For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
(Genesis 18:19 ESV)
Abraham was chosen by God not only to be the patriarch of Israel but to lead his household and to train them in the way of the LORD. The father is the spiritual leader of the family. If the family which God instituted has the father as its head so also in the church of God. Sadly, there are churches nowadays whose leaders are women. So we ask, “where are the men?”
Our conviction is male leadership in the church. We have to stand and maintain this because our age has witnessed the feminization of Christian. The biblical truth that fathers are the spiritual heads of the household and the church has vanished. Humanism assaults Christianity and ridiculed manhood. They seek to merge and blend gender distinctions. This has affected the Christian church. The society perceive that biblical gender role as obsolete, old-fashioned and must be despised altogether.
Many evangelical churches failed to educate and train young men and this has contributed to the decline of the Christendom. But we must reform our thinking if the Bible must hold its proper place in the church.
Strong men make a strong church! A strong church has strong men who stand and lead it.
Jesus launched the church with men (Matthew 10, Acts 1:21-23). Paul listed qualifications of male pastors, not women (1 Tim 3:1-7). Paul’s reason for mandating women to be silent in the church is the creative order (1 Tim 2:12). But the Church today is full of men that are mere spectators.
Roles of Men in the Church
- Strong Men in Prayer
- I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… (1 Timothy 2:8 ESV)
- Men should pray in every place. Paul is not simply showing his preference but he is mandating the church. Paul is referring to men who are to lead the church in prayer, not women. The “lifted holy hands” refer back to Ex 30:20-21 where priest, who were male offer burnt offerings to the LORD.
- Men who lead the church must live holy. Lack of holiness is a barrier to prayer. Paul’s focus in prayer for men leadership is worth pondering.
- The fact is, we are not always fervent in prayer to our shame.
- Lack of prayer is lack of humility. Pride leads to prayerlessness.
- Do you want to grow in prayer? Do you want to bless the church when you pray? Your heart should be filled with the word of God, standing on God’s promises!
- The man who prays scripturally can lead the church to an honest confession of sins, strong grasp of God’s promises, fresh reminder of God’s command, and clear affirmation of biblical doctrines.
- Let us be men of faith who prays and lead the congregation in prayer scripturally both privately and publicly.
- Strong Men in Fellowship
- Biblical manliness is about living in the context of the church.
- God calls upon men in the midst of crooked surrounding. Men are called to lead the church, in service, in hospitality.
- What the church needs is an army of godly men.
- [Mark Dever] “We believe that the local church is the focal point of God’s plan for displaying His glory to the nations. Our vision is simple: churches that reflect the character of God.”
- You’ll face the LORD in judgment as man, so be a man!
- Strong Men in Teaching
- Strong men are strong in teaching, doctrine and godliness: teaching that translates into practical living.
- The rod of discipline should not only be applied at home but also in the church. Children should not be allowed to make the church their playground. They should be taught to sit down and listen to the preaching of the Word of God.
- Men left on their own won’t become men as they ought to. Here, the role of godly men comes in. Men in the church should be faithful disciples of Christ that their children might see and imitate them.
- Man in the church should stand up. They must prove themselves as good disciples (2 Tim 2:2).
- Jesus discipled men to launch the church, and they discipling men is still the way to produce vibrant church.
- “So goes the men in the church, so goes the church. So goes the men in the church, so goes the culture in the world.”
- Titus 2:2-12 – Older men should coach young men. Mature & spiritual Christian men should counsel and guide young men. Sometimes we do not give priority to young men. But young men are Satan’s number one target (Judges 2:10-12).
- It is now high time for men in the church to lead men!
- Biblicalmanhood involves cultivating spiritual leadership. If you won’t do it, who will?
- Fathers become bench-warmers in the church. We are called to rescue drowning souls in the midst of the raging seas!
[John Wesley] “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desires nothing but God. Such alone will shake the gates of hell.”
Our prayer is that the next generation may be men who seeks nothing but the glory of God alone. May God find us faithful in this difficult yet glorious task!
To God be the glory!
This notes is from THE 2ND MEN FOR GOD’S COVENANT CONFERENCE- BIBLICAL MANHOOD
HERALD OF GRACE COVENANT BIBLE CHURCH OF CAVITE 