By Herb Reese
Men's ministry, like the men it seeks to serve, isn't complicated. After having conducted workshops at over 150 men's conferences over the past 19 years (Iron Sharpens Iron is a great example of these men's conferences), I can summarize the men's ministry topics covered at these conferences under ten general headings. Here they are.
It is encouraging to be able to say that almost every single conference I've attended over the years has given a clear presentation of the gospel. As a result, I've witnessed hundreds of men come to faith in Christ. I'm proud to be a part of a movement that presents the gospel so clearly and powerfully to men.
The workshops I've seen in the area of spiritual life emphasize the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible study, scripture memory, and witnessing. They also encourage foster discipleship by encouraging men to develop discipling relationships with other men by providing men' s fellowship topics.
If any pastor is looking for sermon topics for men's ministry, considering preaching a series on male identity. This is a huge issue, not just in men's ministry, but in our general culture as well. Men are going through a tectonic change in their societal roles in America and the tension bleeds over into men's ministry. Men quite literally don't know what it means to be a man.
The big question in Christian circles is whether a man can be a Christian without becoming feminized. One way men's ministry answers this question by stressing the bold and fearless side of Jesus. Workshops also present the spiritual life in very masculine terms, describing it as a "battle" in which men wage "spiritual warfare." (Rough Cut Men Ministries is one example.) And finally, they emphasize the importance of men's roles as husbands and fathers.
All local church men's ministries need to address the "stage in life" issues men face. I call this felt need ministry. Single men, divorced men, husbands, fathers, and grandfathers all have problems that Scripture provides answers to. Being able to show the relevance of Scripture to a man in his particular station in life is probably the most relevant ministry a men's ministry can have.
The pornography problem among Christian men has been well documented (i.e., by Barna Group, Christianity Today, Charisma Magazine). For this reason, most men's conferences have a breakout session dedicated to the issue of pornography. Local church men's ministries would be wise to specifically address the topic as well.
Increasingly, other types of addictions are popping up in the church as well, such as drug, alcohol, and gambling. These, too, need to be addressed.
Money is always on everyone's mind. How to make more of it, how to spend less of it, what part to give to God and others, and how to get out of debt are the topics generally covered in this area at men's conferences.
Recently I've seen the rise of men's ministries that address very specific physical and emotional issues with men: issues relating to weight, exercise, anger, depression, etc. Knights of the 21st Century is an example of a men's ministry dedicated to the emotional health of Christian men.
I've seen the issues of race, politics, homosexuality, human trafficking, war, and poverty addressed at men's conferences. A local church men's ministry should address these issues as well.
A local church men's ministry should clearly define what role it plays in fulfilling the mission of the church, how it supports the pastor and the pastor's vision for the church.
It's the topic of good works. Other than my own workshop, I have never seen a workshop that covers this important Scriptural issue. In this sense, modern men's ministry mirrors the larger Evangelical vacuum in this area. Which is sad, because a man of God isn't truly a man of God until he has been "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17).
This post first appeared in New Commandment.org
.Teams of four men serving widows, single moms, fatherless children and others with long-term pressing needs in their churches and communities.
