by Anne-Marie Williams

The acronym S.O.A.P. stands for: Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. And these are just a few of the words the men of Northview Church are saying about it:

“Awesome!”

“Cool.”

“Exciting.”

“Authentic.”

“Welcoming.”

“Real.”

At first glance, S.O.A.P. may appear to be just a new take on the traditional theme of men’s Bible study. But dig deeper and you quickly realize that this is much more than a weekly shared devotional. This is a community of Christian men who have gotten off the sidelines and are now actively participating on the playing field.

K.Paul Maurer, Northview’s outreach pastor, is not only the leader of a Monday morning S.O.A.P. but part of that community as well. S.O.A.P. is not led but simply facilitated by a fellow traveler seeking God through the study of scripture.

“I want to be a part of it – part of the discussion. I want to dive into the scriptures,” K.Paul said. “No matter where you are in your walk, the Word, God’s truth is designed to speak into your situation. I am meeting men of the church that I’ve never come in contact with before, and I’m building authentic relationships. Every man has a voice in S.O.A.P. and every voice matters. When one man is missing, the group is missing out on his unique perspective.”

Ryon Kaopuiki pointed out, “The very first day I walked into S.O.A.P. it was like I had been there the whole time. I felt immediately welcome. Monday morning at 7 a.m. is not a very exciting time, but K.Paul is there and he’s excited, so it gets everyone else excited, too. Everyone shares in S.O.A.P. and everyone has a different perspective. I think the more the merrier!”

Lance Snedeker added, “S.O.A.P. is awesome. It’s the only group I’m a part of where I get to sit around and discuss God’s Word. It’s very informal and real. There is no homework or prep involved, you just come.”

The accolades don’t stop. Every man I asked about S.O.A.P. touched on common themes and talked about the positive changes it’s brought about in their lives.

Jason Williams had never been a part of a traditional Bible study. He concedes he had no expectations when he first started attending S.O.A.P. in November 2011, but he has since made Monday mornings a priority.

“The S.O.A.P. format breaks passages into very small chunks and makes them easier to digest. It’s a great way to start reading the Bible. It has kick-started a dive into the Bible that I have never done before. It has prompted me to read the Bible throughout the week, really for the first time in my life. It’s a nice opportunity as well for men to come together and simply pray for one another as we’re starting the week.”

What do Ryan, Lance and Jason have in common besides attending Monday morning S.O.A.P. and loving it? They were all invited by K.Paul Maurer. And now, he’s inviting you.

“I am inviting every person I come in contact with to have a conversation with God. Even if you aren’t a Christian but are interested in studying the Bible. SOAP is a place to learn and share.”

There are currently two options for Men’s S.O.A.P.:

1. Monday, 7 a.m. with K.Paul Maurer, Outreach Pastor

2. Wednesday, 7 a.m. with Mark Crull, Executive Pastor

…and coming soon, a new Women’s S.O.A.P., starting Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:45 a.m.!