Previous posts in this series have been incorporated into Part 2 of my online article, “A Comprehensive Church-Based Ministry to Men.”
“…so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:17
We now come to the climax of 2 Timothy 3:12-17, our foundational passage for men’s ministry. In this passage we have learned that God is at work in every Christian man’s life, first by saving him, and then by immersing him in a fellowship of mutual believers called the church, which will help him in his quest to do God’s good works. But God doesn’t stop there. God has given men his Word, which is inspired by him and therefore authoritative for all Christian men.
But in order for the Word of God to be effective in a Christian man’s life, he must study it and learn it so that he develops a body of sound doctrine from it, is reproved by it, and then restored through it to fellowship with both God and others. Finally, from his Bible a Christian man learns how to live a righteous life. That is, he learns how to stop hurting others around him.
All of this is but preparation for the ultimate purpose God saves a man in the first place: to bring healing to those around him who are suffering in various ways by performing good works on their behalf.
The purpose of the process in men’s ministry
“…so that”
Michael S. Hyatt, the former President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing, and an expert in leadership development, has stated that every organization should have a “so that” process and purpose statement that fills in the following two blanks: (We do this – our process) so that (this will happen – our purpose).
New Commandment Men’s Ministries has a “so that” process and purpose statement that runs like this: (New Commandment Men’s Ministries helps churches recruit, train, organize, and deploy teams of men who adopt their widows, single moms, fatherless children, and others with long term needs – our process) so that (their church can say, “There is no needy person among us.” – our purpose)
2 Timothy 3:12-17 is a classic “so that” process and purpose statement. It is God’s process and purpose statement for men’s ministry: (God does this – his process) so that (men of God do this – his purpose). We can outline God’s process and purpose statement for men’s ministry this way:
(God does this – God’s process with men)
- God saves men.
- God surrounds his men with teams of believing men.
- God gives his men his inspired Word.
- God teaches his men sound doctrine through his Word.
- God rebukes his men through his Word.
- God restores his men through his Word.
- God trains his men in righteousness through his Word.
(So that a man of God does this – God’s purpose for men)
- this man who has become a man of God may be thoroughly equipped to do all of God’s good works.
What I have outlined above is men’s ministry, nothing more and nothing less. Everything that God is doing in the lives of men, and everything we as men’s ministry leaders should be doing in the lives of our men, is so that our men will become men of God who are prepared to do every good work that God saved us to do.
We can also state this description of the process and purpose of men’s ministry in negative terms.
All of the following things that God wants to do in men (God’s process) are critical, but,
- If all we do is focus on saving men
- If all we do is provide men with opportunities to fellowship with other men (say, at a monthly breakfast)
- If all we is hold Bible studies for men
- If all we do is teach men so they are sound in biblical doctrine
- If all we do is focus on overcoming besetting sin, such as pornography and other addictions that men are prone to
- If all we do is emphasize reconciliation in men’s relationships, such as marriage and family relationships
- If all we do is stress healthy marriages and families as examples of righteous living
but then we neglect actually doing the good works God saved us to do (God’s purpose) – which all of these previous things are simply prerequisites for – then
- We have failed as men’s ministry leaders.
Sadly, it is my observation that 90% of local church men’s ministries are failing in their God-given mission. Rare is the church that understands the purpose and importance of good works in the life of a Christian man, because they are only focusing on certain aspects of God’s process, instead of using that process to accomplish God’s purpose in men.
In sum, men’s ministry has forgotten the purpose of the process.
The culmination of men’s ministry
“…the man of God”
This phrase “ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος,” translated “the man of God,” is used only here in the New Testament. Paul is saying that God’s desire is not that his good works be done by just any man, because they cannot be done by just any man. They can only be done by a certain kind of man: a “man of God.” [Since I am addressing men within the context of men’s ministry, I am using the literal translation. Obviously, these teachings apply to women as well, hence the NIV’s gender neutral translation of the phrase “ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος” as “the servant of God.”]
“Of God,” “τοῦ θεοῦ,” is in the genitive form and can indicate possession, “God’s man,” or perhaps quality, “a godly man.”
Within the context of our passage, then, a man of God is a man who has been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. As a result of his salvation he is functioning within a fellowship of believers, especially a fellowship of other godly men, is learning and applying the Word of God to his life, has experienced biblical rebuke and been restored in his relationships, and has learned how to live a righteous life.
All of this, Paul says, is so that God will have a man who will be able and willing to do all of his good works.
Therefore, a godly man is the culmination, or goal, of the work of God in a man’s life that always results in good works. That is, godliness and good works are inseparable.
One way to understand the practical ramifications of what it means to be a godly man is to think of what it means to be a godless man, or a man controlled by his fleshly lusts, by the world, and by Satan. Such a man always causes harm to himself and to others, as Scripture describes in many places. Here are two examples:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4
“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32
Just as a godless man, or a “man of Satan,” so to speak, brings evil, pain, suffering and discord into his own life and the lives of those around him through his sinful works, so a godly man, or a “man of God,” brings righteousness, healing and well-being into his own life and the lives of those around him through his good works.
