e about perspective”. passages that spok ad re d an le ib B ly Spirit. ✔ Searched the teristics of the Ho ac ar ch d an k or w eir love the parents showed th ur yo s ay w e th ✔ Made a list of God shows His love for you. for you, and how ion and sustainable vision, determinat ur yo ed at alu Ev le of life. ✔ t of a current batt ds mi e th in gy te stra to His ’s voice and listen od G ar he to s ay ✔ Discussed w es. guidance in your liv complete riety of people to va a ed us od G ✔ Learned that ory. the Christmas st e New r your group in th fo y it tiv ac e ic rv ✔ Planned a se Year. Continued on page 12

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Small Group Guide continued from page 11

q 10/1-10/10: This week’s devotions give insight into the trans-

forming power of the Gospel. Suggested Application Step (SAS): Write down the names of three men who need to hear the Gospel. Pray for them each day. Make an attempt to set up a time to meet or have coﬀee. Ask questions and listen to them.

q 10/11-10/17: This week you will read about the importance of knowing the foundational truths or tenets of Christianity. SAS: To further establish your biblical foundation, memorize 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand ﬁrm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

q 10/18-10/24: In this week of devotions we learn of the disciples’

willingness to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. SAS: Outside of sleeping and work, keep track of the top five activities you spend your time on this week. How does being a “fisher of men” fit into your activities?

q 10/25-10/31: Our devotional theme this week is about having a spiri-

tual response to the afflictions that are part of life. SAS: Discuss some ways to help or get involved with people in your church or community that are suffering from some affliction. Plan a concrete way your group will serve those people and commit to doing it as soon as possible.

q 11/1-11/7: This week your men will take a fresh look at using your skills and abilities for the glory of God’s kingdom. SAS: Do you believe that you were designed to fulﬁll a speciﬁc purpose in God’s kingdom? Ask a few of your close friends if they see ways that God could use you for His purposes.

q 11/8-11/14: The theme this week is the reality of eternity and the glory we’ll share in heaven. SAS: This week, ask at least three people from your work or neighborhood what they think about heaven. Share those thoughts and the resulting conversations when you meet again. q 11/15-11/21: These devotions focus on living our

lives with a “kingdom perspective”. SAS: Divide into groups of two. Spend a few minutes praying for each other as you strive to have a kingdom perspective in all areas of life. Continue to pray for one another over the next week. From last week, share your experiences from the conversations about heaven.

q 11/22-11/28: This week your men will look at the power of the Holy Spirit. SAS: Have the guys use their concordances or go to www.Biblegateway.com and search “Holy Spirit.” Read aloud some of those verses to one another. Write down the characteristics and the work of the Holy Spirit.

q 11/29-12/5: This week’s devotionals will help you to remember

God loves His children more than we love our own children. SAS: This week, make a list of the ways your parents demonstrated their love for you, and a list of ways God shows His love for you. Share your lists with the group.

q 12/6-12/12: These devotions address some of the battles of life and ministry. SAS: This week reﬂect on a battle you are facing. Evaluate your vision, determination and sustainable strategy regarding this battle. Ask God to strengthen those areas and lead you to victory. q 12/13-12/19: This week you’ll examine what it means to listen to God’s

voice and let Him guide your steps. SAS: Discuss what it means to listen to God’s voice. What are some of the ways that you have heard Him speak to you? How can we help each other hear God and listen to His instruction?

q 12/20-12/26: These devotions help you focus in on the Christmas Story and how God used a variety of people to fulﬁll His plan. SAS: As you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, be sure to give Him honor and praise for His wonderful plan of salvation that began with Jesus’ birth. q 12/27-12/31: In the devotions this week, you’ll see the importance of

the spiritual discipline of service and making a diﬀerence. SAS: Plan a service activity for the New Year. Do something together that makes a concrete diﬀerence in the lives of people in your church, community, or around the world.

Use Equipping the Man in the Mirror for Your Small Group • Start with the group discussion questions at the end of each week of devotions. • Use these two pages (12 and 13) to dig deeper with your small group. • For more small group resources, look on page 10 for great books to read and study.

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

One-year Bible daily reading

Discussion/journal questions

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—October 1, 2, 3 • A Transformed Life I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 After Hurricane Katrina, my wife worked in a shelter in Louisiana. She met Frank, a cranky 81-year-old man. People warned my wife to stay away from Frank. “He’s very angry about being here,” they said. The shelter was housed in an African American church, so people assumed Frank’s bad attitude was amplified by prejudice. The next morning, Frank was agitated. He said the church had a “Holy Roller service” the previous night, and he had to go outside because of the noise. He shared that he had no money. And he did not have a razor, so he had not been able to shave. One of the pastors offered to help. So Frank had his face shaved by an African American man. Later, that pastor invited Frank to a Bible study. The next day, Frank said, “Last night I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior . . . at the Holy Roller meeting.” Everyone noticed an immediate change in Frank. And when the group wanted to pray for one of the pastors, Frank was one of the men who laid his hands on the man to show support. Like nothing else, the gospel has the power to transform a person’s life. The single greatest thing you can ever do for another person is to share the gospel of Christ. MIMBS 1 Have you ever wanted to share Christ with someone but haven’t known how? How has the gospel transformed your life, or the life of someone you know? Share that with someone today; it’s a start!

Daily Reading: Isaiah 62:6-66:24, Jeremiah 1:1-2:30, Philippians 2:19-4:23, Psalm 73:175:10, Proverbs 24:13-20

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Monday—October 4 • The Simple Power of the Gospel For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred . . . 1 Corinthians 15:3–6

In the early part of the 20th century, J. Gresham Machen said, “The strange thing about Christianity was that it adopted an entirely different method of transmission. It transformed the lives of men, not by appealing to the human will, but by telling a story.” The simple retelling of Jesus’ life has the power to transform lives. He was born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life. He never had an army or traveled more than about 100 miles from the place of His birth. He lived His life in poverty, with His most valuable possession being His robe. He sacrificed His life to die

for our sins, and He was resurrected and appeared to many witnesses. At its most basic level, the transmission of the gospel is the simple narration of our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection, and the impact those events had on the world . . . and on you. Simple? Yes. Powerful? Absolutely. MIMBS 1 In your own words, describe the highlights of Jesus’ life. Why is that story the most important gift you could ever give to another person? Pray for one person in particular with whom you would like to share the story. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22

Tuesday—October 5 • The Purpose of the Law But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4–5

Our world is performance-based. So many men absorb the idea that they have to do something to make God happy, or at least to avoid His wrath. We try to be “religious” and moral, to earn points with God by regulating our behavior: Do this, but not that. Look at this, but not that. But those types of requirements simply do not lead us to salvation. Biblical laws really just show us how much we need Jesus, because we can’t obey them in our own power. Rules make us see our sins and want the cross. But following a set of requirements does not earn us a higher place in God’s esteem.

Of course, we should pursue good deeds as the evidence of having Christ in our lives. But those good deeds are a result of the life-changing effects of the gospel, not the cause of our salvation. If a man you know is trying to be good enough for Jesus, tell him to stop! Only Jesus makes you good enough for Jesus. MIMBS 1 How does our performance-based culture affect a man’s understanding of and response to the gospel? How has it affected you? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 4:19-6:15, Colossians 1:18-2:7, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 24:23-25

Wednesday—October 6 The Gospel Can Change a Man’s Life and Destiny You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22–24

John Wesley vigorously tried to follow a system of rules. Three hundred years ago he founded the Holy Club at Oxford University. Then, he traveled as a missionary with his brother to Savannah, Georgia, where they failed in their effort to develop a religious colony. While sailing back to England, a passenger asked John, “Do you know Jesus as your savior?” He replied, “I know He is the savior of the world.” But John went away dejected, because he could not say with certainty that Jesus was his savior. He wrote in his journal, “I went to America to convert the Indians, but who will convert me?” Back in England one night, while reading the gospel of Christ, John Wesley said his

heart was “strangely warmed.” Jesus Christ came into his life and changed him. Now, we know Wesley as the founder of one of the most successful Christian movements in history. But it didn’t happen because of his ability to “measure up.” It happened because the gospel of Christ changed his life and his destiny. MIMBS 1 Have you ever felt like your religious activity was getting in the way of your relationship with Christ? Are you relying on your work for Christ to take the place of your relationship with Christ? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26

q Thursday—October 7 • A Simple Strategy to Share the Gospel I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 1:6 We all know that we should share our faith. For some, it seems so easy, but for most of us it’s not. Would you like to be more intentional about showing men the gospel? Try this simple “Reach 3” strategy. Ask God to bring three men to mind who might not be Christians. Write down their names on a card (you can get a Reach 3 card at our website) and put it in your wallet. Pray for those men right now. Over the next week, ask each of those men out for coffee or lunch. Don’t have an agenda; simply get to know them. If it’s appropriate, ask for prayer requests. Keep praying, and then later, consider inviting them to outreach events or a Bible study.

Once a man commits to Christ, help him become involved in a church so he can meet more Christians and grow in his faith. Many men are following Jesus today simply because someone wrote down their names and followed through with the “Reach 3” challenge. MIMBS 1 Are you already regularly using some tool or strategy to share the gospel? If so, describe it. If not, look at our website for the “Reach 3” challenge. Record your three names here: ___________, ____________, ___________. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 24:27

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—October 8, 9, 10 Called to Preach the Gospel “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:13–14

Paul says people come to salvation by calling on Jesus’ name. But he also asks an important question—how can they do that, if no one introduces them to our Lord? No one likes being “preached” at, but that’s not what this scripture is about. It simply asks the logical question: how can someone decide to follow Christ if no one ever explains it to them? That’s our part. I like to use a little booklet called The Four Spiritual Laws. It’s classic and simple to use. It clearly explains the gospel and includes an opportunity to receive Christ by faith through prayer. When someone new attends our Bible studies, we ask him to share where he is on his spiritual pilgrimage. If it becomes clear that he has yet to become a Christian, we use The Four Spiritual Laws to introduce him to Jesus. I go

through that booklet word-for-word, and I’ve never found a person to be offended or disrespectful. We all need to be ready to share the gospel when the Holy Spirit puts someone in our path who is ready to hear it. Like Paul said, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Our lives and our words should be such that people can see and hear the gospel from us at any time. MIMBS 1 Who in your life needs to call on the name of the Lord for salvation? Pray that God would prepare a time for you to clearly share the gospel, and that His Spirit would call them to believe in Him. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 10:116:15, Colossians 3:18-4:18, 1 Thessalonians 1:13:13, Psalm 78:5680:19, Proverbs 24:28-25:5

For Your Small Group ❏ For October 4-10—Ask the guys to share their testimonies (in about 2 minutes) of how they came to know the Lord. • Talk about the diﬀerent ways that each of you heard the gospel (friend, church, book, camp, radio or TV, etc.). • What “convinced” each person to believe and follow Christ? • What is the most important thing to remember about sharing your faith?

