24

Jump Start # 1814

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

Jump Start # 1814

Philippians 2:25 “But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need”

The last two Jump Starts have explored the working relationships between elders and preachers. There is a special relationship and bond that is shared among them. They are after the same things. Together, through encouragement, teaching, example and influence are trying to build up the body of Christ. Their goal is a strong church. Wonderful things come from a strong church. Worship seems more passionate coming from a strong church. The care among the members seems more genuine coming from a strong church. It’s harder for the devil to get a foothold in a strong church. Teachers, future leaders seem to be easier to find within a strong church.

 

Strong churches do not just happen. They are not based upon size. I’ve seen large churches, that were weak and indifferent. I’ve seem small churches that were powerful. But I’ve also see the opposite. I’ve seen small churches that were dead and large churches that were thriving, touching lives and making a difference.

 

What makes a strong church? Everyone wants to be a part of a strong church, but how does it happen?

 

First, it doesn’t just happen. It has nothing to do with location, size, or the building. It has everything to do with hearts, faith and putting the Lord first. Strong churches come from strong families and strong personal lives. What happens outside of the church building is an indication of the strength of the church. Are folks playing around? Are they flirting with the devil? Are they feeding their souls? Are they being serious about their commitment to Christ?

 

Second, strong churches are made up of strong families. Marriages that are solid, spiritual and helping each other and those around them. Children that are being raised to know the Lord and to stand with God’s people. You can’t build strong churches from weak families. Families making wise spiritual choices. Families that are thinking about the Lord in all that they do. This becomes the backbone of strong churches.

 

Third, strong churches are built upon solid teaching of God’s word. The Bible is taught. Many circle around the Bible, much like Joshua marching around Jericho, around and around they went, until they finally went in and conquered it. For some, they never go in. They talk about superficial things. They talk about pop psychology. They talk about issues that do not bring about much change nor commitment. Strong faith comes from strong teaching of God’s word. The hood is raised on passages. Intense applications are made. Practical, relevant and useful teaching of God’s word becomes the backbone of a strong church. Strong churches don’t chase the latest fads. They don’t spend time discussing things that does not matter. They see issues as they really are. They make adjustments to deal with current situations and problems and find Biblical answers and Biblical ways to address these problems.

 

Fourth, strong churches work together. This is where our passage fits in today. Paul was sending one of his trusted co-workers, Epaphroditus, to help the Philippians. Paul described this brother as a “fellow worker” and a “fellow soldier.” He wasn’t the Savior. He wasn’t a superhero. He wasn’t going to fix all of their problems. He wasn’t to come in and do everything for them. He was a worker, a “Fellow-worker.” This is the key element of a strong church. Strong churches work like a team. They have different levels of talent, all of them are used. They have folks who are good at one thing and others who are good at another thing. Together, like a team, these members pull together and do what they can. There isn’t time nor room for jealously. There isn’t time nor room for pride. There isn’t someone who tries to run the whole show. There isn’t someone who gets their feelings hurt because they didn’t get a shout out from the pulpit. There isn’t someone who thinks it has to be done their way or else they will leave. None of that is found nor fits in a strong church. There are attitudes that reflect Christ. It isn’t about them, but the glory of God.

 

Paul was sending Epaphroditus, one of many that he had as fellow servants. There was Timothy and Ttus. There was Luke and Apollos. There was Silas. There was Fortunatus and Stephanas. Paul chose Epaphroditus. He was proven. He was worthy. He would be a team player. Working with one another is a characteristic of a strong church. We have different talents. We have different strengths. We need each other. Strong churches recognize that. It’s not just the preacher that does it all. It’s not just the shepherds that do it all. Everyone pitching in. Everyone contributing. Everyone busy. Everyone doing what they can for the Lord. The best player is of little value if he is sitting on the sidelines. He needs to be engaged. He needs to be in the game. Someone pouting because they didn’t get their way isn’t the trademark of a strong church.

 

Fellow workers working—that’s the key of a strong church. As in so many organizations, as it is too often in the church, the few do the most and the most do little. It shouldn’t be this way. There’s enough to go around for everyone to be busy and contributing to the kingdom of God.

 

Working together—that’s the key. Your part, your faith, your commitment, either adds to the strength of the church or the lack of those things is just another reason why the church isn’t strong. You can’t have a strong church and weak members. You can’t have a spiritual church and worldly members. We want everyone else to get on board and make the church great and powerful. What about us? What are we doing? It begins at home. It begins with my choices, my faith, and my heart. It begins with me.

