20

Jump Start # 2639

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2639

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Comfort one another with these words.”

I was listening to the Beatles classic song, Eleanor Rigby, the other day. There is a line that always grabs my attention. It says, Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear. No one comes near.” A sermon that no one will hear.

Recently, I have been collecting old sermons. I received a couple of sermons that were never preached. The preacher was working these up to preach before, age, illness and death caught up with him. He was working until the very end. And, here in my hands were the words of a sermon that no one heard. What’s interesting about these old sermons, and this is true of many published sermons, on paper they don’t look like much. I know the man who had written those sermons that were never preached. He would have made those words come alive and people would have been talking about those sermons for a long time. Which tells us so much about preaching. Words on a paper can seem rather simple, plain and even unimpressive. But put the heart of the preacher behind those words, and things come alive. The preacher is the bridge between the word of God and the heart of the audience. It is his job to make things real, practical, understandable and helpful.

That bridge is important. God didn’t have the apostles write the Gospel message and just mail it to the world. They were to go and preach the Gospel. It is important that people do not get so fixated upon the bridge that they fail to see God’s word. The presentation needs to point to the Christ and not the preacher. Yet, the mood, energy, passion and attitude of the preacher can make those things easy or they can become obstacles that hurt the message.

Our verse today are the concluding words to what Paul had written about the death of Christians. Sad, upset, unsure, feeling a loss, Paul reminds these believers of the promises of God. The dead in Christ are not lost. They are not forsaken, forgotten or gone. They are with the Lord. And, it is these words that would bring hope, comfort and joy to hearts that were troubled.

The wonderful times we live in allows us to hear sermons over and over again. We can live in one state and hear a sermon that was preached in another state. We are blessed to have wonderful technology that enables us to reach to the ends of the globe with this grand message of salvation. The words of a sermon are intended to be preached and heard.

The word of God serves many functions. All of them are important.

First, God’s word informs or teaches. We learn concepts, principles, fundamentals. It is through this that we see Jesus. It is upon this that our faith is built and grows. From this, we form decisions and choices that draws us closer to God or they can rip apart our relationship with Him. Teach us to number our days is what Moses said in the Psalms. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Paul said that he learned the secret of contentment. God’s word is a classroom that opens our eyes if we will open our hearts.

Second, God’s word warns us. There are things that are wrong. There are things that are dangerous. God tells us about these things. Timothy was told to avoid certain people. God tells us not to be deceived. Commandments and doctrine are often warning based. Some don’t like that. They want to go and go and have no restrictions. But there are dangers out there. Dangers to our spiritual wellbeing. Dangers to our heart. How could God truly love us if He did not warn us about these things.

Third, true to our verse today, God’s word comforts us. It has a way of healing a broken heart. Promises, hope and joy all bring comfort. The weary need to be encouraged to keep on. The heavy laden need to hear the promises of rest that is found in Jesus. The discouraged need to know that God is with them. The fearful and the worried need to realize that God remains upon the throne. The sad need to know what God says about resurrection and eternity. There is great comfort in God’s word.

Fourth, God’s word challenges, motivates and moves us. The Lord’s words at the end of the Good Samaritan story are, “go and do thou likewise.” Get about it. The Corinthians were told to remain unmovable and abound in the work of the Lord. Titus was to tell his congregation to be engaged in good deeds. Get busy. Get involved. Get going. God’s word dusts the cobwebs off of us and calls us to get on our feet and do something good. Powerful. Motivating. Challenging.

Preaching takes those concepts and creates sermons around them. Now, we may have a favorite part, such as comfort. We may like lessons on Heaven. We may want to learn things. But we also need to be warned. We also need to be challenged. It’s not just from one area that we find God’s fruit. We must move around the orchard and find blessings on all the trees. Commandments are as important as promises. Lessons that dry tears are as important as lessons that kick us in our pants. And, we get these from sermons as well as classes. Some classes may be verse by verse which informs and teaches us. But we also need topical studies which covers questions and areas that are important to us at the moment.

In all of this, we find balance. Some of this and some of that. Too much of one, or all of one, is not getting the complete picture. We need it all.

God bless the preachers that understand this and work hard at presenting the complete message of God. While we may not like a particular subject for a sermon or class, realize that in the big picture of things, we likely need it.

Sermons that are never heard, are not good. Sound the word. Spread the message. Ring out the Gospel.

