Men’s ministries are ubiquitous in the modern evangelical church. Like women’s ministries or children’s ministries these are typically programs or events designed for the men as a ministry or service to them. That is, these outings, adventures, studies, and programs are designed to minister to the men rather than see the men serve as ministers. The biblical model certainly include times of equipping and discipleship, but men’s ministry ought to be ministry of the men rather than ministry for the men. We are called to follow our Lord and to serve rather than be served (Mark 10:45).
So what does men’s ministry look like? What does it look like for the men in the church to serve the body of Christ? The following is an excerpt from the sermon “Christian Ministry: At Church.” After the excerpt, I’ll list a number of integral ways men ought to serve in the church.
Men are called to serve as leaders, be spiritually and emotionally steadfastness, have doctrinal clarity, and be hard at work serving the needs of the church. In Titus 2 it says, “men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” Men ought to be laboring in evangelism, encouraging other men, leading in their home as examples, discipling and disciplining their children, and sanctifying their wives. Men are explicitly called to prayer in 1 Timothy 2:8 which says, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.” If the men are serving in these ways, we’ll have healthy men which make healthy homes which make healthy churches.
Do men need to be equipped and taught? Certainly. Can we let the equipping replace the ministry? Never. We cannot be in the classroom Christians never going out to practice what we believe. It’s safe and comfortable to keep your faith in the classroom and behind the closed doors of the church.
But men, we were made for war. We were made to fight, to conquer, to work, to sweat, to be tested, strain, push, and to endure hardship. We were made to subdue and take dominion. This was the call in the garden and this remains the call today (Genesis 1:26, 28). Men, we serve Christ, the King over every king. We are his hands and feet in this world that belongs to him and that he is reconciling to himself. We fight for his kingdom, for his glory, for his worship. The weapons of our warfare are not physical, but we destroy strongholds of the evil one through the power of the gospel, prayer, sacrificial love, holiness, and the word of God. In every place where God is not worshiped is the place that we’re called to conquer—that’s enemy territory that Christ has said, “Mine!” Every lofty opinion that is raised against the knowledge of God is our target. We were made to fight and to serve King Jesus. We’re promised that he will be with us (Matthew 28:20). We’re promised that he will build his church (Matthew 16:18). We’re promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against us. We are on a mission to take ground from the enemy and to never surrender—to die fighting if need be—knowing that the victory is secure in Christ and our blood and sweat will, by God’s grace, advance his purposes and see the redemption of the world (1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 1:20).
Men, you were not made for video games. Our God-given desire to exercise lordship is not fulfilled in the virtual world. We’re not to be boys with our toys. The nations belong to Christ and we’re called to make disciples of them and teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:18–20).
In this war, prayer is your war-time walkee-talkee, the word is your sword, the church is your company, the family your base and proving ground, Christ is our victorious champion and general, and the world is our mission field. It starts in your own heart, in your family, in your church, in your vocation, then into the world. This is men’s ministry. Conquerors for Christ! We’re not consumers, lazy, selfish, arm-chair warriors, but servants of the most high God.
“Christian Ministry: At Church” preached March 27, 2022.
Now let me expand by considering a few ways men serve at Fairview. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but illustrative. It also does not mention common items that both men and women are called to do (read the Scripture, fight sin, grow in holiness, and so forth).
- Household. Be faithful and push to be fruitful in your calling at home. A man who serves his home as a husband and father serves the church. This cannot be neglected for a “public” ministry. Love your wife, teach your children, lead a home so that it is a refuge of love, of service, of truth, and light in a city of darkness. This point cannot be overstated. To be faithful in your household is your primary service to the church. 1 Timothy 3:4-5 says, “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”
- Vocation. Men are called to a mission, not just in their household, but in a vocation—a calling in which they labor to provide for their family and to share with others (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; Ephesians 4:28). Our work is our place of ministry and is service to the Lord (Colossians 3:22–24). This calls for discipline and hard work as we maintain a Christian witness in what we do. Being faithful in your calling is service to the Lord and his church. An entire sermon is devoted to this topic here: http://www.fairviewbaptistchurch.ca/sermons/christian-ministry-at-work/
- Mentors. Older men ought to serve as examples for younger men and teach them to be “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness” (Titus 2:2). This mentorship must flow out of faithfulness in our households and vocations.
- Outreach. Men ought to lead in the call to share the gospel and see the kingdom of Christ advance. There are myriad ways of see this mission advance as personality and circumstance dictate.
- Servant. Churches have needs such as a facility maintenance, finances, ushers, or other supporting structures to support the growth of the body. This is trellis work is needed to support the vine.
- Hospitality. This is a qualification for elders and men must lead and encourage this practice of using the home as a place of ministry.
May this encourage you to minister according to your own gifts and calling, remembering that the Lord uniquely equips each part of the body so that we work together as the church.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4–6).