5 Ways Men Can Serve the Church

Pastors are often asked about how to encourage men to be more involved in the life of the church. For a variety of reasons, the perception among men is that the church is not a place for doing manly things. Unless men take active leadership roles, the involvement of men in the church is often limited to attending a single service on Sunday. The absence of male service in the church is detrimental to the progress and health of the entire body. Perhaps the proverbial question, “Adam, where are you?” continues to be asked most often regarding men serving in the kingdom of God.

There appears to be a significant disconnect for men between certain activities that provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment—such as work, sports, and other recreational activities—and active service the church. Great encouragement is needed for men to view serving in the church as a critical component of their calling in this life. Such service is not merely personally fulfilling, but it builds up and strengthens the entire body of Christ. There is nothing more Christlike than a man laying down his life for his friends. This, according to Jesus, is true greatness.

There are many ways to encourage men to serve in the church. Sometimes, however, we think too highly about this question. It’s always important to begin with those things that seem insignificant to us. One does not have to be an ordained office bearer to do great works among us. In a word: Think smaller. It is in the little things that great things are achieved, even if it is taking a cup of cold water to someone in need. With these things in mind, what follows are five simple encouragements for men regarding how they might serve well in the local church.

1. Pursue growth in the Scriptures.

First and most important is the personal growth of the man himself. A great servant is not created by merely doing. It begins with the mind and the heart. A servant is formed, not coerced by guilt. The mind must be renewed by understanding the love of Christ for us, then our love for others becomes properly motivated. Becoming a servant happens by pursuing growth in the Scriptures. Yes, this requires heartfelt attendance to the means of grace in worship on Sunday. This is a top priority. But it also requires the weekly pursuit of our own development spiritually toward the end of helping others grow in the faith. Active involvement in Bible studies and other groups centered around the Word and prayer will help shape us to have the mind of Christ. Growing together with other men in study is an equipping type of service in the body that will result in cultivating fellowship, making us effective in serving the needs of others. Make use of these opportunities for growth.

2. Pursue the qualities of an office bearer.

Most men reading this article may feel unequipped or uncalled to ordained service in the church. The result is that men think they do not have the gifts for this high calling and so service in the body is often left to ordained men. This is certainly a wrong view of the basic calling of the Christian man. While the requirements for office bearers are described in passages such as 1 Timothy 3, this does not mean that these qualities should only be pursued by ordained men. All men should think about the use of these gifts even if they do not serve in an official capacity. In general, men ought to aspire to practice them. Opportunities abound such as reading the Scriptures to encourage the afflicted, visiting the sick, helping those in need, and praying for the body. Recognizing that these duties belong to all men is an important first step, then knowing the body and serving them is what follows.

3. Help the widow and orphan.

That our Lord loves the needy among us and values helping them should be a great encouragement toward this pursuit. In any given congregation there may be widows or a variety of those in need. Asking a widow about work needed around her home, or encouraging a distressed young person, or providing help to a sick person, all are opportunities for men to serve. A father and a son together, for instance, serving a person in need in the congregation is the kind of pure and undefiled religion the Lord loves (James 1:27).

4. Mentor a young man in the faith.

This is a great need but often a neglected practice in the church. The Scriptures exhort men to be good examples in the faith, especially to the next generation. In our days of youth crisis, one of the most helpful ways for men to serve is to shepherd an often confused and directionless new generation facing the unique challenges of life. Men who know the Lord’s deliverance and guidance in their own lives can be a great help to another young man in need.

5. Be present and engage the flock.

Too many men are disconnected from the body. Greeting the visitor on Sunday, showing interest in the lives of the saints, or making effort with other people in the church is how the fellowship of the church grows. Be involved. Pass out bulletins. Do not dash for the door. Showing interest in your brethren and serving them in the small ways made available to you promotes the growth of the whole body. Those servants who have been most effective in our lives are those who were present, interested in us, and ready to serve us. These kinds of servants make a massive difference in the life of the church.