Showing posts with label Men's ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Men's ministry. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Book: Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men

Today's youth are facing big problems and challenges, and they need life-saving truth that speaks directly to their unique circumstances.

Faith Notes: A Christ-Centered Survival Kit for Young Men, and its companion title for young women, is an engaging and practical devotional that candidly addresses the real hurts and heartaches of adolescence. In contrast to the daily media onslaught that young people are subjected to that leads to comparison, anxiety, perfectionism, and confusion, Faith Notes offers Jesus, grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone. They offer a survival guide that lead to eternal life.

In all, Faith Notes offers 96 devotionals on general subjects: Relationships; Spiritual Life; Thoughts and Feelings; Friends; the Future; Character; Family and Home; Anxiety; and Mistakes.

The author, Rev. Michael W. Newman, has been a pastor in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and has served and ministered to youth for decades, giving him unique insight into what's troubling the youth of today, and how to respond Christ-like to those troubles.

Buy Faith Notes here



Monday, November 18, 2024

Ordination of Men and Women - Resources

 In 2024 the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand at its National Synod over 71% of the delegates passed motions that permitted the LCANZ to ordain both men and women, and at the same time permit individual congregations to restrict their call list to males only.  

The full motion can be read here .  

This motion followed a thorough and lengthy process called Way Forward, you can read the Way Forward detailed framework here 

The decision did not happen overnight, but followed many years of biblical study, debate and discussion.  The following documents support the theological and biblical reasons for  the LCANZ choosing to ordain both men and women to the office of public ministry. 

2018 - A theological basis for the ordination of men and women

2006 - CTICR - The case for the ordination of women summary

2005 - 1 Corinthians 14:33b–38 and 1 Timothy 2:11–14 permit the ordination of women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia

2004 -Controverted matters in the LCA Debate on the Ordination of Women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia

2000, The Final Report of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations on the Ordination of Women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia

1991, The Ordination of Women, Special Committee to the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations, Lutheran Church of Australia

More documents covering the issue of ordaining men and men are available at the LCA's web site Ordination we are listening 

The LCA NSW and ACT and NZ Districts have produced an Easy to Understand guide relating to the LCANZ decision which is available here

Easy to Understand Guide




Saturday, October 15, 2016

Book: When men grieve: Why men grieve differently?

Psychologist Elizabeth Levang, author of Remembering with Love, explains the special ways that men grieve so those who love them can better understand what they're going through.
This book is a very honest and straightforward portrayal of men and grief.  It has helped many men and those who love them to a deeper understanding and to healing.    This book also looks at grief and shows why women seldom understand men's grief and why, so often, men remain in grief for a much longer period, once they begin.

Chapters
New understandings --
ch. 1. When men and women grieve --
"Follow the wind: songs for stained souls" / Ralph O. Robinson --
ch. 2. Language of grief --
"My father" / Jon Masson --
ch. 3. Process of grieving: the thinking male --
"No longer here / Jim Amundsen --
Realities and challenges --
ch. 4. Denial --
"The last fishing trip" / Larry D. Johnson --
ch. 5. Anger --
"The wounded animal syndrome" / Robert W. Ross --
ch. 6. Control --
"A grief resolved" / J.B. Blair --
ch. 7. Bitterness --
"Fatherless" / John L. Jankord --
ch. 8. Addictive behaviors --
"The price of success" / Richard Friberg --
ch. 9. Despair --
"Caught in a golden parachute" / Jim Murrow --
pt. 3. Prospects for renewal --
ch. 10. Time of change and healing --
"Choosing happiness over sorrow" / Thomas Chalfant --
ch. 11. Transformation --
"The circle of grief" / Kent L. Koppelman.

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Men's Video Bible Study: Reel to real of fish and men

As Reel to Real-Of Fish and Men shows, there's more to fishing than catching fish.

Listen in as five guys talk about temptations, trophy catches, the one that got away, and that day when the fishing season finally ends-for all of us.

Reel to Real-Of Fish and Men looks at life from the perspective of five fishermen.
Filmed at Richland Chambers Reservoir south of Dallas, Texas, this four-session Bible study includes Lutheran Hour Ministries' Executive Director and host Bruce Wurdeman, Pastor Jim Rhiver, and three anglers from 2012's Fourth Annual Men's NetWork North American Fishing Tournament: Joel Brutcher, Jake Oberheu and Chris Hansell.

With filming done on the water and in a nearby lodge, this Men's NetWork Bible study draws its theme from the world of fishing. It looks at how fish are attracted to and snap at lures that outwardly appeal but in the end spell disaster; so too do we face temptations that lure us toward sin. Along that line, one of angling's greatest pleasures is persuading a lumbering hawg to take the bait and give that lucky fisherman the fight-and trophy catch-of a lifetime. In these instances, though, it's vital to remember that success in fishing as in life is ultimately the work of God, who operates in unseen ways. Because His activities are behind the scenes, it's easy for us to take the credit, whereas God is the One who deserves it.

