Men's Ministry in Reformed View
I am not comfortable with the Promise Keepers or similar which have "inter-denominational" Christians are members. I don't mind being involved but there are those who won't agree with Reformed Theology's view of how Christan men should live.
I was reading my Church's survey how our members feel about their “home church” which is their spiritual family. A church is an assembly of believers and is made up of real spiritual people with normal needs. The Scriptures teach every believer to be committed to a local church where he or she is loved and cared for, instructed in the things Christ commanded, encouraged to grow spiritually, and serving Christ effectively. When a local church is having trouble usually means she have not grown spiritually. Spirit-lead Church is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." That we should "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) That if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make our joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16). Regarding “serving” (ministering), 1 Corinthians 14:12 "So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." The idea of the spiritual gifts is simply that the Lord uses that gift in a unity, in a unifying way. God will use our spiritual gifts by His Spirit as He wills. I learned that the providential of God leads me to what I call "coincidences" in my life which perhaps God will make sure that His wills will be done at His right time and place. There are two worlds, set over against each other, dominated by two wills, the will of man (Jim) and the will of God, respectively. Whose “will” have more power? Of course, God. In a local Church, God directs our lives no matter what we do. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "The function of God's angels is to execute the plan of divine providence, even in earthly things." John Calvin wrote that "angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us." Can any of us can get more involved and serve in our local church if we are able to connect personally and spiritually? Due to our church’s and members’ situations, we are in a spiritual battle.
I am glad to see that men within my local Church are discussing how to improve spiritual leadership in the survey. How can men lead when other men within my local church don't really connect? What can Church leaders do to get men more involved? In reading the Survey Report, I was interested in reading the "men's" section.
The following I quotes I saw (interpreted):
Improve involvement of men
Not Familiar with men's ministry
Lack of connection to be more involvedIncrease desire from men to be involved
Need more men get into the ministry
needs publicity so men are aware of the ministry
too restrictive on meeting timesmore hands on activities
Too inwardly focused
Needs a Mission Statement
More Outreach is needed
One man got the "impression" they are doing great but it would be great if more men participated
need to build member focus on health and direction of the church
too exclusive- "snobbish" (we need to stop that)
More active involvement from wider group of men
This quote could have been written by me but someone else have felt the same way I did:"From the men's perspective, there is a feeling that men are judged based on what they do for a living rather than who they are (prestige). Getting past the image to real people. Mentoring new Christians by mature Christians."
The Scriptures teach every believer to be committed to a local church where every man is loved and cared for, instructed in the things Christ commanded, encouraged to grow spiritually, and serving Christ effectively. "Clingy" or "Snobbish" are based on "ethnos". "Ethnos" basically means to me "different people with different needs" within the local church in relation to other people that are determined by class favoritism or by lack of comfort with those of another culture, language, or status whether higher or lower than ours. But whatever triggers favoritism violates brotherly love. Culture-wise, depending on each man, some are into spiritual growth while others are into social activities. We all are different. People are different and people have different needs. Leaders should work with those men to work those differences to make everyone compatible.In order for this Church to grow, Christian's accountability involves "one another" that every member is encouraged to be actively serving and ministering their gifts. The writer of Hebrews 10:24-25 commands every believer to be a part of such a local body and reveals why this is necessary. NIV: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching." We need to figure this out so that we can move forward.
My Thoughts on Men’s Ministry:
We should pray for each others' personal prayer life and Bible study. We are to encourage each other by sending a note or an email for thanking them for their labor of love of our local church and let them know we are praying for them. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Paul wrote, "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." God will bless the believer's obedience to His Word in this matter.
Recommended Book for Men’s Weekly Bible Study: Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur
I was reading my Church's survey how our members feel about their “home church” which is their spiritual family. A church is an assembly of believers and is made up of real spiritual people with normal needs. The Scriptures teach every believer to be committed to a local church where he or she is loved and cared for, instructed in the things Christ commanded, encouraged to grow spiritually, and serving Christ effectively. When a local church is having trouble usually means she have not grown spiritually. Spirit-lead Church is outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." That we should "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) That if we have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make our joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16). Regarding “serving” (ministering), 1 Corinthians 14:12 "So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." The idea of the spiritual gifts is simply that the Lord uses that gift in a unity, in a unifying way. God will use our spiritual gifts by His Spirit as He wills. I learned that the providential of God leads me to what I call "coincidences" in my life which perhaps God will make sure that His wills will be done at His right time and place. There are two worlds, set over against each other, dominated by two wills, the will of man (Jim) and the will of God, respectively. Whose “will” have more power? Of course, God. In a local Church, God directs our lives no matter what we do. Thomas Aquinas wrote, "The function of God's angels is to execute the plan of divine providence, even in earthly things." John Calvin wrote that "angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us." Can any of us can get more involved and serve in our local church if we are able to connect personally and spiritually? Due to our church’s and members’ situations, we are in a spiritual battle.
I am glad to see that men within my local Church are discussing how to improve spiritual leadership in the survey. How can men lead when other men within my local church don't really connect? What can Church leaders do to get men more involved? In reading the Survey Report, I was interested in reading the "men's" section.
The following I quotes I saw (interpreted):
Improve involvement of men
Not Familiar with men's ministry
Lack of connection to be more involvedIncrease desire from men to be involved
Need more men get into the ministry
needs publicity so men are aware of the ministry
too restrictive on meeting timesmore hands on activities
Too inwardly focused
Needs a Mission Statement
More Outreach is needed
One man got the "impression" they are doing great but it would be great if more men participated
need to build member focus on health and direction of the church
too exclusive- "snobbish" (we need to stop that)
More active involvement from wider group of men
This quote could have been written by me but someone else have felt the same way I did:"From the men's perspective, there is a feeling that men are judged based on what they do for a living rather than who they are (prestige). Getting past the image to real people. Mentoring new Christians by mature Christians."
The Scriptures teach every believer to be committed to a local church where every man is loved and cared for, instructed in the things Christ commanded, encouraged to grow spiritually, and serving Christ effectively. "Clingy" or "Snobbish" are based on "ethnos". "Ethnos" basically means to me "different people with different needs" within the local church in relation to other people that are determined by class favoritism or by lack of comfort with those of another culture, language, or status whether higher or lower than ours. But whatever triggers favoritism violates brotherly love. Culture-wise, depending on each man, some are into spiritual growth while others are into social activities. We all are different. People are different and people have different needs. Leaders should work with those men to work those differences to make everyone compatible.In order for this Church to grow, Christian's accountability involves "one another" that every member is encouraged to be actively serving and ministering their gifts. The writer of Hebrews 10:24-25 commands every believer to be a part of such a local body and reveals why this is necessary. NIV: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching." We need to figure this out so that we can move forward.
My Thoughts on Men’s Ministry:
We should pray for each others' personal prayer life and Bible study. We are to encourage each other by sending a note or an email for thanking them for their labor of love of our local church and let them know we are praying for them. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Paul wrote, "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." God will bless the believer's obedience to His Word in this matter.
Recommended Book for Men’s Weekly Bible Study: Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur
posted by Jim @ 6:38 PM
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