21

Jump Start # 2042

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2042

Matthew 8:20 “Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Our verse today is interesting. It is the Lord’s reply to a scribe who declared that he would follow Jesus wherever He went. Noble claim. Bold claim. A statement he made without realizing where Jesus would go. There are some things we notice in Jesus’ reply.

First, He referred to Himself as “the Son of Man.” This was the first time that He did this. This seems to be borrowed from Daniel and has clear Messianic ties. Matthew uses that expression 28 times. The disciples referred to Jesus most times as “teacher.” Jesus referred to Himself most times as “Son of Man.” Jesus was God wrapped in the form of a man. He was like us, Hebrews tells us. He was tempted as we are. He walked, talked, ate and even looked like His fellow man. Unlike what the Masterpieces pictured Him, Jesus didn’t have a halo above His head. When Judas came to betray Jesus, the sign of which one to arrest was a kiss. Why was that necessary? Why not grab the one with the halo? There was no halo. Why not grab the one that looked divine? He didn’t look divine. The emphasis of Jesus was not in the way He looked, but in what He did and more so, in what He said.

Second, Jesus understood that He had no regular place of residence. The birds fly about during the day but they return to their nests. The foxes may go out seeking food, but they return to their den or holes. There is a common place for them. You and I are like that. We have our beds at night. We have our pillows. Most of us sleep the best in our own beds. When traveling, the beds are not the same as at home. The pillows are hard. The beds are uncomfortable. We like having a regular place to sleep each night. Jesus didn’t have that. He didn’t have a home. “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” I thought about that expression as I lay in my bed. Jesus at this point was traveling with the apostles. Thirteen men. If thirteen men showed up at my home, most of them would be sleeping on the floor. I don’t have enough beds and couches and I doubt that I have enough pillows for thirteen. Homes back then were not the size of our homes today. We could put some on the floor with blankets and they would have a roof over their heads.

Where did Jesus sleep? We are not told. He may have stayed a few times with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, but it would be hard to imagine all thirteen staying there. Did he sleep in barns? Did he sleep in the outdoors? Did he use inns? The point Jesus was making to this scribe who wanted to follow Him, is that His life was not of ease and comfort. Practical things, such as where will we sleep tonight, was a concern. There wasn’t a common stopping place. There wasn’t a zip code for Jesus’ home base. There was no home base.

Again, this brings us to the humble status of the Son of Man. He was God on earth, but He sure didn’t live like a God. The queen does better than He did. No palace. No servants. No royal treatment. No coachmen. No guards. No closet full of clothes. No pantries full of food. On the move. Different places all the time. No place to lay His head. Most of us, after a week of vacation, are ready to get back home to our own beds. The trip was fun, but we sure miss home. Jesus didn’t have that. He didn’t have a favorite chair to sit in. He didn’t have a favorite cup to drink from. He didn’t have the comforts that you and I enjoy and take for granted. Why? Why did He not have those things? That wasn’t His point. That wasn’t why He was here. That wasn’t His mission.

He lived humble. He did without. No fingers could be pointed towards a spoiled or plush life. No one could accuse Him of materialism. No one could say that He was pampered nor took advantage of others. He had no place to lay His head. He came to serve. He came to save.

Now, think about this. Jesus may have worn the same garments most of the time. You and I change clothes every day. Some times, we change more than once in a day. Our closets are so large that we call them “walk-in closets.” We need the space. We have summer clothes, fall clothes, spring clothes and outfits for winter. We have jackets and heavy coats. We have shoes for all occasions. We have several suit jackets, multiple ties and in my case, drawers full of fancy socks. We have enough that we could clothe Jesus and all the apostles and still have plenty left over. That’s our world. We take that for granted. For Jesus, having no place to lay His head, I doubt He pulled a trunk full of clothes everywhere He went. He probably wore the same clothes over and over.

There is nothing in the Gospels that make us believe that Jesus was a person of wealth. He pulled a coin out of a fish’s mouth to pay the tax. Wealthy women supported them financially. His time was not spent with the upper crust of society. He was with the common man. He was with the social outcasts. He was with the sick and diseased. He was with everyday people.

Jesus did these things by choice. It was His character, His nature, that attracted people. It wasn’t what He was wearing. It wasn’t that He was a superstar status. Fine dressed people sitting in fancy church buildings seems a long way from Jesus sitting in a boat teaching the multitudes. Maybe we have put so much emphasis upon appearance and what’s on the outside, that we have forgotten what’s on the inside. Nice dressed people who have sharp tongues and are quick to point a judgmental finger at those who differ with them are not the same as that humble Son of Man who loved and cared for all people.