Monday—October 11 • The Gospel’s Sustaining Power Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 The Christian life is like a long-distance race. Many men falter because they don’t really know what they believe. Others waver because they don’t really believe what they know. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul emphasizes one of Christianity’s most basic tenets: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Paul understood that the reality of the resurrection provides an eternal framework that encourages perseverance. When you believe in Christ’s resurrection, it changes everything. With that eternal perspective in place, Paul says, “Stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” We need to review the foundations of our faith regularly, to ensure that we know what we believe, but also to ensure that we believe what we know. Christ rose from the dead. He defeated sin on our behalf. He is God. Sure, we know about this, but really believing it will give us the strength to persevere. MIMBS 2 Share with some brothers: Do you sometimes feel like your faith is more knowledge than belief? What are one or two things that might change in your life if your belief in the resurrection was deeper? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 25:6-8

Tuesday—October 12 • False Assumptions

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 1 Corinthians 15:12–14 When someone makes a decision based on a false assumption, the results are often catastrophic. For instance, you buy a property based on the assumption that you’ll be able to get rezoning without a problem. But then, the rezoning doesn’t come through. You’re left with a piece of property that is useless for your purposes. Everything in Christianity hinges on the resurrection. Without the resurrection, there is no freedom from sin, our preaching is false and in vain and our Christian friends and family who have died before us will never be in heaven, says Paul. In his words, Christianity without the hope of

resurrection is “useless.” “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,” Paul reminds us in verse 20. The resurrection is a reality. Knowing that— relying on that fact—sustains every aspect of our faith. MIMBS 2 Why is the resurrection so central to the gospel? How will you live differently today because Christ rose from the dead? Share your ideas with a group. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-28, Psalm 82:1-8, Proverbs 25:9-10

Wednesday—October 13 • Destroying His Last Enemy

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive . . . Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:22, 24–26 Scripture describes Satan as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Jesus called him a “thief ” whose purpose is “only to steal and kill and destroy.” By contrast, Jesus came so we could “have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The resurrection is the ultimate expression that God truly is sovereign over all. The effect is so huge that the apostle Paul writes, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Jesus didn’t just win this by “a nose.” His resurrection meant that, for those who believe in Him, the effects of death are “swallowed up.”

No matter what is happening in our lives, we can rest in Christ’s resurrection and His promise of abundant life. If we can escape the power of death through Jesus, then what could possibly be so big that God cannot defeat it? MIMBS 2 Are there some areas in your life that feel overwhelming to you right now? Why not claim the power of the resurrection and ask God to give you victory in those areas? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 22:1-23:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, Psalm 83:1-18, Proverbs 25:11-14

Thursday—October 14 • Perishable to Imperishable When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed . . . So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:37, 42-44

So much of this life is painful. Several years ago I made a list of the major issues facing men in leadership around me. One had lost a child to suicide. Another lost half of his net worth in 30 days. Another got dumped by his spouse. Another got a call that his daughter had been date assaulted. Another was in a severe auto accident. These are all examples of the “dishonor” that sin taints our world with. But Paul promises that the lives we now live are seeds—tiny in comparison to the life we will have in glory. The analogy is similar to our being “raised with Christ.” Just as a seed goes into the earth, or a body is buried in it, so we are mired in a fallen world. But God will raise us up out of this present darkness to live with Him in glory.

Life hurts. But in the midst of that, we can cling to God’s promise that what is sown in weakness will be raised in power. MIMBS 2 Talk with some guys about the difficulties you’ve seen going on around you in people’s lives. Can you see a difference in the way people handle those things based on where they are spiritually? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 23:21-25:38, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 25:15

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—October 15, 16, 17 • Lifting Fifteen Tons Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2–3 I’m sure you’ve heard of a child being pinned under a car, and a parent being able to pick up a 3,400-pound vehicle, saving the child. The feat is out of the ordinary, but most of us have heard that it’s possible. Well, what would you say if I told you I could lift five or six cars? You’d probably think I’m talking about toy cars. But in reality, I’m talking about lifting weights. When I started, I could barely lift my briefcase. Six months into my regimen, I was lifting 55 pounds here and 35 pounds there. One day, I kept a record and discovered that, by using a variety of different weights in different exercises, over the course of an hour I lifted the equivalent of fifteen tons! Through six months of testing my muscles on a regular basis, I had developed sustained strength. Some would call that perseverance. Spiritual growth is the same way. When you don’t exercise your faith regularly, you get spiritually flabby. When the everyday

difficulties of life come your way, you might not have the strength built up to deal with them the way you’d like to. But through regular study of the Bible, meeting with people who challenge you to grow and develop your faith, and applying God’s Word to your life you develop the strength and perseverance necessary to sustain you. First Corinthians 15:58 reminds us that, because Jesus gained victory over the biggest enemy of all, we can stand firm. “Let nothing move you,” Paul wrote. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” MIMBS 2 How will you exercise your faith today? What will help you maintain an eternal perspective so you can persevere in the face of difficulty? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 26:1-31:26, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, 1 Timothy 1:1-2:15, Psalm 85:1-87:7, Proverbs 25:16-19

For Your Small Group ❏ For October 11-17—Make a list of important foundational beliefs of Christianity. • Do you all agree on those beliefs? • Which of those beliefs separates Christianity from other religions? • Which of those beliefs have been most meaningful to you personally?

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Monday—October 18 • Awestruck For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. Luke 5:9 (nlT)

Imagine you are a realtor. Things have been slow; you’ve not sold a house in months. One day someone pulls you aside and says: “Tonight, once it’s dark, I want you to have an open house and I will send some buyers so you’ll be able to sell a few houses.” You would think he was insane! But what if you ended up with a line of people down the street trying to buy houses? What if you sold a dozen houses during that one night? This is what happened to Peter and the other disciples. In Luke 5, they let down their nets and—against all odds—stumbled upon the catch of their lives: so many fish the boat nearly sank! Peter was awestruck in that moment, recognizing he was in the presence of true power.

When you find yourself in the presence of true power, it stuns you and renders you immobile. Whether you’ve witnessed something extraordinary, such as Peter did, or if God manifests His power in a different way, hold on to these moments of awe—they are the most precious of your life. MIMBS 2 Have you ever been in the presence of true power, such as a powerful politician? If so, how did it make you feel? How does this connect to the power of God? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 25:20-22

Tuesday—October 19 • In the Presence of Holiness When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8

When Jesus tells the disciples to let down their nets, they catch more fish than they could have imagined. In this, He gives them a small glimpse of His awesome power, and they are astonished. Peter, a disciple who ordinarily wanted to be nearer to Jesus, reacts by falling to his knees and pleading, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” When the overwhelming presence of God was actually manifested to him, he didn’t feel longing or loving thoughts; he felt terror, fear and shame. Theologian R.C. Sproul, in The Holiness of God,, describes Peter as feeling “desperately uncomfortable” like all men before him who had come into the presence of God’s holiness. When Isaiah encountered God’s presence, he reacted similarly (Isaiah 6). “He saw the holiness of God,” writes Sproul. “For

the first time in his life Isaiah really understood who God was. In that same instant, for the first time Isaiah really understood who Isaiah was” (p. 37). When we truly experience God’s holiness, we become aware of our own sinfulness and desperate need for Him. MIMBS 3 Have you experienced an encounter with God that has shaken you? What were you thinking and feeling at the time? What emotions and thoughts were present afterward? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 33:134:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 25:23-24

Wednesday—October 20 • In Between Times of Awe Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5

Every day 87-year-old Dot talks to her friend Ellen on the phone. One morning, Ellen said, “Dot, today I would like to not talk about our health problems.” Without missing a beat, Dot replied, “What will we talk about then?” Like Dot and Ellen, sometimes we find ourselves in a rut. Emotionally, we’re dry; spiritually, we’re stagnant. Peter might have been feeling this way that day on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He’s washing his net after a long, unfruitful night of fishing. After Jesus finishes preaching to the crowd from Peter’s boat, He tells him to let the nets down into deep water. Imagine you’re Peter, discouraged and tired from last night’s failure. All you want to do is rest and try again tonight with a fresh attitude. Then a teacher tells you, the fisherman, how to fish—like a homeowner telling the plumber how to fix the sink. Your rut deepens and awe is the furthest feeling

from your mind. But how did Peter respond? He did as Jesus asked. In obedience, he let the nets down, even though he had no reason to believe it would change his situation. And there was a great catch of fish. MIMBS 3 Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something unreasonable? Looking back, could it have been He was trying to get you out of a rut? What might He want you to do today? Share your ideas with a group. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 35:1-36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1-25, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 25:25-27

Thursday—October 21 • The Ultimate Strategy Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Luke 5:10b

Awestruck after a huge catch, Peter falls at Jesus’ feet and declares his own sinfulness (Luke 5:8). He begs a holy Jesus to give him space so he can breathe again. But Jesus came to do more than catch fish and more than start a family of disciples. He had a mission to save the lost and a strategy that relied on Peter. Left on his knees, away from Jesus and in his shame, Peter would be no good to Him. So Jesus didn’t leave him there. Instead, He told him, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” In that simple direction, He revealed His strategy

for saving the world: to invest in men who will invest in other men. In The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul writes, “There is a pattern here, a pattern repeated in history. God appears, people quake in terror, God forgives and heals, God sends. From brokenness to mission is the human pattern” (pp. 39-40). MIMBS 3 Have you ever thought that brokenness could lead to mission? How have you seen that in your life or the lives of those you know? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 37:1-38:28, 1 Timothy 6:1-21, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 25:28

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—October 22, 23, 24 • Irresistible Calling So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11 Often the things we pursue don’t end up being what we thought they’d be: the promotion at work, the new car, the romantic relationship, etc. You acquire those things only to realize you need something more. Simmering in the background of every man’s life is the pressing desire to make a difference—to do something worthwhile with his life. Can you imagine the excitement that Peter must have experienced when Jesus invited him to follow Him? Many causes claim they can change the world, but it became obvious that Jesus had the power to actually do it! There, on a boat weighed down with fish, Peter was asked to become a part of a movement, and he and the disciples left everything to follow. What made the invitation so irresistible that these men would leave everything, set aside the plans they’d made for their lives, and walk away from all that was comfortable? For one, they had just experienced the presence and power of God. Peter especially, in a state of awe, recognized that something extraordinary was taking place. Perhaps they knew that they were on the cusp of the greatest movement of all time. Communism was a movement that swept the world quickly; in less than 70 years,

almost a third of the entire population of the world had become Communist. Still, the movement has nearly faded out after less than a century. To contrast, Jesus’ movement has lasted more than 2,000 years and is still spreading! The movement of Jesus has lasted because God still speaks and calls. He has made Himself known to you and led you, like Peter, to drop to your knees in humility and awe. Confronted by real power and called to a cause, the disciples responded. We need to do the same today. MIMBS 2

Think about your life. Are you waiting to be irresistibly called to the movement of Christ? Are you waiting to experience awe in His presence? If you have already, are you hesitant to join the movement or are you following Him? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 39:1-47:7, 2 Timothy 1:1-3:17, Psalm 90:1-94:23, Proverbs 26:1-8

For Your Small Group ❏ For October 18-24—Have someone read Luke 5:1-11 from an easy-to-understand version of the Bible such as the New Living Translation or The Message. • What do you think those ﬁrst disciples experienced during their introduction to Jesus? • What made Peter and the other ﬁshermen drop their nets and follow Jesus? • What would it look like for you to follow Jesus like those disciples did?

