24

Jump Start # 1771

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1771

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

 

The interesting thing about parenting is that most folks haven’t spent much time learning about being a parent. Most just get in there and do what they think is right, whether it is or not. And, this is what is so remarkable about all of this. Parenting is the most important job in the world and the people that are doing it are the least trained. We spend more time in learning how to drive a car, than we do how to raise a child. We spend more hours in biology class, dissecting frogs than we do in how to be the right example and learning the best methods of communication and discipline for a child.

 

Here are some common things that we sometimes forget.

 

It is in the home that a child first learns about God.

It is in the home that a child learns to share.

It is in the home where a child is introduced to authority, rules, respect and responsibility.

It is in the home where a child first learns how to deal with difficulties in life.

It is in the home where the child learns what marriage is like.

It is in the home where a child learns parenting.

 

For most of us, it was not in a classroom where we learned parenting, but relying upon our experiences from how we were raised and what we saw in the homes of our friends. Those are the lessons that stuck with us. So, home is our first school. Home is a place of evangelism. Home is where attitudes are adjusted and behavior faces consequences.

 

Our verse today, puts the instructing part of children squarely in the home and specifically at the feet of dad. It is the fathers job to bring them up in the disciple and instruction of the Lord. That very statement implies several factors:

 

First, dads must know the instruction of the Lord. It’s hard to instruct someone when you do not know yourself. This statement shows that dads must first know and walk in the Lord and from that they can teach their children. Dropping the kids off at the church building while dad plays a round of golf is missing this verse. It won’t be long and the kids will pick up on that. Why do we have to go to church and dad gets to play golf? Why can’t we go golfing with dad? That won’t be easy to answer, simply because there is no decent answer to that. It shows that dad doesn’t need God. Dad must be too good for God. Dad doesn’t care about these things. And the sweet question asked late at night to mom will be, “Is daddy going to Heaven?” Know the way. Walk in that way. Then lead others in that way.

 

Second, bring them up in the instruction of the Lord implies spending time with them. A dad may know what and how to instruct the children in the Lord, but he may be so consumed with work and hobbies and he doesn’t have time. Bringing them up means making the time. It means after a long day of work, when you would just love to park in front of the TV and watch ESPN until you fall asleep, the little ones need you. They need you to settle their conflicts, answer their questions, and hear their prayers. They need you to take interest in their lives. This means that dad won’t always get to do what he wants to do. This means there are more pressing matters than the ballgame.

 

Thirdly, bring them up also implies a continual process. There is no “one and done” when it comes to raising kids. You must repeat lessons over and over. Learning is a journey. You must teach so that they can understand. Explain things. Warn about things. Talk about consequences. The way you talk to a five-year-old is much different than the way you talk to a 15-year-old. Shouting, screaming, threatening, demanding, are not the best ways to teach. Scaring the kids may bring the behavior that you desire, but it doesn’t build faith, grow confidence nor help them. It’s hard for parents to deal with the transitional period of raising children. When the kids are little, you literally, control their lives. They go to bed when you say. They eat what you give them. They wear what clothes you put out for them. You control their lives. But then, they grow up. You  can’t do those things to a teenager. Try putting out your teens clothes for the morning. That won’t work. Suddenly, you no longer control their lives. You are shifting to being an advisor. As your kids move out, they are always your kids, but now you are more of a counselor to them. They ask you for advice but basically run their own lives. Parents that do not understand this transition usually do not do well. They end up interfering too much in the lives of their kids. Things get messy that way.

 

Fourth, the way that dad is bring the kids up is in the instruction of the Lord. He’s not following what others are doing. Sometimes this can cause a few bumps in the church. We feel that everyone ought to be doing what I’m doing. We think that we have figured things out pretty well. We got a corner on this parenting thing. Strict bedtimes. Never any sodas. Limited TV. And then our child spends a Sunday afternoon with a family from church. And, oh my! They are drinking Cokes. They have the TV blaring. Those kids get to stay up past 10. You feel that your child has been ruined. How terrible these other parents must be. You tell yourself that your kids will never, ever go there again. But the truth be told, they’ll survive. It’s not nearly as bad as you think it is. The other family does things differently. They can still go to Heaven. They are not doing anything immoral or wrong. We can confuse our way as the Lord’s way. There is no bending when it comes to the Lord’s way. We must stand united on that. But our way may change. It’s interesting to see how the same parents are with the first child and the last child. They have learned some things along the way and are not so bothered by so many things.

