28

Jump Start # 1839

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1839

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

Our verse today is such a simple concept. Follow the leader. Follow the example. Paul expressed this many times. In 1 Cor 4:16, “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” He told the Philippians, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.” The Hebrews were told, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith” (13:7).

 

God is not interested in originality. Those who want to blaze their own trails much too often leave the Bible pattern to do that. That never impresses God. He wants us to follow Christ. He wants us to follow those who have followed Christ. And before us are all kind of footprints.

 

First, there are the divine footprints of the Lord. We see Jesus through the Gospels. We take note of how He conducted Himself. We see how He taught. We see His compassion. We learn. We change and become. We forgive as He has forgiven us. We reach out as He taught in lessons like the good Samaritan. The best example is always Jesus.

 

Second, there are footprints of the men and women we read about in the Bible. We see both good and foolish choices. These stories leave footprints that lead to God’s approval or God’s disappointment. The farmer who tore down his barns, is more than a story, it’s a series of footprints of a selfish man who died without God. Those same steps and those same attitudes bring the same disappointment today. We see the steps of a couple like Priscilla and Aquila who heard Apollos preach. Apollos wasn’t fully accurate with his message. He didn’t mention anything about baptism in Christ. Instead of walking away and telling others. Instead of threatening him, this couple took him aside and explained and taught Apollos. That took courage, hope and confidence. They have left footprints for us to follow as well. Taking cheap shots as one walks out the church door is not the footprints that they left. We can do better.

 

Third, there are footprints of Christians we have known. For many of us, our parents, grandparents have left us amazing footprints of dedication, commitment and faithfulness to the Lord. They walked with the Lord. They sacrificed. They hung in there in difficult times. They showed us how to do the same. It often wasn’t easy for them but they knew what was right and there was no turning them.

 

We have known others in our life who were amazingly great examples. Christians were worked hard. Christians who were patient with others. Those who taught and taught the word of God. Those who were the glue that held a congregation together. They opened up their homes for hospitality and singings. When we were just starting out in our journey, they encouraged us. They opened the door for many of us who are preaching today. Our first lessons. Our first classes. Our first bulletin articles. All these came about because of older Christians who believed in us and gave us a chance. They were the ones who patted us on our backs. They were the ones who praised us. They gave us books. They gave us their time. We are where we are today because of the many great Christians who helped us. Many of these folks have moved on to be with the Lord, but their memory and their faith is precious and dear to us today.

 

Fourth, we are leaving footprints ourselves. We may not realize this but we are. There are others, younger in the faith, who now see us. There are those in the world that we work with and live among that see us everyday. They see our attitudes. They see our choices. Without any words being spoken, they notice. They see. There are footprints that are either leading toward Christ or away from Him.

 

Peter mentions this in the role of marriage. The non Christian husband was convinced by the “behavior of their wives” (1 Pet 3:1). It doesn’t happen just in one day. But a steady, consistent pattern. Living the message at home as well as in worship. Not compromising. Not being ugly. However, being faithful first to the Lord. A life of forgiveness. A life of grace. A life of joy. A life that encourages. These choices are noticed and they effect others. They are footprints. They are remembered.

 

This is what often brings us to a funeral. It’s not what a person owned. It is who they were. We remember their kindness. We remember their helpfulness. We remember their faithfulness to the Lord. Those things caught our attention. They were noticed and they were remembered by us.

 

So in your home, this is the first place that evangelism takes place. Your children grow up seeing you, hearing you and watching you. Are you the same at home as in the public? Are you the same at home as you are on Sunday? Are your footprints clear and all going the same direction or does it seem like you are walking around in circles. Sometimes you are here and sometimes you are there. They will see that.

 

Your wrong and bad choices, leave footprints. These are hard to overcome. These may be remembered more than your good footprints. A moment when your mouth gets the best of you. A time when your lost your cool. A time when you did some wrong things. You went out drinking with friends. You allowed lust to conquer you and you committed fornication. Those footprints are there. Others may have seen them that you were not even aware of. The school authorities. The police. The medical staff at a hospital. They may have known that you were drunk or you had a baby and you were not married. They witnessed the consequences of your choices. Now, they too know. Footprints are left every day. They are nothing more than impressions people have of us.

