17

Jump Start # 3429

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3429

2 Timothy 3:5 “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied it’s power; and avoid such men as these.”

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

In Paul’s letters to Timothy, the apostle would warn the young preacher about the last days. They were going to be difficult. Some would hold to a form of godliness, but they would deny it’s power. Timothy was to steer clear of such people.

Our verse today, spoken by our Lord, reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. Things may look good when they are not. Hiding among the flock, disguised as a sheep, is a wolf. He’s the false prophet who is trying to get an advantage over others. His intention is to devour the sheep. Wolves eat sheep. Wolves and sheep are not friends.

There are layers of lessons to be learned here, especially from the leaders of God’s people. They have to be on the watch. The congregation from 32,000 feet may seem to be at peace, but down on ground level, things can look much differently.

Both of these passages remind us that things are often not the way they appear. And, that’s something that is hard to understand.

Years ago, when my wife and I were first married, we were young, in love and poor as dirt. We had good friends just like us, young, in love and poor. He worked at a place that developed advanced electronic systems for cars. One weekend he was able to get a top of the line Cadillac to drive. They allowed engineers to try out what was being worked on. So, the two couples headed to Lexington, Ky for the weekend. We really didn’t know what we were doing and we didn’t have hardly any money between us, but we didn’t care. As we were driving among the many beautiful horse farms around Paris, KY, we randomly pulled into one. We knew nothing about horses, horse farms or really where we were at. The guard at the gate stopped us and wanted to know what we wanted. We told him that we came to look at horses. He looked at us and he looked at the car we were driving and he told us to go on back to the horse barns. He must have thought with the car we were driving that we were in the market to buy a horse. We looked around that beautiful place, saw stables that were lined with English walnut and had massive chandlers hanging in them.

There was one pasture, fenced off, maybe a couple of acres in size that had one thoroughbred grazing in it. We walked up to the fence and the horse came up to us. As we were looking at that beautiful horse, a workhand walked over and informed us that Secretariat was not for sale. It WAS the amazing Secretariat, record holding, triple crown winner. We took pictures and told ourselves that we needed to get out of there before some discovers that we didn’t have enough money for a Happy Meal.

And, all of this reminds us of some valuable spiritual lessons:

First, it’s easy to be swayed by appearances. That false prophet that Jesus warned about didn’t look like a wolf, but it was. Some can talk a good story, but when it comes down to truly being a disciple of Jesus with a servant heart, it doesn’t take much until the truth is known. Some are quick to point out what others ought to be doing, while they do very little themselves.

The poor widow who put in a couple of mites into the treasury likely didn’t look like much. She wouldn’t have been dressed like the rich ones. Yet Jesus praised her for what she gave. Peter reminds wives, as they braided their hair and put on dresses, to not forget about the heart. We can look good on the outside, while we harbor resentment, bitterness and hatred towards others.

Don’t be fooled by the outside. It’s the inside that reveals what is true.

Second, there are certain qualities in life that just can’t be disguised. Kindness and forgiveness are hard to manifest if they are not genuine. Sometimes a person will act kindly, with the motive of getting something in return, but that’s quickly seen. The heart of a servant cares about the wellbeing of the person he is serving. He is not interested in anything else. Humbleness and love drive what he does. And, underlying all of us is our love for the Lord. One can sing great hymns in church, but his character shows his true colors.

Third, we must not judge one another simply by the exteriors that we see. James warned about favoring the rich man while ignoring the poor man. You can’t do that. That simple guy who works long hours with his hands, never went to college, and lives in very humble circumstances may be the one who says the best prayers. His faith may be the strongest faith of anyone. College degrees impress us and opens doors, but it’s the heart that trusts and believes that the Lord notices. Congregations must be careful about selecting only successful businessmen as shepherds in the congregation. That can be a disaster because they might run the church like they run a business. The two are not the same. What needs to be looked at is the heart and faith of someone who is willing to serve in the kingdom.

A poor guy got to see Secretariat up close. Things are not always as they seem.

Roger

16

Jump Start # 3428

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3428

1 John 4:19 “We love, because He first loved us.”

I’m at a point in life where many that are my age are retiring. I’m asked that often, “How much longer are you going to preach?” That may be wishful thinking, hoping I’ll stop. I have worked longer than my dad did, who was an engineer. There are many things I really like about preaching. I like writing sermons. I enjoy these Jump Starts. I like reading, shaping ideas and sharing them with others. I like talking about Jesus, whether behind a pulpit or sitting on a couch.