 

Bring them up…that’s the call and our charge as parents. Take them by the hand and show them. That’s what we must do.

 

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 1770

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1770

Psalms 127:3-4 “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.”

  Later this week I’m off to Texas to do some preaching about parenting. To prepare for this, I have just completed a mini series here at home on that subject. Parenting is hard. The task before us seems too great for us. Godly parents seem overwhelmed. They want their children to be successful, happy and have friends, but there seems to be so many negatives today. The days of Mayberry are over. Mr. Rogers is dead. And not everyone gets along in the neighborhood these days. Cyber bullying. Sexting. The plague of Porn. Porn sites get more traffic than Amazon, Netflix and Twitter combined. It’s a tough world today. It leaves many parents feeling helpless and hopeless. For many, they just want to go home, lock the doors, pull down the blinds and never leave.

But what we have that helps us is God and His word. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, the apostle reminds us. Young Daniel, away from home, in a foreign land, refused to eat the king’s food. Young Shadrach and his friends, defiantly refusedvthe King’s angry order, even when faced with death. These young people did not have a mom and dad standing beside them, telling them what to do. There is a very good chance that mom and dad were dead in Jerusalem. They had their own faith. They stood on their own convictions. They refused to sell out, compromise and do what was easy and safe. These examples could be our young people in a college dorm away from home. On their own, having to make their own decisions, they had been taught. They knew. This is what parents long for and pray for.

Let’s begin by dismissing some common myths of parenting. We know these things, but still, somehow they linger in our minds.

1. Good parents are not supposed to have any problems with their children. This thought only breeds guilt and comes from judgmental spirits that have forgotten what it was like to have kids at home. I thought Romans said, “All have sinned…” That includes our children after they reach a certain age. Sin always produces problems. Sin always hurts, disappoints and destroys. God is the father in Luke 15. His son became a prodigal. Was God to blame? Should he have been a better father? Dare anyone point a finger at God in this story?

2. My child will be my buddy. I believe it gets to that later on, especially as they move out, mature and are on their own. But while at home, nope! Parents make mistakes when they try to fit in, get along and be the buddy. Buddies have fun. Buddies never get on each other. Buddies don’t have rules. You are declared to be the parent by God. The Lord has given you authority over your home. You set the rules. The home is not a democracy. Imagine sitting around the dinner table and mom and dad discuss finances with the four kids. A vote is taken. Do we pay the mortgage this month or go to Disney? Mom and dad will be out voted on that one. Home is not a democracy. Mom and Dad set the rules. The kids won’t like many of the rules. They may even say that they hate you because of the rules. They may declare that when they move out, they will do just the opposite. That all may be true, but for now, while they are living under your roof, they go by the rules. There isn’t much buddy-buddy in all of that.

3. Teens don’t like to talk. Boy, I’ve heard that one. It’s usually a parent that says that. Have you looked at your child’s phone? Look at the texts. Look at the contacts. Sure they talk. They talk all the time. They may not want to talk to you, the parent, but they certainly talk. The task before parents is to find the avenue and the time to create an atmosphere that enhances conversation. If you are constantly on their back about everything, then they will just shut you down and not talk. Why talk, when all they are going to do is complain, is how some teens feel. Teens are in that transition world of trying to be grown up but still needing guidance and help. They won’t admit it, but they need it. Find ways to talk. It begins by listening to them. Step inside their world. It’s tough today being a teen who is trying to be godly.

4. They know what they are supposed to do. You’d be surprised. You’d think that should know. You have told them enough times that they ought to have things memorized by now, but too often they don’t. So, don’t be shy about where you stand. Draw a very visible line in the sand. Make it crystal clear what is expected and what is off limits. They need to know that following Christ goes beyond the church house, or even your house. It’s everywhere, all the time. Always. Always following Christ. Parents need buckets of patience. There are days you may feel like screaming. There are days you think that they will never get it. But you stay at it. You never give up. You can’t give up.

