I’ve been putting it off for years, writing a book on men’s team ministry to the widowed and single parents. I’ll probably put it off for one or two more. But at least now I’ve got an outline in my head. Here it is.
Chapter 1: I’ll start with my story of how God showed me the need widows, widowers, and single parents have and then led me to use teams of men to minister to them. I wrote a post telling this story recently and got a tremendous response. I think it will be a good orientation to the topic.
Chapter 2: Next I’ll spend a chapter thoroughly describing the men’s team ministry model and explain why it’s worked so well over the years.
In the succeeding chapters, I’ll review what happened in my study of the Word of God after I began doing men’s team ministry. I kept having “aha” moments in my studies that validated it. Here’s what I’ve discovered.
Chapter 3: I’ll review Christ’s Last Night Discourses in John 13-16, focus in on His New Commandment in John 13:34-35 and describe how men’s team ministry is a beautiful example of the practice of the love of Christ.
Chapter 4: Here I’ll cover the importance and purpose of good works in the Christian life and how they relate to men’s team ministry. I’ll review the major scriptural passages on this subject.
Chapter 5: In chapter five, I’ll describe God’s heart for their widowed and single parents and how He wants us to feel about them as well.
Chapter 6: I’ll explain the concept of “calloused disregard” and how it epitomizes the rule of sin in the human race, how it has permeated our churches, and how it affects their widowed and single parents in our churches.
Chapter 7: In this chapter, I’ll write about the importance of covenant relationships and how the New Covenant applies in practice to the widowed and single parents.
Chapter 8: In chapter eight, I’ll compare and contrast the scriptural concepts of family and church. Then I’ll look at how the modern church tends to emphasize earthly families at the expense of our eternal family and at the expense of the widowed and single parents.
Chapter 9: I’ll write about what it means to take “final responsibility” for someone and give specific scriptural examples of believers doing this.
Chapter 10: In this chapter, I’ll cover how God wants us to be advocates. I’ll describe what it means to be an advocate for someone and how that applies to the widowed and single parents.
Chapter 11: Here I’ll describe the role serving their widowed and single parents has to evangelism.
So that’s it. Now I just need to write it.
Pray for me.
So what do you think? Do you think this book will fly? Will anyone actually buy it? Can you suggest a title? Leave your comments below.
This post originally appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
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7 thoughts on “An Outline for My New Book on Men’s Team Ministry”
Suggest you watch Mike Hyatt on FaceBook or @ MikeHyatt.com. He offers a wealth of advice regarding those who keep putting off dreams and was in charge of Thomas Nelson publishers for years. He is skilled at helping with Platform Development ad well. Offers many free webnars etc. He’s sure been a life saver for me…
I LOVE it Pastor! I’m intrigued of your chapter 6, I’m sensing same concern about “calloused disregard” for years, glad I’m not alone. I think it’s wise to maybe consider and pray for “balance” in our lives too. Do you remember the owner of the factory making bombs in Germany in Schindler’s List? I’ll never forget his response “I wish I could save more”! I could spread myself so thin and not do well and additionally your own health and family may suffer. (I do remember you stating in your training Herb, I can’t get my own work done around my home…well, take care of your home first) However, I believe that maybe that this is a subject in general terms and our shift in culture towards selflessness and not putting others first. Is our culture “busier” than it has ever been? I’m not making excuses, I’ve heard this, and I believe that balance in family lives is a bit askewed right now. A part of this is again back to having “things”, we’re seeing the mommy and daddy both working for to make ends meet. Complicated, and many contributors to this.
Title: “New Commandment”. Yes, I would buy one and I do think it would sell well!
Hope this finds you well, Marry Christmas to you and Patty!
Hi, Jim. Thanks so much for your comment! Yes, “calloused disregard” resides in all of us and gets magnified in our culture. It’s much easier to exploit selfishness for financial gain than it is selflessness. As Christians, we have to weed it out constantly and cultivate a serving spirit. And while we can’t solve everyone’s problems, we can point those in need to Christ and point other Christians to them.
Herb,
Looks like something I would want to read. I don’t think I’ve read anything as detailed as this approach to ministry in the local church.
It looks like Chapter 2 will cover the concept of intentional discipleship combined where mentoring is closely connected with ministry. Is that correct?
V/r
Eric
Yes, Eric. Chapter 2 will be very hands on. It will give very specific instructions on how to start a men’s team ministry to the widowed and single parents. Hope you enjoy the book!
Maybe a few words about why men resist being discipled to do this kind of work. The benefits are many but men are so distracted and committed to the wrong priorities.
I’m also in the middle of a book about men’s issues and I will share some of that with you soon.
Great suggestion, Jerry. It’s not so much that men resist, they’re just uninformed. When they find out how easy, biblical and effective it is, they respond very positively.
I’ll look forward to hearing about your book!