21

Jump Start # 3788

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3788

Ezekiel 33:4 “then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.”

 

In our verse today, we find the mighty role of the watchman. He stands upon the walls of the city and his time is spent scanning the horizon. He’s looking. His eyes are the first line of defense for the city. As he sees dust rising off in the distance, he knows that horsemen are coming. Are they friend or foe? He stares intently. He looks for banners waving in the breeze. He listens for the sound of distant trumpets. Is this merchants approaching, or an army approaching? It all falls upon the watchman.

 

If he fails to warn the city, he becomes responsible. If, as our verse identifies, the watchman sounds the trumpet, but no one pays attention to him, then the death of the people is their fault. They didn’t have to die.

 

And, out of this we find several important lessons for us:

 

First. God has a series of watchmen to warn us and keep us safe. The first line of defense is God’s word. Everyone has a Bible. We need to read it and know it. And, as we do, it warns us of attitudes that are not proper. It warns us of choices that are not righteous. We know those verses, yet, when we ignore them and we get into  trouble, it’s no ones fault but our own.

 

Another line of defense are parents. They train, raise and teach their children. Certain shows are a no-no. Certain people are not good influences to be around. And, what parents are doing is establishing boundaries to keep us safe. When we do not listen to our parents, we get into trouble.

 

Another line of defense are shepherds in the church. They are to protect the sheep. There are people who are bad influences. There are brethren who do not teach the truth. There are activities that will weaken us and take us away from the Lord. When the shepherds warn about these things, we are safe if we follow them. But, when we ignore them, we get into all kinds of messes.

 

Second, while we are busy with life, watchmen are looking for potential trouble. We may not see what they see. We are down on the streets, busy in the market places. The watchman stands high on the wall of the city and he is looking out at the horizon. So, the watchman will see things first. He sees things before everyone else sees them. A relationship of trust with the watchman brings safety to all of us. You don’t want a watchman that falls asleep on the job. You don’t want one that sounds the trumpet every time he sees some dust in the air. It may be nothing more than a rabbit. But, when the trumpet sounds, we know to get ready. He has our wellbeing in his heart.

 

The watchman sees what no one else sees. He has a perspective high on the wall that those down in the streets do not have. With the perspective of Bible knowledge, God’s shepherds often will see what no one else sees. They catch things that others miss. They are sharp because they have spent a lifetime in the word of God.

 

In our times today, the watchmen of the church may see things about what some are posting that others do not see. They may recognize trouble in an article, sermon, or blog that others failed to notice. The eyes of the watchman are trained to recognize trouble. Just as a referee has his eyes trained to see a foul, or an out of bounds, God’s watchmen today must be trained. They must sound the trumpet when they recognize trouble.

 

Sadly, some watchmen today recognize who is approaching the city. They know that person as a friend. They don’t see the vast army behind the friend. They approach to take over the city, but no trumpet is sounded. The gates to the city are opened and the enemy is welcomed in. And, just like that a church is taken over, embracing all kinds of foolishness and doctrines not taught in the Bible. How did that happen? Why did the watchmen let this take place? Why were not trumpets sounded? The reason? The watchmen knew who was coming and they were deceived. They thought the one approaching would be good. Or, worse, the watchmen are in on the plans of the approaching enemy.

 

It is said that the Great Wall of China was breeched three times. No one scaled over the top. No armies burst through the walls. Guards at the gates were bribed and the enemy walked right on in. Too many have sold their soul to be accepted, to be big, to be liked, to be popular. And, the enemy walked right in.

 

Third, when a watchman doesn’t want to watch, it’s time to make a change. That’s his job. He may want to be down below on the streets with everyone else. He may want to have fun with others. It’s rather lonely standing at the wall looking out. You miss a lot of what goes on down below. But, the true watchman understands how important his job is. He may not be thanked. He may not be recognized. But, he knows, when the enemy approaches, he’ll be the first to sound the warning.

 

The watchman looking…we need more like that today.