 

Our verse reminds us that our children are a gift. A gift from the Lord. How wonderful and precious that is. We tend to view our children as “ours.” Actually, they are the Lord’s. He has loaned them to us for a while. So, don’t bury your head in the sand. Keep your eyes and ears opened. Think and pray before you act. Don’t be afraid to say “no,” to a world that is always saying “yes.” And remember, if you do not teach them and raise them right, no one else will. They will certainly learn about the Bible. If not from you, it may be for an atheistic college professor. They will certainly learn about sexuality and love. If not from you, then from a boyfriend or girlfriend. They will certainly learn about the church. If not from you, then from a phony substitute that is based upon feelings and not faith. They’ll certainly learn…the question is, will they learn the right way?

More on parenting to come…

For now, pray and hold on tight!

Roger

 

 

 

20

Jump Start # 1769

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1769

Daniel 5:30-31 “That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. So Darius the Mede received the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two.”

 

Today is Inauguration Day in America. A new president is being sworn in. Some are glad. Some are sad. Some will applaud and some will protest. A changing leadership is something that we find even in Bible history. Our verse today reflects the switch from Babylonian power to another nation, the Medes. All of this came about through the hands of the Lord. Before this, we read back in Exodus that a new Pharaoh took over Egypt who did not know Joseph. That new ruler enslaved the Israelites for a long time. Eventually, that led to Moses leading the people of God out of Egypt. Pharaoh followed with his army. They were all drowned in the sea. The Bible follows Israel into the wilderness and eventually the promise land, but back home in Egypt another ruler had to take over.

 

A new leader often scares folks because of the unknown. What changes will be introduced? Will things get better or worse? Will he do what he promised or will he forget? We get used to things and many do not like change.

 

Facing changes is something that we all go through.

 

A young person starts high school. It’s scary at first. New faces. New rooms to learn. So many new people. But by the time he is a senior, he has gotten very comfortable with things and fears what he must face as he leaves and heads off to college.

 

A person works for years and years at a company. People come and go but it’s basically the same. Years fly by and then one day it’s time to retire. It’s time to leave. That change is hard. Some don’t do well in retirement.

 

Even down at the church house, it’s been the same men who have led the church for years. It’s been the same preacher in the pulpit for years and years. Now, some step down because of age or the preacher moves on. A change takes place.

 

We can get so used to things that we never want things to change but they do. People age and things change. Neighbors move and there is a change. Pets die and there is a change. Companies that you have known for years are sold or go out of business. Restaurants close. Local communities put in “round-abouts” for traffic flow and people don’t like them. The main reason is because “it’s different.” Change. The weather, especially where I live, is always changing. Today, the temp will get close to breaking a record, over 70 in January. But by next week, there may be snow. Change.

 

In this ever changing world we live in, there are some constants. There are some things that will not change. Here are just a few of them:

 

  • God doesn’t change. This is hard for those who do not know God to understand. Some see the God of the O.T. and the God of the N.T. as being different. Some would declare that He changed. No. Hebrews tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God still loves you. God still wants you in Heaven. God still wants to forgive you.

 

  • God’s word doesn’t change. It is still His will and our law. There are portions of it that folks think are dated or cultural and so they want to change what it says. Some do not like what the Bible says about divorce, homosexuality, or even worship. Outdated is what some declare. Not fitting in with modern man is another charge against it. Instead of man changing, some want to change the Bible. But in doing so, especially in their preaching, they are moving away from God. The Word of God abides forever is what Jesus said. Sinful and selfish desires lead folks to move away from the Bible. They want dramatic plays and comedy skits instead of sermons. They want less doctrine and more fun. They don’t want accountability. They want a church that serves their needs. They want a church that puts the “customer” first. God has been moved to a lower status when we start tinkering with His word.

 

  • Our need for Christ hasn’t changed. It never will. In our fast paced, global times, we still sin and we still need a Savior. We have not outgrown Christ nor have we gotten to the point where we can manage things on our own. Sin still plagues us. Worry, fear and doubt seems to loom behind every step we take. We haven’t learned to get along any better. Families are as broken as ever. Attitudes have not improved. We need Jesus. We need Him badly.