Roger

17

Jump Start # 2638

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2638

Philippians 4:2 “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.”

I have always found this verse interesting and felt a bit embarrassed for these two sisters. Something wasn’t going right between them. They were “out of harmony.” The footnote tells us that they were to be of the ‘same mind.’ They were different minded. They had differences of perspectives, opinions and how things ought to be done. Not being on the same page, has spilled into a real problem. The church knew about it. Now, an apostle knew about it. Paul doesn’t tell us what the problem was about. He doesn’t take sides. He doesn’t tell one to apologize to the other. All he says is for them to be of the same mind.

This is the same thing Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter to them. They were divided on many issues. Things were not going well. Paul’s words there tell them to agree and be of the same mind. Same mind. Thinking alike. Thinking the same. After a couple has been married for some time they get that way. My wife can order food for me in a restaurant, because she knows what I like. I can tell you if she’d like a certain movie or not.

What is interesting about our verse today is that Paul tells them to be of the same mind but he doesn’t tell them how. Just how do different minds become one? How do people with different opinions settle on one? How does a church develop the same mind? We know what a church looks like when it doesn’t have one mind. It’s scattered, messy, opinionated, divided and upset. This side verses that side. Power struggles. Fighting for control. Forgetting Jesus. It’s not easy having one mind.

First, there are some obvious ways it is not to be done. And, sadly, this is often the means people use to accomplish this today. It’s not the loudest voice. It’s not pressure. It’s not intimidating. The outward conclusion may seem like everyone is on the same page, but inside they are not. One side has been scared to change their ways. It’s not what they want, but they fear the consequences if they oppose. So, they go along because they are pressured and afraid.

I tend to think this is some of the tactics being used in society today to force changes that people want. Fearful of violence or worse, being labeled and accused, some are going on out of fear and intimidation. This usually doesn’t last. This is not one mind. This is not harmony.

Second, for there to be harmony and one mind, one must listen to the other side. We can get so worked up and be so sure that we are right that we leave no room for anyone to disagree. Disagreements, questions, asking for proof is never a wrong thing. The atmosphere needs to be pleasant, open and willing to discuss. When one side refuses to listen, consider, or even think about the other side, then harmony will never happen. Put proof on the table. Let’s look at it. No need for shouting. No need for lining up people on this side or that side. No need for threats or ugliness. Why do you feel the way you do?

Third, it often takes a third party to help iron out issues and keep everyone fair. A mediator, one who is impartial other than wanting to find a bridge for both to meet upon and cross over together is often necessary. The mediator must be agreed upon by both sides. Right there, things often break down. Can’t agree upon a mediator generally means a total breakdown of coming together will happen. Harmony is delicate. We can say and do things without realizing what we’ve just done hurt someone. We may not mean to leave some out, but we do. Hurt feelings. Feeling like one is not included, wanted or accepted can lead to breakdown in harmony.

Fourth, Satan wants us to be at odds with each other. He thrives on our differences and division. He loves hurt feelings. He wants us to neglect, abuse and wound each other. It doesn’t take too much of that for a person to leave. Division of a congregation is Satan’s great joy. Brethren who refuse to associate or talk to one another will keep harmony from every happening. And, often all it takes is something very little. It’s not the big things like false teaching, but the little things like not being invited to a party or someone’s get together and immediately ill feelings, bad tempers and negative spirits rise. Things are spread. Things are stretched out of proportion. And, now people won’t talk to each other. Years of worshipping together and friendship can crash that easily.

Fifth, harmony is always possible when we stand with the Lord and seek His will. No problem, no difference, no sin is so great that it can not be forgiven, worked through and differences healed. It can happen. But when pride, stubbornness and a bit of selfishness are mingled into the mess, then a major problem explodes. I can only imagine as the Philippian letter was read aloud and the reader came to our verse, what these two sisters thought. How embarrassing that their names were publically named. This problem had gone far enough. Paul was wanting it to stop. He wanted it to stop now. Get along. Be of the same mind. Be of one mind. Have that mind of Christ, that’s always the solution.

Our times are driving people, even brethren apart. Everyone has their own mind and that seems to suit society just fine. It doesn’t work well within a congregation. Try rowing a canoe in opposite directions. I did that once. We went in circles. It was funny. We didn’t plan to do that. We just weren’t in harmony. And, the same thing happens in a marriage, a family and a church when we are not in harmony. We just go around in circles.