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Monday—October 25 • A Kingdom Mentality The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” Luke 4:42–43

The Bible has many layers. One layer shows that God is interested in our personal needs. Jesus met many individual’s needs for healing, forgiveness and purpose. But the gospel He preached wasn’t focused on the desires of people. Jesus’ message was based on a simple declaration: “I am the Messiah.” He was the anointed one, destined to rule God’s kingdom. Jesus said that, as part of the process of instituting His kingdom, He “came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus made Himself accessible to everyone, even going to places where He wasn’t entirely welcome, like in His hometown. John 4 shows Jesus in conversation with a Samaritan woman—a social outcast. It also shows Him healing the son of a royal official. Jesus is actively seeking, not just waiting for people to come to Him. We worship a

God who became a man so that He could come after us. That is a Savior worth following! MIMBS 4 Have you felt God pursuing you? Share your story with some brothers.

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 48:1-49:22, 2 Timothy 4:1-22, Psalm 95:1-96:13, Proverbs 26:9-12

Tuesday—October 26 • God Draws Us “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

I heard about a man in the locker room at his gym. When a cell phone rang, he put it on speaker and answered. A woman said, “Hi, Honey. I’m at the mall. There’s a gorgeous leather coat here for a thousand dollars.” He said, “Buy it!” She described a $65,000-vehicle and a million-dollar house. He told her to go ahead with both transactions. “Great,” she said. “I love you!” He replied, “I love you, too.” Then he hung up and asked, “Whose phone is this?” That story shows that our assumptions aren’t always correct. We might think we’re pursuing God, when in reality, He is working in our circumstances to draw us to

Himself. Dr. Sproul notes that today’s verse actually could be translated, “No one comes to me unless the Father drags him.” It carries a sense of expended energy. Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you” (John 15:16). God uses various means to introduce Himself to us and to draw us into His embrace, but it all starts with His effort— not ours. MIMBS 4 How do you think God is working in your life right now to draw you to Him? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46, Titus 1:116, Psalm 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 26:13-16

Wednesday—October 27 • God Pursues Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

Even if we don’t have a thorough grasp of the Bible, most of us are somewhat familiar with the 23rd Psalm. I thought I knew it pretty well. Then, about five years ago, I was reading a translation I hadn’t used much before—the New Living Translation. It presents today’s verse like this: “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” I did a little Hebrew study, because of the difference in the wording between follow and pursue. I found the Hebrew word “pursue” really does have a more active sense than what is communicated by “follow.” It really gives a sense that God’s goodness and love will chase me. I mentioned this to a pastor friend, and he said, “Yeah, it’s more like you look in the

rearview mirror and see the blue lights flashing. You’re being pursued by God’s kindness.” That’s a beautiful picture. We may think we’re chasing after God, when in reality, He is pursuing us. MIMBS 4 How does it affect your understanding of God’s intention toward you, to know He isn’t just following you, but He’s lovingly chasing after you? Daily Reading: Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2:1-15, Psalm 99:1-9, Proverbs 26:17

Thursday —October 28 • Aﬄiction Is a Grace And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived . . . he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. John 4:46–47

John 4 tells about a man who had prestige, power and wealth, and still could do nothing to help his sick son. He brought the need to Jesus’ attention, and our Lord healed the boy. We’ll never know if this man would have sought Jesus if he were not desperate. But we do know that, because of his son’s illness, he did come to Jesus, and his whole family believed as well. An entire household, including the servants, believed in Jesus, all because of a child who almost died. I can honestly say that, in 40 years of walking with Christ and listening to testimonies, I don’t remember a single instance

of a person who came to faith because they were happy and content with their circumstances. Some men do come to Jesus in times of success, but only when that success has, in fact, become an aﬄiction. Generally speaking, prosperity and joy and pleasure don’t draw us to Jesus. God uses our suffering as a grace by which He entices us to seek out Jesus and follow Him. MIMBS 4 Describe a time when some sort of afﬂiction drew you closer to God. Daily Reading: Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:115, Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—October 29, 30, 31 Our Responses to Aﬄiction Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good . . . It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Psalm 119:67–68, 71, 75

No one should go looking for affliction, but when it comes, we should actively wonder what God is trying to say in the midst of difficulty. If you have not embraced Christ yet, and you’re wondering why you are in such difficult circumstances, please know that God will work in that affliction with a desire to draw you to Himself. God always makes Himself accessible to you—the question is, are you accessible to Him? If you are a Christian and you are experiencing affliction, remember that even the apostle Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” This was something that frustrated him so that he asked God to take it away. Three times God told Paul He would not take it away. Eventually Paul wrote that his “thorn” had the effect of keeping him humble. Affliction can teach us to depend on and obey God. Finally, 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that when we are afflicted, God comforts us, so that we can also comfort others. The passage continues, “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of

the same sufferings we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:6). In other words, other people watch to see how we will handle difficult times. God’s grace reaches more and more people, drawing them into His kingdom, which is the ultimate priority that sent Jesus to our world. Because He loves us, God sometimes will allow things to be so hard, we cannot make it without Him. Our responses impact our own lives, but also those around us. Pray this prayer today: Jesus, Your gospel is good and Your kingdom is great. My sin is profound. Your forgiveness is sweet. Your aﬄiction is painful. And yet it is a grace that draws me to You. Thank You. Amen. MIMBS 4 Respond to this statement: “Because He loves us, God sometimes will allow things to be so hard, we cannot make it without Him. Our responses impact our own lives, but also those around us.” Share your thoughts with a group of men. Daily Reading: Lamentations 1:1-5:22, Philemon 1:1-25, Hebrews 1:1 -2:18, Psalm 101:1-103:22, Proverbs 26:20-23

For Your Small Group ❏ For October 25-31—Read aloud the “Our Responses to Affliction” devotion above. • Can you think of someone whose affliction has overtaken his life? Someone whose affliction has drawn him closer to God? • Is there some affliction in his life that has allowed you to draw closer to God? • Spend a few minutes in prayer for those dealing with afflictions and their responses to those afflictions.

Monday—November 1 • Created to Do Good Works For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

When Ernest Shackleton was organizing his third polar expedition, he reportedly ran this advertisement in the newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honor and recognition in case of success. Only 27 positions available for this expedition.” It’s said that 5,000 men applied for those 27 positions. Why would they do that? I believe all men desire three things: • A vision that calls them to give their lives. • Someone with whom to share that vision. • A reasonable explanation of why those two desires are so hard to fulfill.

God created men with an almost insatiable desire to invest their lives in something that will outlive them—something bigger than themselves that will make a contribution to the world. And because He created us with that desire, He also has a plan for its fulfillment. He already has established the works He wants us to perform for His glory. MIMBS 5 Why do you think men responded to Ernest Shackleford’s advertisement? Can you relate to that? Why or why not? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 1:1-3:15, Hebrews 3:119, Psalm 104:1-23, Proverbs 26:24-26

Tuesday—November 2 • Bearing Much Fruit I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. . . . This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5, 8

God created men with a desire to make a contribution to the world. But He also showed us how to fulfill that desire by producing eternal fruit that will give glory to God. Jesus compared our relationship with Him to the relationship that branches have with a grape vine. The branches don’t produce anything on their own, but only when they stay connected to the vine. “Remain in me,” He said, “and I will remain in you.” Like the grapevine, the natural result will be the development of a lot of fruit. Later on, Jesus added, “You did not choose

me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16). So we aren’t just promised that we will bear much fruit; we’re also promised that it won’t fade because of the passing of time. But we don’t bear fruit by straining to “make a difference.” It comes through remaining in Christ. Come into His presence on a regular basis. Abide in Him, and lasting fruit will be the result. MIMBS 5 What activities in your life contribute to your “remaining in Christ,” and what activities distract from that goal? How can you remain in Christ today? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 3:16-6:14, Hebrews 4:116, Psalm 104:24-35, Proverbs 26:27

q Wednesday—November 3 • Doing Greater Things Than Jesus? I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 Today’s verse gives an astonishing promise that, if we remain in Jesus through faith, He will enable us even to exceed the good works He accomplished while He was on earth. You might say, “Come on! There must be a loophole here somewhere. Greater works than Jesus???” Think about it. How many lepers did Jesus heal? Well, one time He healed 10 of them. Leprosy was the raging disease of Jesus’ day. Yet today we don’t have many lepers. Why? Because God put in someone’s mind a strategy for treating leprosy, and millions of people were delivered from the disease over the course of time. Or, how many blind people received their sight through Jesus’ ministry? Obviously, He did restore sight to some people. Think of the lives that an opthalmologist can change today!

Any skill that God has given you has potential to impact the lives of many people. When you submit that skill to Him, it has potential not just to touch people in a temporal way, but to touch them for eternity. MIMBS 5 What skill or ability has God given you? How are you using it to touch people for eternity? Share your thoughts with some other men. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 6:15-9:11, Hebrews 5:114, Psalm 105:1-15, Proverbs 26:28

Thursday—November 4 • Persecution If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:18–19

Jesus gives great kingdom promises in John 14 and 15, but He also informs us of the price for choosing His way. Then, at the beginning of John 16, Jesus explains why He wants us to count the cost of following Him. He says, “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray” (John 16:1). Jesus doesn’t want us to be surprised when life isn’t easy. He says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Peace in the midst of great difficulty? How is that possible? By staying in Him, because He also says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Bruce Barton, a Christian writer from the

early 20th century, noted, “Jesus brought forth man’s greatest effort by the promise of obstacles, not rewards.” We understand that persecution is part of the equation when we desire to make a contribution. And yet, the incredible joy that comes with producing eternal fruit more than compensates for the temporal price we pay in the process. MIMBS 5 In your life, what has been the cost for following Jesus? How have you found joy in the midst of that difficulty? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20, Psalm 105:16-36, Proverbs 27:1-2

Don’t Miss

The 2011 Man in the Mirror Annual Summit

January 27-29, 2011—The Westin Lake Mary—www.mimsummit.org

What People Said About the 2010 Annual Summit… “The Summit was another A+ experience for me and my leadership team. Thanks to you and everyone at MIM for your planning and delivery of an effective event. I have returned home with many new ideas and tasks that I am keen to implement. I believe that ministry innovation is the unique service that MIM is providing to the Body of Christ. MIM is continually dissatisfied with the status quo and is also looking for a bigger goal and a new idea that could accomplish that goal. I am on board with MIM and the goal to see 10,000,000 men leading powerful, transformed lives by 2020. May I be one of those men, and may God work in me to lead 100 more to live for Christ with power.” —M.S. “By His grace, I was on fire when I came and the whole weekend just kept adding fuel to the fire .” — M.R. “Thank you for a great MIM Summit! Thank you also for providing visibility and connectivity for everyone, but especially for the regional men of America.” — R.M.