 

  • Heaven doesn’t change. It, like God, is eternal. Heaven is God’s home. Moderns have twisted our concept of Heaven into whatever dreams we have. For some Heaven is a fishing pond. Others see Heaven as Disneyworld. Some see it as a place filled with pets. This carnal and vain thinking is based upon us and not God. Heaven is God’s home. It centers around God. It’s not about getting to do all the fun things that I never had time for while on earth. Heaven isn’t different for each person. It’s not the Divine “Fantasy Island.” Those thoughts do not come from the Bible. Heaven is about God. If I don’t like God, like being with God, like the things that God likes, I probably will not only not like Heaven, there is a good chance I probably won’t make it. Heaven doesn’t change.

 

Change. Down here, many things are changing. But there remains some unchangeable things in our lives. You can count upon these things. They were the same for your grandfather and they will be the same for your grandchildren. The same God and the same Bible that those early Christians turned to, remains the same for you. It worked for them and it will work for you. You don’t need newer things. You need that old story about Jesus. Forget the hype about new ways, new ideas, new discoveries, new methods, new truths—they are usually fads that fade in a short time. The Bible has stood the test of time. Men turned to it when in war. People bowed to God in times of fear and conflict. God and His word has mended broken hearts, homes and broken relationships. Prodigals have come home because they could count upon God and His word. People have been forgiven because of what is always there in God and His word. Old sermons that were true to the book still work today because God and His word never changes. God put a stake in the ground a long time ago. It doesn’t matter whether we are American, African, Asian, of this generation or of generations long ago, that stake remains. This is what we turn to. This is what defines right and wrong. This is what we can count on.

 

Hold to God’s unchanging hand…God doesn’t change.

 

Roger

 

 

 

19

Jump Start # 1768

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1768

Job 14:14 “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait unit my change comes.”

 Job 14 presents both a powerful statement and a great question, all in one chapter. The chapter begins with, “Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil.” That’s the powerful statement. Short-lived is enough to cause anxiety, but the short time is filled with turmoil or trouble. Job certainly understood that. His children lived short. They all died one day. His days were filled with trouble. He was robbed. He was heart broken. He lost his health. He lost the support of his wife. His friends turned on him. He was hurting about every way a person could hurt—physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

 

Then, a few verses later, our verse today, comes the great question. Job asks, “If a man dies will he live again?” Job wasn’t thinking about reincarnation. That thought isn’t found in the Bible. If a person lives a short time, is that it? You get in the last inning of the game and that’s it? On top of that, it’s not only short, but it’s filled with turmoil, trouble and pain. What’s the point of all of that?

 

Job’s question is a great one for our times. If a man dies, does he live again? If the answer was “No,” then grab all you can from this life and have as much fun as you can. If that be the case, then who cares about rules, laws and boundaries of life. Do what you want, as you want. Lie, cheat and steal was a name of a board game I played a long time ago. I don’t remember the game, but I can’t forget that title, “Lie, cheat and steal.” That might as well be the theme song of life if man does not live again. If man does not live again, then when a person dies, that’s it. There’s no seeing them again. There is no standing before God. There is no accountability, judgment, Heaven or Hell. An old beer commercial showed two guys fishing from a small boat and one says to the other, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” That’s true, if man doesn’t live again. For most of us, our lives have been lived as losers. We slave ourselves to our jobs to make a little money so we can take a week vacation and spend most of our time tired, worried and stressed. If this is it, we are missing out.

 

But Job’s question is answered over and over in the Bible. Solomon answers it in Ecclesiastes when he says, “yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.” There is a judgment. There is something yet to come. David answered it when he longed to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus talked about this often and His resurrection proved that man lives after he dies. Death isn’t the end. Eternal life is a promise for those who believe and follow Christ. The graves shall open and all come forth, is what we read in John. Eternal life and eternal destruction—but it’s eternal.

 

There are a few things we gather from that thought:

 

First, there is no end to us. Our journey here on this planet will end but we are not finished. We simply switch locations or rooms. We go from the physical world to the spiritual world. The account of the rich man and Lazarus pulls the curtain back and we get to see what no one else does. For most people, they would say that the rich man was buried high on the hill in a nice spot. Lazarus was likely dumped in a paupers grave. But they weren’t there. Their bodies were, but they weren’t. The curtain is pulled and we see Lazarus in comfort in Paradise. We see the rich man begging in agony in the flames of pain. They knew. They remembered. There was feelings, desire and communication. The rich man recognized Lazarus. Does a man live after he dies? These two both tell us “Yes.”