 

All of this shoots down the idea of “it’s my life and I can do what I want.” First, this isn’t true as a Christian. It’s not your life. Not anymore. You gave it to Christ. You belong to the Lord. And, beyond that, you are leaving examples. Others notice. They see that you are two-faced or that you are true. You go to church, but outside you act no different than the world. You bend the rules to your favor. You live as if you are the king of the universe. People notice. And those that really know you, see confusing footprints. You do all these things, yet you go to church on Sunday. They see through that.

 

But on the other hand, when a person is living consistently for the Lord, that too is noticed. He is one that people turn to, because ‘he’ll tell the truth.’ He is known for being fair, right and walking with the Lord. You see one set of footprints, and they lead directly to Jesus. Folks may not agree with him, but they honor his dedication, and love for the Lord.

 

Footprints—everyday you leave some. Everywhere you leave some. Your words. Your actions. Your integrity. Your heart. These all shape the direction that your footprints point to. It’s easy to talk a good game, but to walk it, and to walk it every single day, that makes all the difference.

 

Growing up, one of my favorite hymns was “Footprints of Jesus.” I still like that simple song. I will follow the footprints of Jesus, wherever they go.

 

Following footprints and leaving our own footprints…

 

Roger

 

 

27

Jump Start # 1838

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1838

Luke 13:14 “But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, ‘There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Our verse today are the words of a man who was upset. He was mad at Jesus. He was certain that Jesus had done something wrong, and worse than that, Jesus had done this in His synagogue. He was the official of that synagogue. It was his house. And Jesus had done something wrong, he thought, in his house.

 

The story surrounds the Lord’s healing of the bent over woman. For 18 years she had been bent over. This is longer than Jesus had been preaching. She is in the synagogue on this day. There is nothing in the story that makes us believe that she knew Jesus was going to be there. She speaks no words to Jesus. She doesn’t ask to be healed. It was common for women to sit in the back of the synagogue and not to be heard. Jesus not only see this bent over woman, but He calls her to come to Him. All eyes are on her. Jesus tells her that she is healed. He touches her. Immediately she stands straight and tall. One can only imagine the gasps of excitement and the “wows” that were uttered from the audience.

 

It is at this point that the official, fuming, and angry, tells the crowd, not Jesus, that there are other days to be healed on. Don’t do this on the Sabbath. Jesus points out a simply inconsistency in this man’s logic. You see, he and others, would untie their donkey and lead it to water, even if it was the Sabbath. The donkey needed water. That wasn’t considered work. One was simply showing compassion. What Jesus did was the same. He “unbound” this woman that Satan had bound for all these long years. If it is ok to untie a donkey, then it is ok to untie this woman. They were the same. Besides, unlike the donkey, this woman was a daughter of Abraham.

 

Great lesson. It is stacked with layers and layers of things to see and learn. But right away, one of the first things we notice, is that this synagogue official was angry over nothing. Jesus did no wrong. Later, the N.T. tells us that Jesus was without sin. He never did wrong. Never. Ever.

 

So, what we have is someone who believes another has sinned when he hasn’t. That’s tough. That stretches and strains relationships. If we think someone is wrong, we feel compelled to tell them. If they continue in what is wrong, then it affects our togetherness. But all of this is based upon the fact that they have actually done wrong. What if I think they did wrong, but they haven’t? There, we stand right in the shadows of this synagogue official. We feel that folks ought to apologize, when they haven’t done anything to apologize for. We feel that they ought to repent and change their ways, when there is nothing for them to change.

 

All of this leads to a thought about who determines when something is wrong? My thinking that something is wrong, makes me follow the steps of the synagogue official. Jesus wasn’t wrong, yet the official thought He was.

