Men’s Discipleship Bible Study

Description and Purpose

This web page supports the weekly discipleship-oriented men’s Bible study that Life Church launched in February 2020. It contains both general resources for the Men’s Bible Study and resources specific to the sessions we have conducted so far.

---

The Bible

Doing the Bible is the first of our Core Values at Life Church and in order to do the Bible we have to learn the Bible. This section contains some Bible resources and some links to supplemental information about the Bible.

See the Following Jesus: Focus On The Message Class web page.

---

Following Jesus

This Bible Study is an expression of our 7-component discipleship curriculum: Following Jesus. It draws specifically from the first component: Focus on the Message.

• Following Jesus
• Following Jesus: Focus on the Message
• Following Jesus – Resources

---

Sessions

In this section you’ll find each of the Bible Study sessions that we’ve conducted listed in chronological order. As we mentioned above, the sessions are based largely on the Bible Study from Following Jesus: Focus on the Message. The “Additional resources to check out” section of each session includes a link to the related section of Focus on the Message.

Previous Men’s Discipleship Bible Study Sessions

• 2020 Sessions of the Men’s Discipleship Bible Study.
• 2021 Sessions of the Men’s Discipleship Bible Study.

Current Men’s Discipleship Bible Study Sessions

Session 86 – 01/05/2022

Handout: January 5, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Outreach, Evangelism, and Discipleship
• Video: Kwame Ture on Mobilization & Oragnization – YouTube

Session 87 – 01/12/2022

Handout: January 12, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Matthew 16
  • The Demand For A Sign
    • Matthew 16:1-4
  • The Yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees
    • Matthew 16:5-12

Session 88 – 01/19/2022

Handout: January 19, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• A question about the movie “The Late Great Planet Earth” led to a discussion of eschatology (the biblical doctrine of last things) and a review of:
  • Dispensationalism – I do not teach this view of eschatology because I do not agree with it. Like my Bishop, I believe that it distorts the teaching of scripture. If you want a brief overview of this unfortunate teaching, you can check out the Wikipedia article on Dispensationalism.
  • Watch: Revelation | BibleProject™

Session 89 – 01/26/2022

Handout: January 26, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Last week, a question about the movie “The Late Great Planet Earth” led to a discussion of eschatology (the biblical doctrine of last things) and a review of:
  • Dispensationalism – I do not teach this view of eschatology because I do not agree with it. Like my Bishop, I believe that it distorts the teaching of scripture. If you want a brief overview of this unfortunate teaching, you can check out the Wikipedia article on Dispensationalism.
  • Watch: Revelation | BibleProject™
• This week we followed up on the topic of eschatology by reviewing Daniel:
  • Daniel 2:24-49
  • Daniel 7
  • Watch: Daniel Bible Book Overview Video | BibleProject™

Session 90 – 02/02/2022

Handout: February 2, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Two weeks ago, a question about the movie “The Late Great Planet Earth” led to a discussion of eschatology (the biblical doctrine of last things). Since that time, in light of this topic, we have reviewed the following:
  • Dispensationalism – I do not teach this view of eschatology because I do not agree with it. Like my Bishop, I believe that it distorts the teaching of scripture. If you want a brief overview of this unfortunate teaching, you can check out the Wikipedia article on Dispensationalism.
  • Watch: Revelation | BibleProject™
  • Daniel 2:24-49
  • Daniel 7
  • Watch: Daniel Bible Book Overview Video | BibleProject™
• This week we followed up on the topic of eschatology by reviewing two videos on the subject of the rapture:
  • Where Did Rapture Theology Come From? Ben Witherington III – YouTube (00:05:55)
  • Is the Rapture Doctrine Biblical? (Ben Witherington) – YouTube (00:05:14)

Session 91 – 02/09/2022

Handout: February 9, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• We watched and discussed videos from InterVarsity’s Five Thresholds web site:
  • Overview
  • Trust
  • Curiosity

Session 92 – 02/16/2022

Handout: February 16, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• We explored the subject of homosexuality:
  • We looked at the following passages:
    • Matthew 15:15-20
    • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
    • 1 Timothy 1:8-11
    • Genesis 19:1-11
    • Ezekiel 16:44-58
    • Judges 19
    • Leviticus 18
  • There is more information that we didn’t cover available in the LGBTQ section of the following page:
    • Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Supplemental – Life Church

Session 93 – 02/23/2022

Handout: February 23, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube list:
  • Homosexuality & Scripture (Ben Witherington III) – YouTube
  • Watch: The Covenants in the Bible Theme Video | BibleProject™
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5,
  • Lesson 8 – The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees
    • Matthew 16:5-12
  • We read Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address in response to a question that was raised.

Session 94 – 03/02/2022

Handout: March 2, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Mack: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 3, Lesson 18 (Matthew 7:15-23 -True & False Prophets; True & False Disciples)
• We watched the following video from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • We watched the first 6.5 minutes of Simply Good News | NT Wright | Talks at Google – YouTube (00:54:17)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 8 – The Yeast of the Pharisees and Saduccees
    • Matthew 16:5-12

Session 95 – 03/09/2022

Handout: March 9, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Donald: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 3,
  • Lesson 19 (Matthew 7:24-29 -The Wise and Foolish Builders)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 9 – Peter Declares That Jesus is the Messiah
    • Matthew 16:13-20

Session 96 – 03/16/2022

Handout: March 16, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Reynolds: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 3,
  • Lesson 20 (Matthew 8:1-4 – The Man With Leprosy)
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • We watched How the Gospel Is Different from Ancient Religion (N. T. Wright Q&A) – YouTube (00:06:05)
  • We watched In the city, for the city: Harvey Turner at TEDxUniversityofNevada – YouTube (00:11:15)