Quick Thoughts from Al Lenio, Director of the 2011 Annual Summit… I’m excited because we are going to build on our 2010 experience to make the 2011 event even more eﬀective for leaders and participants. Last year I saw men encouraged, challenged, equipped, networked, and transformed. We are working hard to do an even better job next year. Having John Waller return again to lead us in worship and Howard Dayton (former CEO of Crown Ministries) in 2011 are just two of the items for which we are thankful. We are so blessed to host the event at the Westin Lake Mary, and to keep the registration fees comparable to last year. It’s a beautiful property for learning and a great place to bring your spouse for a winter getaway. I’m conﬁdent that our constituents will also enjoy the convenience of being an elevator ride away from the conference. There is nothing I enjoy more than serving leaders who are discipling men. I love meeting with our Field Network members, denominational executives, lay leaders and local church pastors. And when they partner and learn from one another it becomes a tremendous win for the kingdom. We have been working and praying for the 2011 Summit since the end of the 2010 event. We believe God will use this event to FUEL your ministry to men for years to come.

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From the Web: disciplemen.com

Disciplemen.com continues to grow as the Web site destination for leaders who want help in discipling men. Use the Web site to ﬁnd resources to help you in your calling or to connect with other leaders whose ministries are of interest to you.

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Featured LEADER from disciplemen.com

Jim Angelakos Leadership Skillset Ministry Expertise: Ministry Consultant, Leadership Development Ministry Experience: Man in the Mirror Ministry Consultant (2001-Present) Prayer Coordinator, Pre-Marital Counselor, Discipleship Director, Promise Keepers Assistant Volunteer Director Denominational Afﬁliation: Assemblies of God Location: Orlando, FL

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—November 5, 6, 7 Distinguish Between Ambition and Calling But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:7–8

God made us with a desire to do something that will outlive us. But most of us settle for a cheap imitation of the overarching plan God has for our lives. I believe most men in today’s culture—even Christian men—don’t know their calling before God. So they are pursuing their own best definition of “the good life.” The apostle Paul was an ambitious man with impeccable credentials before he came into relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He was zealous for what he understood to be true. In the realm of “legalistic righteousness,” he says he was “faultless” (Philippians 3:6). Then, when he met Jesus, he found that his calling took him in a very different direction. In hindsight, Paul told the Philippians, “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” Wow—the “surpassing greatness” of knowing Jesus made his former ambitions look like dust. I challenge Christian men to distinguish between ambition and calling. Take some time to kneel before God and say, “Lord, I’m a sinful man. I’ve been making my own plans for my life. But now I want to follow Your plan. I want to produce fruit that will

last, and I know that will only happen as I stay in You and submit to Your will. Please reveal my calling to me.” Now something really radical: while you’re waiting for His answer, start looking at your finances. The biggest problem I see with the men who come to me exploring God’s calling is that they are living with so much debt and overhead they don’t see how they can pursue that calling! Many turn away. So pray for God to reveal His call on your life. And in the meantime, invest some time getting your financial house in order, so that when you know God’s calling, you can obey. MIMBS 5 Are you willing to pray that prayer? What might it cost you? Is your financial house in order in such a way that you could obey God’s calling? What else would you need to take care of if God called you to a different career or lifestyle? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 12:1-17:24, Hebrews 7:1-8:13, Psalm 105:37-106:31, Proverbs 27:3-9

For Your Small Group ❏ For November 1–7—Have each man share four of their skills, abilities or gifts. • How could those skills or abilities be used for God’s glory or impact people for His kingdom? • Have you been using your talents for that purpose? • How could our group use all of our skills to more eﬀectively serve our church or community?

Monday—November 8 • The Heavenly Population Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.” He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 (The Message)

As Jesus was on the cross, there were two criminals on either side of Him. One of those men repented and asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. “Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43). Talk about a deathbed conversion! In the last moments of his life, the criminal recognized his need for God, changed his heart and his eternal destiny by repenting of his sins and turning his life over to Christ Jesus. A criminal would share heaven with the King of kings and Lord of lords! Heaven is going to have a diverse population—criminals, missionaries, politicians, prostitutes, pastors, and tax collectors.

People like Billy Graham and Martin Luther will walk the streets of gold alongside robbers, cheaters and liars. People of every generation will sing the praises of our Lord with Moses, Abraham and Paul. What a comfort to know we’re all welcome at heaven’s gate and God’s love covers us all! MIMBS 6 Have you thought about the fact that you’ll share heaven with criminals as well as saints? How does that impact your view of eternity? Are there “unlikely” people in your life who need to hear about Christ? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-19:14, Hebrews 9:1-10, Psalm 106:32-48, Proverbs 27:10

Tuesday—November 9 • Dare to Share the Good News But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:23

There is a YouTube video posted by the magician, Penn Jillette. Penn, an atheist, recounts the time after a show in Las Vegas, that a Christian man gave him a Gideon Bible. This stranger genuinely wanted to share something of importance with Penn. The magician was quite touched by this man’s respect, authenticity and care. He also had an appreciation for the man’s fervor in witnessing or as he put it “proselytizing.” It was meaningful to Penn that a stranger believed in his own faith and cared about a stranger’s eternal destiny. In the video, Penn says

something like, “If you believe in heaven and hell, how much do you have to hate somebody NOT to tell them about the way to heaven?” This experience didn’t change Penn’s atheism but it made a deep impression on him. We don’t know how that might impact his life. The good news of the gospel has great power—are you willing to share it with others? MIMBS 6 Have you had the opportunity to share the gospel with someone? Is there someone in your life that needs to hear about God’s love from you? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 20:1-49, Hebrews 9:11-28, Psalm 107:1-43, Proverbs 27:11

Wednesday—November 10 • A Piece of the Puzzle The rich man said, “Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.” Luke 16:27 (The Message)

For over 10 years I had shared Christ with a business man I’ll call “Bob.” A couple of times a year we would have talks about his soul and salvation. Bob was always very polite but would never really show what was on his mind. One day I said, “Bob, don’t you have any fear of going to hell?” He said, “No, not really.” And I said, “Well, let me help you have one.” I read him Luke 16, hoping he would understand the magnitude of his choices about eternity. Bob did not receive Christ that day. At Bob’s funeral a few years later, several friends gave witness to Bob’s salvation and his relationship with the Lord. There were dozens of people around town that had a

heart for Bob and many of those people shared Christ with him in different ways. I was honored to have been a piece of the puzzle of Bob’s salvation. Is there someone you’ve been praying for and sharing the good news of the gospel with? Trust God with that person and pray for others to be used greatly in his life. MIMBS 6 Spend a few minutes in prayer for the person you’ve been witnessing to. Ask God to bring others into his/her life to share their testimonies. Pray together with your group for them. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31, Hebrews 10:1-17, Psalm 108:1-13, Proverbs 27:12

Thursday—November 11 • Can You Imagine? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going. John 14:3, 4 (nlt)

I’ve never met a United States president, but it would be quite an honor. Imagine being in the presence of one of the world’s most powerful people. Think of the privilege it would be to shake his hand in the Oval Office at the White House. We have something even more impressive to look forward to. One day we are going to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and be forever with Him in heaven. The Christian singing group, Mercy Me, wrote a song entitled, “I Can Only Imagine.” The lyrics give insight into what it will be like to meet Jesus and experience heaven.

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. What a glorious future we have when we know Christ as our Savior. I, for one, am looking forward to that great day! MIMBS 6 Have the guys in your group answer this question: What are the two or three things you are most looking forward to about heaven? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 23:1-49, Hebrews 10:1839, Psalm 109:1-31, Proverbs 27:13

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—November 12, 13, 14 • A New Way of Life Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going. John 14:1–4 (nlT) If you’ve ever been to the funeral of a child, you know what true mourning looks like. It is gut-wrenching to grieve the loss of a little one or an unborn baby. A life cut so short is hard to understand. A family’s dreams and future seem denied by death. It begs the question, “Why?” Maybe someone you love lives in chronic pain. Pain takes a toll on the body, mind and spirit. You’ve searched the Web for answers, tried numerous prescriptions and consulted a variety of physicians, and nothing has alleviated the pain. You’d give anything to help that loved one, and nothing has changed. Perhaps your heart has been broken by a divorce, the abuse of a parent, the betrayal of a friend, or a devastating financial loss. You wake up every morning and feel that pain. Throughout the day you wonder what you could have done differently. You go to

bed trying to turn your thoughts off and find rest. So much of your time and energy have been given to the situation and still it remains broken. Now, imagine a life without tears, death, mourning or pain. Your burdens are lifted, fears alleviated, and relationships restored. That is heaven’s promise. We are told that all things will be made new. What a great day that will be when Jesus wipes away the last of your tears. A new life in heaven with Him and you will never experience those devastating things again! What glory that will be! MIMBS 6 What pain or loss has most impacted your life? How have you dealt with it? What would life look like without that stress? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 24:130:26, Hebrews 11:1-12:13, Psalm 110:1-112:10, Proverbs 27:14-17

For Your Small Group ❏ For November 8-14—Go to youtube.com and find the video of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. Play the video on someone’s laptop for your group. • Did one phrase or scene stand out to you? Explain. • What are you most looking forward to about heaven? Is there anything about heaven that makes you uncomfortable? • Does the thought of your eternity in heaven motivate you to share the gospel with others?

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Learn how to share the God News of the gospel and the hope of heaven with others. Study the Great Commission with your small group. See page 8.

