Mentoring Men and Discipling Leaders

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 15^th 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:

1. 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).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

Recommended Resources for Future Church Leaders and Pastors in Training

Photo Credit: Christianity Today

A young man in our local church ministry recently asked for a list of recommended resources for future church leaders and/or pastors in training.  Here are the books/helps I recommended: 

I would begin with Hermeneutics as it is the foundation of everything.  Abner Chou’s newest book is a must read.   The Hermeneutics of the Biblical Writers: Learning to Interpret Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles.  Read Roy B. Zuck’s Basic Bible Interpretation book and then end with DA Carson’s “Exegetical Fallacies.”  If you eventually add any Greek or Hebrew you will want to then read Kaiser’s Towards an Exegetical Driven Theology.  All of Abner Chou’s lectures on the textual flaws of the “Christocentric hermeneutic” or of “the Redemptive-Historical” hermeneutic are invaluable.

OT Survey-  Eugune Merrill’s Kingdom of Priests; Walt Kaiser’s The Promise Plan of God, and Merrill’s The World and the Word are foundational resources.  For extra credit read Gleason Archer’s A Survey of the Old Testament: An Introduction.

NT Survey- Donald Guthrie’s NT Introduction;  F.F. Bruces NT History; and Tom Schreiner’s Magnifying God in Christ: A Summary of NT Theology.

Systematic Theology- Wayne Grudem- Systematic Theology (you know where we differ); MacArthur/Mayhue- Biblical Doctrine; Michael Vlach- Has the Church Replaced Israel?  Matt Waymeyer- Amillennialism and the Age to Come.

Greek/Hebrew- This should be done via Mounce or with someone who is a likeminded linguist and who offers on line videos/classroom lectures, etc.