Men in Ministry, Effective Bible Study

Men in Ministry Bible Studies can be an effective way to get men to fellowship and learn more about the character of God. The study will be more than a one trim event. Plan a minimum of 4 to 6 sessions. The challenge is to keep each session appealing for the men, so they will return themselves and bring a friend. The Bible Study is a very good place for men to invite other men from the congregation and friends from out side the church.

The planning will begin with prayer and agreement from the Men in Ministry leadership and the senior pastor. The study to be effective will be Holy Spirit led.

Planning the sessions so they are engaging takes a couple of ingredients. First find compelling content, which can be found on the Internet in the form of a book or a study that can be downloaded. Studies I have found to be good, Ephesians by Max Lucado. I would suspect anything by him would be acceptable, always check with your pastor. The study we are currently using is "Living On Purpose" Doug Fields. This study is on Evangelism. In addition to the study guide, we are also using the book Face To Face with God, by Jim Maxim. The book takes the study into practical examples of evangelism. As a side note, I know Jim Maxim. I know that every word in the book is true.

Choose the content then select facilitators from the leaders of the Men in Ministry. The selection should include men that will prepare and the senior pastor approves. The variety of leaders brings diversity and various points of view to the men. The leaders must defer to the Holy Spirit in the preparation and delivery.

Each man should have access to a Bible during the study. I am always a little surprised with the men who come to a Bible Study, without a Bible. Have a few spare Bibles to lend to the men who do not have one. Be sure that if there are not enough Bibles that each man is sitting next to one.

It is an added dimension to have 2 or 3 Bible Verses that relate to the study. Assign these verses for memorization than review them each week. In the review allow a volunteer to say the verse, Once the volunteers speak the verse, with the leaders help if needed, then have all the men speak the verses as the leader leads. If only one man memorizes the verses by the end of the study, it is better than when the study started.

Each session of the study should be in the 90-minute range, Coffee and donuts for a morning study. The studies should be facilitated to encourage participation and not been a preaching opportunity. We use small groups during the study to encourage discussion. The small groups encourage to contribute more freely than in the larger group.

To summarize all the ingredients: Prayer, Holy Spirit, Good Content, Facilitator for Each Session, 90 Minutes in Length, Coffee and Donuts and do not forget planning by the Men in Ministry Leadership Team with approval from the senior pastor.

To see more on Men's Ministry Leadership you can go to Glad Tidings Men's Ministry International.  

We use Youtube to announce and review the studies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTVELm5XSc

Men in Ministry