UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUENESS OF MMM, INT’L.

UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUENESS OF MMM, INT’L.

There are hundreds of Bible studies, group meetings, prayer gatherings in Wilmington, and some may think that Mentoring Men for the Master is just another one of these, but not so.  MMM does not dismiss the value of Bible studies and the like, but without boasting we humbly declare that MMM is distinguished from these good ministries in several unique ways:

1. We stress Internalizing the Word of God, not just reading or studying of it.
2. We come alongside our students to encourage them to obey the spiritual disciplines so clearly set forth in the Bible.
3. We lovingly hold our students accountable in these things.

 

These three characteristics are general in their description of MMM, so we need to raise and answer some specific questions pertaining to MMM.

1. Can you quote Scripture to prove that MMM is Scriptural?
2. Are there Scriptures in the Old Testament which command Internalizing the Word of God?
3. Are there Scriptures in the New Testament which command Internalizing the Word of God?
4. Can we quote a Scripture which clearly teaches “coming alongside?”
5. Can we cite examples of persons in the Bible who definitely internalized Scripture?
6. Did Jesus command that we Internalize the Word?  Scripture, please.
7. Did Jesus Himself internalize the Word? Scripture proof?
8. Is there a promise in the Scripture given by Jesus of the great benefit from Internalizing the Word?
9. Do we have examples in the Bible of older, more experienced persons mentoring younger guys?
10. Why is there such a crying need for the Internalization of the Word today?  Researchers George Gallup and Jim Castelli declare “Americans revere the Bible, but by large they don’t even read it.  and because they don’t…we have become a nation of biblical illiterates.”  What’s the evidence?
    1. Half of adults can’t name the four Gospels.
    2. 60% of Americans cannot name even five of the Ten Commandments.
    3. 82% of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is in the Bible.
    4. Most adults think the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one’s family.
    5. 50% of graduating seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.
    6. Many respondents think Billy Graham preached the Sermon on the Mount.
    7. Majority of Yale students believe the epistles are the wives of the apostles.
11. Are most church members biblically illiterate?
12. What has MMM discovered about the knowledge of church members of the Bible?
13. What percentage of the members of your Sunday School class could quote the Ten Commandments?
14. What percentage of your Sunday School class could quote the 8 Beatitudes?
15. Why do 95% of all church members in Wilmington not know the 11^th Commandment?
16. Does MMM have proof that Internalizing the Word transforms  guy from a spiritual wimp into a disciple who is now making disciples?
17. Who were these persons before they were mentored?
18. Do all Christians qualify to be mentored?
19. Does MMM expel students who can’t memorize well?
20. Could MMM charge tuition Scripturally of our students? (But we don’t). Cite Scripture.
21. What motivates BB and Thad Faulk to pour their lives into the mentoring of men?
22. What qualifies BB to mentor?
23. Also Thad?
24. What is our vision for MMM.
    1. Why is MMM Int’l?
25. How can you help MMM meet its vision?
26. What do the letters ECFA mean for MMM?
27. Give an honest assessment of where you are in Internalizing to your small group.  Please be ready to discuss where you feel you are succeeding as well as where you struggle.
28. 28.  The Most Practical Value of Internalizing the Word.  See the Following prepared by Pastor Josh Franklin, Antioch Baptist Church, who learned to Internalize the Word in MMM.

 

WIELDING YOUR WEAPON:

When Your Bible Becomes a Sword

Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, but how does the Christian transform his or her Bible into a sword? The word “Word” here is “rhema”, which means the spoken Word of God. Your Bible will become a sword, as you internalize in your mind and heart, and then speak that Word out of your mouth. When it comes to defeating your enemy, the devil, understand that the Word of God internalized must answer the accusations, lies and deception of the enemy. The devil, who is the father of lies, will tempt the believer with some half-truth or whole-lie to defeat and imprison us. The only way we can be prepared for those lies is through storing God’s Word in our hearts before we need it so it will be there when we need it.

I recently read of a Christian young man whose band performed on a Caribbean cruise. One night his buddies tried to entice him into the ship’s bar, but Chad, whose mother was an alcoholic, had memorized verses from Proverbs about alcohol abuse.