Be of the same mind…it can be done.

Roger

16

Jump Start # 2637

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2637

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

My good friend Ken Weliever, and fellow blog writer, had a great article last week about “What do preachers do when they are not preaching?” That’s a question many wonder about. Ken’s article is not only a must read but it is also one to be used in training programs and even in Bible classes.

Our verse today, Paul’s words to a younger preacher has a series of four action statements.

  • Be sober
  • Endure hardship
  • Do the work
  • Fulfill your ministry

This is stated in contrast to the congregation. Paul warns Timothy that the congregation will not endure sound doctrine and will turn to myths. But you, as our verse begins, are to be different. You, are to stay the course. You must do the work.

So, what does a preacher do when he is not in the pulpit? For most, they only see the preacher on Sunday morning standing behind the pulpit. What’s he doing the rest of the week?

First, he is doing the work. Those old and stale comments, “You only work one day a week,” not only are insulting, disrespectful, but they are hurtful. Ask your dentist if he is a quack while he is drilling your teeth. That won’t be a good experience. “You only work one day a week” shows the ignorance of the person who speaks it. Go to any restaurant, other than fast food. When you order your food it takes time to prepare. The server doesn’t just pull it out of his pocket. If he did, you wouldn’t eat it. So, stop with the “you only work one day a week.” It’s not funny! It illustrates your ignorance of God’s word and how out of touch you are with the congregation. Maybe if you were involved more you would know what is going on!

What’s the preacher doing? He’s reading. He’s studying. He’s shaping sermons. He’s preparing classes to teach. He’s writing. He’s answering a bunch of questions. He is encouraging. He is teaching in private studies. It takes time to do all of those things. The preachers I know would love to put in a forty hour week. It never happens. Most of us are working seven days a week. When we get home, the work comes with us. There are always things to do.

Second, what is the preacher doing? He is thinking. Always thinking. That mind rarely shuts off. Even on vacation, another article to write. Another sermon to preach. Another class. And, most of the preachers I know are creative. I think that is in the DNA to be a preacher. It’s like a song writer. I’ve heard the stories of writers jotting a few words on the back of an old envelop and going to the studio and cranking out a number one hit. Their minds are creative. They just think that way. Preachers are similar. They are thinking about how to make things better. How to create a more inviting atmosphere. How to better connect with people. How to better reach the community. How to help the teens. Over and over and over, the preacher is always thinking. He’s thinking about YOU. He’s thinking about how to motivate you. How to get you to see the big picture. How to get you more committed, more involved and more useful to the kingdom. While we are thinking about fun, food and family, the preacher sits on his vacation with you running through his mind. Why is it that you will not teach a class? Why won’t you serve as a shepherd? Why are you always stuck in neutral?

Third, the preacher is growing spiritually. We all must do that. The preacher realizes that to be a leader one must be ahead of everyone else. So, he is busy learning, growing and becoming himself. He uses his experience to encourage younger preachers. He is always trying to find better ways to communicate and spread the word of God. He understands the value of being fresh, relevant, and practical. He has to know what is going on in the world and what’s running through the minds and hearts of the brethren. He must be on top of things and a step ahead.

Fourth, the preacher is doing so many things behind the scenes that others will never know about. He is with a family that is having issues with a teen. He’s talking to a man whose marriage isn’t hitting on all cylinders. He is with a family that just buried a loved one. He’s talking to a young couple who want to get married. He’s visiting homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and even jails. He’s in the coffee shop meeting with someone who has questions. His phone is always ringing with some need. His email is full every day. There are dozens of texts he must deal with. Often much of this is with folks outside the immediate church family. His influence and connections have drawn him to people all over the country or even the world. He does what he can to connect people to the Lord.

And, on top of these things the preacher has a family. He has a house to take care of. He has a yard to mow and cars that need maintenance. His day doesn’t end at five. He’s working every weekend. He doesn’t get holidays off. He pours his life into his work. Most have very little retirement. Most know that the tide can shift at any time and he could be asked to leave, which would mean that he would have to sell his house and move to another city. When age becomes a factor, he knows that he will be replaced, whether he is ready or not. And, when it is time for the old preacher to step down, there won’t be a gold watch given but a few slaps on the back and a wise crack, “Well, you only worked one day a week anyway.”

