Taking Other Men Along

What makes a men's ministry in a church a men's movement ? Answer: personal ownership, obedience, urgency, and passing it on to others. Not fancy but true.When a man decides in his own heart that being God's man supercedes all other purposes; when he responds with his very life; when he assigns emotional priority to God's mission; and when he becomes a reproducing trainer of other men watch out. This last piece was the Apostle Paul's specialty. Of all the great spiritual exploits exhibited through his ministry, multiplying his impact through personally training other men to do what he was doing is, in my book, his gold medal achievement. Why? Because it required the most faith and courage.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” He did not say, as important as this is, “invite people to church.” There is a big difference on many levels. The most visible difference is that disciple making is a personal commitment to making deposits into the life of another man. What kind of deposits you say? The biggest one is time –the most powerful force in strengthening any relationship. When Billy Graham was asked by Christianity Today what his plan of action would be with men in a local church he said, “I think one of the first things I would do is to get a small group of eight or ten men around me that would meet a few hours a week and pay the price! I know one or two churches that are doing that, and it is revolutionizing the church.” He said this on October 13, 1958.

The Book of Acts describes both the simplicity and power of Paul's obedience to the Great Commission of Jesus when it says , “He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived…Paul wanted to take him along the journey.” Being a member of the Herd at Saddleback is not only about practicing being God's man (obeying) with courage but also passing it on (teaching it to others). Jesus brought his disciples along his journey. Barnabus brought Paul along his. Paul, in turn, brought Timothy and Silas along his journey. And so on.

Each of us need to ask ourselves: who am I bringing along my journey? Pray for others you can share your faith with, lead them to Christ, and then bring them along your journey for a year. Then release them to go to do the same. Not fancy but very effective.

God wants to use YOU to make disciples.

Kenny