As any fisherman knows, humility and fishing go hand in hand, especially in respect to the big ones that got away. While there are regrets in not landing that elusive lunker, life, too, is marked by such sorrows. When we blow it or fall short, Jesus doesn't yank us from our lives and families. Instead, He restores us. The classic example here is Peter, who professed his unshakeable allegiance, only to crumble and deny his relationship with his Savior, when under pressure. Finally, Reel to Real looks at death and-whether you're a fisherman or not-we've all got a line in the water on this one.

Throughout these four sessions, Wurdeman as host interacts with the other anglers, who share their insights, humor and introspection. The result is a Bible study that offers a telling glimpse of faith at work in the lives of individuals who are Christ-followers first and fishermen second.

To view the videos and buy the studies visit:
www.lhm.org/studies/studydetail.asp?id=22279

Friday, November 13, 2015

Book: Finding Tom Sawyer (ministry to boys)

Searching for Tom Sawyer offers parents and church leaders a compelling vision and practical principles for how, together, they can change the storyline of boys dropping off the church scene by forging boys into heroic men.

Contents
1.   Lost in the 21st Century
2.   Why do boys do that?
3.   A motivating affirmation for life
4.   A compelling vision for life
5.   An empowering strategy for life
6.   Speaking boy
7.   Building a boy friendly church


Reviews
"More than 70% of the young men who are raised in church abandon it during their teens and twenties . . . Tim Wright examines the problem and offers real solutions to one of the greatest challenges facing the church today" -David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church The Story of Boys-Lost in the Twenty-first Century:
70% of all Ds and Fs go to boys 85% of stimulant-addressing medications prescribed in the world are prescribed to US boys Boys are falling behind girls in virtually every area of life
70 -90% of boys will leave the church in their teens and early twenties

"No one who cares for boys, and equally no one who cares for kids and families should miss Searching for Tom Sawyer" -Leonard Sweet, professor at Drew University and George Fox University

"Tim Wright's diagnosis of why most of our congregations struggle to connect with guys is eye-opening and stunning . . . As the father of three boys, I wish I'd had this book years ago. As the pastor of a congregation, I'm glad I have it now" -Pastor Jeff Marian, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minnesota



Friday, August 15, 2014

Article: Sermons for men - how to preach 3 hour sermons

Men can sit through a 3-hour football game or a 3-hour epic movie without being bored – so why can’t they sit through a 3-hour sermon? Or a 1-hour sermon? Or even a 30-minute sermon?

David Murrow explores what is needed for men to sit through longer sermons and also the problems of short sermons

Visit http://www.patheos.com/blogs/churchformen/2014/08/how-to-preach-3-hour-sermons/#ixzz39oRifmbZ

Friday, February 21, 2014

Church for Men

There has been much discussion.....some official....some behind the scenes that many congregations have neglected men.....

Church for men is a site that encourages discussion and reflection on how the church may improve in its ministry to men....

Visit Church for Men at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/churchformen/

Friday, May 10, 2013

Men's ministry: Shednight


Shed happens - what is it about?

SHED HAPPENS in a safe and non-judgmental place. 
A place where blokes can grow in victory becoming champion sons of the King.
A place where we call it as it is from the heart – good, bad, happy or sad.
A place where men learn from men as “iron sharpens iron”.
A place where men learn to encourage each other.
A place where men’s emotions, heads, hearts, souls and spirits are gently warmed.
Out of Shed champion sons of the King emerge as continuing works in progress.
Past battles are healed in victory – wow!
Enjoy our journey with Jesus so that we can become the real deal Champion we were created to be. 

A HELPFUL NOTE ON CONFESSION
SHEDDING THE STUFF  '…. THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED' (JAMES 5:16)
“Confession that breaks the shroud of our secrecy and leads us out into the open before God and a group of significant other people will liberate us from fear and guilt in a way that nothing else can.
I am persuaded that healing and redemption depends much more upon what we say about ourselves to others, significant others, than upon what others (no matter how highly trained or untrained, ordained or unordained) say to us.
The professional listener can't help us too much because our confession to them is SECRET.”
(From You Can Win Over Weariness by Ross Foley)

BLOKIE VERSION
We need to spill our guts and drop off our masks so that we can become the real deal before the 'Big Fella' in the safe place of the Shed with the 'men of the village'. These blokes will help us be free from fear and guilt big time and the healing process can begin.

To discover more...even how to start your own shed night and where current shed nights are happening visit http://shednight.com