 

Sin is a violation of God’s will. Sin is determined by God not man. The church “doesn’t have rules,” as some wrongly assume. The church is to follow Christ. My dislike of something doesn’t not mean that it is wrong or sinful. Because I don’t want to do something doesn’t mean that you can’t. The standard is not you and me, but God. The rules are set by God and not us.

 

“That’s sinful,” has been a stop sign that many have waved through the years to get people to change what they didn’t like in others. I have wondered, is it sinful to call something sinful that isn’t sinful? Does that make any sense? In Romans, we find judging taking place over the eating of meats. Some could and others could not. How easy it would be to point fingers and say it is sinful if you eat idol meat. But a study of Romans does not lead to that conclusion. God did not declare that eating meats to be sinful. All of this is really hard on our thinking. If we think it’s wrong, then it must be wrong. No. Something is wrong, if God declares it to be wrong.

 

Luke 13 reveals that two people in that synagogue were crippled. One was the bent over woman. Jesus healed her. The other was the synagogue. He was crippled in his heart. Jesus could not heal him. His pride. His anger. His position. His thinking—all kept him from seeing who Jesus really was. He thought Jesus was wrong, when He wasn’t. He thought he was right, when he wasn’t. His view of self and his view of Jesus was distorted.

 

Even today, we can think that God ought to do this or that. And when God doesn’t, it is easy to think that God was wrong. God is never wrong. It is also easy to see ourselves as doing pretty well. We are not too bad off. But our view of self may be colored. We may not see the crippling pride that refuses to admit wrong. We may not see that we are the one at fault.

 

This synagogue official should have led the congregation in a joyous prayer for the great things God had done that day. Instead, he was angry, upset and humiliated. I wonder if that is us more times than not. Instead of rejoicing to see a young man serving the Lord’s supper, we get upset because he wasn’t wearing a tie. Instead of being happy to see a new visitor who came to worship the Lord, we get upset because he had a pony tail or was wearing flip flops. We get upset because we didn’t sing the “right number of songs.” We get upset because the song leader lead a new song. We get upset because before the offering was taken, no prayer was offered. We declare that they are not doing things right. Indignant—just like the synagogue official. It’s not right. It should not be allowed. How easily our feathers get ruffled. How easily worship can quickly turn to an anger fest. And when all else fails, we pull out the Ace of Aces, “What they are doing is Sinful.” Once that is said, who would dare continue in that direction. Who wants to be charged with sin. All wheels stop, because the Sinful card was used.

 

Be careful here. Is it sinful? Or, is it just a matter of something that you do not like? Those two are not always the same. You may not like fast, new songs being sung. That’s your preference. You may want a prayer before the offering. That’s fine. But not everyone sees things the way you do. And that doesn’t mean that those who see things differently are sinning. It is wrong, if it is a violation of God’s will. We can get mad at each other, just like the synagogue official, when really we ought to be rejoicing. We can ruin a worship for ourselves and others because we pout, toss a fit, and blow a fuse because things are not the way we see them. It is more important to see things God’s way than our way.

 

Study Scriptures carefully. Look deeply. Give thought to what the Bible says. Then be honest enough to admit, if the Scriptures lead to this conclusion, I don’t like things this way, but it’s not sinful. It is there that you must be a team player. Be subject to one another is what the Ephesians were told. Never violate Scripture nor conscience, but never stand in the way just because I don’t like it.

 

Mad at Jesus—can you imagine? Naaman was another who was mad because he was expecting something else to happen. Let God speak for Himself. Listen through the word. Let God be God.

 

The Lord said, I AM– and that means we’re not!

 

Roger

 

 

 

26

Jump Start # 1837

Posted on April 26, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1837

James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”

A Jump Start reader was looking through the search engine on the Jump Start website to see what I had written on this passage. To her surprise I had not written on this. So, it’s time. Our search engines allows you to look up key words or to search for passages that we have written about. It’s a great tool for those who are looking for some information for a class, sermon or article.

