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Jump Start # 2994

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2994

1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”

NOTE: There will not be a Jump Start tomorrow. We look forward to being with you on Monday, January 3. A bright new year.

  Our verse today comes from the resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians. Some within the Corinthian congregation no longer believed in the resurrection. Any resurrection, including Jesus’ resurrection. These were the “evil companions” that Paul was warning about deeper in the chapter. This was not something that e could differ on and remain united. This was THE deal breaker. This IS the foundation of our faith. Without the Resurrection of Jesus, we won’t be raised, the Lord’s Supper is useless and baptism has no purpose. Paul sets forth a long string of reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The Scriptures taught that. Eyewitness saw it. Faith demands it. Without a resurrection, our faith falls apart.

The passage today explains that at the coming of Jesus, things will end. “Then comes the end,” is how our verse opens. When Jesus comes, He is not starting to get to work, He is ending it. The kingdom is not being established. It’s being delivered to God. Rule and authority and power are not beginning. They are ending. Peter tells us that when the Lord returns, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed. Fire will burn up everything. This has nothing to do with global warming. The fire Peter is talking about is Heaven sent. It’s not caused, nor controlled by man.

Then comes the end—what a fitting statement as we put this year on the shelf. We will never go back to this year again. It’s over. Finished. Completed. And, in this statement is a great thought for us.

Then comes the end…

First, some things never end. That’s good. God’s love never ends. God’s blessings do not run out. And, we, ourselves will not end. There is no “The End” to our story. We will pass through that doorway of death and be on the other side. Everyone of us will live on and on. Now, a person may not want to. They may not want to live on eternally. You don’t have that option. This is something that you have no part of. You were designed by God to live on in eternity, and that, you will. And, that thought alone ought to deter suicide. Some get into such a mess or so discouraged that they don’t want to live. They think taking their life will be the end. It isn’t. They do not realize that they will live. They will live on in eternity. Taking your own life only thrusts you into the other room. You are still alive.

Second, some things do end. That’s Paul’s point. “Then comes the end.” The end of what? The end of this world. The end of life as we know it. The end of history.

There are other things that also come to an end:

  • Opportunities end. There is a brief moment when we can do good and influence and then that door closes. If we miss that opportunity, it is often gone and often gone for ever.
  • School comes to an end. When one has been in school from kindergarten through college, it’s hard to imagine any life that doesn’t involve papers, tests and classroom lectures. But eventually school ends.
  • Our employment eventually comes to an end. For most, they retire. No more alarm clocks. No more traffic in the morning. No more co-workers. No more stress. No more deadlines. For those who plan wisely, retirement can be a great time in your life to do other things than earn a paycheck. One can help more in the kingdom. But for those who don’t look down the road, retirement comes and they are not ready. The closing years of their lives are filled with worry and stress about money. It shouldn’t be that way, but for many it is.
  • And, as we end this year, we know someday will be the final year. Either our final year here or the planet’s final year when Jesus comes. We look back and must think, “What good have I done this past year?” These times are filled with fear and anger. Have I been a part of that? Have I helped a soul get closer to the Lord this year? Have I enriched the kingdom this year? Have I made life easier for the next generation?

Then comes the end…It’s coming. There is no stopping it. We can deny it. We can regret it. We can fuss over it. Or, we can make the most of it. We can serve our generation as David did. We can pack our time full of serving and making a difference. We can leave spiritual footprints for others to follow. We can live rich lives filled with the mercy and grace of our Lord. We don’t have to be like the world. We can be that breath of fresh air in a stale and dying culture. We can be hopeful when others have given up. We can be spiritual and Biblical when most have forgotten that.

Then comes the end…and we are finished with this place. We move on to be with the Lord forever.

A year ends and a new year begins…something to think about.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 2993

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2993

John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

  Our verse today comes from the words of John, the baptizer. He was the cousin of Jesus and he fully understood his role. He was going out and Jesus was coming in. And, boy, did Jesus come in. When Jesus first multiplied the food, Matthew tells us that there were 5,000 men, not counting women and children, in the audience. The crowd easily could have topped 10,000 or more. Luke tells us that on another occasion, that there were “so many thousands of the multitude,” that they were “stepping on one another.” Massive crowds. Popular. Great demands. Someone always needing Jesus. Someone always wanting Jesus. He must increase and I must decrease.

