Order of Former Freemasons


	INTRODUCTION Our subtitle, Character Under Construction, implies that our character can change. This is good news! None of us want to be stuck in the rut of our past, with its sins, mistakes, and wrong decisions. But how does our character change? One day Billy and Ruth Graham were driving through a long stretch of road construction. They had numerous slowdowns, detours, and stops along the way. Finally they reached the end of all that difficulty, and smooth pavement stretched out before them. This sign caught Ruth's attention: "End of construction. Thanks for your patience." She commented that those words would be a fitting inscription on her tombstone someday. As a matter of fact, those words fit all of us as believers, because in this life we are "under construction." When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we begin the lifelong process of spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit works in us to remove our selfishness (Philippians 2:4), to renew our thinking (Romans 12:2), and to develop qualities in us that are more and more Christ-like (Colossians 3:5-14). Paul described this process as a work of God. He said, "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). As we travel heavenward as Christians, rather than eastward as Freemasons, let's cooperate with God's construction of our lives. When His work in us is complete, "we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2), perfectly conformed to our Savior's likeness.
	Just as a building under construction changes one brick at a time, our characters change one biblical insight at a time, one decision at a time, one day at a time, brick-by-brick. New principles and new insights, learned from the Bible, gradually replace the patterns of our past. However, the goal is progress on the continuum toward Christ-likeness, not perfection. It is change according the pattern of Jesus Christ. He loved us too much to leave us in our sin and eternal separation from Almighty God. His death for us took care of that. Now as our new life is centered on Him, we can anticipate wonderful change in our character—if we allow the Holy Spirit to shape and mold us into His image, which is God’s purpose for every believer (Romans 8:28-29). The fruits of the Holy Spirit will increasingly characterize our lives (Galatians 5:22-25), a cluster of qualities that we may have never thought possible. Imagine being described by your family, friends, and associates as a man of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! Our character defines who we really are. We must remember that we bring who we really are into every area of our lives. Our leadership, our family lives, our marriages, our relationships, our jobs, even our financial matters and decisions are all effected by the quality of our character. We will focus on these areas of our lives as we meet in the weeks of study and interaction together. These study sessions are designed to develop the growth of your character in the power of the Holy Spirit, brick-by-brick, one lesson at a time. As mention above, the intent of each session is to makes discoveries in God’s timeless Word to us, the Holy Bible. Growth in our character as individuals will have a profound effect within our sphere of influence. Even as Jesus referred to us who believe in Matthew 5:13-14, we will be salt and light in a world greatly in need of illumination and preservation of the truth.
	2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
	This series contains 48-sessions of Bible studies, divided into 4 sections, designed for small groups—plus a special lesson for Christmas. This gives you an entire year’s supply of lessons! It is anticipated that your men’s group will meet for 1-hour on a weekly basis, except when unexpected circumstances occur. The opening ten minutes are for greeting and fellowship around refreshments. The next forty minutes are dedicated for interaction with the biblical lessons and study material. Use the final ten minutes to discuss practical application of the week’s learning into our everyday lives, and to close in prayer. Each session contains a set of questions designed to enhance the learning, and are to be answered interactively by the group. When completely applied, Brick-by-Brick is our opportunity to, not only experience personal character transformation, but to become change-agents within the world around us. A proven way to become a godly man and have such influence is to follow a plan that progresses concentrically through four circles. Of course no plan, however constructed, can change anyone’s life unless it is fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Change can only take place when we allow the Spirit of God to work in our lives a plan that is centered around Jesus Christ and His Word—the Holy Bible.
	1 Corinthians 2:9-14 ⁹ However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--¹⁰ but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. ¹⁴ The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. This is exactly how the sessions within this series of Bible-study are arranged. As you move progressively through the weeks of study and interaction, the Holy Spirit will be equipping you spiritually, and advancing you through the circles described below. This is a spiritual growth process, that will allow you to express your character and values in a way that is honoring to God, and meaningful in a world of compromise and expedience.

	The innermost circle is called the "Walk." The goal of this set of lessons is to develop your personal, daily relationship and *walk* with Jesus Christ. The beginning of our impact, in this world for Christ, starts with our daily walk with Him.

	The second circle is called "Work." The goal of this set of lessons is to develop qualities that will impact our *work* performed on our jobs, in our homes, and in our finances. This is designed to improve both our perspective and our attitude toward our *work* in these areas of our lives.

	The next circle is called "Relationships." The good news of Jesus Christ travels through a network of *relationships*. The goal of this set of lessons is to develop a biblical perspective on our relationships with friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers at our jobs, and virtually everywhere we go.

	The fourth and final circle is called "Ministry." People everywhere, all need the Lord. Our workplace, our families, our neighborhood, our community, and of course, the lodges of Freemasonry are all areas of opportunity where we can share the Light of Jesus Christ. The goal of this set of lessons is to prepare you to fulfill the Great Commandment (see Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20), which is to love God and to share His love with the world around us. We can also help new Christians, and new former Freemasons grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, aiding in their development as active, vital members of His body—the Church. Our prayer is that as you go through these studies with your small group, you will be both equipped and motivated to take on the challenge of being a man whose character is "under construction" for the purpose of changing your sphere of influence for the glory of God. Although these Bible-study lessons are featured on this web site, which is targeting Freemasons, they can also be used with any small Christian men’s group. Therefore, we encourage you to print them and share this series with men’s ministry leaders at your local church, or other community Christian fellowship. May God richly bless you, as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ!

Leaders Guidelines
	Section One
		Section Two
			Section Three
				Section Four