 

The tongue—it sure gets us in trouble. In the first chapter, James presents many themes that he expands upon later in the book. It is in the first chapter that we find, “let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Old timers used to say, “God gave us two ears and one mouth…we ought to listen more than we talk.”

 

Have you ever noticed how many sins are connected to the mouth? It is amazing. Here is a quick list:

 

  • Cursing
  • Flattery
  • Lying
  • Blasphemy
  • Slander
  • Gossip
  • Outbursts of anger
  • False teaching
  • Backbiting
  • Complaining
  • Deception

 

Is it any wonder that Proverbs teaches, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The N.T. teaches us to speak words that are good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear (Eph 4:29). It is so easy to be “mouthy.” We see it everywhere. Kids talking disrespectfully to their parents. Couples who are snappy with each other. Even church members who are unkind in their words toward each other.

 

Our verse, taken from a series of illustrations about the tongue, tells us that the tongue is a fire. Fire burns. Fire warms. Fire cooks. Fire in the fireplace is pleasant and nice. A campfire, with hotdogs and marshmallows, is great times. Singing around the bomb fire, encouraging and memory making. But a fire burning through hundreds of acres on a hillside is destructive and scary. Fires can destroy everything in it’s path. I’ve seen the aftermath of homes and businesses that had caught on fire. Little is spared. The fire doesn’t recognize heirlooms, precious items, or even life. Anything in it’s path, man, beast, or things, are all subject to the destructive power of fire. A little match can turn a hillside into a raging inferno.

 

Of all the illustrations to choose from, God picked out fire. Across the centuries and across the oceans, fire means the same to us as it did those early Christians that James wrote to. The point James is driving at is your tongue, your mouth, your choice of words, can destroy. The same fire that warms and cooks can also burn the house down. Out of control, fire is deadly.

 

Here are some things for us to consider:

 

First, think before you speak. And even before that, say a prayer. Should I, ought I to say something? Give that some thought. We shouldn’t steer clear because what needs to be said is difficult or may not be received well, but pour tons of thought into what you say, before you say it. This includes us preachers. Don’t hide the message because someone in the audience may not agree with what we are saying. But, think carefully how to say what needs to be said. Say it. Say it kindly. Let your words be bridges that lead to Christ, not a fire that destroys.

 

I fear that we too often allow ourselves to say things that really should never be said, because we can hide behind comfortable excuses. We say, “I just call them the way I see them.” Well, you’re not the umpire in life and what you call may hurt and damage someone. So, hush. Others say, “I call a spade a spade.” Well, we’re not in a card game and spades aren’t on the table. So, hush.

 

Just because you see something, feel a certain way, does not mean that you are right nor that your thoughts should be shared. Solomon tells us that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. We got the speaking time down. We just haven’t figured out when is the time to be silent. They go together. Wisdom, godliness and a heart that wants to encourage, will soon figure that time out.

 

Second, listen to yourself. Would you want someone to say to you what you’ve said to others? Sometimes it’s not the words, but the tone we deliver them in. Talking loud doesn’t give you more proof to your argument. It’s lightning that kills, not thunder. Many a young preacher quit, not because of the work load, but because of what brethren have said going out the church door on a Sunday. Shame on them. Instead of encouraging a young man, they crushed his spirits and made him feel like quitting. Many have.

 

Third, remember whatever you say is heard in Heaven. So your whispers, your “don’t dare tell this to anyone” conversations are known in Heaven. Be careful little mouth what you say. The children do better with this than we do.

 

Fourth, people remember what you say. Some folks don’t take teasing very well. So, don’t tease. Some settings call upon us to be sober and serious. Laughing just doesn’t fit some occasions. When talking with someone who is pouring their heart out to you, don’t try to trump their story with your own story. They really don’t want to hear about you. They are focused upon their problems. Listen. Be kind. It was Twain who said that he could live on one compliment for a whole month. While that may be true, we tend to hold on to negative things. I can remember things that were said to me twenty years ago. They weren’t nice then and they aren’t nice today. Scars is what those words created. Scars stick around for a long time. Parents, when you are mad at your kids, and there are those days, watch your words. Be careful what you say to your mate. I’ve had people remember things I said in sermons years ago. I don’t even remember the sermon, but something stuck with them. That’s the power of words. People will remember.

