Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups


What is a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group?

A Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group is a small group of men who come together to help better themselves as men, husbands and fathers. The Focus Groups were originally designed around discussing the book, Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter: Examples of Godly Fatherhood.

  1. PURPOSE

    1. Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups provide the opportunity for fathers and future fathers to participate in Christian fatherhood training.
    2. Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups meet once every two weeks to discuss a Christian book on different aspects of Christian Fatherhood. The discussions in these meetings generally comprise a casual but productive Bible study, a fellowship, and a book discussion.
    3. Men who participate in a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups personally develop in their walk with God and in Godly fatherhood understanding and practice.
    4. Participation in a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups also presents men/fathers with the opportunity to assist other men in coming to Christ, in everyone’s fatherhood development and in overcoming spiritual and material obstacles in their lives.

  2. THE FIRST BOOK: FATHERHOOD PRINCIPLES OF JOSEPH THE CARPENTER

    3. Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter: Examples of Godly Fatherhood features a presentation of seven basic principles most Godly fathers are already employing to varying degrees. It is a confirmation for some fathers of what they are already doing right and a boost to others of how and where to pick up the pace.

    1. This is a power-packed book with real analysis and facts that offers fathers an opportunity:
      1. to dissect and re-dissect scriptures on the man God choose to be His own (earthly) father,
      2. to really learn how a Godly father goes about his business,
      3. to be challenged and re-assured that the issues you face are common and conquerable,
      4. to re-live some of the challenges Joseph faced as his purpose-driven life was anointed and favored by God,
      5. to gain an understanding of the Jewish roots of Joseph, Mary and Jesus and how that affected Joseph’s and Mary’s marriage and Jesus’ education,
      6. to discover where some popularly believed notions about Joseph and about historical events associated with Jesus’ birth are just not true and are not?Biblical in origin, and
      7. to see how strong and Godly fatherhood is key for families and children.

    2. Table of Contents
      • Introduction
      • The Story of Joseph the Carpenter
      • Principle #1 – Be a Godly Man
      • Principle #2 – Be a Man of Character
      • Principle #3 – Be a Godly Husband
      • Principle #4 – Be a Family Man
      • Principle #5 – Be a Teacher
      • Principle #6 – Be a Provider
      • Principle #7 – Be a Protector
      • Epilogue: The Purpose-Driven Father
      • Appendix I: Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups
      • Appendix II: The Reconciled Fathers Network

    3. The Author

      Akili Kumasi is the author of Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter. This is his fourth fatherhood book and could very well become a cornerstone book for Christian fatherhood training. Akili’s other fatherhood books include:

      1. Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons: Recipes and Activities for Bonding and Mentoring (written with his sons Asiedu and Netfa)
      2. Bible Word Search, Volume III: Fathers in the Bible
      3. On the Outside Looking In: Hope for Separated Fathers Who Want To Be Good Fathers

    4. ADDITIONAL READING – JOSEPH THE CARPENTER FATHERHOOD BOOK LIST

      After completion of the first book, Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter, some or all of the men will decide to continue with the group meetings and will move on to the Joseph the Carpenter Fatherhood Book List.
      This list features 27 books in nine (9) categories (primarily on Christian Fatherhood) by Christian authors.

    5. THE MINISTRY: THE RECONCILED FATHERS NETWORK

      Problems in fatherhood are not new. In fact, God issued a stern warning in the last verse of the Old Testament:

      … turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers or else I will come and strike the land with a curse … (Malachi 4:6 NIV)

      Is the curse real today? Yes, and if we look around we can see several areas where a proactively strong and Godly fatherhood could help bring the cure to the curse.

      The Reconciled Fathers Network was formed by Akili Kumasi to help separated-fathers address issues that they face – issues that block them from fulfilling their true fatherhood role. Its purpose is to challenge and encourage men who do not live with their children to be reconciled to God and to their children.

      It is the belief of the ministry that strong and Godly fathers help make strong and Godly families and strong and Godly individuals within the families, as well as strong and Godly marriages, communities, churches, governments and so on.

      The Reconciled Fathers Network is not just for separated-fathers, it is for all fathers and future fathers (men of all ages) to help sharpen each other. As the Bible says:

      As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)

      And, as sharpened fathers and men, we will help sharpen women and children and our societies as a whole.

      To read more about the ministry and see a Fact Sheet on Father-Absence, please visit the website at www.rFathers.net.

    6. FEEDBACK WELCOMED

      In addition to the purpose of the Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group above, we hope that this format will serve as a model for fatherhood training that can be employed on a broad scale.We welcome all types of feedback (input, comments and suggestions) to help advance the cause of strong and Godly fatherhood. Your participation can go a long way toward helping to raise the standard of fatherhood. Please let us hear from you at Akili@rFathers.net.Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter: An Example of Godly Fatherhood are available for those men who are ready to get started.

    How are Focus Groups Meetings Conducted?

    1. Normally, the group will meet to discuss the assigned chapter(s) and answer the discussion questions.

      1. The discussion questions are to help facilitate the anaylsis of the material and the principles in the book. See discussion questions below: Discussion Questions
      2. Nine meetings of 60 to 90 minutes can be sufficient to cover all of the material (in the book) depending on the size and preparedness of the members of the group.
      3. The assigned chapter(s) should be read ahead of time.

    2. Format and Agenda

      1. Opening prayer
      2. Discussion of questions on the assigned book chapter and relevant scriptures
      3. Summation
      4. Confirm next meeting (time and place)
      5. Distribution of materials for next meeting (discussion questions)
      6. Prayer requests and corporate prayer
      7. Fellowship (lite lunch or snack)

    Focus Group Discussion Questions

    Suggested discussion questions for the book Fatherhood Principles of Joseph the Carpenter: Examples of Godly Fatherhood are provided for each of the nine meetings.
    However, the questions included below are meant only to guide the group and to spark discussion.
    Other Biblical material and any questions you might have on the subject matter are welcome – as long as the discussion questions provided are answered.

    The discussion questions for each meeting should be distributed at the previous meeting. This will enable Focus Group members the opportunity to think about the questions and make notes.

    Click on the Meeting # to download and print the Discussion Questions

    For more information conact Aliki Kumasi at info@rfathers.net.

    1. Meeting #1

      Cover: “Introduction” and “The Story of Joseph the Carpenter”
    2. Meeting #2

      3. Cover: “Principle #1: Be a Godly Man”

    3. Meeting #3

      4. Cover: “Principle #2: Be a Man of Character”

    4. Meeting #4

      5. Cover: “Principle #3: Be a Loving Husband”

    5. Meeting #5

      6. Cover: “Principle #4: Be a Family Man”

    6. Meeting #6

      7. Cover: “Principle #5: Be a Teacher”

    7. Meeting #7

      8. Cover: “Principle #6: Be a Provider”

    8. Meeting #8

      9. Cover: “Principle #7: Be a Protector”

    9. Meeting #9

      10. Cover: “Epilogue: The Purpose-Driven Father”

    Organizational Materials for the Joseph the Carpenter Focus Groups

    Download and print these papers:

    1. What is a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group?
    2. How to Conduct a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group Meeting
    3. How to Lanuch and Lead a Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group
    4. Joseph the Carpenter Focus Group Fatherhood Book List

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