Jump Start # 2941

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

I was listening to my oldies the other day. Peter, Paul and Mary’s very political song, “Where have all the flowers gone?” came on. It’s a sad, sad song about the young soldiers who were killed in Vietnam. Where have they gone, echoes throughout that song.

I want to put a twist to that song and ask, “Where have all the preachers gone?” Our fellowship is facing a coming crisis because of a lack of preachers. There have been many preachers, both young and middle aged who have quit. And, on top of that, fewer and fewer younger men are stepping up to preach.

Preaching has always been God’s chosen method to push His message out to the people. God did not raise up writers. God did not choose videos, artists or other means to communicate. God chose preachers. Noah preached. Moses preached. David preached. The prophets preached. The apostles preached. John the baptist preached. And, our Lord preached. Our verse today asks a pointed question, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” The role of the preacher is to proclaim the message of Jesus. It is not to be the office administrator of the church. It is not to be the church’s errand boy. It’s not to be the official representative of the church. His role is defined as reprove, rebuke and exhort. Preach the word is what Timothy was told.

Will we get to the point that we don’t need preachers? The Scriptures do not show that. Our passage does not indicate that. We need preachers.

So, why is it that there are fewer and fewer preachers these days?

First, brethren need to take a long and serious look at how we treat preachers. The awful and shameful stories abound about the criticism, ridicule and emotional abuse that many preachers endure. Shepherds need to take a nurturing role in helping preachers. Care needs to be given to the preacher’s family. While the pay for preachers has increased over past generations, the benefits have not. After thirty or forty years, what does a preacher have? And, much, much too often, as a congregation desires to have a younger face and voice in the pulpit, the older preacher is released, let go, fired without any thought about what will happen to him, nor for his decades of service in the kingdom.

Getting an earful of gripes every Sunday and heartache from leaders who do not want to lead or have vision, some just give up. Why put myself through such pressure, agony, knowing that there is no job security and at a moments notice you could be replaced.

I’d suggest that shepherds take one Saturday morning and have an open conversation about what they are doing with their preacher. Put some thought into what he does and what he goes through. If you want to keep your preacher, then you ought to show it. The church ought to show it. Let’s be honest, many quit because of the way they are treated. And shame on any of us who are the cause of that.

Second, we need to restore the honor of preaching among our young men and their families. Much too often we hear, “There are other ways to serve in the kingdom,” which is true. Serving as a shepherd is incredible. Serving by teaching is great. But if every young man went down that road, where would the preachers be? Moms and dads need to take a longer look at what it means to put the kingdom first. Stop thinking about paychecks, nice homes, fat retirements and put more thought into the Lord and the most incredible work of preaching His word. Preaching is hard work. It’s more than a job, it’s a life. It’s not something that you leave behind at the end of the day. It takes a person who is self driven. It takes a person who likes to read. It takes a person who can communicate. It takes a person who loves people and is comfortable talking to others. It takes a person who loves helping others. It takes a teacher at heart. It takes a disciple at the core.

When a man gives one Wednesday night invitation a year, believes he knows how to preach and thinks he’s got preaching down, what a mistake and dishonor he makes. Because I can change the spark plugs in my car, does not make me a mechanic. Because I can put a bandaid on a cut does not make me a doctor. Just giving a short lesson once in a while is not all there is to preaching.

A congregation ought to allow younger men to speak more and more. There ought to be an openness to help those who are giving lessons. They should spend some time with the preacher. An atmosphere and a culture needs to be developed within a congregation that loves good preaching and honors the work that preachers do.

Third, some of what we are talking about falls on the preacher. Some run every time there is some criticism. Get a backbone, preacher. Remember those reformers who were burned alive for what they believed in. Remember those early disciples who were killed by lions for what they believed. So, brethren drag their feet. Help them. So, some leaders don’t lead. Help them. So, some can’t see beyond tomorrow. Help them. You are fighting Satan and the powers of darkness. God is on your side. Quit? Quit to do what? Find a better job? Find more money? Find people who do not complain? You want to trade preaching for working in a toxic office where the conversations are about getting drunk and sleeping around? You think you’ll find happiness there? Now, if a person’s heart is not into what he is doing, he ought to get out. Worse than having few preachers is having a preacher who really does not want to preach. Mortgage payments, kids at home, and unable to find anything else, some stay in preaching even though their heart has left long ago. They are in it for the money. They will do as little as possible and it will show after a while. Such a person will do everyone a greater service if he simply found something else to do. If your heart is not into what you are doing, then you won’t devote the excellence that it requires.