 

Fifth, some words just do not seem strong enough. The words, “Thank you,” are that way. What do you say to a mate who has taken care of you for decades, “thank you.” What do you say to godly parents who really helped you in life, “Thank you.” That’s just doesn’t seem strong enough. What do you say to a Savior who has forgiven you, “Thank you.” It just seems that there ought to be more.

 

Saying, “I’m sorry,” is another example. You have hurt someone. With tears in your heart and in your eyes, you want to make things right. You say, “I’m sorry.” It’s all you have. It just doesn’t seem to be enough. It’s the same towards God. We can say, “I’m sorry, Lord,” but that at times just doesn’t seem to be enough.

 

Saying, “I love you,” is yet another example. That just doesn’t seem strong enough. The love between a couple. The love of parents toward their child. The love of a disciple toward his God. I love you, just doesn’t express all the feelings in the heart.

 

It is interesting, Thank you, I am sorry, and I love you, are hard for some to say. They will dance around those words without ever saying them. Say them. Mean them. Express them. You’ll be glad when you do.

 

Fire and tongue—how similar they are. Be careful with both. Both are useful and both are destructive. The gift of gab isn’t always a desirable gift. Slow to speak…a time to be silent—we must pay attention to Heaven’s wisdom and do better.

 

Roger

 

 

 

 

25

Jump Start # 1836

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1836

Genesis 3:1 “Then the Lord God called to the man, and said, to him, “Where are you?”

Our verse today surrounds a simple three worded question, “Where are you?” It is the first question that God asked in the Bible. The question has a lot of background and much depth to it. The question takes place in the garden of Eden. There was just Adam, God and Eve. We can’t imagine that world. No one to instant message. Nothing to share with others on Facebook. Your list of friends included, either Adam or Eve and God. That’s it. No co-workers. No neighbors. No in-laws. No nutty cousins. More than that, no real history. No genealogy. No, “this is where you grew up.” No high school reunions. No grandparents. No, “you look like your mother.” No keeping up with the Jones. No one to compare the other with. Just Adam, God and Eve. If there was a mess, it’s pretty easy to figure out who made it—either Adam or Eve.

 

The text gives us the impression that there was a wonderful fellowship between mankind and God in the garden. The previous verse says that God walked in the garden in the cool of the day. God was on earth. God was walking on earth. Jesus, in the first century, wasn’t the first time God came to earth. One can only imagine what it would be like to walk with God in the morning. Can you see God stopping and pointing out a flower or a song bird and being delighted that Adam like them. You can see the smile on God’s face as He showed them different things that He created. “I made this just for you,” happily confesses God. Fellowship, togetherness, friendship—the picture we see here is what we long for and hope for in Heaven.

 

And in this grand and beautiful scene, something changed. Satan came. The Bible doesn’t tell us where he came from. Don’t waste volumes of paper and hours trying to chase down those ideas. He’s here. He’s been a liar from the beginning, that’s what Jesus said. It wasn’t that he once was good and then turned bad. From the beginning he has been wrong.

 

Eve is tempted. You won’t die. You’ll be like God. The fruit sure looked good. She took and ate. Adam ate. Immediately they had rebelled and violated the will of God. They knew that they were naked. They tasted guilt and shame for the first time. And for the first time, they hid. They didn’t want God to find them.

 

This is where our verse is found. It is here that God asks, “Where are you?” He was not asking about location. He knew where they were. He’s God. He knows all things. If He knows how many hairs are on our head and if He knows when a sparrow falls, He certainly knew where Adam was hiding.

 

Where are you—not asking for a location but a reason. Why are you hiding? You have never hid before. Why are you afraid of Me? What’s happened? What’s changed? God knew. God knew what they had done. Where are you is really asking, “Why?” Why are you hiding? Why did you do this? Rather than a location, God was asking for a confession. What did you do?