What a contrast to Jesus. Our homes are larger and larger. We have garages that can fit multiple cars. We have so much stuff that we must put the excess in storage sheds. And, we have given so little attention to what’s in our hearts. Our country is falling apart on the inside. Hatred, prejudice, fear, worry and self are consuming us. We have forgotten about character. We have forgotten about what really matters. We can fill our lives with more and more stuff and still feel emptier and emptier on the inside. We try to believe that success comes from the labels of our watches, cars and clothes, but that doesn’t make us feel successful. And standing before us, the simple Son of Man, who had no place to lay His head.

That simple expression, no place to lay His head, bothers us more than it bothered Him. We would want to fix that somehow. We’d want to load a bunch of stuff in His arms. We want to fill shopping bags full of items. But what He was really interested in was what’s running on the inside of us. What are we thinking about. What are we bothered about. What are we seeking.

The monastics of the middle ages thought the answer was to rid themselves of all material possessions. They lived in cages, refused to groom themselves and were hermits and outcasts. They missed it. It wasn’t the outside changes that found what Jesus had. It’s the inside. It’s the peace that comes from salvation. It’s hope that lies with God. It’s living with a purpose and a plan. It’s walking daily with God.

Is it wrong to have a place to lay our heads? Is it wrong to have stuff? Is it wrong to own cars, TV’s and closets full of clothes? The question is do we have those things or do those things have us? Are we defined by stuff? Do we get our satisfaction and self worth by stuff? Has our stuff replaced God? Then it’s an issue.

Abraham, Job, David, Joseph of Arimathea were all wealthy but more so, spiritual men of God. Their success was not in what they had but in who had them. They walked with the Lord.

Jesus had no place to lay His head. Be thankful that you do. Actually, be thankful! Use your blessings to glorify God and help others. Don’t become stingy nor stuck up because of what you have. Be humble. Be like Jesus. Don’t be obsessed with your stuff. Become obsessed with God. Be absorbed with God. Fill your time and your life with God.

Much to think about…

Roger

20

Jump Start # 2041

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2041

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

 

My preacher preached on this text last Sunday. Great lesson. It got me thinking about some conclusions this passage implies.

 

First, it is implied that those being imitated have passed on. There is a footnote in the New American Standard for the expression, “considering the result of their conduct.” The footnote states, “end of their life.” It’s hard to follow someone, or imitate them, unless they have completed their journey. If they are still on the journey of life, what if they make a moral mistake? What if they quit the journey? What if they get tangled up in falsehoods? We need to see the outcome before we follow them.

 

Second, it is assumed that they went to Heaven. Their faith is what you imitate. They led. They taught. They lived. Now, this doesn’t set well with some folks. We don’t know every detail of their lives. We don’t know what they thought. We don’t know what they said behind closed doors. Can anyone really know the eternal outcome of anyone’s life? This is where some are. They want to hope that they made it, but no one knows for sure.

 

The heroes in Hebrews 11 all gained approval. The text states that. Paul confirmed that there was a crown of righteousness awaiting him. He also said it was awaiting all those who loved Jesus’ appearing. There doesn’t seem to be a giant question mark about these folks.

 

Faith and the grace of God make it possible for a person to not just have hope, but assurance of God’s promises. The outcome of their faith, the end of the journey for them, was a home with God. We do not follow question marks. We do not walk in a fog. There are sure footprints that lead to Heaven.

 

Third, the lives of those remembered were devoted to helping others spiritually. They gave of themselves to help others. They showed others the way to walk. They taught others the word of God. They invested their time and lives so that after they were gone, there would remain faithful brethren in that place. They believed in a legacy. They believed in passing the torch on to others.

 

The implication of this text is not just a stroll down memory lane. But rather, look what they did for you, now, you need to do the same for those coming after you. Keep passing that torch on. One generation to the next, to the next.

 

So many of us stand upon the shoulders of others who have followed this very example. They showed us. They taught us. They made it possible for us to have a congregation to be a part of. They sacrificed. They gave up evenings to teach. They cleaned church buildings on Saturdays. They made sure the Lord’s Supper was ready for Sunday. They stocked classrooms with supplies. They poured hours and hours into keeping things going and making them better. We remember. We remember our parents and our grandparents just doing what to them seemed to be the right thing to do. They didn’t complain. They were happy to do what they could. They wanted things to be right and nice. They loved the Lord.