 

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 1813

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

Jump Start # 1813

Titus 1:5 “For I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

Appointing elders—this was something that Paul wanted Titus to do. Congregations need qualified men to lead them. The American arrangement of “business meetings” isn’t ideal. It allows “unqualified” men to lead and set the direction of the congregation. It also sets the tone for a spirit of democracy and instead of a congregation following leaders, a congregation leads itself. On paper, that sounds like the best alternative when there are no elders, but what happens when a Laodicea, a lukewarm church, or a Sardis, a dead church, leads itself? There were just a few at Sardis that were walking with the Lord. Democracy there, would continue the path to the spiritual cemetery.

 

In our Jump Start yesterday, I wrote about what preachers want from their elders. That relationship is two way. I have in my 37 years of preaching worked with some fine men who served as elders. I have worked with some that should never have been elders. Today, I work with the most amazing group of elders that I have ever witnessed. I sent my elders an email yesterday and asked them to share some thoughts that they felt was important in the preacher-elder relationship. Specifically, I asked them, “What do elders want from a preacher.” This morning I share their thoughts. I encourage preachers across the land to take these words to heart. I encourage elderships to share these words in an open discussion with your preacher. The elders and the preacher works as a team. Together, great things can happen.

 

My elders wrote:

 

  1. To be connected to the congregation. There is so much more to the preacher’s work than what happens in the pulpit. The preacher needs to be engaged, building relationships, building trust so that he can influence with his teachings. This happens through personal studies, hospitality, investing time in the lives of the members. Elders gain great value on the spiritual status of the church family through the insights from the preacher’s involvement in the congregation.

 

  1. To be a learner. The congregation needs a preacher who is always seeking to study God’s Word and not be satisfied with where he is with God’s word. The congregation benefits by a preacher who pushes them to learn and this only happens when he pushes himself.

 

  1. To be applicable. Sermon after sermon on fornication to a congregation of senior citizens may not yield great benefits. Deeply using God’s word to bring applicability to where a congregation is in its spiritual journey is important.

 

  1. To be open. Elders benefit from a preacher that is transparent about where he is in his work. Some times we get tired and discouraged in our work. It’s no different for a preacher. It is helpful for preachers to talk to elders when they need their batteries recharged so we can work together.

 

  1. To be a partner. The shepherd’s work is to encourage the faithful to remain zealous, rescue the weak back to God’s word for strength and protection, and to feed the new Christians to become mature in God’s word. The elder cannot do this work effectively without the partnership of the preacher. The preacher’s work in the pulpit and in the Bible class, and the personal studies helps tremendously impact this effort.

 

  1. To be Scripturally sound and bold. Too many times in today’s church services, members think the preacher must be a ‘rock star’ for “church” to be interesting. Members sometimes act as though they are watching a TV show and want to grade the preacher’s style and approach like the judges do on The Voice. Is a well thought out, well organized , well delivered sermon important to make a connection to the audience? Absolutely! An elder will take a preacher who is rock solid in Bible soundness and boldness over a “rock star” presenter of fluff any day of the week.

 

  1. Additionally, the preacher needs to understand and respect the roles of the elder. He needs to understand   the differences in their work and instead of working against the elders, be a team player. The preacher needs to be the friend of the elders. Openness in communication and trust between them is essential.

 

That’s the thoughts from my elders. Awesome and amazing, just as I expected from them. It helps the relationship to spread some sugar around. The congregation needs to see and hear that the preacher and the elders not only get along with each other, but that they praise each other and are united. Just like kids do at home, there are times when some members will try to divide the preacher against the elders. They will try to work around and behind the scenes to get what they want. Don’t get into that mess. Support, defend, and back each other. Be united.

 

The preacher needs to listen to the elders. Too many of us do all the talking and we can be pushy and bossy at times. Just because you happen to be the one who gets paid to stand behind the pulpit, Mr. Preacher, it doesn’t mean you know the Bible better than anyone else. Those elders have years of experience and knowledge. It’s good to listen to them. They will help you grow.

 

I’d expect most preacher woes come from poor relationships with the elders. Developing real shepherds, not future CEO’s, is the work of the church. Teaching, showing and living God’s way is what we all must be doing.

 

File these articles. Keep them handy. Refer to them. Share them with future preachers and elders. Take a look at them once in a while and remind yourself what the relationship should be. Preachers often get together to study and talk and learn. It might be good for elders to do the same, even elders from different congregations. Learn from one another. We must move past the idea that “I don’t need to be taught.” That’s a dangerous spot for any of us to be in.