Session 97 – 03/23/2022

Handout: March 23, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Bill Baxter: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 3,
  • Lesson 21 (Matthew 8:5-13 – The Faith of the Centurion)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 9 – Peter Declares That Jesus is the Messiah
    • Matthew 16:13-20
  • Lesson 10 – Jesus Predicts His Death
    • Matthew 16:21-28

Session 98 – 03/30/2022

Handout: March 30, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Outreach, Evangelism, and Discipleship
  • Discussion: Everyone is talking about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. When non-Christians discuss events like this, how can we ask questions that move the conversation from superficial things to spiritual things so that sometime in the future we might lead them to Christ?
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 11 – The  Transfiguration
    • Matthew 17:1-13

Session 99 – 04/06/2022

Handout: April 6, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • Watch: The Bible as Ancient Jewish Meditation Literature Bible Intro Video | BibleProject™ (00:04:09)
  • Watch: How to Read Setting in Biblical Narrative Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:24)
  • Watch: How to Read Design Patterns in Biblical Narrative Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:25)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 11 – The  Transfiguration
    • Matthew 17:1-13
  • Lesson 12 – Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
    • Matthew 17:14-21

Session 100 – 04/13/2022

Handout: April 13, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • Watch: Justice Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:54)
  • Watch: Eternal Life Video | BibleProject™  (00:05:30)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 13 – Jesus Predicts His death a Second Time
    • Matthew 17:22-23

Session 101 – 04/20/2022

Handout: April 20, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • How Can We Analyze a Worldview – YouTube (00:10:57)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 14 – The Temple Tax
    • Matthew 17:24-27

Session 102 – 04/27/2022

Handout: April 27, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 15 – The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
    • Matthew 18:1-5
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • How to Grind Your Own Flour By Hand From Wheat – Bailey Line Life #17 – YouTube (00:04:58)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
  • Lesson 16 – Causing To Stumble
    • Matthew 18:6-9

Session 103 – 05/04/2022

Handout: May 4, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • How to Grind Your Own Flour By Hand From Wheat – Bailey Line Life #17 – YouTube (00:04:58)
  • Gehinnom – Jerusalem – YouTube (00:04:01)
  • Behind the Bible: Overview of Jerusalem from Hell – YouTube (00:04:55)
  • Hinnom Valley & Child Sacrifice of Baal Worship – גיא בן הינום ופולחן בעל – YouTube (00:03:12)
  • Welcome to Hell. The Hinnom Valley Tomb. Joel Kramer, SourceFlix. – YouTube (00:13:25)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
• Lesson 17 – The Parable of the Wandering Sheep
  • • Matthew 18:10-14
• Watch videos from Why I Don’t Go with Lisa Fields — Jude 3 Project
  • Do You Still Consider Yourself a Christian? – YouTube (00:09:28)

Session 104 – 05/11/2022

Handout: May 11, 2022 Handout

Notes

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Discussion: Where do we go from here with the Biblical knowledge that we’ve gained?
• Watch the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • Sam Chand: The 4 Levels of People You Need to Understand – YouTube (00:03:18)

Session 105 – 05/18/2022

Handout: (will be available after 05/18/2022)

Agenda

• Icebreaker: General conversation
• Prayer Requests
• Life Church Learn The Bible Page
  • Pick a Bible reading plan and get started!
• Outreach, Evangelism, and Discipleship
• ?: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 3,
  • Lesson 22 (Matthew 8:14-17 – Jesus Heals Many)
• We watched the following videos from the Life Church Men’s Discipleship Bible Study – YouTube List:
  • How to Grind Your Own Flour By Hand From Wheat – Bailey Line Life #17 – YouTube (00:04:58)
• Rocklyn: Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Unit 5
• Lesson 18 – Dealing With Sin in the Church
  • • Matthew 18:15-20
• Lesson 19 – The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
  • • Matthew 18:21-35
• Watch videos from Why I Don’t Go with Lisa Fields — Jude 3 Project
  • “Do You Still Consider Yourself a Christian?”
  • “Is Church a Safe Space?”
• Watch videos from InterVarsity’s Five Thresholds web site:
  • Curiosity
  • Openness to Change
  • Seeking
• Testimonies
• Upcoming Men’s Discipleship Group Outreach Project:
  • • We will identify groups / organizations / networks that help men in our community find and keep work. We will then form teams of at least 2 that will connect with these groups and develop relationships that will, over time, lead to winning and discipling men. As an additional benefit, our connections to these groups will make us better resources for our community.
  • Phase 1
    • Each of you will consult your personal networks to identify groups / organizations / networks that do at least 1 of the following:
      • Help men in our community get jobs. It doesn’t have to focus exclusively on men, but it must include men in the population that it serves. In other words, an organization that focuses exclusively on women is not a good choice for this project.
      • Mentor young men in our community.
      • Help men coming out of incarceration.
    • We will review the results of our research and create a prioritized list targets to pursue.
    • Form Partnerships
      • This IS NOT a solo project. Everyone needs to be part of a team!
      • Choose at least 1 partner!
      • If we end up with an odd number of participants, then we will need to have at least one group of 3 or more.
    • Reach out to the targets and become a helpful part of their work.
  • Phase 2
    • We will develop our understanding of “The Five Thresholds” so that we’re able to competently determine what stage any given person is at.
    • We will work with our partners to monitor our relationships with our targets and prayerfully lead people through the five thresholds to a decision to follow Jesus.
  • Phase 3
    • We will disciple the people in our targets to commit to following Jesus.