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Jump Start # 2337

Jump Start # 2337

Judges 14:2 “So he came back and told his father and mother, ‘I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”

Spring is in the air and so is romance. There are many young people that I know all over the country that are dating seriously and several are engaged. Wedding plans are in full swing for some of them. June is the month of weddings, and I will be preforming the ceremony for one couple that worships where I preach. Spring and romance. Exciting times. Happy times. But with our verse today, we also see dangerous times.

So many of the young people are seriously dating and marrying those who are not Christians. And, yes, many have been converted after they were married, but it’s also true, that many have weakened their faith and made compromises because their spouse is not a Christian. I see red flags and danger on the horizon. Far too many are happy about these arrangements. A good job. Owning their own home. A master’s degree. A nice family. Good looking. Yet, nothing is ever said about the spiritual side of things. We are so happy for a young couple, but where will these choices lead spiritually?

Our verse today are the first words recorded from Samson. He saw a woman and he wanted to marry her. She was a Philistine. His parents urged him to find a wife from among “our people.” But Samson wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t have anything to do with that. He wanted this Philistine and that’s where his heart was set. God would allow this connection with the Philistines as a bridge for Samson to fight and destroy many of them. But he paid a terrible price in doing this.

Now, here are some thoughts:

First, without any guidance, teaching or conversations, our kids will follow the crowds. They will look for the person who makes their heart skip a beat or two. Waiting until your child is a teen is nearly too late to be driving these lessons home. If you want you child to follow God, even in their marriage, then you must put God before all things. Worship must come before all things, including ball games. I wonder if we make God important, but not the most important. Therefore, we can push God to the background when it comes to doing things we want to do. With this thinking, God doesn’t enter the picture when dating or marriage. About the only time some think about God, is when they must make a decision about who is going to preform the ceremony. Bring the preacher and the Bible for a few moments and then get both of them out of our lives as quickly as possible.

Our kids need to look beyond the surface to see what the person they are interested in is like. Are they only interested in self? That will make for a sad marriage. Are they always talking bad about others? Are they kind, decent, and good? Let’s face it, our looks change as we age, and usually it’s not for the better. And, if the sole reason one is with another is because they make a person happy, what happens when that stops? That person will move on to find someone else who will make them happy. The purpose of marriage is not to make the other happy. That is starting on the wrong foot. That is yet another chapter in the disasters of marriage.

Second, we marry who we date. If you date a frog, you’ll marry a frog. If you want a prince, then you must date a prince. If you want a Christian, then you either date a Christian or you start some serious Bible conversations before the talk of love, rings, and wedding takes place. If the person isn’t interested in the Bible before the marriage, what makes you think that they will be interested after the marriage?

Samson hung around Philistines. It doesn’t surprise us that he married a Philistine. If you want to marry a Christian, then stop dating Philistines. As long as you hang out with Philistines, you’ll probably marry a Philistine.

This is so much more than just having someone to go to church with. It’s about someone sharing life who loves the Lord and are on the same page with you spiritually. For about the past month I have worshipped alone. Oh, I’ve been in church buildings full of people but my wife has been recovering at home from surgery or I have been on the road in other places. But even then, I’m not alone. I can come home and talk to her about worship. I can tell her about the songs we sang. I can tell her about the lessons. I can tell her about who is sick. We can talk about concerns. We can enjoy good news about spiritual things. These past few months I have been in many, many homes. Preaching on the road, members invite me over to their homes. Others are there. We share a meal, life, stories, joys and concerns. But in all of these homes I’ve been to, not one of them, not one, was a home in which one was a Christian and the other wasn’t. That doesn’t happen. The person who is not a Christian doesn’t feel comfortable around the “church people.” They don’t like talk about the Bible, because they are not interested in the Bible. You won’t find much hospitality taking place among Christians when one in the marriage is not a Christian.

It’s hard to share things with your mate when he is not a Christian and does not understand nor has any interest. But there’s more.