 

Things not going well down at the church house? Maybe these two articles, yesterday and today’s, can be a start that will open the lines of communication and help things get better. We want the kingdom to grow. We want folks to walk with the Lord. We want to fill Heaven up. When we all have that spirit, then we can roll up our sleeves and work together, side by side, just as the Lord intended.

 

Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 1812

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1812

Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you”

Paul’s words to Titus are one of the few places that we find elders and preachers in the same context. The preacher Titus was to appoint elders in every city. This was by direction of the apostle. One wonders how Titus could do that. In far too many places today, no one is qualified and no one wants to do the work. Years pass, and the church limps along without elders. In some places, it’s been generations since elders were appointed. It may be that some of these appointed elders had special spiritual gifts, including “faith” that made them qualified. Having qualified elders is the design that God wants and it ought to be the goal of every congregation. A goal, not a mere wish. Plans to accomplish that goal and specific classes designed to get the men to see the great value of this work out to be a part of the teaching program. Teaching men the proper understanding of this role is important. Elders do not run the church—God does! They are not CEO’s of the corporation. They are shepherds among God’s flock. Their work is to tend to the sheep. Healthy, growing sheep is the goal of the shepherds.

 

Elders and preachers—there is a special relationship between the two. In some places that relationship is not healthy. Suspicion exists and secrets are held from each other and an atmosphere of trying to undermine the other is felt by the members. Poor relationships between the elders and the preacher is the cause for many preachers to leave.

 

Having said that, here are some things that preachers like to see from the eldership. This is from the preacher’s perspective. Don’t read between the lines here. I’m not jabbing at my guys. We have a beautiful, transparent, trusting relationship. But I know too many in other places that do not. So, what would a preacher like to see from the elders?

 

  1. Trust—not every thing said is a backhanded attack upon them. Believe in the preacher. He is gifted, experienced and knowledgeable. Allow him to do his work. Don’t handcuff him by trying to do his work. Compliment him when he does well. Support him. Defend him. Don’t allow the members to take cheap shots at the preacher and get away with it. Open the barn doors and allow him to preach and teach.

 

  1. Be a team—there are definite lines of differences between the preachers work and the elders work. But much too often, there are things that would help each other if the communication was better. Often people will come to the preacher with things before they come to the elders. The preacher knows things. He should not keep secrets from the elders, especially if it involves the spiritual well being of the members. That is the concern of the elders. Before a conversation begins, the preacher ought to tell a person, if what you are going to tell me affects spiritual things, the elders need to be informed about this. It helps the preacher’s work to know who the elders are working with. Sermons can be directed towards problems, questions that people have. Don’t fight against each other. Be on the same team. Help each other. Talk openly and freely. Share information. Help each other. Holding secrets indicates that there is a lack of trust.

 

  1. Create an inviting atmosphere for ideas and suggestions. The preacher often travels to other congregations and he may get some great ideas that would help out back home. If the elders are always limiting the preacher’s input or saying “no” to everything he suggests, then he will get greatly discouraged and feel like they do not trust him or are interested in what he is saying. Ideas also come from elders. The preacher needs to listen to their ideas and not think that he is the only source of good ideas.

 

  1. Personal attention—it’s nice once in a while for an elder to ask the preacher how he is doing. How are things at home? What can the eldership do to help his work? Just knowing that they care about you as a person is impressive. Good elderships know that if the preacher is troubled because of finances, worries or problems, it will taint the work that he does. The preacher who is true to his colors and humble will not take advantage of this. If he does, again, the trust factor will take a hit.

 

  1. Learning together—it’s great when the preacher and the elders have their own classes together. Study deeper topics and subjects that will help them do their work in the kingdom. Raising the bar on themselves will help the overall spirit and work of the congregation. Make a list of things that need to be studied out. Invite the preacher to lead some of those discussions. Learn from one another.

 

  1. Become friends—the relationship between elders and the preacher is not the same as in the work setting. You are brethren. You are in fellowship. You have hearts and a work that is united and tied together. The closer you become as friends, the better your relationship grows. Go out to eat and just get to know each other. Be in each other’s homes. Don’t always talk about the church and troubles and what needs to be done. Develop a friendship. Do things together. This will carry over into your work together.

