As Father’s Day rolls around this month, you’ll have the attention of men in your community in ways you might not have for the rest of the year. I encourage you to use this opportunity. The mission of your church depends upon it.
Your ability to engage the mission of God in your community is tied to awakening the men in your church. So, what are the characteristics of a faithful man of God, the kind you need to build a community revival?
Take a look at an often overlooked passage from Philippians 2. As Paul writes about Timothy and Epaphroditus, he tells us the characteristics found in a man of God.
He tells us:
1. A faithful man of God cares about others.
Paul describes Timothy like this: “I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21 NIV). Timothy was unselfish in that he put Paul’s needs before his own. We live in a world where movies, songs, TV shows, advertisements, video games—they teach that it’s all about you. You should look out for number one! Society doesn’t teach you to think about other people. However, you can’t be a faithful man of God until you take your attention off of yourself and learn to truly care about the needs of others.
2. A faithful man of God is consistent.
We don’t just need men in our churches to serve once a year on a mission trip. We need consistent, reliable servants. Paul described Timothy as someone who had “proved himself” (Philippians 2:22). The Bible says trustworthy men are rare (see Proverbs 20:6).
Men of God keep their word and have deep convictions. We have lots of men who have opinions. Just turn on talk radio, and you can’t miss them. But an opinion is something you’ll argue about. A conviction is something you’ll die for.
Men of God who are consistent and dependable have convictions they’ll die for.
3. A faithful man of God cooperates with others.
As you look at Philippians 2:19-30, you’ll see that Paul wasn’t a lone ranger. He worked with both Timothy and Epaphroditus. Paul said of Timothy, “I have no one else like him.” He also had high praise for Epaphroditus, and called him, “my brother,” “my fellow worker,” and “my fellow soldier.”
The men in your church can’t do life on their own. They need other men. Otherwise, they’ll burn out in their relationship with God and in their ministries to their family and community.
4. A faithful man of God is concerned about the feelings of others.
In Philippians 2:25-27, Paul tells us that Epaphroditus got sick, but he was more interested in helping others than his own illness. Why? Men of God like Epaphroditus aren’t just strong—they’re sensitive.
I run into men all the time who brag about the fact that they say what they think and “let the chips fall where they may.” They think it’s a badge of honor. But it’s not. It’s immature. It takes no brains to just say whatever you think. Godly men consider the feelings of others. They put their mind in gear before they put their mouth in gear.
This Father’s Day, as you mobilize men in your church, encourage them to take the challenge of becoming the faithful men of God that their families, their church, and their world need.
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I love your teaching sir
Excellent !
God is good and faithful to us as a family through Jesus Christ my beloved pastor more anointing and blessing and protection upon you than your beginning and your companions in Jesus name Hallelujah
Thank you for this teaching. I think the biggest problem in our American society as well as in the church is that men are not fulfilling their God given roles as men. A lot of the problem is what you point out. Men think they do not need anybody else to do what they want to do and they are so self-centered that they do not care about building relationships with anyone else. They even have a problem building good relationships with their wives and each of their children. Men have to be taught how to care about others and the importance of finding other men who will be supportive of carrying out what God has called each of them to do. Otherwise, men will get discouraged and burn out. But men need to be taught how to work together and have fun doing it. You would think that would be obvious, but I think men do not do it in the church or in their families. They may do it at work, but there is no carry over outside of their jobs. Men understand they need to provide for their families, but otherwise, when they get home from work, men want to do what interests them regardless of the emotional needs of their family. I am not saying this because I am good at doing what I am talking about because I have a problem doing this correctly myself. However, it would be helpful if pastors did more teaching on this subject because the failure of men to fulfill our God given roles has led to the moral decay in our families and our society. I do not mean to say pastors have fallen down on the job, but I think a greater effort needs to be placed by pastors on building up the men to do what God has called them to do and help organize supportive efforts within the church.
thanks very much for the message, before becoming as a pastor,i was a man.Best regards
Well, who can argue or comment on something Rick Warren writes! He is always relevant and insightful. I do have a question though. What is the formation/equipping process in the church to raise up these types of men? The answer:
it doesn’t exist in most churches so what you have are men with a spiritual age of 3. These men are not capable of living into Rick’s vision.
Amen, it is my pledge of duty to carry this out,for this is God’s kingdom assignment.
These characteristics of godly men needed in our churches today is top drawer. Thanks so much, Rick. God bless
Doug Stubbs
Great exposition of what men need to do.