The Measure of a Man – The Brotherhood

Several months ago, I started a new study with the guys living here at our house based on the book “The Measure of a Man.” The guys quickly grasped what Gene Getz was teaching in each chapter of the book. After all, most have never had the question answered, “What type of man does God want me to be?” The answers to these questions began taking shape each week through the book, their time in the Word, and our group discussions. But there was a critical lesson that these guys soon learned. “You can’t do this alone.”

One weekend, Lebo brought a friend to stay with us. They spent much time in the Word together. Then I noticed as I looked out the back window that the other guys were sitting there with their Bibles open, helping Johnny learn together. Later that day, I sat with the group, and we talked about what God was doing in our lives. We got around to Johnny, and I told him that he wasn’t required to share if he didn’t want to and that this was just a time for each guy to talk about what was happening in their life. Johnny looked up and said something like, ‘I love this.’ I said, “What is this?” He then talked about his brothers, the guys in the group, and me. We were all helping him to learn truly what it means to be a follower of Jesus. That was the birth of the “Brotherhood.”

Over the next few weeks, it was amazing to hear the guys talk about how many guys they knew that were lost, out of school, without direction, job, or guidance. I blurted out, “Guys, this is what Thami and Johnny have been talking about! Why don’t we invite them all here on a Saturday and introduce them to this, what we do all the time! Start praying about those guys you are talking about,” I told them. “Make a list, and ask God to give you time and the words to ask them to come and hang out.” The first Saturday, we had two new guys. Last Saturday, we had 10, and they all committed to being here regularly. We decided to meet every other Saturday at noon, ending at 5:00. Hang out time, worship, teaching, food, and more hang-out time. And so it begins, The Brotherhood. Soon, we will start in Chapter 1, the Measure of a Man.