 

Often there is an fear between the eldership and the preacher about the preacher leaving. Every time the preacher leaves town to preach, the eldership wonders if he is trying out at another church. The preacher often fears that if he says the wrong thing in the wrong way, he will be tossed out. That uneasiness is like walking on ice. Everyone is guarded and careful about what they say. No one ever reveals all the cards in their hands. This can be eliminated by both parties being open and honest. If the eldership likes their preacher, let him know that you want him to stay for the next decade or more. If the preacher likes what is going on, let the eldership know that he has no intention of leaving. Being honest, transparent puts everyone at ease.

 

The preacher and the elders. Their work is different but they still can and should work together as a team. Together, side by side, powerful things can happen. Fighting against each other, the congregation comes apart at the seams.

 

Share this article with your preachers and elders. Begin a healthy conversation about that special relationship that they ought to have. Good can come about when attitudes are right and the glory of God is what everyone is after.

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 1811

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1811

Hebrews 11:24 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”

Our verse today is a familiar one. It’s like watching a favorite movie or listening to a song that we have heard so many times that we can sing a long with it. By faith Moses refused. By faith Moses chose. His faith and his choices were noted in Heaven. What he chose was right over comfort. The easy thing to do was to live in the Palace as an Egyptian. The easy thing to do is stay in the city. The right thing to do was to be with the people of God. The right thing was to live as a nomad in tents away from Egypt. Moses could not choose God and stay in Egypt. To be with God, he had to be with God’s people.

 

Our lives are nothing more than the results of our choices. Our choices have consequences. Our choices often cannot be undone without serious pain and often disappointment from Heaven. I know couples right now who are trying to decide whether or not to stay in their marriages. They are unhappy and miserable. The easy thing to do is to think of self and do what makes one happy. That isn’t always the right choice. Deciding which college to attend is a huge decision for a high school student and his family. Sometimes the offer of a scholarship colors their eyes to whether or not there is a thriving congregation to attend in the area. So many young people lose their faith, their virginity, and their sense of morals while away in college. They leave with a degree in their hand but no faith in their heart. Four years of atheistic attacks upon their faith and four years of hanging out with godless friends have crushed any desire they once had in worshipping God. They find and marry someone from the university and they skip down the road of happiness without any thought to following God. Within five years, the marriage crumbles and divorce looms. Why? How did this happen? The answer is simple. Choices.

 

Our passage reminds us of several key aspects of making godly choices.

 

First, Moses was trained well. “When he grew up, refused…”   The choice to turn his back on Egypt was not made by his parents, but by Moses. But in many ways, they did make this choice years before as they raised him. They had not listened to the king’s edict. They had put faith in God above the law of the land. They did what was not politically correct, popular nor easy. Moses grew up learning to make the right choices. This is the job of parents, not the church. Teach them. Don’t always make the choices for them. Put them through some situations where you have them think out decisions. The first decision is not always the right one. The easy decision is not always the right one. Make choices based upon glorifying God. Add God to your choices. What would God have you to do? What would people think who saw you? Would they be encouraged to follow God or would your example disappoint them and discourage them?

 

All of this starts early. It begins when they are young and grandma gives them $20 for their birthday. Off to the store to buy a $30 toy. A lesson was taught. A lesson was learned. Spend all that you have. Buy more than you can afford. Nothing about saving. Nothing about giving. It’s all me. Those early days are when the lessons begin.

 

Second, Moses wasn’t afraid to say “No.” He refused. That’s a choice. That’s a hard choice. That takes more than faith, it takes courage and confidence. This is where many fail. They can’t say “No.” At a party, a can of beer is handed to a young person. He can’t say, “no,” so, he drinks. Alone with her boyfriend, the passion becomes too intense and she can’t tell him “No,” so off goes the clothes and the line of right and wrong is crossed. A grown sibling, constantly comes into your life needing money. He has been a problem and is covered with problems. Unable to say “no,” you continue to enable is poor choices. Just a few pages after Hebrews 11, comes James 4. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Resist. Refuse. Say No. These are all part of learning to make the right choices. A Moses who couldn’t say “no,” would have stayed in Egypt. He wouldn’t want to upset Pharaoh’s daughter. He wouldn’t want to disappoint Pharaoh. He would have allowed their feelings to decide for him. Sometimes a person must draw a line in the sand. He must say, as Joshua did, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” This is even true with brethren. Sometimes folks down at the church house can’t make up their minds and can’t move on what they ought to. Go along with them, or refuse and stand with God. Refusing may hurt the feelings of others. You may have to do that to please God. God or Pharaoh? Can’t please them both. Moses refused to be called an Egyptian.