But before one quits, talk to an older preacher. Talk to one who has preached for decades. He has stories, and they are not all funny. He’s been there. He’ll remind you that Paul told Timothy to “endure hardships.” Don’t run. Don’t quit. Take a breather, but get right back into the fight. All of us have scars. All of us have had disappointments. All of us have made mistakes. And, all of us have seen the joys of people changing their lives for Jesus. Endure. Endure hardships.

What will happen if fewer and fewer preachers are busy in the kingdom? There will be a downward affect. The kingdom overall will survive, but that may not be the case for some individual congregations. Rather than getting stronger and better, weaker and fewer may be the result.

Where have all the preachers gone…that’s a good discussion to have. And, from that, maybe some needful changes can take place.

Roger

Jump Start # 2091

Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

We are in the season of Gospel Meetings. There is a passage in the Old Testament, around the time of David, that says, ‘in the spring the kings went off to war.’ In our days, in the Spring the preachers go off to preach. I was just with one church for a few days and now I am with another church, preaching every night.

Some have wondered about the value of these things. Some have wondered if the days of Gospel Meetings are over. Few visitors come. Often, many of the members do not come. Some see little good that comes from these efforts. Through the years, the length and concept of the meetings has changed. There was a time when they lasted two weeks or longer. Every night folks would gather down at the church house to listen to a visiting preacher. Then, in time, it was shortened to a week long meeting. In many places now, it’s Sunday to Wednesday or, Friday to Sunday. Some see where this may be headed. They fear that the time will come when they disappear all together. Is the Gospel Meeting on the endangered species list?

Here are some thoughts from my perspective about Gospel Meetings:

First, our world seems busier today. You’d think with all this modern technology, we’d have more time, but it’s just the opposite. We’ve squeezed more and more into our schedules and we are running all the time. Kids are busy these days. As soon as the school day ends, they are off to practice or a game somewhere. We seem to be working longer hours and doing more than ever before. All of this means that we are tired. Getting everyone down to the church building in the evening is a chore. It’s hard. By the end of the week, families are exhausted.

Second, good things happen when the word of God intersects with honest and good hearts. That’s the parable of the sower. The seed that was planted in the good soil produced a harvest. That still happens today spiritually. When men and women gather to listen to God’s word, good things happen. They are taught. They are challenged. They are reminded. Their fears and doubts are driven away. They build foundations upon the rock of Christ.

God hasn’t given up on preaching, even though the modern religious community has. From the early days of Noah, Moses, through the prophets, the apostles and of course, our Lord, God has sent forth preachers. The proclaiming of His word is the means that God chose to communicate. How will they believe without a preacher, is what our verse asks. God could have sent videos. He didn’t. He could have sent pictures in a book. He didn’t. He used words. Even when showing John the glories of Heaven, he was told to write in a book what he saw. He wasn’t told to draw pictures. Words. Words that carry meaning. Words that can be defined. Words that can be remembered. Words that can be quoted. Words that can be translated. Words that can be copied. The preached word is valuable to God and it must remain that way with His people.

Third, it’s good when the church gathers. I tend to think those early churches in Judea were found in places where folks saw each other every day. Back then, people went to the market every day. Every day you shopped for that day’s food. Every day you’d likely run into someone from the congregation. Today, we are spread out. Today, we may not run into each other until we are back at the church building. Being with each other several nights during a week is a good thing. Fellowship reminds us that we are not alone. Fellowship encourages us. The more we are with one another the greater our bonds and our love is for each other.

Fourth, listening to a different voice is helpful. We understand this in other areas of life. We don’t have one station on cable, there are hundreds. We don’t eat at the same place every time. We go to different places. A fresh voice can remind us of things that we know we ought to be doing. Getting to know and listen to other men who have studied and taught God’s word is helpful and good. Most of us preachers rarely get to hear anyone else. We are always preaching. It’s good for us to sit and listen. It’s good for us to see how others preach. We, also, learn and grow by listening to others.

Fifth, the purpose of meetings may have changed in recent years. There was a time when many visitors came to Gospel meetings. Many were converted to Christ in such endeavors. That doesn’t happen as much. This has caused some to wonder if the days of these meetings are over. Instead, the focus has turned to encouraging the church. Strengthen the brethren is what Paul did when he returned to some of the churches that he had started. We continue to do that today through the preaching of God’s word.