But there is one aspect of preaching that I have never liked. Didn’t when I first started, decades ago, and still don’t like it. And, I have been through these things so many times that one would think by now you ought to be ok with these things, but I’m not. What I’m talking about is trying to work through family problems, especially when both parties are Christians. Hurt feelings. Things said. Misunderstandings. Lack of trust. Not talking to each other. Mad at each other. Blaming each other. And, some how the preacher is pulled into the middle of this dog fight with the hopes that he can settle it and everyone walks away from the table, smiling and happy.

Years ago there was a nasty divorce that somehow I got pulled in the middle of. Before it was over, I was speaking in court before an attorney who was trying to stump me about the Bible. Sometimes, it’s parents and a teen. Sometimes it’s  grown children and their aging parent.

Those family battles can be so difficult. Often, no one comes out winning. And, the misery and toll it takes can harm a whole generation.

Here are some thoughts:

First, most times, if not all times, everyone involved in the family squabble is miserable. No one is happy. I’ve seen it so bad that grown siblings refused to talk to each other. I’ve seen people rushing from a cemetery where mama was just buried to get to the house to take what they wanted before anyone else got there.

Second, we preachers are often brought into the middle of these family fights because someone trusts us and they think we have words of wisdom. Often, we don’t. The situations can be so messy that professionals, if not attorneys, need to be contacted to establish some official boundaries. The preacher speaks from the standpoint of the Bible, and often the angry parties involved have their minds already made up as to what should happen. And, when those ideas do not line up with what the preacher said, then everyone becomes mad at the preacher.

Third, I have been invited more than once to help settle things, only to realize that one side was using me to their advantage. That was uncomfortable and unfair.

Family problems are not unique to our times. A walk through the Bible shows a lot of messy families. Look at the first family, Cain and Abel. Lot’s daughters got daddy drunk and had sexual relations with him. Joseph’s brothers were jealous and wanted to kill him. David’s family reeked of dysfunction and turmoil. Godly people with ungodly families.

Even in the N.T., we see a man who interrupted Jesus and demanded that he settle a family dispute about inheritances. The Samaritan woman had been married multiple times and was now living with someone.

There are many reasons why we find these messy family situations, both then and today. A lot has to do with attitudes, following Jesus and the choices one makes. And, somehow, we can become the most impatient and the most angry towards those we love the most.

What are we to do? Consider these thoughts:

First, in winning the skirmish, one might lose the war. Fussing about finances, who gets what, communication, letting one know where the other is, you might win that battle, but in winning, if you ruin a relationship, it’s not worth it. Remembering the big picture helps. We can get so worked up, heated and say things that may never be forgotten or forgiven. A permanent stake can be driven into the heart of the people we love because of the way we fussed and argued about things.

Second, as Christian adults, we ought to be able to sit across the table and have a civil conversation about what is bothering us. Sometimes we keep things bottled up within us until we explode. And, boy can we explode. And, it’s at that point, we bring out everything and anything that has annoyed us. Try to stick to the issue at hand. And, it’s best to calm down. Road rage happens because people react at the moment. If they went home and thought through things, most would not behave as they did.

Third, there are times when you might need to bring someone in as a third party or even get professional help. The problem is that some won’t agree with the third party or the professional unless he sides with them.

Fourth, before any discussion and after the discussion, pray. You, as a Christian, want everyone to be saved. And, when our family makes us upset, the prayers we say will help us with our tone and our words.

I wish I had the perfect words to help families. I don’t. I try my best, but most times, I feel that what I said didn’t do much good. There are some situations which really tear the heart. The messes we cause can be great. It can take just a moment to create a big problem that later takes years to fix.

Love one another—seems so simple, but it can be so difficult, especially when we are dealing with family.

Roger

13

Jump Start # 3427

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3427

Psalms 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

I ran across a quote from Hitler that said, “Tell a lie loud enough and long enough and people will believe it.” I’m not sure if he actually said that, it could be a repeated lie that was said loud enough and long enough, but the characteristics of that statement sure are true. Much like the prophet of old who claimed the people were substituting good for evil and evil for good. That mixed up society didn’t know what was right and what was wrong.

Through time there has been many lies, urban legends that people have believed to be true. Told loud enough and long enough and people will believe it. And, in this age of social media, those untruths are magnified. You may have heard that NASA discovered Joshua’s missing day. Not true. Or, that Walt Disney was frozen and would later be thawed out. Not true. If you swallow gum it will stay in your stomach for seven years. Not true. Urban legends. Lies told loud enough and long enough and people believe them.

But there is another side to this quote that is worthy of considering. If indeed a lie is told often that it is believed, what happens if the truth is told often? And, this is the first step in changing the culture of a church.