What movies to watch. The Christian has guidelines. The Christian isn’t comfortable with foul language, immodesty and blasphemy on the screen. The one who is not a Christian, has no problems. Right there, a fight takes place about what to watch. The Christian often caves in and compromises just to please the spouse. But there’s more.

What about the kids? How are they going to be raised? Discipline? Church services? Teaching them about life, love, marriage and God? But there’s more.

What about giving? But there’s more.

What about when the parents die, or one of the kids is in the hospital. Prayers? Can there be real comfort when one doesn’t even know what he believes? But there’s more.

What about leading the family to Heaven? What about Biblical leadership in the home? What examples are the kids seeing every day? We can share everything, but not one of the greatest things of all, our faith?

I know a young lady that married a young man that everyone said was a good guy. He’s nice. He’s a great catch. Everyone was so happy. He pulled her away from the Lord and now they do not follow the Bible. He’s such a good guy, her family keeps telling me. Would we use that same expression on the serpent in the garden? Of all the animals, only the serpent talked to Eve. He’s so nice to do that. NEVER. He pulled Eve away from God. A person isn’t “good” when they cause one to stop following the Lord. A good person will help you follow the Lord. A good person will make you accountable and raise the bar spiritually for you. A good person pulls the best out of you. A good person honors the Lord and walks with Christ daily.

Stop calling these people “good” who are pulling our young people away from Jesus.

We should want our kids to marry someone who is kind. One who listens. One who cares. One who puts the other first. One who is thoughtful, thankful and knows the Lord. We want our children to marry someone who will help them get to Heaven, not one who stands in the way or pressures them to compromise. How active have they been spiritually? How seriously do they take things spiritually? Do they just sit like a pew potato, or are they engaged in worship? Do they teach? Are they active in hospitality? Do they talk about the Lord outside of the church building? Are they more concerned about character or appearance? Do they love what the Lord loves? If our children marry someone who doesn’t follow the Lord, what will keep them from walking away from the marriage? Divorce and misery in marriage are two of the saddest places to be. This is not the way God intended things to be. But far too many end up there. Far too many find themselves unable to lead God’s people because they made wrong choices years ago when it came to dating and marriage. Who you date, is who you will marry.

It’s time to return to thinking spiritually and Biblically about all of life, including dating and marriage. Finding the right person is just as important as being the right person. We want a prince, yet, we remain in the swamp with the other frogs. Maybe it’s time we stepped up our spiritual life as well. It’s not only about finding someone that will help you get to Heaven, but someone that you can help get there as well.

Jump Start # 2336

Jump Start # 2336

Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?”

Our verse today, yet another conversation that God allows us to drop in on, takes place in the garden of Eden. Paradise. The perfect world. Adam and Eve came into this world without a history, issues, baggage, family drama, in-law problems, or conflicts with siblings or co-workers. Their world was indeed perfect. They didn’t have to hear politicians ridiculing each other and trying to win your vote. They didn’t have to deal with bad weather, heavy traffic, high prices, or slow service. They didn’t even have kids, not yet. It was just Adam and Eve. I wonder what they talked about? Not the people at church, there was no church. Not the kids. Nothing to complain about. Nothing in their day was bad. Likely, they never felt bad, worried or dealt with pressure, deadlines or stress. There was no economy, so they didn’t have to be concerned about prices. They were naked, so they didn’t have to worry about what to wear or being tired of having to wear the same things over and over.

Their world seems so different than ours, and it was. It wasn’t ruined by sin. It was filled with broken promises, broken vows and broken hearts. No one lied to them. No one let them down. No one cheated them. They never heard curse words. There was no “bad shows” to avoid. No one was addicted to drugs, alcohol or sex.

