📖 Reading: Video Transcript: Why might you lead a Men's Ministry?

Men’s Ministry – Lecture 2 Why Might You Lead a Men’s Ministry?

Professor Steve Elzinga

Hi, Steve Elzinga back again—welcome to How to Start or Lead a Successful Men’s Ministry.

You’re taking this class because you’re interested in men’s ministry. Maybe you’re part of one. Maybe you want to start one. Maybe you’re not sure you can do it—but you’re starting in the right place. You’re going to learn some things.

The second thing I want to emphasize is: you need to try some things.

I just watched a documentary on Elon Musk. He started SpaceX; he wants to send rockets to Mars. In the documentary someone said the way NASA did things and the way SpaceX does things are totally different. NASA planned everything—years and years of working it out on paper—before they ever did anything. SpaceX, by contrast, puts something together, tries it, it breaks at some point, and then they fix it.

There’s an element of that I want to encourage in you. You’re going to learn, but don’t be afraid to try. You learn more from failures than from successes. So get used to trying; get used to failing forward. That’s part of the beauty of Christianity: God loves us. “Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.” We didn’t have to get perfect first for Him to love and care for us. We are loved as we are—so we can risk, learn, and grow. (I’m not saying go out and sin on purpose; I’m saying there should be enough grace in Christian culture that you can try, fail, learn, and try again.)

I’m going to give you some things to try.

Why Might You Lead a Men’s Ministry?

Matthew 9:9. “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.”

Jesus had no disciples at first. What did He do? He asked people to follow Him.

How could you lead a men’s ministry? Ask people to follow. Ask.

But let’s be honest—why might you not step up to lead?

Reasons You Might Hold Back

• Lack of confidence. “I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if it will succeed.”
• Fear of judgment. “If I ask someone to follow me, he might say, ‘Forget it—why would I follow you?’ He might list my mistakes.”
• Pressure to perform. If you step up to lead, you have to follow through. “Will I be able to do that?”
• Personal struggles. “I have my own issues—marriage, kids, work, church, maybe even with the pastor. How can I gather a band of brothers when I have problems?”
• Lack of support or resources. Maybe your church doesn’t want this—or you think they don’t think you can do it. Maybe even your spouse isn’t sure.
• Time and commitment constraints. If you lead, you have to be there. Others can come and go; leaders show up.
• Feeling unqualified. “I don’t know my Bible or doctrine enough. I’m not a great communicator or organizer. I don’t know if I can hold people accountable. I’m not disciplined enough. I’m not an encourager.”

Whenever you consider leading, it’s like the devil throws a list in front of you—all the reasons you’re disqualified. That happens to all of us—even the brightest and best Christian leaders second-guess themselves.

Moses did this. God calls Moses—the perfect person: raised in Pharaoh’s house, a Hebrew, knew the desert. God says, “Go lead My people out.” Moses says, “I can’t; I don’t speak well.” Everyone does this. If you feel this way, you’re in good company.

Reasons You Might Be the Perfect Choice

1) You are a disciple.

Matthew 28:18–20. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus wasn’t only talking to the Eleven. He’s talking to all of us. You are a disciple. Authority has been given to you. The command is directly to you: Go make disciples.

How qualified were Jesus’ first disciples? They lacked faith; they questioned and doubted—just like us. Yet Jesus handed them the launch of the church. So yes—you may feel you don’t know enough or speak well enough. But Jesus commissioned you.

2) You are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This was a ragtag group. Jesus says, “You will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” Why? Because of the Holy Spirit. It’s not just you—it’s you + the Spirit + Jesus’ teaching—and that changes the world.

Many people say, “I don’t feel God’s power or presence.” Then do something where you need God. If you only do what you already can do, when it’s done you’ll say, “I did that.” Leave room for God. Try something you know you can’t do alone, and when it happens, you’ll say, “Oh—I see. That’s the Holy Spirit.”

3) You have unique gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Every Christian has at least one Spirit-given gift. That includes you. You might not know what it is—ask trusted people what they see, and try things. As you serve, your gifts surface.

4) You will be helped.

You don’t have all the gifts—and you don’t need to.

Worried you’re not organized? Someone else is. Not a speaker? Maybe that’s not your role. Not a recruiter? God will bring someone who is. Find the right men with the right gifts and share the load.

Mark 6:7. Jesus sent them out two by two. He knows we’re insecure about stepping out in faith. Having a partner changes everything. Ecclesiastes says a threefold cord is not quickly broken—you, a partner, and God.

Advice: Find a partner. Share your vision for men’s ministry. Don’t do this alone. One person trying to make something happen can feel like a lonely prophet in the desert. Two people with a shared vision is the beginning of a movement.

Look for potential leaders with different gifts. Invite. Step out. Share the vision. And relax—it’s not your ministry.

It’s God’s Ministry

In the end, you don’t own this. God is letting you start something, but it’s His. It may go well at first; it may not. That’s God’s problem.

When I planted a church, it finally dawned on me: I’m not planting my church. I’m being used by God to plant Hischurch. If it isn’t going well, “Lord, what are You going to do about Your church?” I’m willing to serve—lead me. That realization helped me relax.

“But I Don’t Have Formal Training…”

What are you doing right now? You’re at CLI; you can take classes. You can get as qualified as you want to be. Most of our excuses are things we can actually address:

• “I don’t have knowledge.” → Get knowledge.
• “I don’t have experience.” → Get experience—by trying.

Back to trial and error—like SpaceX: get out and do something.

You’ve already had two lectures in this class. Which men have you shared anything from this with? If the answer is “none,” then here’s your assignment:

Before you watch Lecture 3, share what you’ve learned—or the questions you have—with at least two men.
Don’t go to Lecture 3 until you’ve done that.

See you next time.