 

Second, this tells us that death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to us. Death is sad. Death leads to separation. Death brings tears and a broken heart. But death isn’t the end. Take the rich man in Luke 16. He died. After death he was worse off. He had no comfort and he had no one to help him. He had no options. He couldn’t change his condition. He begged for the first time in his life. No one came running to his aid. When a person is not thinking right and they consider taking their life, often to end the agony that they are in, they don’t realize that death doesn’t end your life. You move from here, where there are options, hope and chances to a place where those things are not available. Where a person goes after death is based upon what they did while they were alive. Faith, dedication, obedience to Christ will lead to living on with the Lord in comfort. Ignoring God and doing what we want, will find us keeping company with the rich man in misery.

 

Third, where we go and what happens to us after we die, are choices that are left up to us. God doesn’t make that decision, we do. God wants us to be with Him. God wants us to live in Heaven. God wants us to enjoy His home. He wants His home to be our Home, forever. God gives us every reason why we should want that. God warns us what happens if we don’t follow Him. God gives us evidence, proof and a solid path that one can’t miss. God allows us to be part of His family, the church. There we find great encouragement and help. They are not perfect people, but they are striving to walk with the Lord. They understand grace and forgiveness. They know the value of worship and studying God’s word. They want to live with God. But the choice is ours. God won’t force us to be with Him. God won’t force us to bow to Him. God won’t take us kicking and screaming to Heaven. If we don’t want Him, then He’ll let us go. The father allowed the prodigal to leave and go to the far country. He didn’t lock the door and keep him from going. He didn’t stand in the door way and declare, “You’ll have to get through me, first.” He let him go. In the far country, the prodigal had a blast until the money ran out, and there was a famine. Now, no one was there to help him. He was allowed to come home. Some do that. God forgives. Some never do. They stay with the pigs the rest of their life. It’s a choice. The cold reality is that God sends no one to Hell. They choose that for themselves when they turn their back on Him.

 

The amazing thing is that you and I can go to Heaven. There’s lots of places we can’t go. I’ve been to ballgames and I couldn’t get on the field, sit on the bench or be with the players. Not allowed. I went to the White House years ago. I tried to talk a secret service man into going upstairs to the Oval Office. He didn’t even smile. He said, “Sir, I’ve never been upstairs.” I couldn’t go. I have been to many hospitals and have passed the doors that lead to the surgery floor. I couldn’t just walk through those doors, not that I would want to. Not allowed. I was giving some friends a tour of Churchill Downs one day, We were up in “Millionaire’s row” where are the fancy suites are. I was just walking and opening doors and exploring. The next thing I knew I was in the President’s office. I’m certain that I wasn’t supposed to be in there, so we left. Not allowed. But you and I, you and I, CAN go to Heaven. You don’t have to varsity, honor roll, the best of the best. By faith, by commitment, by loving the Lord, you and I can not only go, but we can stay in the most incredible place of all, Heaven. Certainly we are not good enough. Of course, we have messed up many times. But the forgiving blood of Jesus makes all of that possible.

 

If a man dies, will he live again? The answer is YES. Another question we ought to ask is, “Just where will you live after you die?” The answer is based upon your life. Your choices. Your attitude. Your faith. Your heart. Your behavior. What you have done with Jesus.

 

There are things that come along in life that sometimes we miss out on. Twice, I had the chance to be in the background of movies. The first one was Hoosiers. It was filmed not far where I lived. But small kids at home and so forth, I didn’t go. Then, recently, there was the movie, “Secretariat”. They needed people to fill the stands. I was gone too much to make that happen. Missed out. Life goes on. No big deal today. But if I miss Heaven, it will plague me for eternity. There won’t be another chance. There won’t be something that is just as good. We won’t say, “No big deal.” It is a huge deal. You simply cannot miss Heaven.

 

If a man dies, will he live again? Yes.