Full service men of God
“…may be adequately equipped”
But, as we have seen, a man of God must be adequately equipped to do those good works.
The Greek word for “adequately equipped” is ἐξηρτισμένος (exertismenos), which means “fully equipped” or “fully furnished” to do a task.
What happens when a Christian man is not fully equipped to do every good work? That Christian man is not a “full-service” man of God because he cannot do everything God wants him to do. Consider these analogies:
If a dentist does not have an x-ray machine, she cannot see cavities that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Because she is not fully equipped, she cannot fill all your cavities and is not, therefore, a “full-service” dentist.
An auto mechanic who does not have a hydraulic lift cannot properly work under your car and would not be able to repair your transmission. Because your mechanic is not fully equipped, he is not a “full-service” mechanic.
A pilot who has only been trained on a Piper Cub, would not be able to pilot you on a Boeing 777. Because he is not fully equipped, he is not a “full-service” pilot and cannot fly you from the US to Europe.
In the same way, a man who is not saved is definitely not fully equipped to do all of God’s good works.
But neither is a Christian man who fails to fellowship with other believers. He, too, is not fully equipped to do all of God’s good works. He is not a “full-service” man of God.
So too, a Christian man who is ignorant of the Word of God, and of God’s will and God’s ways, is also not fully equipped to do all of God’s good works and is not a “full-service” man of God.
Neither is a Christian man who refuses the rebuke of God’s Word for his on-going sin.
Nor the Christian man who has not been restored in his relationships with God and others.
And certainly not a Christian man who is living an unrighteous life.
None of these Christian men are adequately equipped to do every good work that God wants them to do. They are only equipped to do a few of God’s good works. They are not “full-service” men of God.
God’s will for all Christian men is that we become men of God who are becoming more and more proficient in doing all of God’s good works as we learn to work with other Christian men (and women) in pursuit of God’s good works, as we study and learn the Word of God, as we properly respond to biblical rebuke, as we experience restoration in our relationships with God and others, and as we learn to live righteously. These Christian men are full-service men of God who are ready to do every good work that God brings their way.
Full service men of God are equipped and ready to do whatever good work God asks them to do
“…for every good work.”
What exactly does it mean for a man of God to be fully equipped “for every good work.” Does it mean running around frantically trying to do every possible good work, but never succeeding at doing them? Or does it mean something else? To understand this term, “every good work,” we need to look at how it is used in the rest of the New Testament.
“Every good work” is a technical term (a technical term means that whenever it occurs it is used in the same specific way) in the New Testament. The Greek is “πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθον” (pan ergon agathon) and it occurs nine times, eight of them in Paul’s epistles. Here are those nine New Testament occurrences.
- “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things in all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
- “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9-10
- “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
- “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good works, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to every good work.” 1 Timothy 5:9-10
- “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21
- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing every good work.” Titus 1:16
- “Remind the people to be subject to rulers, and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do every good work.” Titus 3:1
- “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good work for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20–21
Summary
“Every good work” refers to the things a servant of God does to please him. The Bible is especially useful for preparing us to accomplish every good work since it informs us of God’s will. Holiness always results in every good work. And God promises to give us everything we need to accomplish every good work. Examples of every good work are bringing up children, hospitality, washing the saints feet, and helping the poor. Also involved in every good work is submitting to government authorities. A distinctive of a godless man is that he is unfit to do every good work.
Simply put, every good work is what we Christians are always about. They are our joy and purpose in life because we know that good works please God and that they are what we have been saved to do.
“Every good work” and “the protocol”
One problem Christians can have with good works is confusing specialized good works with general good works.
Specialized good works relate to a believer’s giftedness and to a limited need in the body of Christ. For example, Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:1, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, it is a good work he desires to do.” Not every believer is called to the pastorate. Only a certain subset of believers are called to do that: “If anyone aspires…”.
On the other hand, the Bible commands all believers to do good works relating to people in need. These are general good works and encompass what I have previously described as “the protocol” (“Plead the cause of the widow and orphan and I will transform your culture.”) Here are some examples:
- “Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:14)
- “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)
- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
Here, the phrases “our people,” “If anyone,” and “each of you” demonstrate the universality of these commands to do good works. Thus, while only some believers are called to the good work of pastoral ministry, all believers are called to the good work of meeting pressing needs. The first is a specialized good work, the second is a generalized good work.
Keeping this distinction clearly in our mind when we read scripture will help us discern exactly what it is that God has saved us to do.
The wow factor in men’s ministry: spiritual giants in the earth
“There were giants in the earth in those days.” Genesis 6:4
When men of God understand the will of God through their knowledge of the Word of God, and then express the love of God by doing the works of God, they become true spiritual giants in the earth, wowing everyone around them.
When a local church’s men’s ministry has something unusual like that. Something unexpected like that. Something spectacular like that. Something important like that. Something excellent like that. Something renowned like that. Something valuable like that. Something admirable like that. Something heroic like that. When something like that appears in ordinary men in an ordinary local church, word of it spreads rapidly and people come running.
And when that happens, their men’s ministry has become a men’s ministry men want to know.
This post first appeared in New Commandment.org.
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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
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