Jim Grassi - Building a Ministry of Spiritual Mentoring

OTHER BOOKS BY
DR. JAMES GRASSI

Guts, Grace, and Glory

The Ultimate Mens Ministry Encyclopedia

A Study Guide of Israel

Crunch Time

Crunch Time in the Red Zone

Wading Through the Chaos

The Ultimate Hunt

In Pursuit of the Prize

Heaven on Earth

The Ultimate Fishing Challenge

The Spiritual Mentor

Mens Ministry Catalyst Website:
www.mensministrycatalyst.org

2014 by Jim Grassi

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked The Voice are taken from The Voice translation. 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

ISBN: 9781401677930

ISBN: 9781401677947 (eBook)

Printed in the United States of America

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CONTENTS

Approximately fifteen years ago God called me to form a ministry team in northern Idaho. Because of what I had seen in most churches, I knew I wanted something different for my church. I felt that for many Christians church had become a one-hour Sunday experience that had no carry-over impact in their lives and families throughout the week.

God gave our team a vision to establish a church that evolved into four basic elements to creating a disciple-making culture within our congregation.

First, the messages would be prepared from Gods Word, and entertaining people was not a priority. Secondly, we would endeavor to create small groups that really cared for people and promoted relational discipleship. Next, we wanted to intentionally connect with our community by developing a compassionate program of serving others. And finally, we would create a strong dynamic mens culture. If you get the men, you will get the entire family.

Jim Grassi has been a friend for years as well as a part of the team here at Real Life Ministries. Jim helped us in the beginning to create a movement that attracted men and encouraged them to be the spiritual leaders in their homes, churches, and communities. His heart isnt just for them to come to know Christ, but to help them become authentic spiritual mentors to others. Dr. Grassi desires to make disciples who can make disciples.

Over the years the Lord has led Jim and his ministry team (Mens Ministry Catalyst) to develop proven strategies and resources that have successfully helped churches develop vibrant mens ministry programs. Building a Ministry of Spiritual Mentoring is an outstanding contribution that will assist churches with biblical thinking, practical tools, and innovative resources that empower men while challenging them to become disciple-making mentors. I am pleased to suggest that leaders of churches not only read this book but adopt his strategies into your ministry. The ministry he leads is helping churches all around the United States, and it can help yours too.

What an amazing thought. What if men represented Jesus to the world by playing the part that God designed them to play in their marriages, homes, and churches? The result would be marriages that last and kids who can withstand the pressures of the world. The result would be changed churches that change whole communities.

Slowly but surely we could see a change even in our cultureone man at a time. Mens Ministry Catalyst and this book can help you start that movement right where you are.

Pastor Jim Putman

Author, international speaker, and founder of Real Life Ministries

Pastor Jim Putman is the founder of Real Life Ministries, identified as one of the fastest-growing and largest churches in the United States, despite the fact that it is located in a sparsely populated area. He is a noted author of several books on discipleship.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:58

Fulfill your ministry means fulfill whatever God wants you to do. Timothys ministry would not be exactly like Pauls, but it would be important to the cause of Christ. By kingdom standards, no God-directed ministry is small or unimportant. Whatever a man does for the cause of Christ is important.

Growing and dynamic churches seem to have four things in common: passionate pursuit of God, compulsive care for people, emphasis on home groups, and a strong and vibrant ministry to men. It is men who will lead the church to a new reformation. It is men who are accountable to strengthening families by modeling Gods Word. It is men who can support and connect with assisting the widows (single moms) and orphans (41 percent of children with no biological father in the home) of our day.

When sin came into the world, it was Adam who was standing and watching instead of proactively protecting and leading his family. How does the church inspire, equip, and deploy men for service? How can a body of believers be transformed into a dynamic ministry impacting communities for Jesus? What can be done to reach the majority of young men who no longer see their faith as an important part of their lives? What proven models exist to ignite men to serving our Lord and becoming participants in the life of the church instead of passive spectators? These questions and many more will be addressed in this book that will assist pastors, lay leaders, Christian colleges, seminaries, and para-ministries in developing dynamic partners who can minister to men.

A young preacher once complained to Charles Spurgeon, the famous British preacher of the 1800s, that he did not have as big a church as he deserved.

How many do you preach to? Spurgeon asked.

Oh, about a hundred, the man replied.

Solemnly, Spurgeon said, That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.

Ministry should not be evaluated on the basis of statistics or what comments are made by members of a congregation after Sunday service. Disciples of Christ realize that service to God is about obedience to the principles established in Scripture and acknowledging the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in ones life. This was why Timothy was encouraged to be watchful in all things (2 Tim. 4:5) and carry on his ministry with seriousness of purpose.