 

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 1767

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1767

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

  A discussion came up recently about “What makes a good sermon?” Wow, that’s a great topic. Every preacher ought to be concerned with that. Every preacher wants to preach GREAT sermons. Most fear the opposite. If a sermon isn’t great, then what is it? A dud? Boring? Ineffective? A sleeper?

 

What is interesting, is that everyone has in their own mind what they think makes a great sermon. It’s like cooking stew. Every cook has their own take on just what to add and how long to cook it and just what is good. I’ve tasted stew that had sugar in it—a lot of sugar. Sweet. I’ve had some that had some hot sauce in it. It was like eating fire. The cooks that made those stews, loved it. Not me. Not my taste.

 

So, we talk about what makes a great sermon. Years ago I read a definition that said a great sermon begins with a lightning bolt and then goes up from there. Great. What does that mean?

 

Some will tell you that a great sermon can’t be too  long. It’s got to have a great beginning and a great end and the two ends can’t be far from each other. Shorter the better. For some, that’s it.

 

Some will tell you that a great sermon will run through the emotions. You may laugh. You may cry. You may be challenged. You may be touched. I have a sermon like that. It’s one of the few that I actually like. It’s on death. I used to preach it on Friday nights when on the road. Friday night and death—what a combination. It had a few stories. It had some bullet teaching points. It had a joke or two. It had a long look at what happens and where we go. And it ended with Heaven. It was a journey.

 

Some will tell you that a good sermon teaches you the text. Like sitting in a college class, you learn and learn and learn. Words are dissected. Sentences are explained. Information given.

 

Some like sermons with lots of illustrations, jelly as I refer to it. Toast is good, but it’s better with some jelly on it. How much jelly? Too much and all you taste is jelly and not the toast.

 

Some think a good sermon is all Bible and nothing but the Bible. No stories. No laughter. No illustrations. Just plain ole fashioned Bible. Many grew up on that kind of preaching and it work well for them and that’s what they insist makes a great sermon.

 

Some think a great sermon is marching through a text, verse by verse. For these folks, topical sermons are shallow, weak and a not good.

 

Some measure the greatest of a sermon by the outcome. Did anyone respond to the sermon? Did it change anyone? A sermon, for these folks is only good if good comes out of it.

 

Are you starting to see something here? Do you see where I am going? Just about everyone has their own definition about what makes a great sermon and rarely are those opinions the same. So, in the same congregation sits a guy and he wants a lesson that is upbeat, well illustrated and something he can remember. Sitting behind him is a guy who wants no illustrations and just straight text. Beside him, sits the person who is wanting a lecture. Information. Information. And more information. Sitting beside that person is someone who wants a short sermon. He sits besides the person who is looking around at the end to see if anyone is responding. Was it a good sermon?

 

The poor preacher tries every week to figure out what he is going to do. Standing at the door, as people leave, one will tell the preacher, “That was a great sermon.” The next guy says, “You preach too long.” The next person, “I loved your illustration. I will always remember that.” The next person says, “keep the stories out.”

 

I have preached sermons in which I thought, I will never preach that sermon again. It was a bomb. Then comes a person and they declare, “That was one of the best sermons I have ever heard in my life.” No way. Are you kidding? Somehow it touched them.

 

The reason why there are so many diverse definitions to what makes a great sermon is because of our passage today. Sermons are more than lectures. They are more than just giving facts and teaching things. Sermons are intended to persuade people. The point of a sermon is to move us. Move us closer to the Lord. Move us into action. Sermons are to change our thinking. Sermons are to challenge what we think. Sermons are not a rehearsal of creeds, but the teaching of the word of God. Persuading is what sermons are about.

 

So, then, a better question to ask, is, “What persuades you?” “What moves you?” “What motivates you?” “What makes you change?” The answer is different for each of us. Facts are needed because that is the foundation and the substance of faith. We preach Christ crucified. That’s the platform upon which our faith stands. All the parables of Jesus pointed to Biblical principles. The parables made it easier to see those principles. But facts alone won’t move most of us. We need more. We need to see reasons why. We need to understand consequences if we don’t. We need the dust blown out of our ears so we understand the need for Christ. Preaching is more than just reading verses.

