Men’s retreats are an excellent way to bring the men in your community closer to God and to each other. Retreats encourage fellowship, rest, and renewal among people who are often too busy and worn-down to pursue the goodness of these things. If you’re looking for men’s retreat themes for 2017 to maximize the quality of your event, read on.

1. Men After God’s Own Heart

The great King David was called a ‘man after God’s own heart.’ Now, David was far from perfect; he was just as human as the rest of us, and we see many of his mistakes in scripture. But God clearly gave David this name for a reason.

David delighted in the Lord. He relied on Him completely both in times of prosperity and in times of struggle. In this manner, he set an example that the men of this generation should strive to follow. And of course, it all points to our ultimate example for everything in life: Jesus Christ.

2. Protect This House

“Protect This House” is more than the catchy slogan of Under Armor. It’s a phrase that points to one of the most important roles for men in the Bible – being the head of the household. Men are hardwired to protect the people they love. It is in their nature to lead and to take charge when things are falling apart.

These unique tendencies, because of sin, can often be neglected or misused. Some men are overly aggressive and quick to anger. Other men are simply apathetic, not caring about their families at all. What would it look like for today’s Christian men to rise up and fulfill the role that God created for them?

3. Unstoppable

The chances are, most of the men who attend your retreat are fans of superheroes. What is it about superheroes that fascinates us so much? All humans seem to be captivated by the idea of people who are unstoppable, because that is what we all want to be. We long to shed our human limitations and become something greater.

The good news? As believers, we can be something greater. We can be unstoppable, because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. God gives us all the strength that we need in this life. Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

4. Fishers of Men

In Matthew 4:19, as Jesus is calling His first disciples, he tells them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Like many of today’s men, these disciples were fond of fishing. They were simply doing what they loved, following their livelihoods, when Jesus called them to a greater purpose.

We later see that Jesus called His followers to make disciples of all nations, and that purpose still remains for us today. “Fishers of Men” will challenge your attendees to drop everything and follow God’s will, just as the disciples did.