 

Third, Moses chose God. The passage sounds like he chose ill-treatment. That didn’t come until after he chose God. His choice was God and all that comes with God. It meant leaving. It meant walking by faith and not being sure where he was going. It meant trusting God. We try to work all the details out so plainly that we leave nothing to trust. It’s all there. Our choices all mapped out. Our lives all figured out. Abraham journeyed not knowing where he was going. Moses left Egypt to travel through a wilderness. These were choices of faith. I will do what God says, even if it is hard.

 

The ill-treatment that followed Moses was an advancing Egyptian army that was in pursuit to harm them. The ill-treatment was the trials and troubles that they experienced in the journey to the promise land. Hungry. Thirsty. Tired. It made some wish that they could turn and go back to Egypt. It made some think that life as a slave in Egypt wasn’t all that bad. It was. They forgot.

 

Ill-treatment still follows those that decide to follow God. It may be that you don’t get that job because you “don’t fit in.” The fitting in is nothing more than crude talk and immoral behavior of the others. No, you don’t fit in. The ill-treatment may mean you don’t make the team. You don’t make the team because you can’t go to all the games because they are on Sunday and you want to worship God. That’s a choice. Ballgame or God? Too many have chosen the ballgame. It may be that you are talked about at school. It may be that you are not included in the inner circle of popular people. Moses made a choice. He chose God. That choice came with consequences. Yours will too. The consequences may be ill-treatment. It may be hard. But if you have chosen God, you have made the right choice.

 

Fourth, Moses made a choice that was not based upon his comfort or happiness. What a contrast of words. Ill-treatment and passing pleasures. Abuse or fun. Tough times or happiness. The world bows down to the gospel of happiness. Be happy. Do whatever you want to be happy. Leave a marriage if it makes you happy. Leave obligations if it makes you happy. Think of yourself. You deserve it. That message is the most believed message today. People get married because someone makes them happy. When they find someone else makes them more happy, off they dance chasing that person. They leave churches because “I don’t like the message.” What message do you like? Usually, it’s “less doctrine and more fun.” Church-lite is what folks are wanting. I want God but I want to stay and have fun in Egypt. I want the palace and God.

 

The choice of Moses was based upon faith. It was based upon God. The Bible is full of examples of those who choose God over the fun or the easy way. The first step of discipleship is to deny yourself. We’ve not stressed that enough. Without denying self, I will always pick what I want. Once I have denied self, I will always pick what God wants.

 

It’s the likes of Moses that enabled John to say, “Be faithful until death,” in the book of Revelation. He was not talking about remaining a Christian until you die in your sleep. He was talking about the fires of persecution. Be faithful, even when you are caught and put in prison. Don’t take the easy way out. Don’t deny your faith to save yourself or fit in. Be faithful. Be faithful when a sword is put to your throat. Be faithful when the doors open and the lions come out. Be faithful, even if it costs your life. There is not happiness in that. There is nothing easy about that. This is where faith takes us. Doing the hard thing because it is the right thing. Apologizing when the easy thing is to just ignore the person. Going out of your way to talk to someone who is different than everyone else. Helping someone who has never helped you. Refusing to make fun of someone. Standing up for what is right. Doing what is right.

 

Moses chose. It wasn’t easy. It isn’t easy today. You or God? If you make your choices based upon you, then you will always make the wrong choice. You will make the easy choice. Your choices may cost you your soul.

 

By faith…that’s the key.

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 1810

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

Jump Start # 1810

Exodus 18:17 “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you are doing is not good.’”

 

Poor Moses. What a job he had. From morning until evening there was a line of people needing to see him. They had disputes and they wanted Moses to inquire of God about them. All day long. Day after day. Problems. Problems. Problems. Moses was sitting in the world’s first complaint department and there was a lot to complain about.

 

Our verse today, are the words of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. He saw what was going on and it wasn’t working. He knew both Moses and the people would become weary. He came up with a plan. Teach the people the laws. Then, delegate. From thousands, to hundreds, to fifty, various levels of judicial leaders who can do what Moses was doing. The big stuff, the tough ones, would still go to Moses. Great plan. Great lessons for us.

 

First, Moses listened to his father-in-law. That stops many of us. We wouldn’t do that. There was a relationship of concern, compassion and friendship. Jethro cared about Moses. Jethro wasn’t trying to undermine Moses, take over Moses’ spot or shine the light on himself.