 

We are not all the same nor are we all at the same place in our journey. For some, a simple reminder is all that they need. They know, they just forgot. Others don’t know. They have to be taught. They have to see it. They need explanation, reason and purpose. The faith of some is strong. The faith of another is weak.

 

What persuades you? Pressure? Fear? Guilt? Seeing all the dots connected? Understanding the big picture? Going through things slowly and step by step? Looking at the little picture? Explaining things with modern applications? Spelling things out so plainly that you can’t miss it?

 

It’s troubling when someone tells a preacher that only one way works. No stories. No illustrations. No levity. Just facts, facts, facts. Well, that might work well for one person. But that alone may not persuade another. There isn’t one standard format for all sermons. Some preachers use just a few verses and others use a lot of verses. Which is better? Some stay in one text and others bounce around throughout the Bible. Which is better? The gifted preacher will use his talents, wisdom, and knowledge of people to shape a sermon that fits his personality. I use a lot of illustrations. I use humor. I use short bullet points. Those that know me would say, “That’s Roger.” That’s the way I am in and out of the pulpit.

 

We all need Jesus, but we are wired differently. We have different backgrounds and different needs. What works for you may not work for me. I have listened to some sermons and heard people say that it was an amazing sermon, one of the best. What I heard, didn’t do much for me.

 

Persuading people to follow Christ is the goal of sermons. It’s more than giving information. That’s the difference between a speech, a college lecture and a sermon. A sermon is intended to convince you and move you to obedience in Christ.  The preachers of long ago would scare their audiences and shout at them.  That wouldn’t work well with our times today. People don’t like to be screamed at. Preachers today don’t pound the pulpit much anymore. I heard of a guy who was so passionate in his preaching that he put his fist through a chalkboard. I expect folks remembered the hole in the chalkboard more than they could tell you what the sermon was about.

 

So there is no one formula for a great sermon. The is not a certain number of verses that make it right. Below that number is too few and above that number is too many. There is no “rule” about illustrations, levity or even length. The preacher must understand that the power of conviction is in the word of God and not in him. It’s not his ways that are convicting, but the message of God. The preacher must remember that he is not a standup comedian, nor in a dramatic role in a play, but is a preacher of God’s word. Long ago, Indiana preacher, Knowles Shaw, was known as the “singing evangelist.” He was gifted as a singer. He wrote many hymns. He was known right in the middle of a sermon to break into a song. He didn’t lead the congregation in that song, he sang a solo. Folks gathered far and near to hear him sing. No one knew just when or what song, but before the night was over, he’d give a free concert. On this side of history, it seems that he was giving too much attention to himself and not the Cross. The expression, “Hide yourself behind the cross,” simply means, at the end of the day, we need to see Jesus and not you, Mr. Preacher. You are not in the spotlight. This is why we do not applaud sermons. It’s not about the preacher. This is not a performance on stage. His voice is simply persuading us to follow Christ. The sermon is all about Christ. First, foremost and the end, it is Jesus. Don’t forget that, Mr. Preacher.

 

Be careful with younger preachers. They are tender and learning. A thoughtless loudmouth going out the door, can crush the heart of a young preacher all because he told a joke and the person doesn’t like jokes in a sermon. Be careful that we don’t make our definition of a great sermon the only way a sermon can be preached. Be thankful that the person is  pouring his heart into trying to teach God’s word. At the door is generally the worst time for a critical review. Let a day pass. Call the preacher for lunch. Talk kindly with him. Express your concerns. Don’t destroy him. Help him. Maybe he needs to pull back on illustrations. Maybe he chose the wrong way to say something. Be his friend, not his enemy. Polish him. Improve him. But be careful that your definition of a great sermon doesn’t become the only definition of a great sermon.

 

Persuading people—that’s what it is all about. This preaching stuff is a lot harder than some realize, especially when you stand before hundreds of people and everyone has their own definition of what makes a great sermon. And there is the preacher, and he has his own definition as well.

 

In every sermon there are five factors:

1. There is the sermon that the preacher wants to preach

2. There is the sermon that the preacher studied to preach

3. There is the sermon that the preacher actually preached

4. There is the sermon that the audience heard preach

5. There is the sermon that the audience wish he had preached

And on a good day, all five are the same.

 

Persuade people…

 

Roger