Getting Unstuck: The Power of Movement & Community
by Travis Runion
“I just feel stuck, like I can’t move or grow spiritually. I don’t know what I need to do but I know I can’t stay here. I just know I need to move, so count me in.”
That was the response I got when I asked a friend at church if he wanted to join a Next Level group we were putting together. His response was similar to several others I invited. In all, 13 men made the commitment to meet together every Friday morning at 6:00 AM for 40 weeks. They also agreed to spend 3-4 days each week studying scripture and reading through books on theology, marriage, stewardship, among other topics. But the greatest commitment they made was to drop the pretense and superficiality and come to group each week with honesty and transparency and, most importantly, humility.
That was over 20 weeks ago. Now I look around the room and see men who are confessing their sins, exposing their struggles, asking for prayer and wisdom as they face difficult situations each week. It is a wonderful thing to see a request for prayer pop up on our GroupMe feed followed by several pings back of guys praying and offering words of encouragement. I’ve had several men follow up with me on a situation that I brought up in our group time asking how it was going or if I had moved.
We recently discussed the verse from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” and noted several lessons from that passage. First, it’s implied that you can’t sharpen yourself. You need to be in close community with other men. Secondly, sharpening hurts. If you’ve ever attempted to sharpen a dull blade, you know that it’s an unpleasant process for the blade. It’s abrasive. Sometimes sparks are flying, and little bits of you are always being removed. But it’s the part of you that is keeping you dull. You have to get rid of it to be sharp. Finally, its the stronger steel that is able to sharpen the softer steel. And let’s be honest, we are all weak in our own strength. It is the Spirit working through a friend, pastor or mentor that is able to sharpen you.
So where are you in this post? Are you dull, stuck in your faith? Do you need community? How would your life be different if you had a group of men you could lean on, call for prayer and advice when you face the next challenge. If you are ready to move, here are some possible steps.
Reach out to a group of men in your church and ask if they would be willing to meet regularly to share one another’s burdens, pray for each other and study scripture together. Pick a time and place and make it happen.
Request more info on starting a Next Level Men’s Discipleship group. We have several local group starting in the next few months.
Register for the PURSUIT Men’s Weekend. On this weekend, you will meet other men who share your desire to move and grow deeper. You can attend alone but we encourage you to bring a friend or two or ten. It’s a great way to launch a group into authentic community.