He explained to his friends that addiction ran in his family, then he had the courage to quote Scripture to them: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)

They replied, “Come on, Chad. Just one beer won’t hurt.” He replied, “At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:32).

They accused him of rejecting their company, to which he said, “If sinners entice you, do not consent.” (Proverbs 1:10)

 “Leave him be,” he heard one of the young men say to the others. “He’s so full of Scripture we can’t do a thing with him!”

 

Remember the promise found in Psalm 119:11, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against God.” John 14:26 also tells us that the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance the Word of God in our time of need. Take time to store your mind and heart with God’s Word, and pull them out the next time the enemy attacks.

1. The Bible has errors, and it’s not reliable! It’s not the Word of God, but the word of man. (2 Timothy 3:16)
2. You’re not saved. (John 1:12; John 10:28; 1 John 5:13)
3. God has given up on you. (Phil. 1:6)
4. Your past is too bad. You can’t overcome it. (Phil. 3:13-14)
5. There’s more pleasure in sin than in following God. (Ps. 16:11)
6. It’s my body and I can do with it what I want. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
7. Your sin will not hurt anyone. (Romans 8:6; James 1:15)
8. Not even God can forgive what you did (1 John 1:9; 1 Tim 1:15)
9. It doesn’t pay to live for God. (Ps. 73)
10. You’d be happy if only you had ________. (Phil. 4:11-13)
11. You are not needed (1 Cor. 12:22-23)
12. No one will ever find out (Numbers 32:23)
13. You’re too good for God to send to hell. (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6)
14. You’re not worthy (Luke 15:21-24; Heb. 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
15. God doesn’t care about you. (1 Pet. 5:7; Isaiah 41:10, 13)
16. This crisis is too difficult for you to bear. (Psalm 119:92)
17. If it feels right it must be right. (Eph. 4:22-24; heart is deceitful)
18. No one will ever know what you are about to do… Go ahead… no one is watching! (Heb. 4:13)
19. It’s okay to take revenge: he/she deserves it! (Romans 12:19)
20. You have a right to be angry. You were hurt. (Eph. 4:31-32)
21. God is keeping something good from you… (Ps. 84:10-12)
22. You could be happy if only you had a little more money. (Heb. 13:5-6; 1 Tim. 6:6-10)
23. You’ll never have victory over this sin. (Phil. 1:6)
24. Go ahead… God will forgive you anyway! (1 John 3:6, 9)
25. You won’t have to suffer the consequences! (Gal. 6:7-8) (Romans 14:12) (Hebrews 12:6) (James 1:15).
26. It’s just a little sin. It’s not a big deal. (1 Pet. 1:14-16)
27. You can’t change… That’s just the way you are. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 12:2)
28. This temptation is impossible to resist. (1 Cor. 10:13)
29. You’re the only one who has to deal with this. (1 Cor. 10:13)
30. Don’t tell anybody about this… You can overcome it by yourself. (Jas. 5:16)
31. If you forgive them, no one else will make them pay for how they hurt you. (Romans 12:19-21)
32. It doesn’t pay to stay in the battle. (Gal. 6:9)
33. No one loves you (John 15:9)
34. God won’t hear your prayer (1 John 5:14-15)
35. God won’t mind a little compromise. (Colossians 3:5-6; Ephesians 5:3)
36. It’s okay to do this sin because the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about it. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

 

1. Sex is OK as long as you love each other. God wants you happy. (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:18-20 TLB)
2. People get away with adultery. (Proverbs 5:3-5; Proverbs 5:8-11).
3. Lust is not a big deal (Job 31:11-12 NLT)
4. Too much purity will keep me from seeing and enjoying beauty. (Matthew 5:8; Psalm 11:7, ESV; Isaiah 33:17)
5. I can’t control my sex drive. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6)
6. A little fantasizing doesn’t hurt anybody. (Matt. 5:27-30)
7. Looking at a few pornographic pictures won’t affect me. (Proverbs 6:25-27; Psalm 101:3)
8. Radical action against sin isn’t necessary (Matthew 5:29-30; 2 Timothy 2:22)

God made you this way. Go ahead and give in to your desires. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

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