Building Your Group

Start Small. Start Intentional.

Size matters. Don't aim for a crowd. Aim for a covenant. The most powerful groups are 3-6 men who commit fully.

Jesus walked with 12, but His inner circle was 3. Why? Because depth beats breadth. You can't be vulnerable with 30 guys. You can't carry each other when the group is too big to know who's struggling.

Who to invite:

• Men who want to grow, not just socialize
• Men who are hungry for God, even if they're messy
• Men who will commit to showing up consistently
• Men who are at similar life stages (married, single, fathers, etc.)

Don't invite the guy who's "too busy." Brotherhood requires sacrifice. If he can't make it a priority now, he's not ready.

Set the Covenant from Day One

You're not starting a book club. You're entering a covenant. Your first meeting sets the tone for everything that follows.

Establish these commitments together:

• Show up. Consistent presence is non-negotiable. If you commit, you show.
• Be honest. No masks, no performance, no hiding behind "I'm fine."
• Keep it sacred. What's said in the group stays in the group. Period.
• Carry each other. When one of you is down, the rest lift him up.
• Speak truth in love. Call out sin, but with grace. Encourage growth, but don't coddle.

Write these commitments down. Read them aloud together. Sign them if you need to. Make it formal. Make it real.

Meet Regularly. Protect the Rhythm.

Brotherhood dies in inconsistency. You can't build depth with sporadic meetings.

Recommended rhythms:

• Weekly or Bi-Weekly In-Person: Face-to-face, same time, same place. Make it sacred.
• Daily Check-Ins: Use the platform to track your spiritual health daily. Your brothers see where you're at.
• Ongoing Communication: Text, call, pray. Don't wait for the meeting if someone's struggling.

Life will try to interrupt. Work will demand. Kids will get sick. Fight for the rhythm. The enemy loves a group that "used to meet."

Break Down the Walls

Most men live behind walls. We've been taught to be strong, independent, fine. Brotherhood shatters that lie.

Create safety first:

• Start meetings with gratitude, not problems
• Let vulnerability be modeled, not demanded
• Respond to honesty with support, not judgment
• Celebrate when a man opens up, even if it's small

Walls don't come down in one meeting. Be patient. Be consistent. Trust is built brick by brick.

Speak Truth. Fight for Each Other.

Real brothers don't let each other drift. They confront. They call out. They fight for one another.

When a brother is struggling:

• Don't ignore it. Address it directly.
• Ask permission: "Can I speak into this?"
• Be specific, not vague: "I've noticed you're distant. What's going on?"
• Point him to Jesus, not just behavior modification
• Follow up. Check in. Don't drop it after one conversation.

Proverbs 27:6 says, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Sometimes love looks like a hard conversation. Don't shy away from it.

Pray Together. Fight Together.

Prayer isn't a closing formality. It's warfare. Your group is under attack—spiritually, emotionally, relationally. You fight together on your knees.

Make prayer central:

• Start and end every meeting in prayer
• Pray for each other, not just about situations
• Lay hands on brothers who are struggling
• Keep a record of prayer requests and answers—remember God's faithfulness
• Use the platform to share urgent prayer needs immediately

When a brother shares something heavy, stop and pray right then. Don't wait. Enter the fire with him.

Celebrate Wins. Honor the Work God is Doing.

Don't just focus on the struggles. Celebrate the victories—big and small.

What to celebrate:

• A hard conversation that went well
• Answered prayers
• Spiritual breakthroughs
• Marriage wins
• Consistency in showing up

When one of you wins, you all win. Honor it. Make a big deal out of it. Let momentum build.

Show Up in Real Life

The platform keeps you connected daily. But nothing replaces face-to-face presence.

Brotherhood is built through:

• Helping with the move: Show up with a truck when he needs it
• Being there in crisis: Hospital visits, job loss, family emergencies
• Breaking bread together: Share meals, not just meetings
• Serving together: Volunteer, build, serve your community as brothers
• Fun: Hunt, fish, work out, build something. Brotherhood isn't all heavy.

Digital tools facilitate. Physical presence solidifies.