The role of John was to be a forerunner or pave the way for Jesus. They were not rivals. They were not in competition. One was gaining favor and the other was fading out. One would have long lasting followers, the other would not. One would have people calling themselves after Him, the other wouldn’t. One would do more, so much more, than what the other ever did. This was all according to the plan of God. This was exactly the way it was to be. This was by design, God’s design. John would decrease and Jesus would increase. John didn’t go out kicking and screaming, burning bridges and shouting insults. He knew. He understood. This was the way it was supposed to be.

Now, some lessons for us:

First, the principle of increasing and decreasing well illustrates generations within a congregation. The older generation decreases. They become less visible. They have less of a voice. The younger generation increases. They are the ones teaching now. They are the ones who lead worship. A baton is passed and this is the way it is supposed to be. But, the increase-decrease principle can come with some jealousy and friction.

As preachers age, the calls stop coming in. No churches call to ask the aging preacher to move there. Fewer meetings are scheduled. And, around him, younger preachers seem to be excelling. They are doing more than the old preacher ever did. They are popular, in demand and good. And, this can bruise the ego of the older preacher. If he is not careful, he can become critical and even cranky towards younger preachers. John was to decrease and Jesus was to increase. Did John ever feel jealous of Jesus? Did he ever think, “I never had the crowds like Jesus does?” Did he ever think, “My sermons are just as good as His?” The Bible doesn’t reveal any of that, and I certainly hope John never went there.

The older generation of saints can feel neglected and abandoned. It’s not right to push them out of the way. Find ways to include them and use them. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge that they have. Maybe they can’t teach an entire period or quarter of classes, but use them for a one time session. Seek their advice.

Second, the spirit of those decreasing can help those who are increasing. If one kicks, complains and is sour about the next generation coming on, a battle will be brewing on the horizon. Jesus didn’t have to pry the fingers of John off of the leadership role. John understood. He was decreasing and Jesus was increasing. With great anticipation, help and encouragement, the older generation can be such a blessing and benefit to the older generation. There are mistakes that the younger generation do not have to go through. The older generation did. Their lessons can help steer others into better attitudes and better ways of following the Lord.

I see this especially necessary in the two–preacher arrangement that are in many congregations. One preacher is older and the other is younger. The older in time must decrease. Age alone will cause that to happen. The younger must increase. More people will turn to the younger than the older. This can be natural, beautiful and right or a real dog fight can take place. The spirit of the older preacher sets the atmosphere. If he is depressed, jealous and feeling left out, because the younger preacher is increasing, then trouble looms. Don’t be this way, older preacher. Be a blessing and a help. Not only are you helping the congregation, but you are putting an example before the younger preacher. In time, he will be an old preacher. How he treats a younger preacher may be a reflection of how you treated him.

Third, John understood his role. He played a vital role in the beginning. He was the first to announce the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He baptized Jesus. And, Jesus paid him the highest compliment by saying no one born of woman is greater than John. The increaser recognized the role of the decreaser. He was thankful for what he had done. This wonderful relationship made the transition smooth.

When John died, Jesus got away with His disciples to reflect. So many parallels. John was family. John was young. John died violently. John died innocently. John died telling the truth. John was executed by the government. In a short while, Jesus would follow those same steps.

John decreased. Jesus increased. As, we close a year and head into another new year, full of plans, goals and activities, let us remember this principle. Both John and Jesus, in their roles honored God and fulfilled the plans of God to His glory. May we always do the same.

Increasing and decreasing…it’s a part of life.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 2992

Posted on December 28, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2992

Psalms 73:1 “God certainly is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”

The year is nearly over. It’s been yet another tough year. Things have not snapped back to normal as many were hoping. The pandemic is still dominating the news. Restaurants are still understaffed. It’s hard to get some items such as appliances and certain cars. We may have thought that turning the calendar in January was going to turn things back to where they once were. Churches have gotten back to in-person Bible classes and worship but many places are still missing people. The numbers are not the same.

