Austin City Life

The following is a guest post by Brandon Davis, pastor of Living Acts Church, where they developed several guidelines for their Fight Clubs.

#1: HONESTY. Growth in godliness is impossible apart from honesty. We ask that all who attend Fight Clubs labor to be honest and open about the issues they discuss.

#2: CONFIDENTIALITY. What is said in the "ring," stays in the "ring."  We ask all men to keep their discussions confidential.

#3: REPENTANCE. Sin will be present. We do not expect perfection but encourage humility in all things. We encourage you to move towards Jesus in repentance. A Fight Club is not a “pity group” meant for people to unload and receive prayer repeatedly. The goal is change. Though change is gradual, we want progress.

#4: LOVE. Don’t talk down to others or bash them for their failures. We all are broken and in desperate need of Jesus.  We ask that all men bring their strengths to the “ring” to encourage and exhort one another toward holy living.

#5: PERSONABLENESS. Fight Clubs is not an event to come and discuss the failures of “others”. Focus on your sin and how to fight it in the strength of the gospel. Don’t try to “fix” those not present.

#6: HOLINESS. Holiness is the ultimate goal. Fight Clubs is not a place to engage in mere theological debate. It is place where mortification and vivification can be cultivated.

Brandon Davis, Lead Pastor of Living Acts Church // Tyler, Tx