diving in deep with a few good men

Paul encouraged Timothy to invest in “faithful men who will teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2). Summertime schedules are wonky and unpredictable, so I don’t generally encourage men’s leaders to plan major events with high expectations. But summer is a great time to make deep investments in a few men who are (or could be) leaders in your ministry, if you need some help with this, I’ve pooled together some ideas and inspiration for you! 

The Starting platform 

• Start with prayer – Ask God to help you identify one to three younger and older men that you could invest in deeply over the summer. This isn’t ministry to the masses, this is leadership development. Focus tightly on the small number of select men God puts on your heart.
• Engage personally and directly – Don’t count on a text or email. Make a call or better yet, meet a guy face-to-face and invite them to walk with you through a specific and strategic study over the summer. (I’ve given you some study and resource recommendations later in this post.) 
• Be flexible – Now is the time to flex your schedule with other guys. Remember, if your goal is to invest in other men, you don’t have to be rigid about when or where you connect. Here are a few reminders.

1. 1. Modify expectations – be OK with a different connection times and points.. 
   2. Don’t get discouraged – remember, keep making yourself available and keep praying for your men. 
   3. Enjoy the journey – delight in any time you get to invest in another man! The Lord is working in and through you! 
   4. Don’t give up – Paul likely had his share of “no-shows” to Bible meetings, but as he encouraged the Galatian church, be encouraged men! Don’t “grow tired of doing good.” (Galatians 6:9) 

• 1:1 time – Group gatherings are great, but make sure to schedule a time to meet with each guy individually. Keep it simple. Grab a quick coffee together, or do lunch. (A man’s got to eat at some point anyway!) During. your time together, ask and answer specific and direct questions that will lead to purposeful conversations. There are powerful growth opportunities. 
• One-off studies – Choose a short Bible study or book to walk through. It may be helpful to choose something topical, so guy’s won’t be derailed if they have to miss. Here are a few studies that come to mind:
  • Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
  • Game Plan for Life: Your Personal Playbook for Success by Joe Gibbs
  • 7 Questions that Rattle Around in the Minds of Most Men by John Woodall
  • The Man in the Mirror: Solving the 24 Problems Men Face by Patrick Morley 
  • The book of James – I love studying James’ letter to us. It’s brief, incredibly practical and hits lots of topics that men should wrestle with. 
• Invest in a graduate – The Lord may lead you to focus on a recent high school or college graduate who has leadership potential or could use some spiritual encouragement as they move into a new season of life. Here are a few resources that could be helpful to them:
  • Seasons of a Leader’s Life: Learning, Leading, and Leaving a Legacy by Jeff Iorg
  • Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl
• Vacation reads – While you’re on vacation, take time to read a book about men’s ministry or men’s discipleship that could be helpful to you down the road. Preview a book before recommending it to your men. 
  • Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow
  • Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family by Steve Farrar
  • Building Your Band of Brothers by Stephen Mansfield 
• Listen and learn – Spend the summer listening rather than lecturing. Practice asking good questions and hearing the stories of other men. You can learn a lot about a man just by listening to him. You won’t learn much by lecturing him. And he won’t either. 
• Launch a prayer strategy – Summer could be a great time for you to step into a new disciple or season of prayer for your men. Ask some guys how you can pray for them. Then…do it! Specifically. Strategically. Regularly. Ten Simple Strategies for Prayer by Chuck Lawless is a great resource to get you started. 
• Be hospitable – Hospitable is becoming a lost art in our culture, even in the church. Reverse that by opening your home (and yard) to guests this summer. Cookouts are great for gathering a few men and can lead to fruitful conversation and connections. 

Just jump in!

When I think about summer opportunities to encourage and build men, I am reminded of this scene from the movie Courageous, when a small group of men gather around a back-yard table and begin to talk intentionally. Whether head-first or feet first, just jump in! Summer is a great time to encourage and build up other men. The water might feel cold at first, but you’ll get used to it, and you’ll be in the best position to watch God grow you and your men in discipleship. 

For more resources on how to leverage ministry during the Summer, check out our free course, Summertime is Leadership Development Time. 

 

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