One Day Sessions

Uncommon Life: Men’s Growth Group

Session #1: The Common Life Uncovered

Many men have experienced this with the Christian faith. They have come to church, made some kind of commitment, but something inside of them is screaming out, "This is not right!  It is not what I expected! I thought there was going to be so much more to this."

Many of us slip into the "common" routine of religion and don't really experience the adventure and excitement of real faith in Jesus. It is time to identify the counterfeit so that we can drink from the real fountain of life that will refresh our dry lives, fill the longing of our hearts, and bring the excitement and joy of faith alive in our lives.

Discuss:

Read:

Talk about It:

1. How do these two passages from Old Testament Prophets paint a picture of how faith can become routine, empty, and meaningless?
2. How can "going to church" and "being religious" deteriorate into a list of do's and don'ts?
3. When faith becomes a chore, it can be about the stuff we no longer do. What are some of those things that end up on the "Don't do it!" list of "Good Christians?"
4. When faith becomes a dry routine, it is often about the things we feel "good Christians" are supposed to do. What are the things that end up on the list of things "good Christians" are supposed to do?
5. The truth is, there are things we should not do (they are damaging to our faith and life) and there are things we should do (they grow and deepen our faith). Some of the things on the two lists above should be on our "Do" and "Don't" lists. But, when our faith becomes all about following a list of do's and don'ts, we become legalists. What are some of the signs that a man is becoming a religious legalist and his faith is not about a living friendship with Jesus but just about keeping a set of religious rules?
6. How does a faith that is about showing up for church for an hour a week differ from a faith that is about a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year friendship with Jesus?
7. Some people compartmentalize their lives, and God becomes like a lucky rabbit's foot that they pull out and use when they are desperate. What are signs that we are living with "lucky rabbit's foot religion" that tries to control and limit God to a very small part of our life?
8. Some say, "If you only get a small dose of Jesus, it just might inoculate you to ever catching the real thing." What is the danger of only letting God into your life a little bit?
9. What are specific actions and life-practices that will help us invite Jesus into every part of our life?

Pray as a group:

• Thank God for His patience with you, even when you fall into the rut of a common life of faith.
• Ask God to show you where your have gotten into a religious routine instead of a living relationship with Jesus.
• Pray for the men in your group to live an uncommon life of passionate and growing faith.
• Ask God to help you grow in your faith so that He is part of every moment of every day…every decision…and every secret thought.

Session #2: A Vision of an Uncommon Life

Discuss:

Read:

Talk about It:

1. Jesus' actions in this passage are shocking and surprising. What did Jesus do that was so out of the ordinary?
2. How can serving others make someone stand out as having an uncommon life? What is one way you could extend surprising service in one of these areas of life: In your marriage… Toward your children… In the work place… With friends… In your community…
3. What personal qualities and characteristics make for a good friend? What is one way to develop that specific quality in yourself?
4. Why is serving others with a joyful heart such a radical sign of an uncommon life?
   Read: Proverbs 5:15-23 and Proverbs 7:1-27
5. What does Proverbs have to say about nurturing and developing a healthy sexual relationship within the marriage relationship?
6. What warnings to you hear in these two passages?
7. What were some wrong moves and attitudes you see in the man depicted in Proverbs 7?
8. Billions of dollars are spent every year to lure men into all kinds of "common sexual sins," that are considered normal and acceptable in our culture. What are ways we can live a sexually holy (and whole) life in our sex-saturated world?
9. What is one action you need to take to live a more uncommon life of faith?

Pray as a group:

• Thank God for the men He has placed in your life that have been examples of holiness and uncommon lives of faith.
• Pray for strength and courage to serve others with a humble heart, like Jesus did.
• Confess where you have been lured into common sexual sins and patterns of lust.
• Pray for power to guard your heart and eyes from the temptations that are out in the world every single day.
• Ask God to increase your desire to live an uncommon life of faith.

Session #3: A Reckless Pursuit of an Uncommon Life

Discuss:

-or-

If you work in business and finally close a "Big Deal," explain some of what goes on behind the scene to get ready to finalize a deal that has taken months or even years.

Read:

Talk about It:

1. What attitudes marked the life of Josiah? How did he feel about religious compromise?
2. What did Josiah do to bring the people back to God and strengthen their faith?
3. Josiah's father and grandfather were evil in God's sight and set up many of the idols and places of false worship that Josiah tore down. How is Josiah a great example of growing up in a common setting and changing the life-direction passed on from the generations that went before him?
4. What is something on your "Out with the Common" list? What is a practice or attitude in your life that needs to be crushed and thrown away?
5. What will it take to crush this? What specific actions can you take and how can your group members pray for you and support you
6. What are ways you will have fight against it over time? What checks and balances can you put into place to make sure that you don't end up going back to these same practices or attitudes?
7. What is something on your "In with the Uncommon" list? What is a good thing God wants to grow in you?
8. How can you develop this uncommon action or attitude? What can your group members do to pray for you, support you, and encourage you as you pursue an uncommon life in this specific area?

Pray as a group:

• Thank God that you are not destined to repeat the sins of the past generations in your family.
• Pray that you can see where you might be living and acting like past generations (in a bad way) and ask for power to stop this pattern in your generation. Ask God to help you not pass on this same pattern to the next generation.
• Ask God to give you power to crush, smash and destroy patterns of sin in your life.
• Invite the Holy Spirit to enter your life in fresh new ways and give you power to embrace new and uncommon practices that will honor God and be a testimony to Jesus.

Session #4: Dare to Be Accountable

Discuss:

If you can say, "Yes" to a question… rejoice (except the last question). If you have to say, "No," explain why and let the guys know how they can pray for you, support you, and keep you accountable:

1. Are you growing a real and authentic friendship with God?
2. Are you loving and serving your wife and would she say you are being a great husband right now?
3. Are you making time to raise each of your kids to be the unique person God wants them to be? (This includes spending time with them on a consistent basis.)
4. Are you handling your finances is a way that honors God and reflects a generous spirit?
5. Are you protecting your eyes and heart from images and ideas that lead to lust and impurity?
6. Are you doing your work as if it is for God and honoring Him (and your boss) by giving your best in your vocation?
7. Are you caring for your body by eating well, sleeping enough, exercising, and making time for Sabbath?
8. Are you keeping a rhythm of life that makes time for work, marriage, family, and personal rest and play?
9. Have you lied to us about any of the first eight questions?

* Pray for any needs shared by your group members…