This chapter introduces us to the serpent, Satan, and sin. There are several things here that we do not know. We don’t know how long after creation this took place. The next day? The next week? The next month? The next year? No one knows. We don’t know what the serpent looked like. Often, he is pictured as a snake wrapped around a tree. His punishment from God was to crawl. It’s rather hard to make a crawling snake crawl any more than he does. It is also interesting, of all the animals in the world, so many are afraid of snakes, including me. Don’t be telling me that there are good snakes. No. The only time “Good” and “snake” belong in the same sentence is when the snake is good and dead. I know some eat mice, but so do cats. We also do not know if the serpent was the only animal that could talk. Eve doesn’t seem to be too shocked to be talking to an animal. We don’t know what language Eve spoke in. And, we do not know what the forbidden fruit was. Whatever it was, it belonged in the garden and man was escorted out and we do not have access to it today.

In our verse, this conversation between the serpent and Eve, a question is asked. The serpent asks, “You cannot eat from any tree in the garden?” Let’s talk about that question.

First, the serpent, or really Satan, knew what God had told Adam and Eve. How was he aware we are not told. He must be listening in.

Second, this question, the first asked in the Bible, paints God as a cruel Master. He puts Adam and Eve in the garden with all these fruit trees but they can’t eat any of them. That’s not what God said, but that’s the image Satan wanted Eve to have. God’s really not the way you think He is. He’s not as good, nor as nice as you would want to believe. But his words were twisted. God had not said that. If that were the case, what was Adam and Eve supposed to eat?

Third, Eve’s reply shows that she understood God’s command. The following verse, Eve says, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of garden God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.” It wasn’t every tree that was off limits, just one.

Fourth, the serpent turns the conversation to the one tree that was off limits. This is where Eve missed it. This is where you and I miss it. Eve should have counted all the trees in the garden that she could have eaten from. God had supplied. God was good. God had blessed them. Count the trees in your garden!

Fifth, had Eve seen all that God had provided, she would have been content, thankful and feeling blessed. But now, she felt cheated. She felt neglected. She felt God was holding out on her. One tree was off limits, but all the other trees were good.

I’ve noticed through the years that Satan still likes to use this form of reasoning. He draws our attention to what is out of bounds, off limits, not authorized, not right and from that we forget about everything else.

We do this with worship. Rather than focusing upon the wonderful opportunity to praise and honor God, some only focus upon what’s not allowed. They stand around a forbidden tree and complain. They fail to see all the other trees in the garden. Facebook can be a great tool to connect with others and it can be the voice of Satan if we are not careful. I got a post the other day about someone making wild charges about the church and especially how abusive it is to women because they cannot preach. His statements were not supported by evidence. He said things that were not true. He had no Scriptural backing to his claims. It was simply a voice that would lead the unsuspecting and the untaught to run for the doors. What he failed to do most of all was count the trees in the garden.

We do this with morality. Can’t do this. Can’t do that. We paint a dark picture of boredom, dullness and slavery. This is how some see Christianity. What they want is forbidden fruit. They want to dress immodestly, drink themselves drunk, act immorally, have no responsibility, and laugh all the way to Heaven. That’s what they want. And, they stand around the one forbidden tree complaining about the church, the Bible and God. They want to look like a man but declare that they are a woman. They want to live together without marriage. They want God on speed dial when there is a crisis, but then they don’t want God interfering in their lives. What they fail to do is count the trees in the garden. Christians do have fun, lots of fun. Christians don’t need artificial things such as alcohol or drugs to make them feel good, nor to cope with life. There is a goodness with serving others, being honest and having something worthwhile to do in life other than being selfish.

We do this with our inner thoughts. Satan has us standing around the forbidden tree and all we think about is how terrible and miserable our lives our. Life is so hard, we tell our selves. Gloom and doom is played in the background of our minds. Fear, worry, stress fill our hearts. It’s so hard being a Christian, we are told. It’s so hard to be different. It’s so hard to be the light of the world. Gloom. Doom. Misery. Turn around. Look at all the trees in the garden. Take your eyes off the forbidden tree. Count your blessings. God has answered so many prayers for you. God has forgiven you so many times. God has been there for you.