Every congregation has a feel to it. There is a DNA of each church. Some are very formal, leaning towards stiff. Others are very laid back, almost casual. And, within each congregation there is a spirit, an attitude, a culture. And, in some places that culture needs to be change. It needs to be changed because it is not healthy and often it is not Biblical. Some who have walked away from the Lord would love to come back, but they fear the reaction that they will receive by the church. Harsh lectures. Finger pointing. Insulting comments. Critical questions. Whispers. The looks. Rather than the shepherd bringing the lost sheep home on his shoulders, the response is threats, warnings and trouble. Now, why are some churches like that? It’s their culture. And, culture can change.

Here are some things to remember:

First, as in the home with parents, as in the church with leaders, the tone and the culture is set by those who lead. Attitudes are reflected by word choices. When frowns are replaced with smiles. When joy replaces somberness and sternness and people enjoy being around one another the culture slowly begins to change.

When prodigals are loved and accepted, and the spirit of grace and forgiveness fills the air, the DNA of a church begins to shift.

Second, when healthy attitudes are repeated over and over and over, people will start believing that. Here at Charlestown Road, we say every Sunday, “Sunday is the best day of the week.” Now that’s not some cute PR slogan, we believe it. Sunday is when Jesus rose from the grave. Sunday is when disciples assemble. Sunday is when we reflect and remember. Sunday is when Peter preached. And, Sunday is so different. Our schedules are different. We gather with others to praise God. Indeed, Sunday is the best day of the week. I wish every day was Sunday.

We’ve said that and said that and said that a million times. Others now say that. And it shows. An hour before services begin and we have people showing up. Sometimes, nearly an hour after services, people are still hanging around talking, helping and sharing. Now, it’s not that way when I go to the dentist. I get there just in time and I’m ready to leave as soon as I’m done. I go because I have to, not because I want to, and certainly not because I like to. And, when you get that culture changed in a church, people will believe that God is good. Discipleship is powerful. Fellowship is wonderful. And, it is a joy to worship the Lord.

Third, changing the culture, the DNA, of a church won’t happen just because you say something one time. Remember our quote about telling a lie loud enough and long enough and the people will believe. It’s that long enough aspect that is the key. Heaven Bound, is another one of our key expressions around here. We say that all the time. “I’m Heaven bound.” And, when people see that you believe these statements and these statements are true, in time they will catch on. The culture changes. Happiness prevails. Taking care of one another becomes a must.

And, in the process of shifting the DNA to a more positive, healthy and Biblical climate, the ole’ gossipy, complaining and negative spirit needs to no longer be tolerated. That becomes the exception not the norm. And, as the culture changes, those that don’t want to change will quickly be recognized as “what’s wrong with you?” The seven dwarfs belong to Disney, not the disciples of the Lord. Sleepy, Grumpy, and Dopey need to get on board with what it means to be a child of the King.

Preaching, prayers and even the selection of songs has a lot to do with the tone and attitude of a place. Our verse today, one of many wonderful Psalms, that truly had the right DNA and culture about the Lord, expresses the joy of worshipping with others. None of this, “Do we have to go?” stuff. None of this dragging in ten minutes late every week. Get up and get at it, we are going to see the King!

I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

Culture—if it’s not right, fix it. If it is, be thankful and keep it going.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 3426

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3426

 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.”

I read somewhere where the genius song writing team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney were wanting to have a song for Ringo to sing the lead on. Each of the Beatles had swarms of fans and that included Ringo. So, according to the story, Paul and John sat down and wrote, “Yellow Submarine,” in eight minutes. That song was a classic and one that Ringo continues to sing in concerts. Eight minutes. Amazing.

And, that thought leads to the writing of sermons. How long does it take to write a sermon? I’ve been asked that. Most of us who preach have been asked that. The congregation sees the finished product, but what’s the process of getting it there? And, every preacher has his own style and way of working up a sermon. For some, it’s just a few thoughts handwritten on a small card. That works for them. For others, it’s hours of research, getting out books, looking up words, chasing ideas. Just today I was working on a sermon. The floor was covered with paper. Ideas written on this page. Words circled on that page. And, as they were being added, the note pages were tossed on the floor. Some can sit down and in one setting write a great sermon. For others, it is an off and on process that fills the whole week.

In the televised series, “The Chosen,” there is a scene in which Jesus is practicing the sermon on the mount. I rather doubt He did that. I don’t think Jesus needed to practice.

