Jump Start # 1272

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

  This verse has been on my mind lately. I’ve been reading a book entitled, “Autopsy of a deceased church.” One of the common denominators among dead churches is that preachers move in and move out rapidly. They don’t come and stay. The author, Thom Rainer, noticed a cycle among preachers:

• Year 1: Honeymoon
• Years 2-3: Conflicts and challenges
• Years 4-5: Crossroads, part 1. This is when many preachers leave.
• Years 6-10: Fruit and Harvest
• Years 11 and beyond: Crossroads, part 2.

I’m not sure what I make of his cycle. It seems too simplistic and it certainly isn’t true in many cases. It’s doesn’t fit my preaching career. The first congregation I was with for about two years. Then to Greenwood, Indiana for 15 years. Then to Kansas City for 10 years. Now, back to Indiana and starting my 8th year. What kills this cycle is that family situations and relationships with people and leadership within the church is different in every place. No two places are the same. No two places have exactly the same blessings nor troubles. Some congregations are old and they feel old. Some are very active and busy. Some need guidance. Some just need the barn door opened and you to get out of the way. Not only are congregations different, but so are preachers. We can be a strange breed. We have egos. We have ideas and plans. We get tired. We get our feelings hurt. And as we age, we change, hopefully for the better.

There are several congregations that are looking for preachers right now. That’s a common thing. Preachers move. Preachers die. Our passage helps us to see a few things that ought to be helpful in understanding what the preacher is supposed to do. We need reminders of these things.

Paul gives us four wonderful concepts:

• Be sober in all things. This is defining and describing the character of the preacher. Sober carries the idea of seriousness. All Christians are to be sober. This has nothing to do with alcohol, but everything to do with clearness of thought and vision. The work we do is serious. The preacher is not the local comedian. He is presenting the Holy God upon the Throne of Heaven, not the stage of a local theatre. Our words are serious. We deal with life and death situations. Sin, souls, Heaven, Hell are not to be taken lightly. I want a preacher who will not throw punches, but with kindness, tell me the truth. I need to know. Sober doesn’t mean sour, ugly, mean, or grumpy. We deal with the Gospel. That very word means, “Good news.” Some almost apologize for telling us good news. I like a preacher that smiles. I like a preacher that is kind. I like a preacher that works up a sweat when he’s preaching. Lincoln said he liked preachers that looked like they were fighting bees. That’s my kind of preacher as well. Sober. Sober in all things.

• Endure Hardships. Preaching isn’t a cake walk nor is it for the faint of heart. Hardships come from many places. Some are internal that no one ever notices. It comes from the prayers and tears that are poured out as he tries his best to find the right words to lead people to Christ. Some hardships come from brethren. They ought to be the preacher’s greatest cheerleader, but often they are not. Critics catch every misused word. They find every typo in print. They ride the preacher, expecting perfection, even though they are not close to that standard themselves. Hardships can come financially. Our times are the best for preachers and what they are paid. I’m treated like a king where I’m at and that bothers me often. But for many good preachers, they struggle financially. The brethren don’t see the need to pay the man very much. He never complains. He works hard for the Lord. Brethren live in fine homes, vacation to exotic places and drive the newest automobiles, while the preacher struggles. His kids need braces but he knows that he cannot afford that. His kids must go to community colleges because that is all they can afford. It hurts, but he continues on. Then there are those external hardships. People who consider his views to be too narrow. He doesn’t fit in with many because he is “the preacher.”

In an interesting contrast in this context, Paul reveals that the congregation will not endure sound doctrine, but the preacher is to endure hardships. He is doing what the congregation won’t do. His heart and hide bear the marks of hardships. To a young Timothy, these words might involve prison, beatings and eventually death. They did for the beloved Paul. Endure. Hang in there. Quit complaining. You are doing what you signed up for. Do not throw in the towel. Endure.

• Do the work of an evangelist. Evangelize. Preach. Teach. Use every medium you can. Reach every person you can. Not all your teaching is done to the congregation. Not all takes place in the church building. Not all your work is done on Sundays. Do this work. Often, a congregation fails to understand what this work is. They think the preacher is the one to give rides to the airport, because “everyone else is working.” What do they think the preacher is doing? NOT WORKING. He is called to help someone move. He is there to help paint. He is viewed as the church handyman. He is the one to put shingles on the church building. He is the one to cut the yard around the church building. He is the one to pick up trash, lock the doors and do everything but count the money. Again, more and more places are getting away from this kind of thinking. It still prevails among some. What the congregation sees on Sunday morning is the easiest part of preaching to me. It’s all the phone calls, studies, visits, emails, research, writing that takes place behind the scene that most never know anything about. Most wouldn’t know how class books are made. They are just “done.” Do the work preacher. Work hard. Work long. Wear yourself out in service for the King. A lazy preacher is a bad preacher. A sloppy preacher isn’t much better. Pay attention to details. Put thought into what you are doing. Have a schedule. Teaching and preaching takes preparation. It takes time to study, think, write, research. It is a balance between spending time with the books and spending time with people. Both are needed. Both are important.  A 9-5 guy probably won’t do well. Get busy preacher. Do the work.

• Fulfill your ministry. Finish what you have started. We understand the expression “the fulfillment of prophecy.” That simply means the prophecy came to be. What was said, became reality. Peter said, “This is that” concerning the prophecy of Joel. Fulfilling your ministry means bringing it about. Don’t be just talk. Show folks. Be an example. People shouldn’t be complaining about the character, work habits, or attendance of the preacher. Fulfill. Finish. Show folks. Be the example. Be the leader. Be the first one.

Thank you for letting me share these thoughts. Have you told your preacher that you appreciate what he does? You ought to let him know that. Does he feel alone in what he is doing? Does he know that he has your support, confidence and prayers?

The role of preaching is important. It is important to God. It ought to be important to us.

Roger