Are Gospel Meetings successful today? It’s hard to answer that unless a person first knows what’s the purpose and the intention of the meeting. If it’s to fill the house with visitors and convert many, then that tells you what kinds of sermons you expect and need. A church ought to pass that on to the visiting preacher. If the purpose is strengthen the church, then that tells you what kinds of sermons need to be preached. Success is determined if we reach our intended goal. Too often, there is no goal. A church has a Spring and Fall meeting just because they always have.

Adjustments in length, addressing the purpose will make these meetings more useful and helpful. Just to have one because we have always had one, is not a good reason. Consider different formats. Put some thought into who you are inviting. Find a theme that fits the church. Put thought, effort and energy behind the meeting.

Then, follow up. Did you get some visitors? Follow up with that. When the week is over, don’t act as if it never happened. Connect the next Sunday sermon to the meeting. Repeat some of the thoughts from the meeting week. Keep it going and build upon the momentum.

It’s good for the shepherds of a church to sit down with the visiting preacher and share ideas. Ask questions. Learn from each other. Help each other. We are all in the same kingdom and we all want the kingdom to grow.

In the Spring, the preachers went out to preach…

Roger

Jump Start # 1195

Romans 10:14 “How will they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

I’ve been thinking about preaching lately. I’ve been doing quite a bit of it lately. Out of the past eleven days I have preached 17 times. The audiences have been very encouraging and interested. I’ve meet many new people and have spent some time with some very dear friends from years ago. The love for God and His word is impressive.

Preaching is something that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve spent the past three and a half decades working at this. It looks easier than what it is. The easiest part, at least in my book, is standing behind the pulpit. By then all the work is done. The research, thinking,  praying, typing, digging out thoughts, chasing rabbits mentally, answering questions in your mind, getting the books out, forming, shaping, and putting the final touches on a sermon is done. Behind the pulpit is simply the delivery. It’s rather like cooking. There is a lot of steps into making a good meal. Mama works hard. She calls the family, and they rush in and enjoy the meal. Only Mama truly understands what it took to bring it together. Happy faces and full bellies is the greatest compliment to any cook. For the preacher, it’s open hearts that bring a person closer to the Lord. It’s doubts removed. It’s faith strengthened. It’s hearts that are motivated and challenged. It’s better lives and better churches that serve the Lord. That’s the greatest compliment to the preacher.

Preaching is much different than simply giving a speech. Many excel in public speaking but they don’t do so hot at preaching. There is a difference. There is an added dimension to preaching that makes it so unique and special. Preaching is about heart. Preaching involves convictions and faith. It’s persuading. It’s more than revealing facts, it’s changing minds, and wills, and convictions. This is accomplished by the living word of God intersecting with an honest and good heart. When those two meet, great things happen.

Our verse today is composed of three questions. They are progressive or connected in nature. One cannot believe unless there is something to believe in? The calling upon the Lord involves coming to Christ by faith. Faith rests in Christ. They can’t call if they have not believed. That’s the first question. That naturally leads to the next question. How will they believe if they have not heard? This shows us the mechanism by which faith comes. One hears the word of God and they believe that. That naturally leads to the third question in this verse. How will they hear without a preacher? If there is nothing to hear, then they have nothing to believe, which means they cannot possibly call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. It all starts with the preaching of God’s word.

Preachers are to preach God’s word. That’s what Paul told young Timothy. Preach the word. Do the work of an evangelist. We preachers need to be reminded of this. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we get busy doing other things and forget what the main job is, preaching the word. Office administration, taking care of church buildings, being the church social butterfly is not preaching. A person can get very busy doing all those things and forget about the preaching part. It’s the preaching part that builds faith and strengthens hope in the Lord.

Preachers preaching the word implies that they must spend time with the Bible. It’s hard to teach what you don’t know. Digging deeper and deeper into the word of God is the key to understanding. The preacher must stick his nose in the books. Brethren have to understand this. Sometimes folks see the preacher’s car at the church building and they think he’s not doing anything, so they stop by to jaw. A regular habit of this kills the study time that the preacher needs. You can help your preacher by finding out what study materials he needs and buy them for him. Books to a preacher are like toys to a kid. He loves them, needs them and uses them.

However, preaching isn’t solely a research project. The preacher is not to spend his days stuck in libraries. He is to preach the word. That necessitates an audience. The preacher must be around people. He is to teach, encourage, preach in all avenues that he can. He’ll do this in the church building. He’ll do this in living rooms. He’ll do this in coffee houses. He’ll do this before hundreds of people and he’ll do this one on one. Teaching. Showing. Explaining. Building faith. That’s the work.  Being around people, the preacher must understand and know people. He not only knows God’s word, but he understands people. He understands what moves them and what is important to them. He’s in the people business. Any preacher that doesn’t like books and doesn’t like people will make a poor preacher.