 

We probably wouldn’t be here had it not been for them. Their devotion and energy paved a smooth path for us to follow. But, now it’s our turn. And, for many of us, we have forgotten. We don’t remember. We are so into our own lives that we don’t have time for anyone else. This generation loves self. No time for others, unless there is a benefit for self. Those that walk with Jesus must rise above the current thought and the current direction of our times.

 

We need to be leading. We need to be pointing the way. We need to show others how to have a strong faith. We need to demonstrate powerful marriages. We need to illustrate sacrifice and the heart of a servant. We need to be living examples so when we leave this place, others will remember and imitate our faith.

 

That is a real concern. Do we want others to imitate us? Aside from showing up on Sunday for worship, is there anything to imitate? Lives consumed with worry and materialism. Hours spent doing things that have no eternal value. Little joy. Little effort. Little involvement. Little serving. Little sacrifice. That is a concern. What will others remember about us? What are we showing the next generation?

 

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you dong than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” What more are you doing that others? That verse ought to rattle us on the inside. What are we doing more than others? Does our faith drive us? Does our faith change us? Does our faith move us to doing more? Jesus gave it all. Have I?

 

We need to lead. First, in our homes. Lead our family to the Lord. Lead our children, just as shepherds lead the church. Every father has his own little flock. It’s his family. He needs to nurture them, care for them and lead them. Every person in the family is at a different place spiritually. They need individual care. Next, lead those around you to Jesus. Lead your co-workers into thinking spiritually. Lead your neighbors into thinking beyond themselves. Lead people to the Bible. Lead your brethren to follow the Lord. Think like Jesus would think.

 

Next, we need to teach others the word of God. Show them the Word of God. Use the Word of God. Cover your answers with the Word of God. To do this, you first, must know the Word of God. Know it, then use it.

 

Finally, walk by faith. If others are to imitate our faith, then they must be able to see our faith. Pray deep prayers. Talk spiritually. Bring the Lord into your conversations. Leave footprints that show you are a person of faith.

 

Who is going to do this if we don’t? The world won’t. The schools can’t. The government never will. It’s up to us. Lead. Teach. Show. Could it be that some congregations are dying these days because there is no one to imitate. There is no one to show. Instead of passing the baton on, it has been dropped. This not only hurts the present situation, but it cripples the future. Why should I lead, when no one else has? Why should I teach, when no one else has? Hard to answer those questions.

 

Remember. Consider. Imitate. Before those words, comes one other word: live. Live for Jesus. Do what you are supposed to do. Be busy in the kingdom. Give. Sacrifice. Help others. In so doing, you leave examples. You will be remembered for the good you did. You make it possible for others to have a tomorrow.

 

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 2040

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2040

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

I was asked a question recently. I have been asked this before. The situation is generally the same. It’s an older Christian who has walked with the Lord for decades. They long for Heaven. In their sweet way, they ask, “I don’t know why I am still here? Why doesn’t the Lord take me?” The ones that ask this are not depressed, despondent or fixated upon death. They have lived a full life. They have lived a faithful life. They are ready, but here they remain.

Age hinders them from teaching as they once did. Their memory isn’t strong and the energy it takes to teach simply isn’t there. Entertaining others is hard. They have done this for years and years, but now, it’s just too hard on them. These folks are not walking around with a sad face. They smile, connect and offer advice to others, but still, they wonder, “Why am I still here?”

Modern medicine has made it possible for us to live much longer. Cancer is no longer a death sentence. Medicines, surgeries and various forms of rehab has made living into the 90’s not only a possibility but a reality for many folks. We live longer these days.

Our passage has something to do with this question. Why am I still here? The simple answer is, “It’s just not your time.” God has a divine appointment and He’ll call us home when it’s our time. But for some, they feel as if they are more of a burden to brethren and their families. They feel like they are not helping out as they would like. Unable to do much, they become dependent upon others for their care and wellbeing. And, so, the question is asked, “Why am I still here?”

Here are a few thoughts:

First, you are setting an example for your family. Your continual devotion to the Lord, your attendance at worship services, your character, your kindness are leaving footsteps for others. Instead of being a grumpy old person, who bring charm, sweetness and the spirit of Jesus into a room. You remind your grown children how they need to think about others. Your decades of commitment encourages those who are younger. Your family will long remember that you made a promise to the Lord and you stuck with it. Even when it wasn’t easy. Even when you didn’t feel the best. Your very example does more good than a month of sermons.

