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Ephesians 4: 25-32
BY SHERMAN HARRIS

The United Methodist Men?s executive meeting was held at the Baltimore-Washington Conference Center in October. We are developing and fine tuning a thriving program.

Our leaders, we have discovered, need to find the tools needed to help them start smart and stay strong.

The spiritual journey for men?s ministry begins with recognizing that if our local fellowships are to grow, we must seek ways of living in the community, not within the walls of the local church.

Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us we must confront problems each and every day, and speak truthfully to our neighbor, for we are all of one body. We must be godly leaders who do everything in our power to avoid giving the devil a foothold in our lives.

The United Methodist Men are a supportive fellowship of men who seek to know Jesus Christ, grow spiritually and seek his will. Our primary purpose is to declare the centrality of Christ in the lives of men and in all their relationships.

Beginning in January, the Baltimore-Washington Conference trainer for lay leadership will conduct a four-month training session on spirituality and leadership for men to enable us to act in ways that are pleasing to God.

To do this, we must be full of the Holy Spirit, be available to teach and be taught, willing to work for God?s goals and not our own, be obedient unto death, willing to stretch beyond our own strength so that God can be our strength, living pure lives and making holiness a priority.

Throughout the Bible, God uses common, ordinary people (shepherds, fishermen, carpenters and tax collectors, farmers and physicians) to be his witnesses, communicating God?s message of love and mercy for everyone who will repent and believe.

In addition to training, United Methodist Men fellowships will work on relationships and growth, weekend retreats, prayer and Bible studies, fishing, golf and mission trips, potato drops, visiting with people who are sick or living in senior homes, and Christmas in April, which helps seniors with home repairs.

Doing these things will cause us to stretch and enable our faith to grow. These experiences will give men the knowledge of knowing their talents and being a testimony to reach people across the lines of race and culture.

We will become more like Jesus as we participate in the Discipleship Adventure, becoming more accountable in the work we pledge to do.

Join us in the Adventure; there?s work to do.

Sherman Harris is a member of Asbury UMC and president of the Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Men.

A DEVOTIONAL
for the Discipleship Adventure

Develop: What does it mean to you to 'be angry but do not sin?' Examine your thoughts and approach to anger. Do you know how to express anger in ways that allow you to repair and strengthen relationships? How has someone else expressed anger to you in constructive ways? Think of a time that you became angry and did not handle the situation constructively. What could you have done or said differently? Think of a time that you became angry and did handle the situation constructively. What did you do or say that was helpful and constructive? What learning do you want to carry into the future?

Connect and Share: Seek out someone with whom you are not in a right relationship and begin a process of resolution so you may work toward reconciliation. Share with this person how God or your study of this passage has helped you to see your need to seek forgiveness or how it has encouraged you to seek a mended relationship. Be sure that your approach is sincere and that you do not imply judgment on the other person. In other words, approach him or her with humility.

Celebrate: Thank God for works of reconciliation in your life!