Monday—November 15 • Resisting Cynicism The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

There is a concept in social psychology called pluralistic ignorance. When people privately disagree or reject something but think (incorrectly) that everyone else agrees or accepts it, this is pluralistic ignorance. It leads us to the wrong conclusions, which have consequences. For instance, society continually tells us that Christianity is losing ground. When you look around, do you seem to focus on the presence of evil so much that you no longer notice the presence of good? We see leaders fall and society’s attitudes toward religion change, and cynicism begins to build a hard shell around the soul. You may need to adjust your lenses. Scripture teaches us that we serve an

in-control God who never forsakes or abandons us. He is always advancing His kingdom. Chances are more people than you think feel as you do and desire the things you do—to do good, to love, to be a light. Wrong conclusions about God’s kingdom here on earth will always contribute to a hard shell on the soul. MIMBS 7 Do the trivialities and cynicisms of life ever leave you feeling jaded? What are some ways you’ve experienced the light of Christ from others recently? Share your thoughts with a group. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:1820

Tuesday—November 16 • Good and Evil “An enemy did this,” he replied. The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” “No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.” Matthew 13:28–30

We become jaded when we lose the kingdom perspective, the manifestation of God’s reign here on earth. Jesus teaches us about how this kingdom works through a series of parables in Matthew 13. He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared” (vv. 24–26). Although Jesus sowed the good seed of the Word of God, the enemy came and sowed evil in the world. In another parable, He describes a similar condition: “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish”

(vv. 47–48). All kinds of fish were caught together, and wheat and weeds were allowed to grow side by side in the same field. When you see injustice and evil, take comfort in the sovereignty of God; the kingdom looks exactly as it’s supposed to here on earth. The world is operating exactly as we were told it would. God is in control. MIMBS 7 How have you been impacted by this mixture of good and evil here on earth? How does this perspective help explain the way the world works? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 33:1-34:31, Hebrews 13:1-25, Psalm 115:1-18, Proverbs 27:21-22

Wednesday—November 17 • Advancing And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

Ever feel like the dark is overcoming the light? You watch the news, listen to the guys at work, read the paper, and it’s easy to ask: Is the kingdom of heaven retreating? Jesus gives us a glimpse into this in two more parables found in Matthew 13. In the first, He compares the kingdom to a man who plants a mustard seed in a field: “Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” (v. 32). Next, He says it’s like “yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the

dough” (v. 33). Make no mistake: Christianity is still advancing consistently and forcefully, from China to Africa to South America. Yes, there are many who resist it, but the light is overcoming darkness all over the world. Jesus will not be denied. MIMBS 7 Have you ever made a “mustard seed”-sized spiritual investment only to see God use it in His kingdom in a big way? How can you be an intentional part of His kingdom work today? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 35:1-36:38, James 1:118, Psalm 116:1-19, Proverbs 27:23-27

Thursday—November 18 • The Ultimate Treasure Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Three men combined their savings to purchase a Porsche in a rare color. But what looked perfect to them turned out to have been repainted, greatly reducing its value. They had gathered all their possessions to buy what they thought was a real treasure and were left bitterly disappointed. Have you ever poured your time, money or effort into something you thought was valuable, only to be left unsatisfied? Jesus tells us about two men who found the real thing: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he

went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44–46). The first man wasn’t looking for it, while the second man was searching diligently, but both recognized true treasure and were willing to do whatever it took to take possession. The kingdom of this world has plenty to offer in the form of false treasure. Are you desperate enough for God to exchange it all for the kingdom of heaven? MIMBS 7  What investments or pursuits have you later regretted? What are some of the obstacles that keep you from pursuing or selling out to the will of God? Share your ideas with some other men. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-38:23, James 1:192:17, Psalm 117:1-2, Proverbs 28:1

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—November 19, 20, 21 A Kingdom Perspective But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Matthew 13:16

When you have experienced a deep sense of splendor and awe before God, your emotions are overwhelmed. You suddenly understand—not by intellect, but by the Spirit—what the kingdom of heaven is all about. In that moment, you identify with the men who sold everything to get the treasure, the wheat that bears fruit, the good fish in the net, the leavened bread, and the towering tree. But what happens outside of those experiences? The cares and stresses of life creep in. You grow discouraged, cynical, and distracted. Your boss yells at you first thing Monday, your wife is frustrated that you worked late again, your son is sick, and the car breaks down on the way home. Suddenly, that perspective you had the day before on your knees is all but gone.

Living with a kingdom perspective is the difference between flying along at treetop level and going up to 30,000 feet. The view changes completely. The small, inconsequential things drop out of sight and only the things that truly matter remain. Feeling overcome by the troubles of the world? Noticing more weeds than wheat? Chasing after the wrong things? Gain some altitude. Return to the truth that Jesus gives in the parables. God is not surprised or nervous by the state of the world or your circumstances. Everything is just as He said it would be. Let this keep your soul soft and heart malleable. Commit to view every day, every person and every situation through a kingdom perspective. MIMBS 7 What helps you keep a kingdom perspective in the midst of the stress of life? Ask some other men for their ideas as well. Daily Reading: Ezekiel 39:1-43:27, James 2:185:20, Psalm 118:1-119:16, Proverbs 28:2-7

For Your Small Group ❏ For November 15-21—On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), rate the following areas of life on how well you live them from a “kingdom perspective”: marriage, finances, work, family, church, service, free time, those in need, and friends. • Share your results with one another. • Which ones are hardest to live from that perspective? Why? • How can we help each other change the perspective on some of those areas?

Monday—November 22 • The Holy Spirit’s Power

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37–39 Several years ago, I bought a new computer. It featured much more processing power and a larger hard drive than my previous computer. It booted up so fast, I told people, “I’ll bet I have enough power to run the Pentagon.” Maybe you can identify with that feeling, when something actually exceeds your expectations. It was a great computer, capable of doing many different tasks. If I had used it only for word processing, that would have been a huge underemployment of my new resource. A lot of Christians don’t understand the Holy Spirit’s power, and so they do the spiritual equivalent of using a super computer

for tiny tasks. Jesus said for the person who believes, the Holy Spirit is like a stream of water flowing from within. In another context, he said, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:14). Do you want to feel satisfied? Pray that you will better understand the Holy Spirit’s ministry in you. MIMBS 8 Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.” How thirsty are you? Where do you need to let the Holy Spirit inhabit your life? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12, 1 Peter 1:112, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10

Tuesday—November 23 • Finding the Ignition Switch Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

A friend of a friend bought a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. The next day, when he wanted to take it out for a ride, it wouldn’t start. He checked the gas and the battery cables. He worked up quite a sweat trying to start his new motorcycle. He was so irritated that he called up the dealer and said, “This stupid motorcycle won’t start! Something is defective, and I want you to come and get it, because I don’t want it anymore.” The serviceman was quite calm, and he started asking some questions. “Did you check the gas? How about the battery cables?” Then finally he asked, “What about the on/off switch?” The buyer said, “What on/off switch?” The serviceman said, “Well,

sir. There is a little on/off switch on the handlebars, because the model you bought has a double ignition system.” A lot of Christians live similarly frustrated, because they’ve missed one element of God’s gracious gift to them. They haven’t accessed the power available to them through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. MIMBS 8 Do you feel like your spiritual life is just not working? Or do you see men who are “working up a sweat” with religion, but can’t seem to make their Christian life work? How can you help them or yourself hit the “on” switch? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 28:11

q Wednesday—November 24 • Getting to Know the Holy Spirit And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17 Suppose you attend a certain Bible study. After a few sessions, you discover your group leader is in the same business that you are. In fact, through comments made about him, you discover he has been quite successful for a long time. You are facing difficult business decisions, so you seek his advice, which leads to regular mentoring. As the relationship deepens, you find yourself asking advice about more and more issues— maybe even questions about marriage or children. But you would only know you could trust his advice if you had invested time in getting to know him. Hudson Taylor,

the great missionary to China, once noted, “Many Christians estimate difficulties in light of their own resources and thus often attempt little and fail at the little they do attempt. All God’s giants have been weak men who reckoned on the presence and the power of God to be with them.” That presence and power comes in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The first step in accessing that power is in getting to know the source. MIMBS 8 How well do you know the Holy Spirit? What would it take for you to know Him better? Daily Reading: Ezekiel 47:148:35, 1 Peter 2:11-3:7, Psalm 119:49-64, Proverbs 28:12-13

Thursday—November 25 • A Monopoly on the Holy Spirit? Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

History records a time when a group of pastors in a particular city were debating whether or not to invite D.L. Moody to speak at evangelistic meetings in their area. D.L. Moody was sort of the Billy Graham of the previous century. One young pastor was adamantly opposed to the idea. “Why should we invite D.L. Moody?” he asked. “Does he have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” The whole group quieted, and in that moment a wiser, older man replied, “No, Moody does not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Moody.” I don’t know about you, but I would be extremely pleased if someone made a

similar statement about me. The simple truth is, if I want to experience the power and presence of God, I must allow the Holy Spirit to have a monopoly on my life. Or as today’s verse reminds us, I must have the kind of relationship with God that allows me to live by the Spirit and to keep in step with Him. MIMBS 8 List three examples of people you believe are under the monopoly of the Holy Spirit. What characteristics in their lives lead you to believe that? How can you pursue those same characteristics? Daily Reading: Daniel 1:1-2:23, 1 Peter 3:8-4:6, Psalm 119:65-80, Proverbs 28:14

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—November 26, 27, 28 • Conviction When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. John 16:8

The Holy Spirit is involved in every aspect of our relationship with God, even initiating the conviction that draws us to Him in the first place. I still remember my first experience with true conviction. I was a young businessman, going to church with my wife because I was convinced she had some problems that really needed to be straightened out. I was trying to be “somebody.” I was spending money I didn’t have, buying things I didn’t need, so I could impress people I didn’t even like. I wore my new expensive suit to church that morning, and I sat with Patsy in a Sunday school class. The teacher read from Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church . . . ” I wasn’t loving my wife at all. In fact, I was using her. Suddenly I was filled with embarrassment. I flushed red and broke out in a sweat. I kept staring at the floor, because I was afraid if I looked up, everybody in the room would know my secret. Of course, this was all just between God and me, but

I remember staring at a little spot on the floor, convinced that everyone in the room was looking at me with great disdain. That began the process that led me to surrender my life to Jesus Christ a few weeks later. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. But He also leads us to Jesus, so we can be saved and justified. He’s available to counsel us and empower us to live in a way that will give God pleasure, and will make other people interested in developing a relationship with Him as well. In order to access that kind of experience, though, we must invite the Holy Spirit to fill us. We must be intentional about listening to Him and getting to know Him. MIMBS 8 If you would like to live today in the full presence and power of the Holy Spirit, write a prayer expressing that desire to God. Daily Reading: Daniel 2:24-5:31, 1 Peter 4:7-2 Peter 2:22, Psalm 119:81-128, Proverbs 28:15-20

For Your Small Group ❏ For November 22-28—Make a list of people you believe to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. • What do those people have in common? How are they diﬀerent? • Did you include yourselves on that list? Why or why not? • What does a life ﬁlled with the Holy Spirit have to exemplify?

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Check out the Books by the Box on page 10. Great small group resources for men and women.