 

Second, Jethro, not only saw that the current system wasn’t efficient, he had thought of a plan to make it better. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to point out problems. Jethro had a solution. He thought it out, presented it well and Moses bought into it.

 

Third, Moses was trying to do too much. There are many modern Moses’ today, especially in the church. I’ve been one myself. Delegating is hard. It’s easier, faster just to do things myself. Elders can be burdened with too many trivial tasks that someone else can do. Preachers can fill the day with office work that really isn’t necessary for them to do. From morning until evening, people stood in line. Moses wasn’t getting anything else done. His time was tied up listening to the problems of the people and trying to guide them in the right way. That, too often, sums up the work of shepherds. All day long, listening to disputes and trying to put out the fires caused by them. No time for planning. Little time for shepherding. Disputes. Disputes. Disputes. The work is weary and taxing. Also, by what Moses was doing, it wasn’t equipping others to do what they could. Let go of the reins, and allow others to help out. It will make them feel needed, and it will allow you to do what you ought to. I’ve finally listened to my own sermons on this one. I found a great helper in our congregation who takes care of our Jump Start books. She puts them together. She fills our Jump Start station. She mails them out. I was doing all of that. It’s hard to let go, but one needs to.

 

Sometimes in the church we feel as if the only folks that can do anything are those with a title. One must be an elder, deacon or preacher to be allowed to touch anything and do anything. The apostles told the church in Jerusalem to find seven trusted men to take care of the widows who were being neglected. They put these seven in charge of that task and the apostles went on to do what they were supposed to do. Here, often lies the problem. We have trouble putting others in charge of a task and walking away from it. We have to oversee them. We have to micro-manage them. We have to keep our fingers involved somehow. When we do this, we have not lessened the work load. We have actually added to it. Now, we find ourselves managing people who were doing what we once did. Get out of their way. Let them do things as they see. Moses didn’t reject Jethro’s idea. It is healthy to create an atmosphere where others can make suggestions and bring in ideas. They see things that we may not. We may be so busy dealing with disputes that there was not time to think about a better system.

 

Fourth, our ideas are not the only ideas that work. That’s a hard lesson for many of us. How easily it would have been for Moses to say, “What I’m doing is working. We’ll just keep things the way they are.” It wasn’t the best way. It was killing Moses.

 

Fifth, we need those who recognize when a task is too heavy for one person. Many churches are seeing that now and are using two and three preachers. Decades ago, that was unheard of. Now, people see that the quality of work and the amount to get done is much better with two working side by side rather than just one.

 

There are some serious considerations that must be looked at before a church brings on a second preacher. Disasters have taken place because little thought was given to this. Hiring a another preacher should be done with the full cooperation of the current preacher. If the two preachers do not gel the work will blow up and both preachers may leave. The current preacher needs to be involved in the selection process. Many meetings and phone calls are necessary to see if the relationship between the two will work. How they feel about one another can prove to be a success or a disaster. Egos, work habits and what is expected needs to be worked through. How well they can work together is important. Are the two gong to be equals or is there a ranking order? What’s the purpose of the second preacher? Is he the future? Are the two preachers similar in age? Lots of things to be ironed out and talked through. When it works, it is beautiful. When it doesn’t, it’s ugly. Hiring another preacher shouldn’t be seen as allowing the other preacher to take off more and relax more. It ought to be seen as the church doing more than what it was before. New ideas. New hands on deck. More help. More people visited. More people classes taught. It’s about doing more.

 

When we fail to recognize that a task is too great, a person will either get discouraged and quit or break down from burnout. Too great. Too much. Too heavy. Those are the words of distress and the call for help. It shows in people’s eyes. Some will never say anything about it. Moses didn’t. Had it not been for Jethro, Moses may have just broken down. Jethro saved him. We need to see that in others.

 

The Jethro approach also works well at home. Poor mom feels like Moses. All day long she is loaded with housework, disputes with the kids, often, juggling doctor appointments, kid’s practice schedules and even working outside the home. She cooks. Then she must clean. The kids are off playing. Dad is buried in ESPN. Have the kids help around the house. Little ones can’t do much. But bigger ones can. It’s good for them to learn how to do things. Dad can help too. It’s good for him to do things. Teaching the kids at home, prevents laundry disasters when they go off to college. It helps them when they have their own apartment someday. It also helps mom out. It gives her time to focus upon things only mom can do.

 

The Jethro approach is something that really works. It all started when Jethro saw something, thought it out and made a suggestion. Be thankful for the Jethros’ in your life. Listen to them. They may be on to something.

 

Roger