Satan wants you to stand around looking at what you can’t have. God tells us to turn around and count the trees in the garden. Boy, that would have turned the conversation with Satan. He would have Eve looking at that one tree and how sad it is that God won’t let you have this, but she could have whirled around and counted all the other trees and said, “I don’t need that tree. Look at what I have! God’s been good to me!”

Wish we could do that more. Wish we could count the trees in the garden rather than gather around the one that is forbidden. You are not forsaken, neglected nor forgotten. God has been good to you. If you don’t believe it, just look around and count the trees in your garden!

Roger

Jump Start # 2335

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged Acts 8:30 | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2335

Acts 8:30 “And when Philip had run up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’”

Our verse today begins the conversation between the preacher Philip and the Ethiopian. It is remarkable how many times God allows you and I to sit in on conversations in the Bible. It’s as if we were right there. We learn. We see how to say things. We learn how to bring things up. We learn what to say and what not to say.

This conversation was by divine arrangement. God had brought these two together. This shows that God’s intended avenue of conversion was through the teaching of the Bible. Philip was doing remarkable work in Samaria. One might have thought that God would have left Philip there. You know the saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” It was working in Samaria. Yet, God pulled Philip away from that area to have this conversation with the Ethiopian. Couldn’t have God just saved the Ethiopian without any one else being there? Modern theology says yes. Biblical theology says NO. The Gospel is the power unto salvation. The platform and bridge to Jesus is the preached word of God. God sent Philip to be that bridge.

As Philip catches up with this chariot, he hears the Ethiopian reading. He must have been reading aloud. He must have had his own copy of Isaiah, which was rare, expensive and I doubt that Philip even had his own copy. A simply question was asked. “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian knew he needed help. It was fuzzy in his mind. Just who is the prophet talking about, he wondered. And, beginning there, Philip preached Jesus. The dots were connected. Salvation was brought up. Baptism was discussed. The chariot, which had been rolling down the road, was ordered to stop. The two men got out and went down into some water and the preacher baptized the Ethiopian. There was no need to stop the chariot if one is saved without baptism. There is little need for both to get out of the chariot if only a cup full of water, poured over the head was all that was necessary. But that didn’t happen. They both got out. They both went into the water. The Ethiopian was immersed, which is what the word baptism means in it’s purest form.

I like that question that Philip asked, “Do you understand…” There are some thoughts we need to pull from this.

First, not everyone understands nor has everyone experienced what you have. Some folks have never been part of a congregation that has appointed shepherds. This is a highlight of a church. Share some thoughts about this. Some folks have never had to sit down with a funeral director and work out the details for a funeral. There are so many caskets, vaults, cemeteries. How many death certificates are needed? Share some thoughts about this. Some folks have never had to greet hundreds of people that come through a visitation at a funeral home. Lots of things are asked. Curiosity can get the best of some of us. We can pry into things that are none of our business. How do you handle such things? How do you be polite but not rude? Share your insights. Some have never had a child go away to college. What are some things to consider? Some have never planned a wedding? Share some thoughts.

Second, from the standpoint of the Ethiopian, he was humble and honest to admit that he didn’t know. Many of us wouldn’t do that. Pride wouldn’t allow us to do that. We’d guess. We’d fake it. We hate to ask for help, or worse, to admit that we simply do not know.

I think about this from the standpoint of a visitor to Sunday worship. They may not know what happens and why those things are happening, such as songs, prayers and preaching. They may not know where certain books of the Bible are. They may not understand many things. Share your insights and help them feel comfortable by being a friend to them. Help them, if they will allow you, to find where passages are in the Bible. Don’t lose your patience nor be critical. They simply do not know.

Third, without Philip, the Ethiopian may have drawn the wrong conclusions about the passage. He may have never really known. Truth tends to be narrow and exclusive. There was one answer about who Isaiah was talking about. Getting this wrong, did matter. What you tell others and how you tell others may make all the difference in the world.

