Four More Ways To Man Up The Church (5 of 7)
Series: Man Church
Steve Jones
INTRODUCTION: Two guys went golfing and they were terrible. Instead of club in their bags they should have had weed-eaters because they always wound up in the grass. So you can imagine how surprised one was when he teed up his ball and hit it straight and true, two hundred yards right down the middle of the fairway. Not only that but it rolled up onto the top of a huge ant mound so it was all teed up for the next shot. He took his three iron, addressed the ball and gave a mighty swing. He went completely UNDER the ball, missing it altogether and killing about 5,000 ants. But the ball was still on top of the remaining mound so he thought, "This is of God - He's giving em another chance." He took ANOTHER mighty swing and missed again - this time killing 4,998 ants. There were two ants remaining. (This is a true story). And the one ant says to the other ant, "You know if we're going to survive, we better get on the ball!"
If the church is going to survive we better get on the ball about attracting men back to the church. No religion survives without the enthusiastic leadership and participation of men. But the modern church has a gender gap drawing an attendance that is 61% female and 39% male.
Last week we talked about four ways to man up the church. Today I want to finish up that train of thought with four more.
I. MAN UP THE CHURCH THROUGH A VERTICAL FOCUS
John 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
Many times churches, especially small churches, try to create a hybrid worship/small group care experience on Sunday morning. They focus on God through prayer, worship, and the sermon. But they also care for individuals by taking prayer requests and announcements from the audience. And they sometimes stop and pray for folks with needs.
ILLUSTRATION: Last year I had a wedding to perform in Tennessee and w ...
Series: Man Church
Steve Jones
INTRODUCTION: Two guys went golfing and they were terrible. Instead of club in their bags they should have had weed-eaters because they always wound up in the grass. So you can imagine how surprised one was when he teed up his ball and hit it straight and true, two hundred yards right down the middle of the fairway. Not only that but it rolled up onto the top of a huge ant mound so it was all teed up for the next shot. He took his three iron, addressed the ball and gave a mighty swing. He went completely UNDER the ball, missing it altogether and killing about 5,000 ants. But the ball was still on top of the remaining mound so he thought, "This is of God - He's giving em another chance." He took ANOTHER mighty swing and missed again - this time killing 4,998 ants. There were two ants remaining. (This is a true story). And the one ant says to the other ant, "You know if we're going to survive, we better get on the ball!"
If the church is going to survive we better get on the ball about attracting men back to the church. No religion survives without the enthusiastic leadership and participation of men. But the modern church has a gender gap drawing an attendance that is 61% female and 39% male.
Last week we talked about four ways to man up the church. Today I want to finish up that train of thought with four more.
I. MAN UP THE CHURCH THROUGH A VERTICAL FOCUS
John 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
Many times churches, especially small churches, try to create a hybrid worship/small group care experience on Sunday morning. They focus on God through prayer, worship, and the sermon. But they also care for individuals by taking prayer requests and announcements from the audience. And they sometimes stop and pray for folks with needs.
ILLUSTRATION: Last year I had a wedding to perform in Tennessee and w ...
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