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 3787

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3787

 

Galatians 5:21 “envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

Our verse today is found at the conclusion of the works of the flesh. Here the Holy Spirit identities fifteen specific sins that will keep us from Heaven. It seems that the sins are grouped together in categories. And, we must remind ourselves, that this Galatian letter was written to brethren. We’d think that they ought to know better, but then, do we? It is important to have these reminders.

 

Within our verse are two similar and important expressions. We find: “things like these,” and, “such things.” Those expressions indicate that the list of sins we find here is not the complete list. This is not all that is wrong. Good Bible students know that. We don’t find blasphemy among those fifteen named sins. We don’t find adultery listed. So, the list is not everything.

 

This is why the “things like these” and “such things” is important. Behind all of this is a heart that can discern right from wrong and make application. That’s the key. Some want the preacher to tell them everything. He can’t do that. Making your own application based upon the Scriptures will keep you close to the Lord and His word.

 

Now here are some thoughts for us:

 

First, some things are just wrong. Our culture doesn’t like that word. Today, many have replaced the word wrong, with the softer sounding word “different.” They worship “different” than we do. They see that verse “different” than I see it. And, with that nice word replacement, our times have extinguished the concept of “wrong.” I can’t say they are wrong, they just do things differently.

 

It’s easy for us to get caught up in that same mentality. However, Jesus didn’t have a problem with saying things were wrong. In Matthew 7, our Lord said that bad trees bear bad fruit (17). He again said that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (18). Later Jesus said, “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” (12:35). Bad. Evil. Jesus knew what was wrong. He could identify wrong. Can we?

 

Some things are bad. Some things are evil. Some things are wrong. There are some things that we can simply not go along with. There are some things that will poison our souls. Worship that is not approved by God is wrong. Cain learned that. Aaron’s son died because of that.

 

Second, mixing what is right with what is wrong complicates and confuses our own views. The blending of positives and negatives might work in math class or a lesson on electricity, but they don’t work in faith and our walk with the Lord. There are places where God has placed a stake in the ground. We do well to recognize those places and understand the boundaries that God has established. The mixing of truth and error may seem like a lovely way to bridge the gaps of division, but it’s not the way God wants. When we participate with things that are wrong, it leaves the impression that we go along with wrong. When righteous is doing unrighteous, then the righteous no longer looks righteous. Rather than building bridges with those that do not see things as the Bible teaches, what it does is weaken our voice and make us seem inconsistent and lacking a spiritual backbone.

 

When Paul spoke in Athens, he made if very clear that he wasn’t part of the idol community. You don’t find Jesus in an idol temple, eating with the pagans, laughing and acting as if everything was fine. When preachers participate in activities that are clearly outside the boundary of what the Bible teaches, and nothing is said, privately or publicly, it sure appears that those preachers go along with those things. It is very hard for those preachers to say anything against those practices when they have been a part of them.

 

There comes a time to draw a line and let it be known, this is as far as I go. This is as far as God goes.

 

Third, some in the excitement of the moment get caught up in things and just do not think things though or use discernment. Things like these is what our passage states. Applying principles, defining righteousness, seeing whether something will help me be closer to the Lord helps to understand “things like these.” For some, unless things are specifically spelled out and you can find a verse that states it is clearly wrong, they will never see it. And, the reason they never see it is because they have not thought about “things like these.” They have failed to use discernment.

 

Here’s a for instance: more and more young Christians are declaring that social drinking of alcohol is ok. Bold ones will declare, “there is no verse in the Bible that says I cannot have some alcohol.” And, so off they go drinking.

 

It fails to cross their minds that Proverbs says do not look upon the wine when it sparkles in a cup. Discernment. Then, will alcohol make me a stronger Christian? Things like these. And, just how much is ok? Just don’t get drunk? What’s drunk? Different states have different levels of DUI. What would they have done in the first century without blood tests for alcohol? Is kinda drunk ok? Is partial drunk ok? And, please do not bring up that Jesus turned water into wine. First, alcohol in the first century was so watered down that it wasn’t potent. Our common beer today would be classified as strong drink in Bible times. And, do you realize that Jesus made more than 160 gallons at that wedding feast? Was Jesus becoming the beer guy at the ballgame? And if you use Jesus turning water to wine, what are you going to do with the same Jesus who turned tables over in the temple? Was the purpose of the first miracle, water to wine, to give a green light to drink alcohol or was it the first step in showing that He was God on earth?