Second, your years of experience helps the church. You have hung in during good times and hard times. There were the battles. There were the days when things were small and money was tight. There were issues that came. There were days without leaders. You’ve seen it. You’ve been there. Our culture today is stuck on self. It’s easy to bail when things are not the way we like it. Your example has helped hold a congregation together. You have kept our eyes upon what is really important, and that is the Lord and His word. You may feel that no one listens to you any more, or, worse, no one today cares, but that’s not the case. It’s time for others to pick up the sword and the banner for Christ. You have made it possible for a congregation to continue. Throughout the land, many congregations have folded. Young people have moved away. Few new people came. Leaders left. The church dwindled down until it was necessary to close the doors. That’s happened in many places. But, there are other places where that small band of disciples hung in there, worked hard and made a strong and powerful congregation. People like you, who stayed, not just in the same location, but you stayed with the Word of God, made it possible for a congregation to exist today. Why won’t the Lord take you? Possibly because more needs to hear your story, a story of faith.

Third, God simply isn’t done with you yet. That’s the best answer I have. Maybe you can’t teach anymore. Maybe you can’t preach. Maybe you get tired very easily these days. Maybe you get things jumbled up in your mind. John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, was interviewed late in life. He said that he was old and forgot nearly everything. However, there were two things that he’d never forget. He said, “I am a great sinner and Jesus is a great Savior.” There are two spectrums of faith that brings so much to a congregation. First, it’s the young. It’s the teenager and the college student. Sharp. Energetic. Full of questions. Curious. Passionate. Second, it’s the senior citizen. Aged. Experienced. Dedicated. Faithful. Both make a church. Both are necessary. Sometimes the two groups do not understand each other. Sometimes the aged fear the young in faith. Sometimes the young think the aged are stuck in their ways. But when they connect and when they work as one, what a wonderful blessing they add to a congregation.

In many ways, it would be wonderful to just go from the baptistery to Heaven. Just bypass this messy and crazy world we live in. But that’s not God’s way. He needs us to be His hands and feet and eyes. We must be busy doing good works so others will glorify God. We must let our lights shine. We must invite. We must show. We must serve.

So, with each day that we have, we must find something worthwhile to do to help others and to honor God. Rather than focusing upon what we cannot do, let’s find what we can do. I was talking with a 90 year old Christian recently. She needed some get-well cards. When asked why, “to send them to the folks in the church you are not feeling well.” Now, that’s the spirit. Keep working, doing what you can, until the Lord calls us. Some of us get the honor of serving in the kingdom for multiple decades. What a privilege that is. I recently took a picture of three preachers who were all in their 80’s. Heroes! They looked fail and old. But they were still preaching and doing whatever they could for the Lord. I wondered how many thousands of sermons those three had preached. How many hundreds and hundreds of lives they helped. They were not sitting in rocking chairs doing nothing, they were still teaching and preaching and encouraging others. They were going to keep on working until the Lord stopped them.

What we do changes with age. Find what you can do, and get at it. Someday, the call will come. Our time here will be completed. We will leave a legacy of good. We will leave impressions of what really matters in life. We will leave footprints for others to follow. Hopefully, we leave, making things better than we found them.

Why doesn’t God take me? He will. Just be patient. In the meantime, keep busy doing what you can in the kingdom.

Roger

16

Jump Start # 2039

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2039

Exodus 32:25 “Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control– for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies.”

One of the popular topics today is leadership. It’s talked about in business. It’s the makeup of government. It’s necessary within a congregation. Of all the animals in the created world, God describes His people as sheep. We are not turtles. We are not deer. We are not gators. We are not birds of a feather that flock together. We are sheep. And, sheep need shepherds. The leadership term that God uses in the congregation is overseers and shepherds. Sheep aren’t driven like cattle. They are not left to their own and somehow they find their way back like homing pigeons. They need to be guided, led and watched over.

 

So, sprinkled throughout our Bibles are shepherd leadership passages. Jesus is the good shepherd, that knows His sheep. The Lord is my shepherd. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou art with me. The shepherds of Ezekiel were rebuked for not taking care of the people. Shepherds are supposed to lead.

 

Our verse today, is another that falls under the category of leadership. Moses was gone. Aaron was in charge. Aaron didn’t take charge. He didn’t lead. He followed the people. When Moses returned, there was a golden calf and the people were worshipping an idol. Had did this happen? How did it happen so fast? What was Aaron doing? Did he try to stop them? Did he teach them? Where was the leadership?

