Men of Iron Podcast

Reclaiming Biblical Leadership Featuring Mike Snedeker (EP. 248)

“Jesus’ model wasn’t to draw as many people in as he could, Jesus’ model was spending a lot of time with very few people and sending them out to spend a lot of time with very few people.” – Mike Snedeker

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In this episode, Lead Pastor Mike Snedeker from Community Evangelical Church (CEC) in Sinking Spring, PA, shares insights on the importance of men’s ministry and the transformative role that Men of Iron has played in the church. For 13 years, CEC has partnered with Men of Iron to help men re-engage in church leadership and live out their biblical roles. Pastor Mike speaks into modern culture pulling men away from faith and into careers and hobbies, which leads to disengagement from church.

Through mentorship programs like Strong27, CEC has seen men prioritize their faith, spend time in Scripture, and grow in leadership, ultimately transforming their families and communities. Mike highlights that intentional discipleship, modeled after Jesus’ example of mentoring a few to influence many, is essential for church growth. He encourages men to consider who they can mentor and emphasizes that true change begins with placing God at the center of one’s life.

“When you orient your life to the things of scripture, that becomes the drive of your life instead of the other way around.”

Pastor Mike concludes by affirming that Men of Iron has been pivotal in CEC’s journey, helping them focus on disciple-making rather than attracting large numbers. This approach has deeply impacted their church culture, aligning them more closely with Jesus’ call for the church to equip and send out disciples.

As we continue this series, we’ll explore how a lifestyle of mentorship and discipleship not only builds stronger men but a stronger church. Stay tuned for Week 3 of the The Church Needs Men Series. 

If you are looking to take the next step in your faith journey, let us be a resource for you, contact us today – menofiron.org/contact-us

Regardless of where you are in your journey, we have the tools and experiences for you. We provide one-to-one coaching, small group, and retreat curriculum. To know God is an adventure, and we are calling all men to conquer the mountain ahead of us. Men, it’s time to climb! >>> MENOFIRON.ORG/THECLIMB

SHOW NOTES:

• • Today we continue our Men and the Church Series with Lead Pastor Mike Snedeker from Community Evangelical Church in Sinking Spring, PA
  • CEC in Sinking Spring, PA is one of our longest standing church partners having partnered with us for 13 years
  • “We’ve always believed in men’s ministry. We’ve made disciples by accident just doing good things”
  • We are excited about our continued partnership with Men of Iron and what we’ve seen God do in men in our church
  • The trajectory of men in the church is guys who get more and more busy with careers, hobbies and other interests and church becomes less of a priority
  • “At CEC we saw this trajectory of losing men in leadership roles and significant positions in the church because of this.”
  • When we started partnering with Men of Iron we saw men step back in to those leadership roles
  • We saw typical roles in the church being filled by men who wanted to take responsibility of their biblical call to lead
  • In today’s culture men are typically driven to what everyone tells them is successful
  • When you are working hard all week, Sunday just becomes a day of rest instead of going to church
  • A lot of guys don’t understand what it means to have accountability and have their priorities straight
  • Once a man starts to have other men speaking into their life, investing in them, they start to dive in
  • At CEC we see guys who are starting to take their faith seriously, starting to spend time in the Word on a daily basis
  • God is transforming them, which transforms the way they see the world
  • The things that right in front of us that are becoming truth to us they define how we live
  • “If we can get a man to see the Word of God as the thing that defines his live, he starts to naturally step into the responsibilities and roles that God has given him.”
  • What if you oriented your life to your faith instead of your faith to your life?
  • We want to prioritize our faith but our life is our priority, and instead we think how can I squeeze Jesus in?
  • Making Jesus a priority in your life requires intentionality with time in God’s Word, prayer and solitude
  • When you orient your life to the things of scripture, that becomes the drive of your life instead of the other way around
  • Put those spiritual disciplines first before you exercise, before your work week, and suddenly that becomes the drive of your life
  • We have started to engage our high school senior boys in Strong27 mentorships
  • We have seen God change the trajectory of men’s lives because of their commitment to read the Word
  • We have seen guys step into their God-given roles and live life according to what God is calling them to as opposed to what the world is calling to
  • Abiding in Christ is of putting ourselves in a place where the Spirit of God is moving
  • Are you as a man positioning your life where the Holy Spirit moves?
  • Once you start to do that God’s purpose and plan for your life will be revealed to you
  • We can’t accomplish the things God planned for us long ago because we’re not willing to do the little thing first
  • And that means making Jesus a priority, each and every day spending time in the word.
  • If you are being discipled that is great, but don’t forget your call is to go then make disciples as well
  • That pattern should always continue, pray about who God wants you to mentor
  • As you become a better man, the people around you will see that and benefit from that
  • If every man would start praying God who do you want me to mentor, God is going to bring those people forward
  • God has a mission for you and he has created you as a missionary
  • As churches we invest so much time and energy in front door activities that draw people into our church
  • “Jesus’ model wasn’t to draw as many people in as he could, Jesus’ model was spending a lot of time with very few people and sending them out to spend a lot of time with very few people.“
  • If we would change how we do things, God would transform our churches
  • Men of Iron isn’t the magic pill, it’s just a great resource and strategy for making disciples who make disciples
  • If we stop striving to be the mega church up the street and we just make disciples who make disciples guess what? We’re gonna change culture
  • Most churches can’t do what the mega churches do, so for most of us it’s about developing the strategy of disciples who make disciples who make disciples
  • “We have been so blessed by Men of Iron. It was a seed that God planted over the last 12 year years. It’s really changed who we are as a church, what we’re driving for and what’s important to us. So, we just really value your ministry, what you guys are doing, as a partner to the church and equipping the church to accomplish what Jesus called the church to accomplish.”
  • Men, you cannot do this on your own. Let us be a resource for you, contact us today
  • If this podcast has impacted you in a positive way, please take the time to leave us a rating and a review

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