My Favorite Men’s Ministry Passage

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Sometimes I am asked the question, “What biblical passage best defines men’s ministry?”

One biblical passage in particular describes a Christian man’s complete journey from salvation to maturity

• It describes the training material to use in men’s ministry.
• It describes where to start with men’s ministry.
• It lists specific steps in men’s ministry.
• It clearly defines the goal of men’s ministry.
• It highlights a glaring deficiency in current men’s ministry.

So here is the passage.

From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

And here is why I think it is such a great passage for men’s ministry.

It describes the training material to use in men’s ministry

Everyone involved in men’s ministry knows the Bible is our source material for all we do. Why? Because, says 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Scripture is holy, wholly inspired and totally profitable. It is holy because it comes from a holy God. It is wholly inspired (“All Scripture”) because all those who wrote it were moved along by the Spirit of God to write what they did. And it is totally profitable, because it produces believers who know how to do every good work.

It describes where to start with men’s ministry

Salvation is the starting point for all men’s ministry. Paul reviewed with Timothy his salvation experience as a young boy learning the word of God. All men’s ministry begins with Bible based evangelism. A man must become a new creation in Christ through faith in Christ before he can live a new life for Christ.

It lists specific steps in men’s ministry

Scripture, Paul writes, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The first step in men’s ministry, then, is teaching doctrine. Scripture, Paul writes, is profitable for doctrine because it teaches us who God is: holy, infinite and personal; who we are: created in God’s image but fallen and in need of salvation from God’s judgment; and what God’s plan is for us and the world: bring his redeemed to himself and put down all evil.

The next step in men’s ministry after teaching doctrine, is “reproof.” Reproof deals with overt, “high handed,” conscious, and willful sin. This is ongoing, besetting sin that a new believer must deal with if he is to progress in his spiritual life. Fear, guilt and shame keep men from dealing with this type of sin. Many men’s ministries help men work through these barriers until they come to a place of transparency, confession and accountability, resulting in personal victory and peace. Men’s ministries that deal with pornography addiction are examples of reproving ministries.

The next step in men’s ministry that Paul lists is “correction.” No Christian man ever reaches a state of perfection in this life. There is always room for improvement. Just as the wheels on a car often need to be realigned, so men need to constantly realign their lives to Christ. Men’s ministries that focus on how to be better husbands and fathers are examples of correcting ministries.

Paul’s final stage in men’s ministry is instructing men in righteousness. This is the positive aspect of Christianity. Christianity is not primarily a list of things we can’t or shouldn’t do. It is, ultimately, positive. Good things–really good things–come from mature Christian men practicing their faith on a daily basis: loved and fulfilled wives, stable and secure children, full and thriving churches, and peaceful and prosperous communities are some examples.

It clearly defines the goal of men’s ministry

But the final step in men’s ministry is even more than simply establishing flourishing homes, churches and communities. The final step in men’s ministry is men who are “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This phrase, “every good work,” refers to more than just being good husbands, fathers, church members and citizens. “Every good work” is a technical term that occurs several times in the New Testament. It means “whatever work is necessary to guarantee the wellbeing of those in need around you.”

Paul vividly describes this type of good work at the end of his speech to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:34-35: “You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.”

Thus, the final stage of men’s ministry results in the eradication of need in the local church, and a lessening of need in the surrounding community.

It highlights a glaring deficiency in current men’s ministry

At this point I have to stop and point out that we have a serious problem in men’s ministry. There is almost nothing in men’s ministry literature on the topic of good works. And yet, in 2 Timothy 3:17, Paul states that doing good works is the ultimate goal of the man of God!

Often, when I go into a Christian book store, I find the men’s section, sit down on the floor and begin pulling out the books written for a male audience and read through their table of contents. The result: I almost never find anything on the topic of men and good works. And yet the New Testament is full of references to their importance. My challenge for anyone involved in men’s ministry is to do more thinking, studying and writing on this topic…and maybe even practicing good works a little more intentionally.

This post originally appeared in NewCommandment.org.

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