Men at Work Part II

So, in the last post I looked at the Men's Ministry 'Industry' a bit. This post will address what Men's Ministry should be focused on. As I said in the last post -- far too much so-called 'men's' curriculum is focused around becoming one of the Three Musketeers, or William Wallace as opposed to becoming one of the disciples of Christ.

I have searched through the Bible to discover where these people get their Biblical grounding for the machismo that they present, and I have not found it. Instead, I find that the perfect man, Jesus Christ, embodied both a fearlessness, and a compassion that is lacking in these books.

So, first and foremost, a men's ministry should be about teaching men, Biblically, how to be leaders from a Christ-centered perspective. Now, this may not be as exciting as swinging across a chasm on a piece of fishing line, but this is what is lacking in so many men's lives.

As we teach our married men how to be godly leaders in their home, our single men will begin to understand this responsibility as well. As we speak of godly fathers, our childless men will begin to see what a compassionate man is like.

Here are several books that I recommend for men's studies. The Measure of a Man by Gene Getz; The Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes; Tender Warrior by Stu Weber, and Point Man by Steve Farrar are good places to start. Once you have begun to develop an understanding of what a godly man is, then you may begin to dig deeper and start working through some more doctrinal books, some of the Puritan books, i.e. The Christian in Complete Armor by William Gurnell.

We are to be leading the men in our churches to a more Christ-like life, NOT teaching them to be middle linebackers for the Steelers!