 

The first question God asks in the Bible—Where are you?

 

I expect that God could continue to ask that of us:

 

  • Where are you when My people gather to worship? You weren’t there. Where are you? Again, God knows. What He wants to know is why? Why are you not with My people? Why are you not worshipping Me? What is so important that you can’t get to the church building? Too tired? What were you doing yesterday? Did you even think about the next day? Did worship ever enter your mind on Saturday? Why not? Had to work? Really? Have you tried to get around that? Had to travel? Really? No other flights? No other times you could go? Was on vacation? Are there no places to worship? Did you give that any thought? Where are you?

 

  • Where are you in your relationship with Me? I never hear from you? You never think about Me? You never mention Me to others? You seem to be drifting. You seem obsessed with stuff. Your heart is a mess of worry and misery. Why don’t you walk with Me? Why don’t you spend some time with Me in My word? I can help you. I can give you a peace that you cannot find anywhere else. I can forgive you. I can lead you to quiet waters and green pastures. I wish you trusted Me more. I wish you really believed in Me. Where are you?

 

  • Where are you when you are trying to figure things out? Disease, depression and death seem to follow you. It seems that you are so eager to try new things and to listen to the latest advice about things, yet you never seem to turn to Me? Your marriage is messy. Your kids are growing apart from Me. You seem so busy that you are missing the important things. Where are you? Why won’t you let me help you? Why won’t you let me guide your heart and your home? Why are you so determined to do things without Me? Why do you fight Me? Why do you listen to others more than Me?

 

  • Where are you when it’s time for Me to call you home? Do you know what happens when you die? I’ve told you. Do you know who gets to spend forever with Me? I have showed you. Do you know why some will not be in Heaven? I’ve told you. Why do you listen and believe serpents when they have done nothing for you? Why do you trust the words of serpents more than My words? Why do you think that I have not been fair with you? Why do you think I have been against you? Where are you?

 

I fear that someday, some will be asking that very question to God. They will ask, “Where are you, Lord?” And there will be no answer, only silence. A life that is lived without God will lead to an eternity without God. And when we need God the most, He won’t be there, because we hid from Him.

 

Where are you? A serious question for Adam. A greater question of us. The first question still needs to be asked. Can we help you? Can we study the Bible together? Can we look to find answers to your questions? We welcome you to worship with us. We welcome you to know God. Don’t be afraid of Him. Don’t hide from Him.

 

He is looking for you. Won’t you come out, and come to Him?

 

Can we help?

 

Roger

 

24

Jump Start # 1835

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

Jump Start # 1835

Ezekiel 3:15 “Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the rive Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them.”

 

The people of God were in Babylon. This wasn’t their choice but the consequence of their sin and rebellion against God. They were now exiles, living in a foreign land. Their beloved Jerusalem had been ransacked by the enemy. The temple was burned and looted. The walls around the city were now in rubble. The best among them were exiled. Many had been killed. The poor, like Jeremiah, were left to deal with a broken city. Ezekiel is written to the exiled people. God had not cut them off. God had not forgotten them. In fact, God sent a prophet among them.

 

Our passage states that Ezekiel came to some of the exiles and sat with them for seven days. He sat among them. There is something powerful about that expression. It reminds us of the three friends of Job that sat with the hurting Job for a week and never said a word. It reminds us of our Lord who sat down and taught the sermon on the mount. Sitting among the exiles. There is something to be learned from that.

 

It would help us to “sit among the visitors.” It’s been so long since we have thought what it’s like to be a visitor that we have forgotten. So many of our church buildings are not visitor friendly. Certainly we are used to everything, but what about a visitor. He walks in the door for the first time, does he know where to go? Does he know where the bathrooms are or the nursery to take a child? Does he know what is going to happen in worship? Have we forgotten to “sit among the visitors?” Take a moment and visit a major retail store, like Target. Walk in the doors and stand there for a moment and look around. Notice how bright things are. Notice signs that tell you what you need to know. Notice staff who is there to help you. Now, go back to our church buildings. Dark. Dusty. Trashy. And we wonder why we can’t get anyone to come in? Put up some signs. Put in some brighter lights. Paint the place. Get some people to be greeters. Make announcements professional, pointed and visitor friendly. See things through the eyes of a visitor.

