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| Men's Leadership and Discipleship 2018-19 @ LCBC |
Fellow brothers in Christ,
One of the most exciting
things I get to be a part of at LCBC is our men’s leadership training and
discipleship ministry. Few things energize me more than talking about the
Christian life, doctrine, the local church, and things that matter most with
like-minded believers…especially faithful men like you!
As the Sr. Pastor of this
wonderful fellowship this is one of the most important things that God calls me
to do. This ministry flows directly out 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the
things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these
entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also;” and
out of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens
another.” One of the biblical roles of a pastor-shepherd is to help
train, disciple, and equip leaders and future leaders. Since biblical,
male leadership in the home/local church is God’s design, this is a vital
ministry at LCBC.
Based on many helpful
comments and ideas from those who participated in Track 1 beginning September
15th we are going to offer a Track 2A and a Track 2B. Track 2A
will be more in depth/intense with a special focus on elders/future
elders. Track 2B will be more deacon focused with less reading.
BOTH TRACKS will be biblical, theological, and practical. After
reading this note, praying, talking with your wife, please reach out to me if
you’re not sure which Track to sign up for.
Leadership and I cannot
emphasize enough just how important these once a month sessions are as
we seek to implement a robustly biblical philosophy of ministry. This
ministry and everything we do at LCBC is based off of key texts such as
Colossians 1:28-29; Eph. 4:11-16; Hebrews 5:12-14; 2 Timothy 2:2; and Proverbs
27:17. As you pray about whether or not God would have you sign up for
Track 2 please consult these passages of Scripture.
God made us (Gen. 1). He
brought us into this world and chose our specific gender. He created men and women equal in dignity, value, personhood, and worth but He also created us with different roles. As such, the LORD calls
each of us to be examples in word and deed. He calls men in particular to
provide spiritual leadership in the home and in the church (Eph 5-6; 1 Tim
2:9-3:10). Many of you have, or at some point will, serve in official
deacon and/or elder capacities. Others, will continue to serve and lead
without ever functioning in one of these N.T. offices. Either way, this
discipleship ministry is foundational to the mission of LCBC.
To help you better understand
the particulars of this year's super sessions allow me to briefly address 7 commonly asked questions:
- How
often do we meet? Only once a month. Generally on the third
Saturday of the month from 7:00-10:30am. Men are expected to read in
preparation of each supper session (note 2018-19 calendar attachment- I’ll
email you these attachments separately).
- What
will the sessions look like? Our entire group will
meet to discuss the 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to
Understanding Theology resource. We will break up into small
groups to talk about practical applying R Kent Hughes’ classic, Disciplines
of a Godly Man. We will also break up one time into Track 2A and
2B to discuss group specific resources. Pastor Caleb will lead the
2A guided discussion time and Pastor Kent will lead the Track 2b guided
discussion time.
- Why are
you utilizing biblical resources? Shouldn’t we
just study the Bible? The value of any
Christian resource is determined in so much that the author is rightly
interpreting and applying the Word of God. These are supplemental
resources written by faithful believers/teachers. The Apostle
Paul himself utilized such resources as is seen in 2 Timothy 4:13.
The meat and potatoes of LCBC is our expository pulpit. This
ministry is not intended to replace one’s personal bible time, rather, it
should supplement it. We will compare everything we read and study
against the perfect Revelation of Scripture “to see if these things be
so.” The teaching in these books flows out of the doctrine and
application that is in Scripture.
- Tell me
more about the resources that we will be using this year?
Both Track 2A and Track 2b will study- Disciplines of a Godly
Man and
50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding
Theology. The first resource flows out of Paul’s command in 1
Timothy 4:7-8a and highlights the discipline of purity, marriage,
friendships, prayer, worship, integrity, prayer, and ministry (to name but
a few things). The second resource flows out of 1 Timothy 3:15, Jude
3, and 1 Peter 3:15. The local church is called to the pillar and
buttress of Divine truth. Each one of us is called to be defend the
faith (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15). As such, it’s important that we know
what we believe and why we believe it.
Track 2A will also
read Dr. Mohler’s, “The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership
that Matters.” Dr. Chou’s, “The Hermeneutics of the Biblical
Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and the Apostles;”
and Dr. Nasilli’s latest work on biblical sanctification.
Track 2B will utilize
a short, but important work- titled, “What is a Healthy Church Member?”
The author highlights 10 Marks of a healthy church member. For example, a
healthy church member is a biblical theologian, a healthy church member is a
committed member, a healthy church member is a growing disciple,
etc. You will also consider a very important and practical
book on what it means to be a faithful minister of mercy. The title of this
final Track 2B resource is, “Paul Vision for the Deacons: Assisting the
Elders with the Care of God’s Church.”
Remember you have a
year to read these books. It has and can be done!
- How
much will it cost to participate? Track
2A (5 books) will cost $70. Track 2B (4 books) will cost
$55. If you cannot afford the resources PLEASE let us know as
scholarships are always available. Many of these books are in our
LCBC library as well. Please don’t not sign up because of limited
resources.
- When
will you host a brief informational meeting to answer further questions?
We
will meet after the morning worship service in room 101 on August 12th.
Any Christian male 16 and above is welcome to attend this meeting.
- When
can I sign up? How do I sign up? Who do I make the check out to? You
can sign up as early as today and as late as August 19th.
You sign up by sending me an email (simply hit reply- not reply all) or by
texting me at 262-443-1879. You can make the check out to Lake
Country Bible Church (see question 5 above) and in the MEMO LINE
please write- Men’s Leadership Books.
Thanks kindly,
Pastor Caleb
1 Timothy 4:7b-8; “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also;”
Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Colossians 1:28-29, And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Ephesians 4:11-16- And He gave some as …pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Hebrews 5:12-14, For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Phil 3:12-14- Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