Why does the preacher do this? Long hours. Few benefits. Little security. We do it because we love to preach. We do it because we love to see the kingdom grow. We do it because the Lord allows us. We do it because it’s the right thing to do.

What’s a preacher doing when he is not preaching? He’s working. He’s working hard.

Roger

15

Jump Start # 2636

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2636

Daniel 1:3 “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles.”

Our verse today begins one of the darkest periods in Judah’s history. It looks as if the lights were turned out, the doors were locked and the presence of God was gone. In many ways, it seemed as if God was abandoning these people. It looks like they were on their own.

The unfaithfulness, indifference and neglect of Judah’s spiritual life had caught up with them. Sin always will. We may feel that we have the world by the tail, but that ugly head always finds a way to bite us and bring about the darkest of consequences. For a long, long time God had warned the nation. King after king had taken the nation deeper and deeper into idolatry. Once in a while, a good king would appear. He’d remove idols and try to steer the ship back in the right direction. But, that king would die and with him died that legacy and mark of goodness. Prophet after prophet was ignored. God’s patience ran out. God sent for the Babylonians and they came with thundering might. The walls came down. The temple was robbed and burned. Thousands were carried away into captivity. Many were killed. The beloved ark of the covenant was taken. And, for seventy years the nation sat in Babylon. Many would die there. Others would be born who had never known Jerusalem.

Now, some thoughts for us:

First, when it looks like God has turned His back, He really hasn’t. Judah did. Judah was walking another direction. Throughout this first chapter of Daniel, the finger of God is seen everywhere.

  • It was God who gave Judah into the Babylonian hands (v. 2)
  • It was God who granted Daniel favor before the officials (v. 9)
  • It was God who gave Daniel and his three friends knowledge and intelligence (v. 17)
  • It was God who kept Daniel alive during the invasion and attacks

Sometimes it’s hard to see God. That can be a faith issue on our part. Sometimes we may not be looking in the right direction. Our expectations of what ought to happen may not line up with what God has planned. In the midst of a terrible storm, when the disciples believed that they might die, Jesus was there. He is always there. The ease of things in your life may not always be a blessing. And, the struggles you face are not an indication that God is angry with you, upset with you or is punishing you.

Second, Daniel, for his young age, stands our remarkably as a person of conviction, courage and deep faith. His mind was made up that he would not eat the king’s food. When, the contemporary Ezekiel was pulling three examples of righteous people, he used Job, Noah and Daniel. Job and Noah were long ago. They belonged back in the first pages of the Bible. But Daniel was current. He was still alive. He was among them. Daniel was taken into captivity even though he was not an idolater. What the nation was doing to be punished, Daniel was not. Good people, righteous people, innocent people often get caught up with the punishment that falls to others. In Joshua’s days, Achan was killed for the gold he stole from Jericho. With the execution of Achan, also came the execution of his children. I doubt his daughters fought in battle. They were caught up in the consequences of his sin.

Daniel was righteous, yet Daniel was taken captive.

Third, Daniel never gave up on God. His righteousness, his prayers, his faith remained strong. He didn’t complain. He didn’t blame God. He didn’t say, “why am I here? I didn’t do anything wrong.” God had a mission for Daniel and it was in the palaces of Babylon. Daniel was an example then and he remains an example to us today. At Daniel’s young age, there was not much he could do to turn the direction of Judah. That was in the hands of the kings. But what Daniel could do, was be faithful and dedicated to God.

Is this not a great lesson for us? There is not much you and I can do to turn the direction of this country. We don’t get to make policy. We are not included in high level discussions. But what we can do is be faithful and true to God. We can be an example.

Finally, Judah had long ignored the warnings of God. The word of the Lord was presented to them on many, many occasions. They ignored it. They went on doing what they wanted to do. Isaiah, 150 years before, warned them. And, now, before us, are two thousand year old warnings about the coming of the Lord. The voice of preachers are ignored. People do what they want to do. And, the thundering chariots of Heaven will come rushing in some day. Most who are alive at that time will be shocked, surprised and not ready. They ought to be ready, but they won’t be. Just like Judah was unprepared, so will the world be when Jesus comes.

There are so many windows and mirrors in the prophetic books to our days. Be a Daniel. Be different. Be transformed in your heart. Be certain in your faith. Be hopeful in your prayers. Be sure in your walk.

