Men Like a Story! – Understanding How Men Process God’s Word

Men need to engage God and His Word on a regular basis. We know that this is true.

– ”The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow’” Hebrews 4:12

– ”My word …will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’” Isaiah 55:10,11

– “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness’” II Timothy 3:16

How are the men in your church engaging God and His Word? What is working at your church?

Remember how Jesus engaged men?

He understood that men and women needed a story, a model, an illustration, an example – if his words were truly going to engage their hearts and their minds. This seems to be especially true for men. Basic physiology tells us that men don’t process (back and forth -left side of the brain to the right side of the brain) as well as women. Men absolutely NEED to hear a story.

Take a quick look at Matthew’s account of Jesus engaging people (primarily men) on the topic of what the kingdom of heaven is like…….

13:24  The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…
13:31  The Kingdom is heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted…
13:33  The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into…
13:44  The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…
13:45  The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls…
13:47  The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake…
13:52  The kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom…
18:23  The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants…
20:1    The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning…
22:2    The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son…
25:1    The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out…

Want to engage men with the Word of God? Let Jesus be your model. Don’t forget the story!