Monday—November 29 • The Focus of Love

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. John 3:16 (The Message) When I was a freshman in college, I used to wake up and say, “What do I want to do today? I probably need to go to class, but, besides that, do I want to shoot baskets, play tennis, hang out, or go to a movie?” I would decide whatever I wanted to do, and that’s what I did. That’s the life of most college students. In my sophomore year, everything changed. I met a girl named Ruthie. As we started dating, instead of thinking about what I wanted to do, I found myself thinking about what Ruthie might want to do. If you’ve been in love, you know what I’m talking about. Instead of being focused on yourself, you begin to focus

outwardly on another person. That is an essential quality of love. God’s love is so focused on us that He sent His Son to die for us. God said, “What is their problem, and how can I fix it?” He sent His Son to die for us because of His great love for you and me. What an example of sacrificial, unconditional and powerful love He gave us! MIMBS 9 Name the five people you love most in this world. Can you imagine being loved by God in greater ways than you love your wife, children and family? Daily Reading: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

Tuesday—November 30 • Love the Lord! Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’” Mark 12:29 (The Message)

Throughout the New Testament Jesus brings a new message of love and grace. This message was not easily understood or embraced by the religious leaders. They were taught to uphold or obey the law and now they hear a new message that they must love God more than keeping the law or doing the right thing. Jesus even broke some of their traditions to really drive home the importance of love and grace. Jesus knew and conveyed the danger of being more committed to our own righteousness or religion than we are to loving God. It is so easy to love the idea of being a good person or doing the right thing. We can get caught up in how it makes us feel to

be involved in a church, to read our Bibles, to pray, to love our wives, to spend time with our kids, and to be a nice person at work. Just like the biblical religious leaders, we can all fall prey to the idea that our actions or good behavior are more important than loving Jesus. But God wants you to love Him more than doing good things, keeping the rules or being nice. MIMBS 9 How have you been fooled by the good behavior of others? How have you fooled others by your good behavior? Daily Reading: Daniel 7:1-28, 1 John 1:1-10, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

Wednesday—December 1 • Pleasing God or Man? My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. 1 John 3:18 (The Message)

One of the things I struggle with is that I want everyone to know how competent I am. I want people to see that I’m smart or well-prepared or good at business, a caring father and loving husband. In your church, don’t you want to be known to have integrity or a servant’s heart? At work, do you wish to be known by your colleagues as the guy who gets things done? In your family life, do you hope that your wife will say she has a wonderful husband and your kids will acknowledge that you’re the best dad ever? Of course you do! That’s how we all are. The Bible warns us about “pleasing man.” It is dangerous to regard other people’s

opinions too highly. It begins to trap us into the routine of putting on a face, going through the motions, trying to look good, or trying to posture. To please God, we must be honest and authentic. To please men, we can act like we are good, productive and caring. God will know the difference. MIMBS 9 Discuss with your small group whether the actions of your week have been focused on pleasing men or pleasing God. Daily Reading: Daniel 8:1-27, 1 John 2:1-17, Psalm 120:1-7, Proverbs 28:25-26

Thursday—December 2 • Giving Your All Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:43, 44 (nlT)

Would you be willing to give everything like the widow did? If God wanted you to sell your house, take a large cut in pay, settle for a clunker of a car or give your next paycheck to the poor, how would you react? Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having nice things, an efficient car or a safe home in a nice neighborhood. The difficulty with “things” is our attitude toward them. Do they define us? Are we unable to part with them? Do we strive to make more money to purchase “bigger and better”? Are things a part of our status? When elevated to these degrees,

things get in the way of our love for God. When we love them more than we love God, our priorities are out of whack. God desires to richly bless His children, but He also tells us that we are to love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul. Does your life reflect that kind of love for God? MIMBS 9 Are there material things standing between you and the Lord? Is your life in need of reprioritizing? Daily Reading: Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—December 3, 4, 5 • Love of the Father But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message) After a whirlwind week of meetings, proposals, traveling, and a dizzying schedule, I felt beat up and tired. I’m sure you can relate to those times when you just want time off or a rest. In church that weekend, I can remember thinking, “You know, I’m not sure what I am doing here. I don’t feel like doing this today, and I’m not going to get anything out of this. I’d rather be home lying in bed.” I don’t know whether it was the music, the testimony or encouraging words, but all of a sudden a most profound thought struck me. God loves me! God is not my boss who is pleased with my production or a teacher who is grading my work. God is a delighted dad. Think about the joy you have in your children. It’s just that spontaneous joy of pure love that you have for them just for who they are. What struck me that morning was that God loves me like that. He’s saying, “I love you. I’m proud of

who you are. I know you’ve made mistakes. I know it has been a tough road. I know there’s a lot of stuff you wish you were doing better, but I love you so much!” That’s what I heard God saying to me that morning. It was powerful because I realized how long it had been since I had thought and felt that. It’s so easy for us to think about our relationship with God in transactional terms. Christianity becomes a philosophical system, a world view, a political agenda, an economic agenda, a set of do’s and don’ts. We gravitate toward those things, and we forget that at the very heart of it is a simple truth: God really, really loves us. MIMBS 9 Consider for a few minutes that God loves you like you love your children. How does that impact your love for Him? Daily Reading: Daniel 11:2-12:13, Hosea 1:13:5, 1 John 3:7-5:21, Psalm 122:1-124:8, Proverbs 29:1-8

For Your Small Group ❏ For November 29–December 5—On a large piece of paper or whiteboard write the two headings (below) and ask the guys to give their ideas about them. 1) How you love your children.

2) How God loves you.

• Are there things on the lists that are diﬀerent? Are there things that are the same? • Have you been able to see God as a loving Father? Did the devotionals this week or today’s exercise change that in any way?

Monday—December 6 • The Message for Us All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17

When we read about Jesus in the Gospels, it’s easy to get pulled into the text—the encounters, conversations and miracles. We can forget, however, that we are a part of the story. Try reading Scripture on three levels. The first is a “what you see is what you get” realtime reality; Jesus is doing what Jesus is doing—pursuing people and things according to His Father’s purpose. The second level is that every time Jesus is doing what He is doing, He is simultaneously training His disciples. He knows they’re watching His every move, and He’s investing in them so that they will be

equipped to invest in others. But the third level is that every time Jesus is doing what He is doing, He is also intentionally training us. Jesus knew His actions and words would be recorded and discussed by millions of people in every age to come. We must look carefully at what He chooses to reveal to us, and why. MIMBS 10 Do you tend to read about Jesus’ life as a historian, witness, or participant? What does each level show you? Daily Reading: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11

Tuesday—December 7 • The Battle Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1–2

Every person is fighting some battle and needs to be redeemed or delivered. With every step He took and word He spoke, Jesus knew that we would be reading about how He looked for and fought these battles. When Jesus arrived in Capernaum in Mark chapter 1, He identified where each person was losing his battle. He saw sheep without a shepherd and acted. He delivered those who needed to be delivered and redeemed those who needed to be redeemed. He came to each situation with two things: power (“He taught them as one who

had authority” [Mark 1:22]), and purpose (Jesus replied, “Let us go . . . so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” [Mark 1:38]). Perhaps most significantly, He prayed. Verse 35 says Jesus got up early in the morning and went to a place to be alone and talk with God. Power, purpose and prayer. Those were Jesus’ weapons in the battles He faced. They should be ours as well. MIMBS 10 What are some of the battles other men in your life are fighting? How can power, purpose and prayer help in these battles? Daily Reading: Hosea 6:1-9:17, 3 John 1:1-14, Psalm 126:1-6, Proverbs 29:12-14

Wednesday—December 8 • Battles of Redemption They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. Mark 1:21

There is a story told about two researchers who were going to collect data about the religious practices of the people in a small village in India. On the way, they accidentally ran over and killed a large cobra. Later, the villagers told them, “We worship the cobra god and give it something to eat twice a day.” Nervously, the researchers showed them the dead cobra, and then told them about the real God. Immediately upon hearing this, many villagers became Christians. It’s significant that the very first recorded action of Jesus upon arriving in Capernaum was to teach the truth of the real God in the synagogue. Jesus knew the nature of the

most pressing battle: the people were living in ignorance, unequipped and lost. The researchers didn’t miss the pattern of Jesus. They recognized that the people were in darkness due to their ignorance and they taught them the Word of God. And just like that, because these researchers were willing to go where the battle was and fight it, light burst in. MIMBS 10 What is an opportunity you will have in the next week to speak the gospel into a dark place? Pray with some brothers that you will be prepared for the battle. Daily Reading: Hosea 10:1-14:9, Jude 1:1-25, Psalm 127:1-5, Proverbs 29:15-17

Thursday—December 9 • Battles of Deliverance That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. Mark 1:32

After Jesus taught in the synagogue, He heard that Simon’s mother-in-law was bedridden with a fever. The Word tells us He “went to her, took her hand and helped her up” (Mark 1:31). The battle of many in that synagogue was ignorance, but this woman’s battle was illness. Jesus didn’t dismiss it as unimportant or tell her it would pass on its own. Not all battles are about spiritual redemption. Jesus approached every type of battle with the same power and sense of purpose. Jesus existed to bring victory, and modeled the details for us, His followers, in

Scripture. Now we are the ones doing the teaching, battling evil and healing disease, empowered by His Spirit. His Spirit is enticing you to go where the battle is, no matter if it’s physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual. MIMBS 10 Is someone experiencing a battle that you feel equipped to help bring victory? Pray that God would open your eyes to opportunities to reveal Him in this way. Daily Reading: Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalm 128:1-6, Proverbs 29:18

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—December 10, 11, 12 • Battle Plan Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:38–39

Though successful ministries may differ in style, format, age, size, etc., three common components are always present: vision, determination, and a sustainable strategy. The same is true for all of us as we prepare for spiritual battle. Our styles and strengths may differ, as will the nature of the battles, but our battle plans need to be built upon those three legs. Vision—Jesus gives us a vision to reach people when He calls us to make disciples. But it’s easy to become so consumed by our own battles that we grow blind to the battles others are facing. Pray fervently, invest in relationships, and look for opportunities to see needs and meet them. Mark Batterson, in his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, reminds us that “playing it safe is risky. Lion chasers are always on the lookout for Godordained opportunities.” Don’t grow passive and lose your vision of the battle plan. Determination—Be committed to figuring out how to get it done no matter what. “Let us not become weary in doing good,” the Word encourages us, “for at the proper time

we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). A Sustainable Strategy—The simple story of what happened in Capernaum is the foundation for the most sustainable strategy that has ever been introduced into human history. No government or institution has sustained itself as long as Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus taught the Word of God to redeem the people and free them from ignorance. He went and met people right where they were—right in the midst of their battles—to deliver them. Our vision is Jesus’: to seek and save the lost. We must be determined to meet the challenge and reap the harvest. And finally we must have a strategy that is sustainable—one that relies not on our power, but the power of the Holy Spirit. MIMBS 10 Do you have a vision right now for reaching people? If not, what stands in your way? Talk about this with your group. Daily Reading: Amos 1:1-9:15, Revelation 2:13:22, Psalm 129:1-131:3, Proverbs 29:19-23

For Your Small Group ❏ For December 6–12—From the devotion “Battle Plan” on this page, what are three essentials to life and a successful ministry? • Why is vision so important to success? • Why do life and ministry take determination? • How does a sustainable strategy serve you in life and ministry?