I was reading an article entitled, “A warring world’s biggest wish.” It was in an issue of Gospel Advocate in 1915. A.B. Lipscomb, the writer, was talking about the war in Europe and the spirit of many concerning the war. The war he was referring to was World War I. Here we are more than a hundred years later and the things we could tell that writer that was still to come. America didn’t get into World War I until 1917. That was still to come. There would be a massive depression after that. Food lines, banks closed, unemployment off the charts. There would be yet another World War. That one was more intense. Then there was a war in Korea. Then Vietnam. Then Iraq. A president would be assassinated. Another president would resign. A global Pandemic. Schools and churches closed. Travel postponed. If Lipscomb could look into a crystal ball and see what was yet to come, he may have given up.

And, here we are. Another year is about in the books. A new year, bright and fresh is about to begin. Will things be better? Will they be worse? We can’t see what’s coming. But there are some lessons for us.

First, God is still on the throne. He has never left the throne. Wars. Depressions. Pandemics. Things shut done. Things turned upside down. Yet, God is still believed, prayed to and our source of strength. God is greater than wars, diseases, and hardships. Jesus showed us that while he was on the earth. In a short section in Mark 4-5, Jesus demonstrates  that He is God on earth by doing four impossibles. First, He changed the weather and calmed the sea. Second, He cast out multiple demons. Third, He cured a disease. Fourth, He raised the dead. Powerful. Convincing. This same Jesus reigns from Heaven.

Second, God’s people still thrive. Congregations are larger and doing so much more than what they were doing in 1915. The Gospel is crisscrossing the planet daily. Simple blogs, like Jump Starts, podcasts and recorded sermons are now part of an international audience. It is not uncommon to find many congregations with 8,10, 12 or more shepherds. That was unheard of in 1915. Churches seem to be driven by a base of internal godly men rather than just from the preacher. A lot has happened in the past 100 years, but we are still here as the people of God.

Third, the assurance of these first two principles helps us to face yet another unknown year. What if things get worse? They did before. Yet, people continued to worship God, teach others and stay committed to the Lord. Through those hard times, the people of God prayed. Through those hard times, the people of God continued to trust the Lord. It was the Lord, not the politicians that got the people safely through. If there is yet another 100 years still left for this planet, folks may look back on our times, like we do for the people in 1915.

Even though there were wars, economic depression, and hardships to come, people in 1915 fell in love and got married. People were taught the Gospel and were baptized into Jesus. Some men took up the mantle of preaching the Gospel. Church buildings were built. New congregations were started. Trips were made to foreign lands with the intention of preaching the Gospel. Life went on and good was done. And, that example stands before us. No matter what is coming down the road, we must continue to do what the Lord wants. Good can and must be accomplished.

Those believers in 1915 are now on the other side. Their troubles are now over. Their faith in the Lord got them safely through. And, someday that will be said of us. We made it safely home because of the Lord. Wars, depressions, pandemics, troubles will all someday be completed. I tend to think that we will forget all those troubles once we are on the other side. It’s a lot like flying. I’ve had some real experiences flying. And, when I’m on the ground, at my destination, and people ask, “How was your flight?” It doesn’t matter. I’m where I’m supposed to be. Long journeys. Crowded flights. Bumpy. Scary moments. That’s all soon forgotten once one is where they are supposed to be. And, such it will be for us. I’d like to run into some of our brethren from 1915. There is no need for bragging or saying, “What you went through was nothing like what we went through.” No, none of that stuff. I’d like to thank them for their example. I’d expect they’d point to some who went through the Civil War and remained faithful to God. I’d expect that group would point back to those who first brought the N.T. way to America. There was a lot of resistance. They’d likely point back to the early Christians in Rome. They’d likely point back to God’s people in Babylon. And, collectively, all of us, all generations, would thank the Lord. Had it not been for the Lord, we would not have made it.

We welcome a coming new year. Bring it on. We pray for the best but will not be moved by the worst. To God be the glory and hope.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 2991

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2991

Romans 16:6 “Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.”

  Romans sixteen is a bunch of names. Names that are hard to pronounce. Many names that are found only here in the Bible. Within the first sixteen verses there are 29 names. Latin names. Jewish names. Roman names. One-third of the names are women.