His goal in teaching is not just to share information but to get the listener to believe. That’s what our verse is driving at. How can they believe if they haven’t heard and how can they hear without a preacher? The preacher is the vehicle that transports the word of God into the hearts of the audience. It’s the belief in Jesus Christ that the preacher is after. That is his accomplishment and that is his goal. A believer will change. A believer will become. A believer is the makeup of a disciple.

Preaching the word. We must open the barn doors and let our preachers out. Encourage them to preach. Help them find people who are interested in listening. This is the means where by the church grows. There is no other way. Teaching and converting is God’s only method of growth. We can never out grow this, move away from this, nor replace this. Packed houses of untaught people who are being entertained is not the goal that God wants. He wants disciples. He wants believers. That is accomplished by the preaching of His word.

And how will they hear without a preacher? Be a friend and a help to the young men who want to preach. Sure they’re green. Sure they drop the ball a few times. But nurture them. Help them. Be there for them. They are filling a great service in God’s kingdom. You are helping the future.

Many of my best friends are preachers. I love them all. They help me be a better preacher. God bless those who want to spread the Gospel of Christ.

Roger

Jump Start # 930

Romans 10:14 “How will they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

Paul makes a direct connection between God—faith– belief-preaching– listening. Preaching is the medium in which the word of God was heard and understood. Without the word, there is no faith. Without the preaching of the word, people wouldn’t know. Remember, this was written in a day in which the New Testament was still being written and when few, very, very few would have copies of the Old Testament. Preaching was the key. This is how people knew.

Originally, preaching was about sharing the message of God to listening ears. Today, it seems preaching is about administration, growing churches, putting out trouble among members, budgets and meetings. It seems that many have come to expect those things. I for one rebel against such notions. Preaching is about the word. Preaching is about sharing the word of God.

I’m finding more and more, a growing segment that has no connection to any preacher, of any kind. Which in turns means that they have no connection to a church. They seem to get along fine like that until there is a death. A funeral is planned. The funeral director asks the family about who will conduct the service and panic sets in. No one knows a preacher. No one has any connection to a preacher. If they are lucky, some second-cousin’s girlfriend’s dad used to preach and he is connected. When that doesn’t happen, they call a stranger. It happens. It happens a lot. It is awkward all the way around. The preacher doesn’t know the family and especially the deceased. The family knows nothing about the preacher. Everyone is hopeful. The family wants the preacher to put mama in Heaven. The preacher, if he has any conviction and any conscience at all, can’t do that.

I thought about that recently. My son, who preaches has been called to preach the funeral of strangers. I have done that many times as well. I can’t imagine going through life without knowledge of any preacher. My best friends are preachers. I know tons of preachers. We call each other. We bounce questions off each other. We share reading lists and ideas and articles and sermons. The presence of preachers reminds us of the Word. The Word reminds us of God and eternity. The more we are reminded the better. Could it be that is why some do not know a preacher? Could it be that the reminder makes them feel guilty and ashamed? Could it be that they are so busy with the here and now that they have forgotten about the eternal? Could it be that they don’t want to be reminded? Could it be that life is good until mama dies? Then, an unknown preacher is called. He says a few words. We are convinced that mama is in Heaven, because she was mama and she made chocolate chip cookies. Why wouldn’t she be in Heaven? Right? Then the funeral is over. There is no need for the preacher. We go about our way living empty and shallow lives and doing all we can to get ahead and be happy. Isn’t that what life is all about? How tragic. How vain. How false.

There is an old saying that the only time people need church is when they are hatched, matched and dispatched.

Here are some things a preacher can do for you:

1. He can help you learn the story of the Bible

2. He can give you useful passages that will help you fight temptation, raise your family and be the servant of God that you are supposed to be

3. He can help you get stronger in the Lord

4. He can help you become a productive servant of the Lord

5. He can give you depth and insights that will help you for a long, long time

6. He can recommend great books to read

7. He can help teach your friends and family the gospel

8. He can show you how to find answers and study the Bible

9. He can bring comfort that only comes from God’s word

10. He can answer questions

What he can’t do is live the message for you. He can’t believe for you. He can’t tell you what it is that you believe. He can’t make you be a Christian. He can’t forgive your sins and he can’t put you in Heaven.

How well do you know your preacher? How often do you use your preacher?

Paul said, “How will they hear without a preacher?” How will they?

Roger