 

Things like these. Such things. Discernment. Once one thinks thinks through spiritually, making application, he will find himself standing with the Lord.

 

Rather than just giving us a list of everything wrong, God wants us to be thinking spiritually. Be making applications. Be discerning. And, as you do that, you’ll end up on the right side of things most times.

 

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 3786

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 3786

Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”

 

I write this on a Friday afternoon. This morning I preached the funeral of one of our members. He was at services Sunday and that night the Lord called him home. He hadn’t been sick. It was a real shock to all of us. Such a wonderful man.

 

I believe in all the various layers of things I do as a preacher, and there are many layers, preaching a funeral is one of the hardest on me. Writing. Teaching. Private Bible studies. Counseling. Preaching. Even, weddings. Nothing drains me more than funerals. I’ve done tons of funerals and just about every situation you can think of. I preached the funeral for both of my parents. I preached the funeral of a lady who was 99 years old. I’d did the funeral for a sixteen year old who was killed in a car crash. I did the funeral of a young man who was killed in a drive by shooting. The funeral of elders. I preached the funeral of friends. I preached the funeral of strangers. I spoke at a hospital ceremony for mother’s who lost babies. I have preached a lot funerals. I’ve stood outside at a grave site speaking words in thunderstorms and heavy snow showers, blazing hot summer sun and freezing winter chill. After all of these years I still get nervous doing funerals.

 

I put lots of pressure on myself in funerals. Probably more pressure than necessary.  I want the service to be as close to perfect as it can be. I have three goals in every funeral: comfort the family, honor the deceased, and help the rest of us take it to heart. I sit down and write an original message for every funeral. I may use similar passages, but it becomes a brand new sermon. I wonder if I say enough about the person who died. I wonder if the message is too long. I wonder if the message seems too short. Do I present the Lord in an accurate and positive manner? How do I say something that will help those who are not Christians?

 

I’ve been to funerals where the message seemed too light. I’ve been to some where the name of the person who passed away was rarely if ever mentioned. I’ve seen funerals and you can tell the audience is thinking this is taking way too long. I’ve been to some where it seems the preacher was talking more about himself than anyone else.

 

Writing funerals are the hardest sermons to write, at least they are for me. And, when I am done, I feel like an old washrag that has been squeezed so much that there isn’t a drop left.

 

Here are some thoughts around this topic:

 

First, as Joseph and Nicodemus quickly buried Jesus, I wonder if they paused and said a prayer? I wonder if they quoted any passages from Psalms? Did Jesus have a funeral? As I thought this day, what would I have said, if I was preaching the funeral of Jesus?

 

  • One of the things I’d say was how kind, helpful and better He made lives. He healed the sick, and cast out demons. Parents brought their sick, dying and possessed children to Jesus. He never turned anyone away.

 

  • I think I’d have to mention the preaching of Jesus. He was the authority. Truthful. Personal. Cutting to our hearts, but what we needed to hear. His words had a way of touching hearts and though challenging, they offered hope. That’s the words of Jesus.

 

  • One would have to quote some of the things Jesus said.

 

  • How could we not notice what God had said about Jesus.

 

  • We would have to say something about the manner in which Jesus died. He was executed by the state for crimes he did not commit. His death was unfair.

 

And, within the same family, John the baptist and Jesus, both young, both died violently for doing what was good and right. How would you comfort a family that has gone through double tragedies?

 

The funeral for Jesus. That’d make an interesting study.

 

Second, I’ve learned that grief is a journey and each person travels at their own pace. Some seem to bounce back to a normal routine fairly quickly. Others, like Job’s wife, never seems to recover. Don’t fault some from taking their time on this journey. Be patient and be helpful.