Fourth, because we can help explain a passage or help someone through a difficult time does not mean that we will never need help ourselves. This is important for us preachers to remember. It is assumed that we know everything about the Bible, church history and why society does what it does. And, truth be told, we don’t, we don’t, we don’t. Because you have helped someone with a passage does not mean down the road that you will be sitting where the Ethiopian sits and you will have your own questions. I do. There are some things I just haven’t figured out yet. I ask others. I read a lot. I think about these things. Pride can make us believe that we are beyond asking others for help. That’s a sad place to be, because it’s not true.

Finally, God sent help to the Ethiopian. It makes us think of the passage, “Seek and ye shall find.” He was certainly seeking. How he found things was not in a dream, a vision or God speaking in his ear. God sent a preacher. Philip wasn’t a priest like the Ethiopian would have just seen in Jerusalem. However, the Ethiopian didn’t dismiss him. There is no indication that these two had ever met before. However, when honest and good hearts intersect with open Bibles, good things happen. Maybe you’ve needed some help. Maybe you’ve prayed over and over for help. Maybe you’ve become discouraged and weary because it seems that God isn’t helping you. Look around. There may be a Philip running beside your chariot and you never paid any attention to him. Maybe that’s the way God will answer your prayer. Someone to encourage you. Someone to be there for you. Someone to correct you. Someone to remind you. Someone to guide you and teach you. We want help and often that help is sitting right there in the pews all around us.

How different this story would have turned had the question been asked, “Do you understand,” and the answer in return being, “Yeah, I got it.” All of this illustrates that we need each other. There are days we need to be honest like the Ethiopian and ask for help. Let others know that you are slipping. Let others know that you are not getting it. Don’t wait until your boat is going over the waterfall before you reach out for help. There is no shame in asking for help. But, then there are days that we must run along side of Philip. Someone needs help and we are just the one to help out. Philip could have stayed in Samaria and said to God, “Send someone else.” Or, “It’s not my responsibility.” But it was his responsibility. And, he could help. And, he went. He even ran. Can you help someone? Do it.

There was a question and there was an answer.

Roger

Jump Start # 2334

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged Matthew 16:18 | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2334

Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.”

This is a powerful verse. It establishes that the church, or saved people, belong to Jesus. Church here is singular and possessive. It also shows that the rock points not to Peter but what Peter had just confessed. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16). That’s the rock. That’s what the church is built upon. The rock isn’t Peter. He demonstrates trouble and fear just a few pages later in the Gospels.

Our attention is drawn to the final statement, “the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” Old translations never used the word hades. Instead, the word Hell was used. So, in Acts 2, rather than stating that the soul of Jesus was not abandoned to Hades, these translations say Hell. Jesus had told that penitent thief that he would be with Jesus that very day in Paradise. Hell may be many things, but Paradise wouldn’t be one of them. Jesus didn’t go to Hell. In Luke 16, when the rich man died, in hades he lifted up his eyes being in torment. Again, those older translations use the word “hell.” Hades is the place that the dead go until the final day when all are resurrected, a judgment takes place and then the eternity of Heaven and Hell is realized.

Our verse today is talking about death. Death will not overpower the church. When people die they go to Hades. Hades doesn’t win. Death doesn’t win.

Death is all around us. I need to go to two funeral homes on Thursday. Don’t think I can make both. Death ends things. There are books that were never finished because the author died. There were symphonies that were never completed because the composer died. There were movies that had to be changed because an actor died before the filming was completed. Death leaves an empty chair. Death doesn’t wait until we have finished all that we had planned. It doesn’t wait until we are ready. It doesn’t wait for us to get our finances in order. It doesn’t wait for us to retire, finish school, or even see the grandkids. Death comes, whether we are ready or not.

But here, Jesus is saying, not even death can change the church. That is most remarkable. In everything else, death stops and ends things. Death ends a marriage. Death ends parenting. Death ends the reign of a king or queen. Death seems to stop all things, but one. God’s church is not touched by death.

