Men’s Groups are right at the foundation of Men’s Ministry. They are the very heart of Ministry to Men in the local church. Men’s Groups that meet weekly and are open for any man to attend make ministry highly accessible. These groups can be a powerful Men’s Ministry influence for years. They develop a core of committed men who are key to the ongoing success of the group. Other men attend for a season in their life.
When men gather together regularly as part of a group, they experience growth up to seven times faster than by only attending a Sunday service. They learn to pray for others effectively, apply the Bible to their lives and harness the power of each other’s experience and wisdom, while building friendships.
Men frequently are confronting issues that require time, sustained prayer, encouragement and perseverance to be resolved. They receive discipleship and mentoring from the group which helps them to confront and overcome these challenges.
Men grow in groups and realise their potential - whether they are Open or Closed Groups. The best investment you can make is to meet weekly with other men.
Open Groups
Every church needs an Open Men’s Group. When a new man arrives at church on a Sunday and asks what is available in Men’s Ministry that week, it is likely that the only opportunity for him to participate in Men’s Ministry will be in an Open Men’s Group that meets weekly. Meeting weekly provides consistent opportunities to invite other men from both inside or outside the church to attend.
An Open Group brings men together for…
- Friendship
- Focused study that’s relevant to them
- Ministry and prayer
- Outreach and mission
Closed Groups
These work best with 4-5 men (also called a 4x4 group), allowing deep, significant friendships to develop. Encouraging each other in ministry to others brings an important outward focus and keeps the group healthy.
For more information on how you can build and sustain a powerful men's group, please read about starting a men's group [here]
The Most Effective Group
Men’s Groups can be life-transforming and very empowering… or they can miss the mark. Here are some common group types to be aware of:
Hospital Group - Nursing wounds and scars, but never becoming rehabilitated.
Social Group - Having a great time and feeling good, but not quite getting to the Word.
Theological Group - Going deep in disciplined study, but not applying truth to life as love in action.
Most Effective Group is an Influential Group - Healthy men engaged in the process of growing spiritually, and becoming increasingly active and influential in the lives of those around them. Each time the men attend in the midst of their busy week, they know they will be refreshed, refocused and re-empowered for life’s challenges. They leave ready to live out God’s plan for their lives.