 

Third, as I said this morning in the funeral I preached, there are two fascinating things about obituaries. First, it’s hard to sum up a life in a few sentences. We mention accomplishments, awards and victories. But, what about those thousands of meals together. The vacations. The holidays. The hugs. The prayers. The times worshipped together. The serious conversations. The obit misses all of that.

 

The other thing that the obituary does is that it reveals things that many did not know. We learn about these things too late. “I didn’t know he did that,” is a common expression after the obit is read. Especially among God’s people, we don’t brag about all that we have done. We just don’t do that.

 

It is an honor to be called by a family to say some words about someone they loved so dearly. One cannot take that responsibility lightly. It is a privilege to speak at funerals.

 

My brain is tired, but I have a bit more office work to do before I can call it quits today.

 

Today, I preached a funeral…

 

Roger

 

 

18

Jump Start # 3785

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start# 3785

James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him”

 

In our verse today, James is telling his readers to pray for wisdom. We don’t hear that prayer very often in our public worship. Maybe we ought to. It is easy to confuse knowledge with wisdom. They are close cousins, but they are not the same. Without knowledge there can be no wisdom. But, knowledge alone won’t change a person.

 

Knowledge is facts. Knowledge is understanding. It’s seeing principles and doctrine. It’s grasping dispensations, covenants and commands. Our Bible class start at very young ages teaching the basic facts. We start by singing songs about the books of the Bible, or asking over and over, ‘How many books are in the Bible?’ And, as the child grows, the facts become deeper. But, if we stay on this trajectory a person enters into middle school, high school, college, or even adulthood, with a head full of facts and very little wisdom.

 

James tells us not to pray for knowledge, but for wisdom. The difference between these two words, knowledge and wisdom, can be summed up as facts and application. Knowledge put into practice becomes wisdom. It is wisdom that leads to a change in heart and a change in practice.

 

So, how do we develop wisdom among us?

 

First, in both classes and sermons, we need to understand our audiences. We can be guilty of information overload. Quotes upon quotes. Footnotes as if we are reading a collegiate dissertation. In our audiences are simple people. They are not dumb nor naïve. What they are looking for is how can I navigate through this week in a godly and righteous way. How do I conduct myself among co-workers and neighbors? How do I find hope in the midst of storms?

 

If anyone could have done a deep dive into the background of prophecies, ancient history and mysterious and unusual facts, our Lord was the one. But, He didn’t. When teaching His disciples how to pray, Matthew 6, how simple the words and how understandable the expressions are. One doesn’t have to run to the dictionary to figure out what the Lord was saying. This is not a call to dumb down our messages, but realize who we are teaching and make things so practical that they become useful. That’s when wisdom puts on shoes and changes come about.

 

Second, we ought to read the Bible with the idea of how can I use this? If man is not to live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, as Jesus says, then God’s word must be presented as living, useful, helpful and practical. We live on that word. And, this wisdom aspect could be what’s missing in many hearts, homes and congregations these days. I saw the other day that it takes about 120 classroom hours to earn a PhD. Now, you take a Christian who has been sitting in sermons and classes for decades upon decades. He has more than 120 hours of class time. Yet, he continues to struggle with the same questions, the same sins, the same fears and the same worries, year after year. He’s got the classroom time, but he failed to bridge the gap between knowledge and wisdom.

 

Some of the best students of the Bible have not been the college teachers, but the farmer, the housewife, the mechanic, who have worn out the Bible reading it over and over and over. They know the word of God. Not only do they know it, but their lives demonstrate the word of God.

 

Many of the first preachers in the restoration movement were simple farmers who took God’s word to heart and then preached their heart out. Many had the level of education that we would consider high school,  yet they understood God’s word and they understood people.

 

Third, once you enter the world of wisdom, you see ways to apply what you have learned all around you. God’s word becomes alive and through observing eyes you journey closer and closer to Him. You become challenged. Your thinking cap never comes off. And, in this manner, you move to being a disciple or student of Christ.

 

Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Loaded with facts, it’s seeing the love and grace of Jesus that touches our hearts and builds faith deep within our souls.

 

Pray for wisdom…that is a prayer we all need to pray.

