Ministry happens best in the context of friendship. For example, weddings are for family and friends to share in the special occasion. Isn’t it ironic, that the first miracle that Jesus performed was at a wedding that he and his disciples were invited to (John 2:2)? Jesus knew the people at the wedding and I am sure that he had many friends there. All through scripture Jesus is walking and spending time with people. If you look at the teachings of Christ, you will find that he focused on people. The very criteria for Christ’s ministry is people;
If you look at the teachings of Christ, you will find that he focused on people. The very criteria for Christ’s ministry is people;
Luke 4:18-19“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
In Men’s Ministry as with most ministries in the church, you will need to battle to stay people centered rather than program driven. Energy, excitement, and numerical growth will tempt any ministry to spin out of another program or string of events. Programs are useful only to the extent that they build up relationships. Jesus is the ultimate model for an up close and personal ministry.
[shareable cite=”@terrylamasters”]Stay people centered rather than program driven. #church #ministry[/shareable]Walk with Them
You need to meet with men on their timetable (schedule), their turf, and their agenda. We will build relationships with men by showing up in their world and walking with them. There are many examples in scripture of Jesus meeting with people on their schedule and turf. One that stands out is the woman at the well. This was no chance meeting but a divinely orchestrated appointment. Jesus was wearied from his journey and a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water (John 4:7). The meeting took place on her schedule and her turf. Because Jesus was willing to meet her on her terms, many Samaritans believed because of her (John 4:39).
[Tweet “Ministry is relationally driven. #leadership #forwardleader #mensministry”]Listen to them
We as men need to get past all of the superficial conversations that we have in an effort not to get too close to one another. We need to get together with men and discuss things like the news, sports, and their interests. These are all vital when trying to connect with another man. However, we need to move into deeper more personal questions and conversations that will show that we care about them personally.
Questions like:
- How’s your relationship with the Lord?
- How’s your relationship with your wife?
- How’s your relationship with your kids?
- How’s your relationship at work?
- How’s your relationship with your church?
These questions get down to the heart of almost all of the relationships that we have as men. We must be ready to listen to the response that we get and be ready to minister in the area that will need it the most. We can’t fully minister until we have listened.
Love them
We are to love men as Christ first loved us.
John 13:34 “…that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another”
Why should we love them? If not for any other reason, Jesus commanded us to. Jesus himself tells us to love and by our love, others will know that we are his disciples (John 13:35).
Pray for them
Every time that we come together as men we need to pray for them and with them. Everyone has needs. As men, we often are too prideful to admit that we might need prayer. We feel that by admitting that we need prayer, we are somehow not a man and that we are making ourselves vulnerable. We need to be an example that the opposite is true and that admitting that we need prayer is a sign of manhood. By praying for and with other men we show our love and genuine concern for them.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