Monday—December 13 • Aligning Your Life with Scripture The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Isaiah 61:1–2a

In Jesus’ day, Israel was an occupied nation, kind of like the United States under British rule in the 1700’s. The Israeli people felt like they were oppressed by the rule of unjust, outside power. And they had a collection of books, which we call the Old Testament, which promised that God would send a man who would give them freedom. In Luke 4, Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, returns to His hometown. Because it was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. When He was asked to read the Scriptures, He unrolled the scroll to find this passage from the book of Isaiah. This passage outlined Jesus’ role: not to deliver an oppressed people politically,

but deliver people who are spiritually captive. Jesus understood that His calling did not fit their expectations. Even in an environment of false assumptions, Jesus fulfilled His destiny, because He aligned His life with Scripture. You can become a man of destiny, as well, when you align your life with Scripture. MIMBS 11 Discuss this with some brothers: How intentional are you about aligning your life with Scripture? What is one area where you could improve? Daily Reading: Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:111, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 29:24-25

Tuesday—December 14 • Imitate Jesus As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14–16

Suppose you play guitar. You can listen to someone else’s guitar and tune yours to make the two match, and you can play together. But if your partner’s guitar is off pitch, then yours will be also. You’d be much better off tuning to something that has true pitch—like a tuning fork or some other device. Then you would both know you were truly on pitch. These days we have more and more access to the examples of talented people. Sometimes we know right away which ones are worthy of imitation, and sometimes it’s not as obvious. The reality is, if you want to be

a man of destiny, the primary person you should emulate is Jesus. Keep yourself aligned with His example, as revealed in Scripture. Go where you know He would go, and do what you know He would do. Tune your life to the life of Christ, as revealed in Scripture. MIMBS 11 Can you think of someone who does a good job of imitating Jesus? What makes you say that? What is an attribute of Jesus you would like to be tuned in to? Daily Reading: Jonah 1:1-4-11, Revelation 5:1-14, Psalm 133:1-3, Proverbs 29:26-27

Wednesday—December 15 Little Choices Can Have Big Consequences Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5–6

Let’s say you are a pilot, and you’re planning to fly across the United States. You figure out your flight plan, but you are one degree off from the correct course. Did you know that, for every 60 miles you fly without correcting that simple onedegree mistake, you will be one mile off your course? If you were trying to fly from Orlando to Los Angeles, you’d miss your mark by about 38 miles. We need other men in our lives—godly men—who will hold us accountable for our daily decisions and help us stay “on course.” But ultimately, those men should help us align our lives with Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 calls us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” That’s the only way to make your paths straight. It’s the only way to avoid the little errors in judgment that could take you very far away from your intended destination. MIMBS 11 What little choices are you making today that may have big consequences in the future? Who do you have in your life that helps you stay aligned with Jesus? Daily Reading: Micah 1:1-4:13, Revelation 6:117, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 30:1-4

Thursday—December 16 • Jesus’ Motivation “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”…All the people in the synagogue were furious . . . They got up, drove him out of the town. Luke 4:24, 28–29

I can hardly fathom the rejection Jesus experienced in His hometown. Luke 4 reveals that Jesus’ acquaintances were furious because He spoke positively about Gentiles—the very people from whom they expected their Messiah to deliver them. The people in Jesus’ hometown intended to throw Him off a cliff! But Jesus simply walked away. He endured their opposition without any sense of retaliation. And He didn’t back away from His calling. Scripture says in John 3:16 that God was motivated by love when He sent Jesus. That same love motivated Jesus. I have an unruly dog. He doesn’t do anything I tell him to do, but I love him. That’s

a tiny picture of God’s indescribable love for us. That’s what motivated Jesus not to retaliate. It’s also what motivated Him to keep ministering. The apostle Paul wrote, “For Christ’s love compels us ” (2 Corinthians 5:14). A man of destiny will imitate Jesus’ motivation of love. MIMBS 11 On a scale of 1–10, how strongly are you motivated by the same indescribable love that Jesus showed? How can you be motivated to love even more? Daily Reading: Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:117, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6

q Friday, Saturday, Sunday—December 17, 18, 19 • Jesus’ Expectations As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17–18 Simon and Andrew seemingly made a snap seemed designed to discourage people from decision—but then, we can assume from following. Jesus thoroughly understood and other Gospel accounts that these men were was committed to the purpose for which familiar with Jesus even before this event. He came. Though He was motivated by At any rate, the actual invitation didn’t love, He was not swayed by acceptance or say, “Come and fulfill your destiny.” Jesus rejection. simply invited some guys to hang out with Similarly, the apostle Paul said, “For Him. If they chose to do that, over the long Christ’s love compels us . . . We are therehaul they eventually would “buy in” to His fore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God motive and purpose, because they would were making his appeal through us. We become like Him. They would become implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be recon“fishers of men.” ciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:14, 20). If you want to ensure that you are Most of us don’t make important decifulfilling your God-given dessions quickly. Suppose someone tiny, you need to make sure called you on the phone to say they have an you are hanging out with Jesus and becoming like incredible investment Him. Absorb His motiopportunity. A condoe u’r t ed vation and His purpose. minium is available in a o Y n vi m e f i co You’ll find that He’s in the desirable location at half o b e rs . the market price. Even if process of making you a to fish e en .. m you are eager to make an “fisher of men.” MIMBS 11 investment, you wouldn’t just jump on it. You would How would you define your God-given collect a lot of information before destiny? What is motivating you to pursue it? making the final decision. Daily Reading: Nahum 1:1-3:19, Habakkuk 1:1You’ll notice as you read the Bible, Jesus 3:19, Zephaniah 1:1-3:20, Revelation 8:1-10:11, invited, but He rarely pushed. In fact, somePsalm 136:1-138:8, Proverbs 30:7-14 times He made provocative statements that

For Your Small Group ❏ For December 13–19—Read this version of Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)—“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” • Are you listening for God’s voice in everything you do? How do you know what God wants you to do? • Share ways God has kept you on track in your life.

Monday—December 20 • Zechariah is Silenced But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. Luke 1:13 (nlT)

Zechariah was a devout priest in the temple. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were an older couple who had faithfully served the Lord. But there was a missing piece in their life—they were childless. This is a painful experience for many couples, but in biblical times it held a social stigma and brought great shame. The Lord sent the angel Gabriel to Zechariah to tell him that Elizabeth would bear a very special child, John the Baptist. Imagine the shock! In their old age, this devout couple would be blessed with a son. Zechariah could not believe it, and because of that unbelief the angel told him he would be silenced until the birth of his son. It’s hard to fathom not speaking for nine months. Why silence? And what was God

doing in Zechariah’s heart during that time? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that when he could speak again, he gave great praise to the Lord. He saw the Lord work in his life in miraculous ways and his faith abounded. Do you spend regular time in silence before the Lord? Take a few minutes and be quiet with the Lord. Was it easy or difficult for you to be quiet in His presence? Daily Reading: Haggai 1:1-2:23, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 30:15-16

Tuesday—December 21 • A Visit to Elizabeth In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Luke 1:42

Zechariah and Elizabeth played a critical role in the Christmas story for two reasons. First, their son, John the Baptist, prepared the way for the ministry of Christ. John was a pivotal character in Jesus’ life and even baptized Him. Second, Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin, and when the angel told Mary of her miraculous pregnancy, he also informed her of Elizabeth’s miracle baby. Mary went to stay with Elizabeth for three months. Mary must have known that this devout, faithful couple would know the story of Mary’s pregnancy made sense because of their own experience. In fact, when Mary arrived at their home, the Bible tells us that Elizabeth’s baby leapt in her womb. Then Elizabeth sang a song of praise about Mary and blessed her unborn child.

What a wonderful plan the Lord had in mind for Mary. He had the right people in place to surround Mary with faith, affirmation and love. Through Zechariah’s unbelief, Elizabeth’s late-in-life pregnancy and John, their unborn son, they were the perfect people to encourage Mary during her time of need. Think of a time in your life when the right people and circumstances were in place to meet a need in your life. Is there someone in your life that you have been perfectly prepared to minister to? How can you reach out to that person? Daily Reading: Zechariah 1:1-21, Revelation 12:1-17, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 30:17

Wednesday—December 22 • A Courageous Young Man Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:19

Joseph was a young carpenter engaged to Mary. Many believe they were both teenagers and that their marriage was arranged by their parents. Joseph’s role in Christ’s birth was no accident. He came from the line of David, as prophesied in the Old Testament. Although Joseph’s family heritage was important, he still had to choose to play a role in the birth of the Messiah. The angel came to Joseph and told him of Mary’s pregnancy and the coming Messiah. He could have walked away. In their society, he would have been justified to leave his expectant fiancé. But he didn’t. He listened to the angel and believed. He

fearlessly went against the status quo and summoned up the courage of a much older, wiser man. He did as he was told by God. He took Mary to Bethlehem, where taxes were to be paid. He cared for her as a husband and became an earthly father to the Son of God. Is there an area in your life where you need boldness and courage? Is there some status quo that you need to fight against in order to claim a spiritual victory? Daily Reading: Zechariah 2:1-3:10, Revelation 13:1-18, Psalm 141:1-10, Proverbs 30:18-20

Thursday—December 23 • Jesus is Born! And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:6 (nlT)

“O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Phillips Brooks (1835–1893) God’s masterful plan to save the world culminated in a quiet stable where the King of kings and Lord of lords was born! The plan was much bigger than the humble beginnings might have indicated. As His young parents sat in awe, they couldn’t possibly imagine what was in store for their newborn Son.

The Christmas carol says, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Prophecy was fulfilled. Israel’s hope had come. The hopes and fears of all those that came before Him and for all people that have come after Him, were met in the birth of our Savior, the everlasting Light, the Messiah—Jesus Christ. He also came for you—for your hopes, fears, dreams, and sins. All those are healed and fulfilled in Jesus. Do you have hopes and fears this Christmas season? Do you believe all hopes and fears are met in our Lord? Daily Reading: Zechariah 4:1-5:11, Revelation 14:1-20, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 30:21-23

Friday, Saturday, Sunday—December 24, 25, 26 • Royal Visits The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. Luke 2:10 (The Message)

After Jesus was born, we know that at least two groups of people came to visit the baby and His young parents. The shepherds were in the field watching over their flocks. The angel of the Lord came to this group of men and announced the birth of the Savior in the town of Bethlehem. The angel went on to say what a great and joyous occasion this was and that this birth would impact the world. The shepherds were even given directions and were told what to look for. These were common, ordinary men. In that day they were considered lowly. Shepherds lived with their sheep—protecting them, directing them and finding them nourishment. Although they were common, God must have a special connection with shepherds since He refers to Himself as one: “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) and “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). The wise men also came to visit the young Savior. The Bible does not say there were three men but it does say there were three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. This group of men came from the East and followed the star to find Jesus. Some think they might have been astronomers and were educated scholars.

These wise men knew Who they were looking for and what they wanted to do once they found Him. In Matthew 2:2 we read, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Two different kinds of men were led to seek this newborn King. One, a group of common, hard-working, uneducated shepherds and the others were learned, stargazing, wise men. The little Lord Jesus came for shepherds, wise men, young, old, rich, and poor. A King, born in a stable, would become the Savior for us all! Spend some time this Christmas weekend giving praise to God for sending His one and only Son into the world to save us all from our sin. Daily Reading: Zechariah 6:1-9:17, Revelation 15:1-17:18, Psalm 143:1-145:21, Proverbs 30:24-32

For Your Small Group ❏ For December 20–26—Have someone read aloud the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1–20. • Share some Christmas traditions from your family with the group. • What is your most favorite and least favorite thing about Christmas? • What one thing can you add to your Christmas celebration to reﬂect the true meaning of Christmas?