 

  Yesterday I preached from this section of the Bible. We remember that not only is all Scripture inspired, but all Scripture is profitable. Passages like this, sections in Ezra, 1 Chronicles, Genesis, even the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, are often scanned over very rapidly by us. Little doctrine here. Little encouragement. Names of people that I do not know.

 

  So many of us around the holiday season watch the same shows year after year. Home Alone. Rudolph. Frosty. Elf. Christmas Carol. White Christmas. Those are my standards. And, there is one that I believe every person ought to be required to watch, “It’s a wonderful life.” You need to see the original black and white version. Yes, there is a lot of talking and not a lot of action. Yes, it’s cheesy and even predictable. Yes, there are some Biblically incorrect ideas in it. But the story line is impressive. Every teen ought to see this movie once in their life, if not every year. It shows the value of lives that have helped others. All of us have that. All of us ought to be that. I keep a folder of the emails and cards that you Jump Start readers have sent to me over the years. There are some mornings that I think it’s time to pull the plug on this little journey we’ve been on, but I’ll get an email just thanking me for something I wrote and how it made a huge difference in that person’s life. And, that’s enough for me to keep going.

 

  Hebrews 11 is God’s hall of fame. It covers the O.T. Heroes. Men of faith and men of courage. Romans 16 is Paul’s hall of fame. People, such as Mary, in our verse today, who has worked hard “for you.” And the accolades are sprinkled heavily throughout these verses. Some risked their necks. Others were fellow workers. Some are called beloved. Some were known as outstanding among the apostles. Men and women of faith. People that we don’t know. You won’t find many books about these people. They are lost to history, but not to eternity, and especially not to God. These are the people who helped Paul be Paul. These people were known to the Romans. Multiple times Paul says, “Greet” them. Get to know them. Paul wants us to know them. God, through inspiration wants us to know them.

 

  Here are some thoughts from all of this:

 

 First, each of us have our own “Hall of Fame,” of people who made a difference in our lives spiritually. We are not talking about sports legends or those who walk the streets of Hollywood. More than coaches, neighbors, teachers, our hall of fame is pointed towards those who have helped us spiritually. We would not be where we are today had it not been for them. For me, it was people who gave me the chance to preach. Little bitty country churches is where I first started. Up early every Sunday and out the door to drive two hours to preach to a dozen folks. I’d preach my heart out. The next Sunday, it was to another small group. Those people were patient, kind and gave me a chance. You have people just like that. Maybe it was getting you to teach a Bible class. Maybe it was showing you how to welcome people. Maybe it was something that we wrote in our Bibles and we never wanted to forget. A thought. A quote. Something in the text that we never saw before. The way someone put Jesus before our eyes. Maybe it was the way someone described Heaven. Maybe a definition of death that immediately took away the fear that we have always had. Maybe it was a group of people that believed in you and allowed you to lead them as a shepherd. Maybe it was the time someone spent when you were discouraged. Maybe a gift that meant so much to you.

 

  God’s hall of fame. Paul’s hall of fame. Your hall of fame. Each of us have such.

 

  Second, if we are walking as we ought to be and busy in the kingdom as God wants us to be, someone will put your name in their hall of fame. You have helped others. You have been there for them. Maybe it was sitting with them in a surgery waiting room. Maybe it was some money that you gave to another when he was at a low point in his life. Maybe it was words you said that they will never forget. Maybe it was your willingness to forgive and forget when they did something wrong. All of us belong in someone’s hall of fame. Our lives intersect and they connect in so many ways.

 

  From this ought to come three simple reminders:

 

 First, we need to be thankful for the wonderful people that God has put in our lives. Quality people of faith that has made us a better person. Thank the Lord and then thank these people in your lives.

 

  Second, seeing where we are because of others, ought to drive us to be that way ourselves. Less about us and more about others. What a joy it is to serve. What a blessing it is to be a blessing to someone else.

 

 Third, we must teach the next generation these values and principles. There is a lot of concern about the new generation entering the work force. Culturally, they haven’t done well. Those without Christ are a real mess. Many can barely work. New business books are promoting the idea of turning the work place into something like the modern sports bar with TV sets everywhere. The authors are declaring that it’s the only way to get this new generation to be productive. No set hours. No dress codes. Little expectations. It seems to be that the business world is caving in and catering to the whines of a young generation. My thoughts are, “Step it up and get to it.” Our teens and our twenties must learn to be counter-cultural today. They need to be servants. They need to be taught how to make a spiritual difference in the lives of others.