 

It would help to sit where the teenagers sits. Do you know what’s going on in their world? It’s different than when you were in high school. Do you know what bothers them? Do you know what they struggle with? Do you know where they are at Biblically? Do you know that they have a great heart and are willing to do things if you will let them. I sat where they sat. It would be great if the elders actually did that one Sunday. Just sit right among them.

 

It would help to sit with the senior citizens in the congregation. Their world is much different than that of the teenagers. They move slower. Many have buried a mate. Their day begins and ends with taking pills. They worry about having enough money to last. They wonder if they will have to go to assisted living. They see a world that is moving so fast. They are the backbone of a congregation. Offer some classes during the week, and these folks will be there. Have a Gospel Meeting, and they will come. They have strong faith, even if their backs are not any longer. They have stories but so often there is no one who is interested in hearing them. Loneliness is a regular part of their day. Often they have the TV on all day, just for some noise around the house. Have you sat where they sat?

 

It would help to sit where the young families sit. Now, this is a busy place. This is where my kids are now. They have little ones and they are busy. Work, raising kids, taking care of a place—and these parents are always tired. A dream vacation for them would be a week of rest. The demands of work, the demands of a young family and the demands of trying to walk with the Lord is hard. Many of these young dads are deacons and that just adds to the work that they are expected to do. Have a Gospel Meeting and these young families will be there. Older folks have forgotten how tiring a week of preaching can be on little ones. Sit where they sit. Make some adjustments in the length of meetings. Take a long look at what these families are going through and what they need spiritually.

 

It would help to sit where the strong sit. There are specific choices that people make that enables them to be strong spiritually. It doesn’t happen by accident. They have made sacrifices and put forth effort. These are the ones who teach the classes. These are the ones chosen to lead the congregation. Have you ever noticed what makes them strong? Sit among them. Find out. Learn from them.

 

I sat where they sat. This reminds us that we do not all sit in the same place in life. We do not all struggle with the same things in life. We are not all going through the same things in life. The quietness of the world of a senior citizen can be frightening. To a young mother, it seems inviting.

 

Sitting where others sit, not literally, but understanding each other, helps us be more compassionate and less judgmental. You see those young parents leaving services and it looks like they have just backpacked across America. There are so many bags, books and stuff they carry. They look frazzled and worn out. They wonder and you wonder if they got much out of services. But there they are—setting examples. Showing the little ones that God is important. Rather than rolling our eyes at them, help them carry things out to the car. It’s a blessing that they are there.

 

Sitting where others sit helps shepherds to understand what needs to be taught in a congregation. Rather than just marching through the books of the Bible as they appear in the English translations, maybe some serious lessons and classes out to be addressed to senior citizens, or teenagers, or young families. Understanding these worlds will help with those decisions. It helps in measuring how long classes, Gospel meetings and other teaching events should be. Just because you can sit through an hour sermon, following a 40 minute Bible class, doesn’t mean the senior citizen or the young family can. Be mindful and make adjustments. Sit where others sit.

 

It would help for all of us to sit where the elders sit. Understanding what they go through, the tough calls that they have to make. It’s hard to know when discipline needs to be enacted. It’s hard to know how long to give someone the opportunity to make up their mind if they are walking with the Lord or walking with the world. It’s hard to know when to change preachers. That’s not an easy call. It’s hard to keep things moving in a positive direction, especially when some are content to just stay and become stagnate. God bless those who serve as shepherds in God’s kingdom. It’s a work that few will ever understand. Sit where they sit. Pray for them. Honor them. Understand they are trying all that they can to get you to Heaven.

 

I sat where you sat…give that a try!

 

Roger