Christian Gifts for Men: 12 Gifts He'll Actually Use

Men are hard to shop for, and Christian men can be harder. Most of the guys I’ve served alongside in men’s ministry didn’t want another Bible on the shelf next to the three they already owned. They wanted something they’d carry, use and keep: a good tumbler for the truck, a journal for their quiet time, or a devotional short enough to read before work.

These are my favorite Christian gifts for men: dads, husbands, grandfathers, sons and the young man just starting out. Most of them aren’t books at all. Order by early December so they arrive in time. If you only have a minute, start with my top three.

Christian gifts for men compared

How I chose: I looked for gifts men actually use day to day, built around a verse or a habit that keeps them pointed toward God.

Best everyday Christian gifts for men

1. Best Overall: Proverbs 3:5-6 Engraved Compass

A compass engraved with Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of those gifts that gets kept for decades. It works on a hike, and it carries a message every man needs: trust God, not your own understanding, and He will make your paths straight. I love it most for moments of transition, like a graduation, a first job, a move across the country or a son’s wedding day, when a man really is picking a direction. Add a handwritten note inside the wooden box and you’ve given him something he’ll pull out and show his own kids someday. There’s also a version with a stamped leather case:

2. Best Everyday Gift: Strong and Courageous Tumbler

From Christian Art Gifts, this one rides along to work, the job site or the ball field. The double-wall stainless steel keeps coffee hot through a long morning, and Joshua 1:9 is laser engraved, so it won’t peel or fade after a few months. That verse, “Be strong and courageous,” is one I’ve seen men cling to through layoffs, diagnoses and hard seasons at home. A tumbler sounds like a small gift, but he’ll see that verse a dozen times a day, which is more than most of us can say about the Bible on the nightstand.

3. Best Journal: Genuine Leather Bible Journal

The men I’ve seen grow the most usually write things down. A good leather journal gives him a place for sermon notes, prayers and what God is teaching him. This one has a genuine leather cover made in the USA, so it ages well and picks up character the more he carries it. Because the notebook is refillable, he can swap in a new one when it’s full and keep the cover for years. It lays flat on a desk or a truck console, which matters when you’re writing with a cup of coffee in the other hand. For a lighter option, Christian Art Gifts makes a zipped vegan leather journal with Joshua 1:9 on the cover:

4. Best for Teens and Young Men: Soul Statement Leather Cross Bracelet

Teenage guys rarely ask for faith gifts, but a lot of them will wear one if it looks good. This leather bracelet with a simple metal cross is low-key enough for school, practice or a part-time job, and it adjusts to fit most wrists. In youth ministry I watched small things like this spark real conversations, because a friend asks, “What’s that mean?” and suddenly he has a chance to talk about his faith. It’s a popular pick for confirmation, baptism or a birthday, and it’s an easy add-on for a grandson you don’t see as often as you’d like.

5. Best Keepsake: Cross Necklace for Men

Some men aren’t into bold jewelry, and that’s exactly why this one works. The small stainless steel cross sits close under a shirt collar, and the Cuban chain gives it a solid, masculine look without being flashy. Stainless steel holds up to sweat, showers and everyday wear, so he won’t have to baby it. For a lot of men, a cross worn every day is a private reminder of whose they are, and that’s a meaningful thing to give a husband, son or father.

Best small gifts for men

6. Best for Readers: Strong and Courageous Bookmark

If he reads, he needs a bookmark, and most men are still using a gas station receipt. This faux leather bookmark is debossed with Joshua 1:9, and the black and tan with a tassel looks sharp sticking out of a Bible or a hardback. At about 6.5 inches long, it’s sized to fit most Bibles and books. It’s an inexpensive gift that works well tucked inside a bigger one, like a new Bible or one of the books further down this list.

7. Best for Groups: God Is Greater Than the Highs and Lows Keychain

You may have seen the little symbol on car windows and T-shirts: a vertical line above a pair of angled lines, which reads “God is greater than the highs and lows.” This keychain puts that reminder on his keys, so he sees it every time he leaves the house, heads into a hard meeting or comes home tired. It’s small and affordable, which makes it a great choice when you need a gift for a whole group, like a men’s Bible study, a coaching staff or a youth group’s senior class.

8. Best for New Drivers: Motorist Prayer Visor Clip

Handing a teenager the car keys is one of those moments that sends parents and grandparents straight to prayer. This small cross visor clip carries the traditional motorist’s prayer, asking God for a steady hand, a watchful eye and safe travels. At about 1¾ by 2½ inches it clips to the sun visor without swinging or blocking the view. It’s a sweet way to tell a new driver, “We’re praying for you,” and it stays in the car long after the excitement of the license wears off.

9. Best for His Bible: Leather Bible Cover for Men

A Bible that goes to church every Sunday, plus a men’s group and maybe a job site, takes a beating. This leather cover protects the corners and spine, and the suede lining keeps the Bible from sliding around inside. The pockets hold pens, a notebook, bulletins and reading glasses, and the carry handle makes it easy to grab on the way out the door. It fits large print and study Bibles up to 10 by 8 inches, so measure his Bible before you order. If he’s a hunter, add a set of camo Majestic Bible tabs and a card with a few Bible verses for hunters.

Best Christian books for men

10. Best Devotional: Stand Strong: 365 Devotions for Men by Men

Short, practical and honest. Stand Strong comes from Our Daily Bread, and every reading is written by a man, so the stories feel familiar: work stress, raising kids, friendships, failure and second chances. Each day opens with a passage of Scripture and takes about five minutes, which is about right for a guy reading at the kitchen counter before he heads out. It’s a great first devotional for a man who has never kept a daily habit, and a solid refresher for one who has fallen out of it. A deluxe edition with room for notes is also available:

11. Best for Spiritual Growth: Disciplines of a Godly Man

This is one of the books I’ve recommended most in men’s ministry. Pastor R. Kent Hughes wrote it for men who want to grow but don’t know where to start, and he gives each discipline its own chapter: purity, marriage, fatherhood, friendship, prayer, worship, integrity, work and more. He doesn’t pile on guilt. He shows that godliness is something a man trains for, the way an athlete trains, with steady habits over time. It’s ideal for a men’s group to read together, one chapter a week. Read my Disciplines of a Godly Man review.

12. Best for Men in a Rut: Wild at Heart

Wild at Heart has started a lot of honest conversations between men. John Eldredge argues that every man has a God-given desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live and a beauty to love, and that a lot of men feel restless because they’ve buried those desires to stay safe and comfortable. It’s especially meaningful for a man who feels stuck at work, at home or in his faith. Not every reader agrees with all of Eldredge’s views, so it’s a good book to talk through with a friend. It pairs well with a camping trip or a morning in a deer stand.

Want to give him a Bible?

If a Bible is the gift, see the best Bibles to give as gifts, which includes the ESV Men’s Study Bible. For a men’s group, The Bible in 52 Weeks for Men is a great yearlong study.

My final picks

Shopping for the rest of the family? See Christian gifts for women, Christian stocking stuffers and my full Christian gift guide.