Christian Devotional for Men | Lead Your First Church
Your family is waiting for you to step up and lead.
Every man knows when he is drifting. He can feel when his home is running on autopilot. His wife is carrying the weight. His kids are getting their direction from the world instead of him. Deep down, he knows God called him to more than just providing a paycheck or showing up when convenient.
Ephesians 5:23 (NIV) “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”
Men, your home is your first church. If you will not lead it, someone else will. The world is not waiting to teach your kids about Jesus. It is ready to feed them lies, distractions, and broken values. The enemy is thrilled when you stay quiet, passive, or distracted. But God calls you to be a shepherd in your home, to pick up the mantle of servant leadership, and to stop coasting.
I have lived both sides. I have been the man who worked hard, paid the bills, and assumed that was enough. I thought my family would see my effort and automatically follow my faith. But when I wasn’t intentional, my home drifted. My kids didn’t see a leader; they saw a man who loved God but left the mission to their mom and the Sunday School teacher. That’s not shepherding. That’s checking out.
Leading your first church is not about a stage or microphone. It starts at your dinner table. It starts when you open the Bible with your kids, pray out loud for your wife, and create a home that breathes the presence of Jesus. It is choosing to have the hard talks, to turn off the screens, to ask your kids real questions, and to speak life into your home.
Servant leadership in the home is simple but not easy. It means taking responsibility before blame, and action before excuses. It looks like setting the tone in the morning with prayer, being the first to say sorry after a fight, and being faithful in the little routines your family will never forget. Your kids need to hear your voice call them to Jesus. Your wife needs to know you will fight for her soul, not just for the bills to be paid.
The Bible says the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. That is not about domination; it is about responsibility. Christ laid down His life for the church. He served, sacrificed, and led with love and truth. That is the standard for us. Servant leadership will require dying to your comfort, your distractions, and your passivity. It will force you to ask, “Am I leading my home toward Jesus or just letting life happen?”
Start small if you have to. Open the Bible after dinner. Pray over your kids before bed. Text your wife Scripture during the day. Leadership is built in daily moments, not big events. Your first church is watching you every day, and they will follow the man who leads with love, strength, and faith.
Today can be the day you step up. Not tomorrow. Not after things calm down. God entrusted this family to you. Be the shepherd. Lead your first church.
Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is ownership.
Owning your role as the spiritual leader in your home gives your family the shepherd they need and points them to Christ.
Reflect / Apply / Share
- Reflect – Where have I been passive in leading my family spiritually, and what has it cost us?
- Apply – What is one clear step I can take today to lead my home with Biblical ownership and love?
- Share – Who is another man I can encourage to step up and lead his first church at home?
Bible References (NIV)
Ephesians 5:23 – “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”
Personal Prayer
Lord, wake me up to the responsibility You have given me in my home. Teach me to lead with courage, to love with action, and to step into the role of shepherd for my family.
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus. If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling. To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
#MenOfTheShepherd #menofgod #ironsharpensiron #mensministry #discipleship
Discover more from Men of the Shepherd
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