The death of John the baptist must have made Satan rejoice. The death of Stephen, a good day as Satan looks at things. Antipas, the apostle James, and so many others. Kill them. Crush them. Silence them. The thought of Satan is that destroy the people and you destroy the kingdom. But, it doesn’t work that way. They are not destroyed. They are not “gone for good.” They remain in the kingdom. They will reign with Christ. They are viewed by Heaven as being victorious. A crown of victory, a reward, a gain, better off, those are not the words we would use of one that was crushed, defeated and destroyed. Yet, those are the very words God uses for His righteous ones. Death is nothing more than moving from one room to another in God’s house. And, more than that, after death, Satan cannot touch these righteous ones ever again. He cannot tempt them. He cannot discourage them. He cannot accuse them. They are home, safe and sound.

When my kids lived at home and they were out with friends, I often lay in bed half awake, listening for them to come in. Once they were all in, safe and sound, it gave me wonderful relief and peace. Is it any different with God? He wants us to be safe and sound. While here, we are engaged in battle. We fight the good fight of faith. But once we have made it safely home, where we belong, all is fine.

The gates of hades shall not prevail. Paul tells the Corinthians that we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. That sleep there refers to the death of the righteous. Paul is saying that we, we Christians, shall not all die. Some will be alive when Jesus comes. There won’t be a meteor smacking the planet and wiping out all of life. Global warming will not kill us all in twelve years. Christians will be alive on the planet when Christ comes.

Sometimes we can feel like we are losing the battle. More bad than good. More people are becoming indifferent, secular and careless about spiritual things. Too much sin. Too much filth. Too much blasphemy. Satan wants you to believe that it’s a losing cause. He wants you to think that there is no hope. The odds are against us. There are too many on the other side. Satan wants you to just quit trying so hard and join up with him. Have fun, is what Satan wants you to believe. A little sin never hurt anyone, is what Satan says. Life is short, enjoy it. You deserve it. And, with all these false messages, comes one powerful truth from Heaven. The gates of Hades shall not prevail. Satan loses. Those walking with him will lose.

Satan’s greatest pitch is death. And, Christ hit that out of the park a long time ago. Up from the grave He arose. And, because He is risen, so shall we be some day. What else does Satan have? It’s a losing cause for him. And, the outcome is not yet to be determined. It is determined. We know what will happen. Satan is going to be tormented for ever and the righteous will be gathered around the throne of God. That includes James, Antipas, Stephen, John and you and I some day.

Keep walking with the Savior. Keep your head up. Keep your eyes open. Keep believing. Even the gates of hades cannot prevail.

Good to know and good to remember…

Roger

Jump Start # 2333

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged Hebrews 12:28 | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2333

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe”

The name was Dutch Bethel. That always struck me as a unique union of two concepts: Bethel, from the Bible. Long ago many places were designated with Biblical names. The “Dutch” part I’m not real sure about. There was a community of Pennsylvania Dutch and maybe that is where the name came from. But Dutch Bethel is no more. I just learned about that this week while in a meeting. Most of you have never heard of Dutch Bethel, but it was the name of a congregation of God’s people that met in Indiana. The congregation started in the 1820’s, and was probably the oldest existing church connected to the churches of Christ in the state and nearly one of the oldest in the country. Through all the ups and downs and troubles that changed so many churches, this congregation stayed the course. There was a time when it numbered over 200 members. Several other congregations were started out of it. But now, it has dwindled down to nothing, and death has taken what was left and the doors have closed and there no longer is worship taking place there. The building remains and an old cemetery sits across the street. I’ve been to this place a couple of times. It’s hard to find. When locals say “It’s way out in the sticks,” it’s really way out in the sticks. A gravel road takes you to where it is.

