Leading a Bible read-through...advice on materials?

[Seth]

For the last few years, I've been meeting with a couple of guys once a week to discuss our Bible read-throughs. The first year, all of us completed the read-through and I thought the discussions were fruitful because I was able to help out with a lot of questions. But the last couple of years, I've been the only one successful in reading through, and the discussions have lost some steam.

What I'm wondering is, does anyone have a recommendation for me about Bible Study resources or materials? Neither of the other guys has ever had college-level Bible courses, so I was considering just finding a typical OT/NT survey workbook for them. Any recommendations?

I'm hoping for something that's not too onerous, because I'd like to get the guys focused back on actually doing the reading (which I don't consider strenuous). This year we've been reading through Randy Alcorn's Heaven, but it's a long enough book that I feel the reading of it has interfered with our Bible read-through.

[christopher]

Hi Seth,

Depending upon the personalities of the guys you're meeting with, perhaps going through a book like "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge might generate some energy in your group. The book is usually very appealing to men and Eldridge provides enough scriptural examples of men in the bible to give some tangential studies into their stories. It won't get you through the whole bible, but it may meet the men where they need to be met and maybe even generate a lasting sense of adventure in the Christian life for them.

[darinhouston]

One thing I've been wanting to do in a men's group was Ryles' "Thoughts for Young Men." It has the added advantage that it's in the public domain.

http://www.gracegems.org/BOOKS/thoughts ... ng_men.htm

Here's a synopsis I found...

5 Dangers from Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle

1. Pride
"Young men, take to heart the Scriptures just quoted. Do not be too confident in your own judgment. Stop being so sure that you are always right, and others wrong. Don't trust your own opinion, when you find it contrary to that of older men, and especially to that of your own parents. Age gives experience, and therefore deserves respect. "

2. Love of Pleasure
"Youth is the time when our passions are strongest—and like unruly children, cry most loudly for indulgence. Youth is the time when we have generally our most health and strength: death seems far away, and to enjoy ourselves in this life seems to be everything... "I serve lusts and pleasures:" that is the true answer many a young man should give, if asked, "Whose Servant are you?" "

3. Thoughtlessness
"Not thinking is one simple reason why thousands of souls are thrown away forever into the Lake of Fire. Men will not consider, will not look ahead, will not look around them, will not reflect on the end of their present course, and the sure consequences of their present days, and wake up to find they are damned for a lack of thinking.

Young men, none are in more danger of this than yourselves. You know little of the perils around you, and so you are careless how you walk. You hate the trouble of serious, quiet thinking, and so you make wrong decisions and bring upon yourselves much sorrow.""

4. Contempt of Religion
"This also is one of your special dangers. I always observe that none pay so little outward respect to Christianity as young men. None take so little part in our services, when they are present at them—use Bibles so little—sing so little—listen to preaching so little. None are so generally absent at prayer meetings, Bible Studies, and all other weekday helps to the soul. Young men seem to think they do not need these things—they may be good for women and old men, but not for them. They appear ashamed of seeming to care about their souls: one would almost fancy they considered it a disgrace to go to heaven at all. "

5. Fear of Man's opinion
""The fear of man" will indeed "prove to be a snare" (Proverbs 29:25). It is terrible to observe the power which it has over most minds, and especially over the minds of the young. Few seem to have any opinions of their own, or to think for themselves. Like dead fish, they go with the stream and tide: what others think is right, they think is right; and what others call wrong, they call wrong too. There are not many original thinkers in the world. Most men are like sheep, they follow a leader. If it was the fashion of the day to be Roman Catholics, they would be Roman Catholics, if it was to be Islamic, they would be Islamic. They dread the idea of going against the current of the times. In a word, the opinion of the day becomes their religion, their creed, their Bible, and their God."

Thoughts
Most young single guys spend their time playing video games, watching porn, drinking tons of cheap beer, and going to the Taco Bell drive-thru after midnight. Pastors—quit being wusses, and tell your young men that it's time to grow up, quit living for themselves, and follow Christ.

[Seth]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've read Wild at Heart and found it wanting...something. It just didn't speak to me. The Ryle books is another I read recently, and it's awesome. But I'm looking more for something to dovetail with a Bible read-through plan rather than a topical study.

BTW, I suppose I should mention these are married guys in their thirties. The argument I used to get them reading the Bible in the first place was, "When your kids ask you a Bible question, do you want to have to say, 'Ask your mom'?"

[darinhouston]

The argument I used to get them reading the Bible in the first place was, "When your kids ask you a Bible question, do you want to have to say, 'Ask your mom'?"

Very commendable -- that's unfortunately the response for too many today. Many "men" today have relegated spiritual things to the women.

This sounds silly, but maybe you could start with one of the children's bibles to get a 50,000 view of the story of scripture and how the stories fit within the greater narrative. Most of them are a bit too "entertaining" just to present neat little bed-time stories, but some of them are pretty good -- the side benefit is they could use them with their kids at the same time. The one I like the best is "The Big Picture Story Bible."

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Picture-Story ... 1581342772

[christopher]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've read Wild at Heart and found it wanting...something.

Yeah, I didn't get a whole lot out of it myself, but I do know several men who found it life changing. Many have said it helped liberate them from the paradigm of a Christian man being a boring, sissy, pew-sitter and launched their Christian walk into an exciting life-time adventure, giving them permission to be a man. But different people have different reactions.

I don't know the men you're meeting with, but if they're flabby on the things of God, it may be they're just not really interested.

[darinhouston]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've read Wild at Heart and found it wanting...something.

Yeah, I didn't get a whole lot out of it myself, but I do know several men who found it life changing. Many have said it helped liberate them from the paradigm of a Christian man being a boring, sissy, pew-sitter and launched their Christian walk into an exciting life-time adventure, giving them permission to be a man. But different people have different reactions.

I don't know the men you're meeting with, but if they're flabby on the things of God, it may be they're just not really interested.

It didn't affect me for my own life, I don't think, but I think it helped me quite a bit in how I relate to my son during activities -- looking for opportunities to give him confidence in accomplishments and learning how to "manage" instead of avoid risk and be purposeful etc. I try hard not to say "be careful" all the time but to thrown in the "go gettem's, I'm proud of your feat, etc." more. I let him get up instead of picking him up, give him a chance to brush it off, etc. I already knew that was not my inclination, but the book helped me be aware of that more.

[jwbp]

Maybe you could do a chronological bible storying/study with them. Get the big picture while focusing on certain needs.


jason