 

Aaron reply was, “They said to me, ‘make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’” Our verse adds more pain to the situation. It states, “…the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control.” The situation resembles out of control kids who dangle their parents as puppets, crying and throwing a fit until they get what they want. They make a scene in stores. They are loud in church. They are disruptive and interruptive at home. The parents are along for the ride and the kids are running the show. Out of control.

 

Aaron was Moses’ brother. Instead of defending God’s appointed leader, he let the people have a golden calf.

 

There are lessons we learn from this:

 

First, the church is not a democracy. People do not understand that today and they didn’t get that in Aaron’s day. Back then, the concept of a democracy was not known. We know it all too well today. The voice of the people. Rights. My rights. Democracy is the bedrock of our constitution and the freedoms this country is structured and built upon. But democracy doesn’t work within a congregation. The will of the people is not what we follow. Rather, it’s a theocracy, which is the will of God. In Aaron’s time, the people wanted an idol. They got what they wanted. Today, churches are bowing to pressure to accept same-sex marriages. “It’s what the people want,” is the defense. They are bowing to organizational structures that are not found in the Bible. In business, giving the customer what they want works. In spiritual matters, giving the people what they want leads to disobedience and sin. Today, people want a church to be a school, a restaurant, a bookstore, a counseling center, a day care. Might as well toss in a place to get the dog groomed, do your taxes and get your oil changed in the car. Multi service. The wholeness of a person. Sounds great. But is that what the church is supposed to be? Running short of money this month, call a church, they are supposed to give out free money. That’s what people think. That’s what you are there for. It’s funny we don’t think this way about other places. You don’t complain that the Post office doesn’t serve hamburgers and shakes. Why not? The answer is obvious. That’s not what the Post office is about. Why can’t we get that through when it comes to the church? It is supposed to praise God and prepare us for Heaven.

 

Second, leading means to take charge. One doesn’t have to be mean, loud or threatening to lead. But he must be visible, setting an example and by his character, established trust. Aaron should have answered the people. Aaron should have reminded the nation about patience. Instead of calling for gold to make an idol, Aaron should have called for a prayer session. Let’s get our minds back to where they ought to be. When leaders do not know what to do, the people will take charge.

 

The same is true in the home and in the church. Down every isle of the store, the child wants this and that. Parents can’t constantly cave in to the pleas of the child. It will spoil the child and crash the budget. Parents must lead. Plan ahead. Think it out. Keep the child occupied. Shouting back doesn’t seem to work. In the church, there will always be some who want to change things. Why can’t we do this? I want to have this? Leaders take people to the Bible. Here’s what we do. Here is what we are about. Remind. Teach. Show. Don’t ignore questions. Don’t intimidate folks. Lead.

 

Third, not every can lead. Moses came back and got things back under control. Aaron wasn’t Moses. Even though they were brothers, Aaron couldn’t lead like Moses. Joshua could. When Joshua takes over, decades later, he shows the skills that Moses had. All of this reminds us that not everyone should be in leadership roles. You see this at work. Some are just not any good at this. They can’t manage people. Someone comes with a request and they tend to favor some over others. They bend the rules for some. They play favorites. It’s messy and leads to jealousy and toxic behavior. The same is true at church. Not everyone can lead. Some are really nice guys, but they lack leadership skills. They don’t have a backbone to tell people “no.” Some wilt under pressure and avoid confrontations at all costs. Those are not the traits that will bring out the best in others, nor lead them as God wants.

 

With leaders, there needs to be followers. Leaders must know God’s will and be willing to put God before all things. Leadership is not about power, prestige or control. It’s about helping people. It’s about serving. It’s about making things better. It’s about changing family destinies for eternity.

 

What a mess Aaron created and allowed. He wasn’t cut out for leading. There are lessons we ought to see in this. There are some in leadership roles today, who are not leaders. They, like Aaron, are creating and allowing messes. Congregations are dying, while the leaders are asleep at the wheel. People are upset and leaving and leaders don’t know why.

 

It’s time for leaders to lead as God intended.

 

Roger

 

15

Jump Start # 2038

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2038

Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including overseers and deacons.”

Our verse today, the opening sentence of the Philippian letter, is often used to define the organization within a congregation. There are saints, overseers and deacons. That simplistic organization is not just God’s pattern, but it works. No hierarchy. No board of directors. No outside administration. No structure ties to anything else. Smooth, clean, simple and functional. It stays on the local level. That’s God’s design. The religious community follows the business model of franchises, massive corporate boards, presidents, elected officials and money flowing here and there. We need to get back to God’s simple plan and understand that we cannot improve upon what God designs.