Monday—December 27

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A Life of Serving Self

And I hated everything I’d accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can’t take it with me—no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me. Ecclesiastes 2:18 (The Message) Solomon was the chief executive officer of the world’s largest conglomerate, the president of his country, the commander in chief and number one on the Forbes list of billionaires. Here’s how he summarized his life: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10–11) And then he added, “So I hated life” (v. 17). So much for the self-focused life! Living

Tuesday—December 28

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for your own enjoyment, survival, or success may seem like the way to go. In the end, it doesn’t bring you the fulfillment, the sense of community or the depth of life that we all desire. God had a greater plan for Solomon, and He has a greater plan for us. AMGSD, Chapter 11 Are your life goals designed around your success or happiness? What goals might God have for your life? What adjustments might you need to make as you head into the New Year? Daily Reading: Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33

Jesus’ Example of Servanthood

So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. John 13:14–15 (The Message) God’s goal in sending His Son to earth was to save us from our sins. That act alone is the ultimate picture of a servant-King. But throughout His ministry, Jesus continued to be a true example of serving others. If we want to follow Jesus’ example, we need to know where He would go and what He would do. In John 13, Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples. As the evening meal was being served, Jesus took off His outer garments. He wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing His disciples’ feet. Of course, Jesus isn’t limiting service to washing each other’s feet or, for that matter, suggesting that washing feet is what we should do. It’s the attitude that Jesus is concerned about. Instead of waiting to be

served, we can choose to take the initiative and serve others. Follow Jesus’ example and look for ways to serve others. Surprise others with an attitude of service. AMGSD, Chapter 11 Can you recall a time when someone served you and how that act impacted you? Look for an opportunity to serve someone this week. Daily Reading: Zechariah 12:113:9, Revelation 19:1-21, Psalm 147:1-20, Proverbs 31:1-7

Wednesday—December 29

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Jesus’ Example of Servanthood

I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16–17 (The Message) In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster comments on the text from John 13, relating it to the discipline of service. He writes: “Most of us know that we will never be the greatest, just don’t let us be the least, right? Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness. In some ways we would prefer Jesus’ call to deny Father and Mother, houses, and land for the sake of the gospel than His word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. If we have the chance to forsake all then we have the chance to glorious martyrdom. But in service we must experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. Service

Thursday—December 30

banishes us to the mundane, the ordinary, the trivial.” Servanthood is not easy. It will involve setting up chairs, driving your car, making the phone call, getting dirty, being tired, washing feet, and making sacrifices. God asks us to be willing to serve where He needs us and to serve with an attitude of love. AMGSD, Chapter 11 On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your attitude toward service? Are you willing to ask God to change that attitude so that He can use you in big ways and small ways? Daily Reading: Zechariah 14:1-21, Revelation 20:1-15, Psalm 148:1-14, Proverbs 31:8-9

•

A Cultivated Attitude

If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. Romans 14:18 (nlT) Perhaps you always wanted to lead worship, but you’re asked to run the sound. You may daydream about being a world-renowned preacher, but you usher on Sunday morning. You admire those that lead mission trips or spend their entire life on the mission field and yet you count the offering and do kitchen cleanup for your church fellowships. Donald Whitney, author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, reminds us how service is truly viewed: “Most service, even that which seems the most glamorous, is like an iceberg. Only the eye of God ever sees the larger, hidden part of it.”

Most of us will serve in everyday ways to meet very practical needs. We might contribute to a food bank, serve at a homeless shelter, mow the grass of an elderly neighbor, coach a Little League team or fund a trip to Haiti. There may not be applause, fame or adoration. This is why service has to be a discipline and a cultivated habit. AMGSD, Chapter 11 Do you sometimes think that your service is not important or visible enough? Think about the “downstream” effects of the little ways that people serve. Daily Reading: Malachi 1:1-2:17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 31:10-24

Friday—December 31

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Making A Diﬀerence

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:8 (nlT) Men want to make a difference. This truth is highlighted in a poignant scene from the movie Black Hawk Down. A soldier says, “You really believe in this mission down to your very bones, don’t you, Sergeant?” The sergeant replies, “These people don’t have jobs, no food, no education, no future. I figure we have two things we can do: We can help, or we can sit back and watch the country destroy itself on CNN. I was trained to fight, how about you? I was trained to make a difference.” And then there’s the approach of Christian author Gary Smalley. Each day when he awakens he takes his figurative empty cup, gets in line, and goes to meet

with Jesus. Then during the day he empties out his cup serving others. The next day, he gets up, takes his empty cup, once again stands in line, and starts all over again. Both warrior and cupbearer are powerful metaphors for serving God. Whether God leads you to fight for your country or humbly serve others, one of the greatest proofs that you are a disciple is that you bear much fruit. AMGSD, Chapter 11 What kind of impact do you desire to make with your life? Are you achieving those desires or goals? What might need to change for 2011? Daily Reading: Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31

For Your Small Group ❏ For December 27–31—Read the devotion, “Making a Difference” on this page. • What did you think about the two ways to serve or make a diﬀerence? • What diﬀerence do you want to make in your family? Church? Community? World? • How do you plan to do that?

Looking for Ways to Serve This Christmas? In your own church or community there are many ways to get involved or serve throughout the Christmas Season. In your church there may be a widow who would love an invitation to Christmas dinner, a single mom who would welcome a Christmas tree or an unemployed couple who really need a grocery store gift card. Ask your pastoral staff for suggestions. The service agencies in your county greatly appreciate your time, effort and funds to help serve those in need. Foster care agencies, homeless shelters, and food banks accept children’s Christmas gifts, items for holiday dinners, and your manual labor to serve meals. For large group efforts consider these: Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, Convoy of Hope, Angel Tree or the Salvation Army. Search the Internet for more information on these and other worthy organizations that your small group or Sunday School class can help.

A Man’s Guide to Service by Dr. Patrick Morley . Excerpt from A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines

What Is Service? A managing partner for one of those firms with a long name who had just finished a service project said, “Pat, I don’t know what it is, but I feel happier in my life right now than I have in a long time.” That is the essence of service. Service is almost always sacrificial, although we will often feel as if we gain more than we give. Like stewardship, it involves submission to God’s agenda. It means focusing on someone other than myself. As servants, we are responsible to help anyone whose need we see and whose need we are in a position to meet. You and I are not responsible, however, for the needs we don’t know about, or do know about but cannot—or should not—meet. For example, to skip your children’s soccer games to spend every Saturday helping widows with home repairs just doesn’t sound right. Jesus does not want us to feel guilty about what we couldn’t do, or forget (or devalue) what we were able to do. The Devil, however, wants nothing more. The Devil wants to take our good deeds and convince us that they’re never enough: “You could have done more. You should have done more. What about ________? Why didn’t you help ________? You have left something undone.”

Developing the Mind-Set of a Servant As with all the disciplines, we’re not trying to develop a service mentality simply because we want to get God’s attention or improve our spiritual scorecard. Instead, service spills out of a maturing relationship with Jesus Christ. Here’s how it works. Early in your spiritual journey, you didn’t have enough Jesus for yourself, much less any left over to give away to others. You did your good deeds as duty. However, over time you began to fill up in your personal relationship with Jesus. You began to plumb the depths of His holiness, mercy, love, and grace. You were awestruck by His power, greatness, and majesty. You were humbled by how you had underestimated the work of Jesus. And you grew. At a point, you realized you finally did have enough Jesus for yourself. You felt filled up in your relationship with Him. That spurred you on to new growth. Another couple of years passed, and one day you realized that you were spilling over with Jesus. Not only did you have enough Jesus for yourself; you had some left over to give away to others as well.

In fact, you were so filled to overflowing that you felt as if you would burst unless you could give some of Him away. That’s how a servant is supposed to feel—as if he can no longer be happy unless he does something to serve. Anything less will represent a failure. Maybe you are there, maybe not. Service is one of the latter disciplines. If you cannot serve out of overflowing gratitude, then don’t. Don’t pretend to have taken hold of that to which you still aspire. Instead, pursue Christ and let Him continue to sort you, fill you, make you, shape you. When the time is right, you will know what to do. Obviously, if a man “never” feels compelled to serve, he is either (1) not growing as a disciple or (2) not in Christ.

Jesus: Our Example for Service Matthew 20 includes an interesting story about the disciples James and John. It records that their mother came to Jesus and requested that her sons be given the honor of sitting at His right and left in His kingdom. Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. . . . Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? . . . You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left Service is almost always is not for me to grant. These places sacriﬁcial, although we belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father” (see will often feel as if we Matthew 20:22–23).

(

gain more than we give.

Now put yourself in the place of the other ten disciples. How would you react if you heard that two of your group had tried to elevate themselves above you? You can probably guess that the other disciples were indignant.

)

Jesus replied, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high oﬃcials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be ﬁrst must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25–28, emphasis added). And He didn’t just say it—He did it. And He didn’t just do it—He said, “If you want to be great, you do this too.” Jesus inverted the world order. In His economy, we achieve greatness through service—by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following His example.

• 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.

Study A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines with your small group. Read the book and use the 2-3 minutes of Pat’s teaching on the DVD to kick off your group’s weekly meeting and start discussion. Go to www.maninthemirror.org and order your book/DVD combo today.

continued from page 5

Getting Your Men on Mission So how do you get the men of your church engaged in serving others? It all starts with leadership. The key is to find a man (or group of men) already wired for helping others. It’s unlikely that you will find him teaching a class or leading a small group. Rather, he’s probably serving in some capacity— maybe behind the scenes or even outside the church. Next, find a focus for your efforts. Scattered service projects will work for a while, but a larger purpose will help you build momentum for service, and will provide sustainability for your efforts. It’s not that you need to keep doing the same project over and over, but rather that you have a consistent message about building the kingdom that lets guys know this is going somewhere. In my church, we have adopted a mission in Mexico that serves the poor in a rural area. We have regular updates to the church about how the ministry there is providing food, education and support to the community. At first, it was an interesting project that “those guys” did. It has become “ours.” I hear men talking about when they’ll go, not if they’ll go. It has become a part of who we are as the men of our church. For us, this international focus has led to a local focus on a low income community adjacent to our church. For others, local community projects may lead to an interest in international efforts to care for the poor and helpless. So here’s to the “get ‘er done” Christians. The guys whose actions speak louder than their words. Guys who would rather build a house than build an apologetic argument. Stop feeling like you’re not “spiritual” because a good sermon doesn’t make you feel as close to God as a good day’s work. Your faith is pure and blameless. You are my heroes.

• BRETT CLEMMER

Brett Clemmer is Vice President of Leadership Development with Man in the Mirror. He is the co-author with Patrick Morley and David Delk of No Man Left Behind: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving Disciple-Making Ministry for Every Man in Your Church. Brett and his wife, Kimberly, live in Casselberry, Florida, and have two children, Cassidy and Jackson. You can follow Brett on his blog at faithfamilyclimbing.blogspot.com.

The highest form of worship is the worship of unselﬁsh Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless. —Rev. Billy Graham

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