But a sadness came to me when I head that the church at Dutch Bethel was no more. I love history. I have always wanted to preach one time there. Many of my early ancestors were part of that church. But we know things change. We see this not just out “in the sticks” but in the cities as well. Sears is gone. Toys R Us is gone. Gas stations that pumped gas for you do not exist. Life moves on and things close and new things open.

Our verse helps put some of this in perspective for us spiritually. The kingdom of God cannot be shaken. In Daniel’s vision, the kingdom can not be destroyed. The kingdom of God is made up of people, individuals, saved people. Congregations come and go. There are new congregations forming, some for good reasons, some because folks can’t get along. There are congregations that merge. Location, size all play a role in that. And, some like Dutch Bethel, are closing their doors for the last time. There won’t be a thriving congregation in Dutch Bethel any more. One reason is that there are so few people that live around there now. It’s just too hard to find. So does the merging and closing of congregations affect the kingdom? Does it make the kingdom shift or change? No. The kingdom is not made up of congregations, but of individuals. People move around. People leave one congregation for another congregation. The makeup of God’s kingdom is the hearts of people.

Sometimes we see the world and especially the kingdom only through the eyes of the congregation where we attend. For young people who haven’t traveled about much, it’s easy for them to conclude that all congregations are about the same. We are all about the same size. We are all doing about the same thing. Like a McDonald’s. I was driving the other day, and wanted some sweet tea. I dropped in a McDonald’s. This was in a different city from where I live. I noticed the menu items were the same as they were back home. One McDonald’s looks pretty much like another McDonald’s. It’s not that way with congregations. If we are all following the Bible closely, we will be the same doctrinally, but the size, the atmosphere, the leadership, the goals and the drive can be very different. Some congregations have a stale and old feeling to them. Others seem very fresh, exciting. In some places, you rarely see a new face. In other places, folks are visiting all the time. Some congregations are not doing much to reach others. Some are using every tool they can find, from print, to social media, to videos. Congregations come in different sizes. Some are small. Some are large. Congregations have different histories. Some are very old, like Dutch Bethel was. Others, are less than a decade old. Some have elders. Some don’t. Some have a lot of money and are doing all kinds of things to reach others. Some don’t have much and the budget is very tight which makes it limited to what they can do. Some have lots of young people. Others have very few. Some are near college towns and there’s a lot of college kids that come. Others have never seen a college student, unless he’s home for the summer. Congregations, like our homes, take on the personality of the people there. Some are very laid back. Services may get around to starting five or ten minutes late each time. No one seems to be bothered by the time. Others are very precise. Some congregations are like visiting an old friend. Lots of smiles, hugs and you just hate to leave. Other congregations are like sitting in the doctor’s waiting room. No one really talks to any one and you hope you can get out of there as quickly as you can.

It does one good to visit other places. You get ideas. You see how others do things. It’s good for the elders to visit other places and to learn what others are doing, so they can become better. Preachers need to share ideas. We’re not rivals on different teams, we’re all in this together.

The kingdom is made up of individuals. The kingdom will survive until Jesus comes. Congregations come and go. Some are doing well. Some, as we see in Revelation, are lukewarm and some are dead. And, some have closed their doors, like Dutch Bethel.

Plans are being made so I can get back inside old Dutch Bethel one more time. Hate to see it close, but it’s time. No one is left. It’s closed, but the kingdom hasn’t. It never will. It cannot be shaken. You can, as the old folks say, take that to the bank! There’s one thing we can count on, God’s kingdom will never go out of business. There may come a time when preachers from other countries come to the United States to evangelize. There may come a time when there are more Christians in foreign lands than there are in America. God’s kingdom flies only one banner, the banner of the cross.

Congregations come and go. Congregations change. Some start out great and lose their love, like Ephesus. Some go through the motions like Laodicea. Some no longer exist. Look at all the congregations we read about in the N.T. How many of those congregations are still around? But the kingdom…it continues to grow and grow. As congregations come and go, don’t fret that God may go out of business.

The kingdom cannot be shaken!

Roger

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