 

Roger

 

17

Jump Start # 3784

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3784

Matthew 5:45 “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

 

We were off to the symphony the other evening to hear Stravinsky’s Firebird. I admit that sometimes when I attend I do not focus so much on the music as I do people watch. We had in the previous two concerts that we attended an old guy sitting next to me who cough so hard, I thought his lung was coming out. It really irritated the guy sitting in front of him and he gave him some stern words as the show was over. But, this time, the cougher wasn’t sitting next to me. As the show was about to begin, two twenty-something females came in about five rows in front of us. One was wearing a strap thing which you could see most of her bare back, but she had a shawl which covered her. I could see that she had a series of sentences tattooed across her back. All I could make out was “I want…” During the intermission, they stepped out and I could read the last sentence tattooed on her back. It read,  “I want sin.” I had to look again because I thought I must of misread that. But, no. There it was, “I want sin.”

 

I don’t know if this was her bucket list tattooed on her, or, what the intention was, but it speaks volumes. I want sin, what a sad, sad thing to mark your body with and worse, to live that way in life. Carefree. Indifferent. Godless. Clueless. Happy as one can try to be, but blind to the realities of God and His word.

 

Some thoughts:

 

First, the Bible declares that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Wanting sin is easy to accomplish. You won’t meet an adult today who has not tasted the bitter fruit of sin. We all have. From the best among us, to the worst among us, we all have sinned. Our sin is what has separated us from God. God doesn’t move, we do. And, when following sin, we move further and further away from God.

 

Why would anyone want that? It must come from a soul that does not believe in it’s Creator. It comes from one who wants to do what they want. It comes from one who does not realize that they are headed rapidly to a judgment with the God they did not believe existed.

 

As the music played in our concert, I kept thinking about what I would say to such a person if we could sit across a table and have a conversation. Where to begin? And, as the thoughts were swirling around I landed on the idea that “God really loves you.” Maybe she had a bad experience with religion. Maybe she had some horrific things happen to her when she was a child. Maybe life hasn’t worked out the way she planned. But God has been there and there has been blessings from Heaven upon her, as Jesus said in our verse today. God’s rain and God’s sunshine aren’t just for the righteous. But the wicked and the evil benefit from God even though they do not believe in Him.

 

Second, rather than tattooing your back with “I want…,” I want…,” “I want.” How much better to pursue, God wants. What I want most times leads straight into sin. It’s when I follow what He wants that righteousness, peace and goodness follows. And, just what happens when a “I want,” person doesn’t get what they want? Most times, they’ll get angry, upset and feel cheated.

 

We know that the first step into discipleship is to deny yourself (Luke 9:23). When people start demanding in church, “I want…,” “I want…, “ “I want,” it won’t be long before they leave. The church isn’t arranged to satisfy all of your wants. The church is not a democracy. The church is to be the bride of Christ. We are to honor the Lord. Selfish Christians don’t do well in a fellowship. Selfish Christians do not do well in submitting to one another. Selfish Christians don’t do well with the Bible. Selfish Christians won’t do well with the Lord.

 

Third, as I write this on a Monday morning, tears are in my eyes. I just got off the phone with the wife of one of our members. He was with us in worship yesterday. He died in his sleep. Sweet, kind and just a good heart was Max. He loved the Lord. He came to us after the pandemic shutdowns. His church didn’t have any services and had nothing on line. He found us on the internet. He started watching. He showed up one Sunday morning. He didn’t know anyone. He and I struck a bond. We got together and studied. I baptized him. He was loved by our church family. Well dressed and always with a smile on his face. Because of him, a few others came. We had a lengthy Lord’s Supper talk yesterday and then I preached. As he left, Max whispered to me, “We had two sermons this morning, but I liked yours the best.” And, now, Max is on the other side.

 

I wonder what the “I want sin” girl would have to say about all that? I know what God says, “Well done, good and faithful…enter into the joy of your Master.”

 

The concert ended and as I was leaving I saw the man who coughs. He was several rows behind us. Lessons all around us, if we will open our eyes and look. By the way, Firebird is an amazing piece to listen to.

 

Roger