Roger

14

Jump Start # 2635

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2635

Luke 15:2 “And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’”

Our verse today is the core reason why Jesus told some of the most beloved and powerful parables in His ministry. Lost sheep, lost coin and lost sons were the Lord’s response and answer to these charges against Him. The prodigal son, not only showed the love and grace of our Heavenly Father, it pulled back the curtain to reveal how heartless these Pharisees were. They are the elder brother who refused to accept, forgive or participate with the celebration of the return of the prodigal.

There are a few things we ought to see here:

First, anytime we complain about God we are wrong. God is not one of us. God doesn’t answer to us. He doesn’t have to answer your prayers. He doesn’t have to do things the way you think He should. His word is written and it stands. You may not like what He says about worship, divorce, forgiveness or a host of social behaviors, but your complaints and disagreements will not change what is written. God is always right. Always.

The Pharisees in our passage didn’t see Jesus as God. They thought he was just a young rabbi who had odd teachings and beliefs about himself. They thought they could put Him in his place. But we know God. We know Jesus. Complaining because things do not turn out as you want, makes you look spoiled and selfish.

Second, we are quick to judge others. We see the mistakes of others and are nearly proud to announce to the world what those mistakes are. We turn around during worship to see who is coming in late. And with that, we roll our eyes, sigh and show our disgust. The song leader begins a song, and immediately we whisper just loud enough for others to hear, ‘We sang that one last week.’ The Pharisees in our passage were judging others and complaining about Jesus. One wonders if these folks ever smiled. Were they ever happy? Were they ever content? Did they ever feel blessed? Were they happy to be in God’s love and grace?

But, then, do folks think the same thing about us. Do our kids ever see us happy, content and feeling blessed? When someone asks how we are doing, do we drag out the medical charts and start down the lists of every ache and pain and then move on to how the kids don’t call, and then the weather has been hot, and the grocery stores are still not stocked. You do that very much, and people will stop talking to you. They will stop asking you “how you are,” because they don’t have half a day to hear your problems.

It’s a wonder that an apostle in a prison could tell folks on the outside, “rejoice always.” Sometimes those in the worst situations, remind the rest of us to stop complaining and rejoice.

Third, these Pharisees saw no value in eating with sinners. This was one of the greatest social occasions in the first century. It is amazing how many lessons and parables are drawn around eating. This was much more than just filling your belly. If that’s all we see, we miss it. You and I eat anywhere and everywhere. We eat at ballgames, on airplanes, in our cars, at the movie theatre. Eating is no big deal. I’ve seen folks driving down the road with a hamburger in one hand and a cell phone in the other, while passing me. The complaint about the Pharisees was much more than sinners receiving food. It involved accepting, associating, fellowshipping and being with them. To the Pharisees, sinners needed to be excluded. Cut them off. Have nothing to do with them. They are not like us, so we don’t want to be with them. Not Jesus. He came into the world for all people. He died for all people. Behind the Pharisees’ logic was the idea that they were better than those sinners. But they never would believe that they were in the same situation as these sinners. The Pharisees were sinners too. They needed Jesus, too. They were in the same boat as the very sinners that they complained about.

Fourth, our perspective of others and even the world is often slanted in favor of us. That was the problem of the Pharisees. And, that leads easily into a “us” verse “them” mentality. The Us, are right. The “them” are never right. But if our perspective is off, then our vision is off. This is important. If I feel cheated, ignored, or neglected, then that will shape and color my vision. Yet, if I feel blessed, loved and welcomed by God, then that will shape and color my vision. Perspective. Our times are consumed with left and right, forgetting that there is an up and a down. How we view self, others and God shapes our attitude, our out look and our motivation. “This world is not my home,” is more than a powerful hymn, it is a perspective. And, that perspective shapes how we see things. So many are allowing the news, society and culture to shape their hearts. They allow others to determine what is important for them.

The lens through which the Pharisees looked always put them in the center. The universe revolved around them. And, that same thought is found today. Selfishness shapes and defines how folks see the world. The sinners had no place in the hearts of these Pharisees and that would lead to prejudice, neglect and indifference, the three fastballs that Satan loves to throw.

Jesus was around sinners. He ate with sinners. He didn’t encourage them sins. He didn’t ignore their sins. But, even though He was much better than they were, He invited them around Him and made them feel loved and wanted.

Can we do the same?

Roger