The front part of this verse is what is often not talked about much. The Paul and Timothy section. The Paul and Timothy relationship. A church having two preachers. I want to share some thoughts about this. I work with another preacher. It’s a wonderful setting. I am blessed. Years ago I was in other two preacher arrangements. They weren’t so hot.

I’ve noticed through the years that brethren tend to follow fads. That’s not always bad, but sometimes one wonders. What one church does, soon others do. We saw this with the introduction of powerpoint projectors. When they first came out they were novel and everyone had to have them. I visited some little country churches that had one but no one knew how to use it. The projector was there but never used. Why they got one seemed to be a matter of keeping up with all the other congregations.

It seems the same is happening now with two preachers in one congregation. The work load, size and demands ought to dictate whether two men are needed. Some places, that seem rather small, and do not seem to be doing much, yet, there they are looking for a second preacher. Is that necessary, or is it just keeping up with others? Larger congregations that have so much going on actually need probably more than just two.

I have helped congregations in the thinking process of finding a second preacher. As more and more of this is taking place, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts. Understand, these are my thoughts, not Gospel. But in talking with others, I find that some haven’t fully thought out just what they were looking for in another preacher.

So, here we go.

What is the purpose of having a second preacher? Is it to do more than can be done now, or is it to lessen the load of the current preacher? Fair question to ask. What is needed to be done? If a church is wanting to do more with social media, than that will direct and guide them into what kind of preacher they are looking for. Do you want two men who are about the same age? Or, do you want a younger man and an older man? Do you want a second man whose talents are different than the current preacher? Think these things out before you start looking for a preacher.

How long do you intend for the second preacher, or in that case, the first preacher, to be with you? Is the second preacher eventually going to be the replacement of the first preacher when he retires or no longer can preach? If a legacy situation is what you are looking for, then that needs to be on the table when talking to someone. Letting them know that the church would like you to stay 25-30 years has a lot to do with making a decision.

It is imperative, foremost, and extremely important, that the two preachers get along. In theory, all preachers ought to be able to work together. That is not reality. Paul and Barnabas had a parting. That could really mess up the balance in a congregation if that took place. Egos, personalities, families, ideology, even doctrinal views must be ironed out and worked out together. This means the current preacher ought to have a major role in finding the second preacher. Forcing two men to work together may cause one or both to leave. An eldership finding a second preacher and then announcing that he is the one without any input by the current preacher is not only insulting, messy, it’s a sure disaster to come.

This means there must be lots and lots of meetings between the two possible preachers. They must work together, get along and like each other. Meetings with the two preachers and the eldership must take place. Slow is the word here. Don’t be in a hurry. Getting the wrong person is worse than not getting anyone. If there is an age difference, the eldership must deal with a difference in the pay scale and benefits. The second preacher needs a place to work. Is there room at the church building, or will he be stuck in a classroom? Think that out.

It is important that the expectations and work load is understood, defined and worked out before a second preacher is hired. Who is going to preach on Sunday mornings? Are they going to share that or is it just the older preacher? Who is teaching what classes? Who is doing what? Is the second preacher to be viewed as an equal or an intern? Is the second preacher answerable to the current preacher or just the eldership? What if they are both out of town the same week? Is that what a church wants?

A church having two preachers works beautifully when there is a need and everyone understands their roles and there is a mutual respect and love for each other. When that is missing, trouble looms. I’m hearing more and more churches hiring a second preacher without the knowledge of the first preacher. This forced relationship is full of issues and trouble. We can do better than that. We must do better than that.

Talk it out first. Map it out second. Get a list of possible candidates. Start the interview process. Don’t rush to try someone out before the congregation. Meetings, meetings, meetings and lots of discussion and questions and ideas and sharing must take place first. If an eldership will take their time and heavily involve the current preacher, then it can be a beautiful and helpful relationship. If they don’t, things will only get worse.

Paul and Timothy. Older and younger. Co-workers. One inspired, one not. One an apostle, one not. Yet together, they made a team. Putting Christ first, learning from one another, helping one another, building off of one another, makes a beautiful team. Like a pair of Olympic skaters, they move and work in unison. That’s the goal. That’s the way it ought to be.

Do you need two preachers? Can you afford two preachers? What will a second preacher do for you? Do you have room for a second preacher? Answer those questions before you start looking. Don’t just follow what everyone else is doing. Two hard working preachers that are giving their lives for the Lord is amazing. But two preachers looking for a lazy way to do the work that one can do, ought to be put out to pasture.

Think it through…

Roger