 

  Hall of fame. At home, I have some signed baseballs by some Hall of Famers. In my archive room at the building I have some framed original sermons from real heroes. Hall of famers of faith—that’s most important.

 

  And, all of this comes from some names in Romans 16.

 

  Roger

 

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Jump Start # 2990

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2990

Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Note: There will be no Jump Start tomorrow. Enjoy this period of time with your family and we look forward to being back with you on Monday.

This week we are looking at “countdowns” in our lives. We’ve talked about Sunday worship. We’ve talked about marriage. We’ve talked about Jesus coming out of the grave. There is yet another big countdown still to come and that is the return of Jesus. We know when the next Sunday is. We know the dates of weddings. We understand Jesus’ resurrection. But this one, the coming of Jesus, no one knows. Might be in our lifetime and it might not.

Romans 8 states that “we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Counting down. Eagerly awaiting. Anticipation.

Things will certainly change when the Lord appears. The world has never seen anything like this. This life will be over. The living will be changed in an instant. The dead will be raised. The earth will be destroyed. Nothing like this has ever happened. Jesus will appear with all the angels.

Some thoughts:

First, when that happens, nothing else matters except Jesus. You won’t be concerned that you didn’t get to the mailbox and see what was in it. It won’t matter if you left something on the stove. Finding you cell phone won’t matter. I doubt we’ll be taking selfies when Jesus comes. Where are your shoes, car keys, wallet, purse, and a dozen other things that we consider important, won’t be a that moment. All that will matter is your faith in Jesus. Some will be so happy to see the Lord because they have always believed. They will cry. Some will be so scared because they have never believed. Some may try to hide. It won’t work. Some may want to run, but there’s no place to run to. All those sermons. All those Bible classes. All those hymns. All those prayers. Now, at that moment, it’s all about Jesus.

Second, there will be some things that just won’t get done when Jesus comes. Imagine Jesus comes this morning. I’ve got some things I’m expecting in the mail this week. They wouldn’t be delivered. I have a bunch of emails to send. That won’t happen. There are some who are getting married next year. That wouldn’t happen if Jesus came today. And, all those Christmas presents and cookies. Simply gone. Everything gone, except you and your faith. Doctor visits, labs, reports, school projects, teams practicing for games, tickets for programs that will not take place—it is amazing how our lives are structured around us being around, but that wouldn’t happen if Jesus came today. Some books would never be finished. Some Jump Starts never sent. Some sermons never written. Some funerals never held. Everything stops. Everything ends. Everything is over. That’s what would happen if Jesus came today.

Third, there is a sense of expectation in our verse today. Come, Lord Jesus, is how the passage ends. It’s a prayer. It’s a plea. It’s a longing. Come, Jesus, come. Some may see this directed towards the ending of persecution. Others see this as the final coming of Jesus. Come, so we can be together. Come, so Satan can finally be sent where he belongs. Come, to make all things right. Come and let us enter into eternal fellowship. The voice of Revelation is wanting and longing for the Lord to come. Come now. Come soon. Come.

Are you at a place where you can say that? Do you want the Lord to come? Do you want the Lord to come now? Come, and let us be done with this old world. Come, and let us be through with temptation. Come, and let us never be bothered again by traffic, bugs, or Satan. Come, and let us enjoy the greatest blessings of all, Heaven. Come, and let us be reunited with the godly for all time. Come. There is nothing holding us here.

The divine countdown. When will Jesus come? We don’t know. God has not told us. We ought to live as if each day could be the last day. I have a little thing I do each day when I leave my office at the church building. The trash is taken out. Books are put up. All the papers are where they are supposed to be. The desk is neat and the room clean. I do this so that if I never come back again, the next person will find it all tidy and ready to go. We need to live our lives that way. We ought to live as if one foot is already in Heaven. Live as if you are ready. Live as if you are anticipating. Live as if you have are ready and expecting.

Countdown…Jesus is coming!

Roger