For our leadership tables, we provide discussion guides that help men dig into the Bible and apply these teachings to life and work. These guided discussions are often generalized. We try to hit on the major themes we find in a particular passage or story and help steer the conversation to issues related to men and leaders. Men join a table at all levels of spiritual activity and maturity—and we want every man to find a comfortable environment in which to begin exploring how a relationship with Christ might impact their life and leadership.
As a table grows and continues to meet, the discussion guides we provide might prove to be a little shallow for the group. These guides tend to hit the surface of the topic and are straightforward. There are a number of avenues to go deeper and explore a bible topic for leadership that might be specific to your table group. Is it okay for a table leader to deviate from what is provided? Yes, of course! But with one caveat—we must stick to the Bible as the baseline of the discussion. Here are a few ways, though, that your table time might take a deeper dive:
Specific experience. Perhaps a man or men at your table have experience in the subject area from life, marriage, family or work. These past events may raise questions about how something was handled, or the consequences of actions. For example, the lesson has questions on “forgiveness”, and a man has dealt with infidelity in marriage, or an employee who committed fraud. How is forgiveness to be practiced in these instances? And how does forgiveness relate to responsibility and consequence? These can be difficult questions to grapple with beyond the Bible’s admonition to “forgive.”
Experience makes a discussion personal, and takes trust among the men at the table to talk through the issue, give godly advice, and keep issues and questions in confidence. In these cases, try to lead the discussion toward what the Bible wants the men to do in their specific situations. Experience does not trump the Word of God. Rather, we study the Word so we can align our lives to its teachings. This might be hard at times because it requires us to rethink, adjust and even go back against actions and attitudes that are deeply rooted in our minds.
Challenge or controversy. Another area where questions may reach beyond the discussion guide are situations at work or in life that challenge biblical beliefs and teachings, or are controversial in light of culture and events. This is a situation where real-world experiences test what the Bible is teaching. An example is Jesus’ teaching that He is “the way, the truth, and the life”, the only way to reconcile with God and go to heaven (John 14:6), and teaching received or heard from other religious groups. Events in the Middle East, where various religions are at each other’s throats, might bring this to the forefront.
The key in this discussion is to dive into the context of the Scriptures. What is the underlying principle God is conveying in the Bible? Who was the original audience and what was God communicating to them? Is it different for us today? How might we live out that teaching, practically? The Bible is not an easy book. Some of its teachings are difficult, and since it was written over a period of 1,500 years, and the last of those writings came 2,000 years ago, it will take some time, thought and discussion to fully understand what God is saying in light of challenges and controversies.
Philosophy and lifestyle. Finally, another area of deeper discussion may result from men whose personal philosophy or lifestyle differs from the biblical standard. An example is “mosaic” philosophy, where a man may divide his life into “tiles” for home, business, family, school, community, finances, etc. Each of these tiles may have a different moral and ethical code. This is how a man may be intensely honest with his customers, but have no moral issue cheating on his taxes. Or he may have an affair in his marriage, but consider himself “faithful” to his church, or to his children. Though a man may have great interest in the Word of God and Christian leadership principles, in many cases this is just one of many influences in his life, and often not the primary one. Most men, if asked, would say, “Yes, I’m a good person,” yet the Bible teaches that we are all sinners and fall short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). “Mosiacs” are one of many common philosophical patterns by which modern men live.
The Bible intersects and conflicts with most human philosophies and lifestyles, because the Bible teaches a God-centered existence, where human philosophies are human-centered. We can pull God into our lifestyle or life choices when we use phrases like, “God made me this way,” or “God wants me to be happy.” A helpful direction to lead philosophical discussions, then, is to talk about who or what determines what is good, moral, just, worthy, upright, or desirable. Then, why would God say that this lifestyle or that action is sin, some 4,500 years ago? What is innately wrong about it in that it affects our relationship with God? These can be sticky, lengthy conversations as men unpack what are often deeply-held choices, in light of what Scripture teaches.
Go with the flow. Part of meeting together at a table is that men have the opportunity to voice what’s on their minds, and ask questions in a safe and welcoming environment. It’s not helpful to have a tangent unrelated to Scripture steal 30-minutes of your table time. But it may be entirely beneficial to have one deep, probing question consume all 60-minutes of your table time. As the table leader, keep in the back of your mind during a discussion, “Is this table talk benefitting men in the areas of Christ-centered leadership and manhood?”
Some men may judge their success or growth as a table by “how deep” they go each week in the discussion time. The Bible has a broad range of teaching and some of these areas topics will hit more pointedly than others. The goal for table discussion is not constant “home runs”, because that’s a standard that’s not possible to meet. Men come and go with their schedules and you’ll have a different dynamic depending on who is present. The best idea is to get a “base hit” each week, with an engaging discussion around the Scriptures, which will sometimes be matter-of-fact and simple, but other times will go deep into the heart and souls of the men present.
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There are a number of avenues to go deeper and explore a bible topic for leadership that might be specific to your table group. Is it okay for a table leader to deviate from what is provided? Yes, of course!