| Knowing the Father? The life of a man is ever changing. Who am I and Why am I here is a challenging struggle through the many stages of a man's life. (e.g., .as a child, .as a teenager, . 20's & 30's, ... single, married & divorced, . healthy or sick, . young or aging, etc.). In John 14, Jesus re-adjusts the attention and focus of the apostles when he reminded them that if they had seen, know and been with him they should have known, seen and been with the Father. Introducing a man to God the Father through the teaching of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is the beginning of our journey here at the Vineyard. Through small group opportunities, fellowship and focus groups each man is encouraged to encounter the love, hope and fellowship of God the Father. Our annual retreat, see below, allows us to refocus on these values and celebrate what God has and will be doing in the coming year.
About the Father's work - Men of the Vineyard are Involved. In John 10:25 , Jesus states, ".The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me." And in John 10:37 , Jesus states, ".If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me (implying that Jesus was doing the Father's works.) . As Jesus prepared those he introduced to the Father and for his departure (John 14), he told them ".he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
The works we get to do must bear witness of the Father. Men of the Vineyard get to do the works of the Kingdom, the works of the Father. Jesus introduced the works of the Father in Luke 4 as he began his public ministry: ".good news to the poor; heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty those in captivity, recovery of sight to the blind, set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Jesus involved the disciples (those following Jesus) and demonstrated his works in Matthew 5, 6, 7.
Men of the Vineyard are encouraged to be involved with our youth,
young adults, outreach, ministry, fellowship, small groups, greeting
visitors and many other kingdom opportunities. Doing
the Stuff. what stuff?. the Stuff in the
Book.
For even more insite into our Men's ministry check out Barnabus
and the small-groups that God develops within our body.
- Grant Raudenbush, Men's ministry leader 352-226-5822
(men@vineyardgainesville.org) |
