Who are the Men of Faith Baptist Church?
At FBC, we believe that a man of God rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects God’s greater reward. Therefore, the Men’s Ministry equips men to be the leaders God created them to be in their homes, in the church, and to the world through concerted prayer, purposeful Bible studies, and opportunities for sharpening in a community of godly men.
Recommended Reading for Men
The men of FBC recognize the importance of being well-read in the areas of biblical manhhood, godly husbandry, Christian parenting, worldview, ethics, apologetics, and in the Christian classics. Therefore, we encourage the men of Faith be diligent to throw off the trappings of childhood that define too many professing Christian men today in favor of growing in their faith through time invested in their own spiritual maturation. This list of recommended reading is a good starting place.
It is a common refrain in our Men’s Ministry that every husband and father must study to prepare himself to be a strong theologian for the sake of his wife and children, that he would be the effectual spiritual head of his home. Our Men’s discipleship training has this goal in mind.
Men’s Discipleship Studies – Three-Year Cycle
Knowing that we only have the men of Faith for the duration of their time stationed in Kaiserslautern, we have designed a thirty-six month discipleship plan for our brothers in Christ that includes these books in a semester like sequence on Wednesday nights:
(1) FA26 Reforming Marriage and Federal Husband, (2) SP27 On the Incarnation, (3) FA27 Disciplines of a Godly Man, (4) SP28 Family Shepherds, (5) FA28 Distinctive Marks of Saving Faith, (6) SP29 The Godly Man’s Picture,
Men’s Study Cohort – Three-Year Cycle
Meeting on Thursday nights, our thirty-six month Study Cohort focuses on (1) FA26 In Defense of the Bible, (2-4) SP27-SP28 Systematic Theology, (5) FA28 Church History in Plain Language (Second Edition), (6) SP26 The Pilgrim’s Progress,
Here at Faith, we equip men to be biblically faithful husbands and fathers. For a man to lead his children to saving faith in Jesus Christ, it is necessary that he discusses with his family often what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in the regular course of the life of the home. He shares with his family how the challenges that they face and the trials they encounter are responded to with a Christ-centered worldview. The father brings the Word of God to bear in every situation where the family members need the wisdom of the Lord. This godly father teaches his children how to walk out their faith in Jesus Christ in a manner that is honoring to the Lord because he himself is doing it.
To this end, a father must lead his wife and children in family devotions. Some people call this family worship. It is characterized by studying, discussion, and the application of the Word of God led by Dad. Scripture dominates the discipleship of the family every night. Dad also leads his family in prayer. After the time together in the Word of God, the family may also read a chapter in a book that benefits the children spiritually. You might read missionary biographies, or a Christian story that is relevant to the children’s age. Or you might read a chapter each night from something like The Chronicles of Narnia that would help build in them a biblical worldview as you discuss the meaning of what you read. Moreover, if family members are musically talented, singing a worship song together is also an enjoyable aspect of family devotions. Some families end each evening by singing the Doxology. If you are not now doing family devotions, there are helpful resources available: How to Lead Your Family, The Family at Church, and Family Worship.
Upcoming Men’s Discipleship Study (FA26) – Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. (First Nine weeks of the discipleship semester)
How would you describe the spiritual aroma of your home? The source of this aroma is the relationship between husband and wife. Many can fake an attempt at keeping God’s standards in some external way. What we cannot fake is the resulting, distinctive aroma of pleasure to God. Reforming Marriage does what few books on marriage do today: it provides biblical advice. Whether it has to do with respect and love, confession of sin, sexual fidelity, or even the gnarly issues of divorce and remarriage, Douglas Wilson points to the need for obedient hearts on the part of both husbands and wives. This book is part of the Canon Press series of books on the family, which has helped many people trying to deal with the on the ground messes that come with sinners living under the same roof. Godly marriages proceed from obedient hearts, and the greatest desire of an obedient heart is the glory of God.
Upcoming Men’s Discipleship Study (FA26) – Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. (Last four weeks until Christmas break)
Federal thinking is foreign to the modern mind. Federal has come to mean nothing more than centralized or big. Because our federal government has become so uncovenantal, it is not surprising that the original meaning of the word is lost. But federal thinking is the backbone of historic Protestant theology, and the Church needs to recover the covenantal understanding of federal headship. Husbands are to lead their families, taking responsibility for them as covenant heads–as federal husbands.
This book is a part of Douglas Wilson’s series of books on the family, which has helped many people trying to deal with the on the ground messes that come with sinners trying to live under the same roof. This book on covenantal headship contains much practical and biblical wisdom that is never more timely than now, but which we will always need to be reminded of again and again.
Upcoming Men’s Study Cohort (FA26) – Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.
In Defense of the Bible gathers exceptional articles by accomplished scholars (Paul Copan, William A. Dembski, Mary Jo Sharp, Darrell L. Bock, etc.), addressing and responding to all of the major contemporary challenges to the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture. The book begins by looking at philosophical and methodological challenges to the Bible—questions about whether or not it is logically possible for God to communicate verbally with human beings; what it means to say the Bible is true in response to postmodern concerns about the nature of truth; defending the clarity of Scripture against historical skepticism and relativism. Contributors also explore textual and historical challenges—charges made by Muslims, Mormons, and skeptics that the Bible has been corrupted beyond repair; questions about the authorship of certain biblical books; allegations that the Bible borrows from pagan myths; the historical reliability of the Old and New Testaments. Final chapters take on ethical, scientific, and theological challenges— demonstrating the Bible’s moral integrity regarding the topics of slavery and sexism; harmonizing exegetical and theological conclusions with the findings of science; addressing accusations that the Christian canon is the result of political and theological manipulation; ultimately defending the Bible as not simply historically reliable and consistent, but in fact the Word of God.
Men’s Service Opportunities
Children’s Ministry – Numerous roles are available to serve the young parents and children of Faith Baptist Church, especially during Sunday School.
AWANA (Children’s Discipleship Ministry) Club leaders and listeners are needed to serve the children of Faith Baptist Church and the greater Kaiserslautern community on Wednesdays.
Men’s Breakfast – If you want to help set up and cook, please be there at 6:30 a.m. Men, bring your Bibles and a 5 € donation per person. (This event does not meet in June, July, and December.)