There is an old saying, “Nothing inspires the preacher more than seeing the rising sun on Sunday morning.” Deadline. Time to wrap it up and take it to the pulpit. And, that itself is another characteristic of the style of the preacher. Some preach with no notes. Some take a manuscript to the pulpit. Some use the Powerpoint as their outline. Some don’t use Powerpoint. Unique. Different. And, very individual, the art of sermon writing is built upon the study of God’s word and the heart of the preacher. Combined, they become very effective and useful.

On my office walls, are framed several original sermons from various preachers from the past. Those sermons represent hours of work and a commitment to the Lord. There is a balance in preaching that one must understand. Spend too long in the books and you really don’t know much of what is going on in the hearts of the people. Your sermon may be true to the point, but not what is most needful at the moment. However, spend too much time with the people, and your study suffers and you’ll be preaching shallow lessons that don’t bring the help that people need. Study and people—it’s a balance and like walking across a fallen log, one has to make careful adjustments as they move along.

Here are some things about sermons:

First, there are statements that the preacher will make that some will remember for decades. The preacher may not remember saying those things, but someone will. Someone will write down that statement. Someone will tell others about that statement. It is important to be clear, concise and Biblical. What you say can make a difference.

Second, my personal favorite sermons that I have preached are often not what the congregation liked. And, that is typically a true feeling throughout the audience. Someone will think the sermon was just “ok” and someone else will say, “It’s one of the best I have ever heard.” Yet, they both heard the same sermon. Where one is in life, what he is going through, all impacts a person on how he hears a sermon.

Third, the goal and purpose of a sermon is not to have someone bragging on it. The goal is to bring someone closer to the Lord. It may be a simple sermon that opens eyes and hearts to the saving grace of Jesus. It may be a lesson in which we evaluate our walk and realize that we could do more and do better. Sermons explain. Sermons encourage. Sermons teach. Sermons warn. Sermons challenge. There are lots of great purposes of sermons. But one thing they should not do is just lie flat without any moment on the audience’s standpoint.

Timothy was told to preach the word. Did he write out sermons? Did he stand before people with notes? We’ll likely never know, but one thing we do know is that he was to preach God’s word.

A hit song in eight minutes. That’s remarkable. But remember, that wasn’t the first for that writing team. They had been working and working and writing and writing and they learned what worked. And, for the preacher, years of studying God’s word shapes his heart and helps him to know just what works.

The writing of sermons—it is an art. It is something that one learns. It is something that gets better through the years.

Roger

11

Jump Start # 3425

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3425

1 John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”

On Tuesdays, I’ve been teaching a special class on 1 John. I teach it twice a day. Once in the morning and again in the evening. Some who work can’t come in the morning, so the class is offered a second time for them.

In our walk through John’s first letter, we came across this passage. Two words particularly stand out. First, surprised. Don’t be surprised. I think of an eight-year-old who hides behind a door and spooks the life out of you when you walk by. You are surprised. There are surprise birthday parties. I’ve had more than one in my life and I’m not a huge fan of those. The main reason is that everyone knows what is going on and what is going to happen except me.

Peter used this same word when he wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” Don’t be surprised.

The second word from our verse today is “hate.” The world hates you. Jesus said this often. They will hate you because they hate Me. They will hate the light because they love darkness. If you follow Jesus, the world won’t invite you, include you, like you, or want you. The world hates you.

And, what mystifies us is that we haven’t done anything to the world. We are kind. We are generous. We are servants. We are helpful. We make the world a brighter place. If anything, you’d think the world would like having disciples around. But that’s not the way it is. The innocent, much like Abel, are hated, and killed because the world hates them.

While these thoughts are nothing new to good Bible students, the unnatural conclusions that some make are. Consider:

First, some are wanting to make the church more community friendly. They want to serve the community. The modern church had done that for decades. Ignoring what the Biblical pattern is for what the church is to do, they have fed the hungry, clothed the needy, educated children, helped with taxes, run shelters, offered fitness training and have done all that they could to make the community like them.

The preachers in these places dress as if they have just cleaned out a garage. They offer free coffee, baby sitting and have backed off the offensive words such as “sin,” “Hell,” and “judgment.” The crowds come and they laugh, feel good, and are convinced that the rough edges of doctrine have been smoothed off. The leaders have found a way to make the church and the world like each other. Maybe they will date. Maybe there will be a wedding someday.

And, what is missing are these bold statements found throughout the N.T., the world hates you. So, rather than trying to get the world to move closer to the cross, the moderns have moved the church closer to the world. No accountability, which means the same folks in a bar on Friday, laughing and having a good time, will be the same folks on Sunday in the church, laughing and having a good time. The distinctive lines between the world and Christ have become blurred. A merger has taken place. And, to accomplish this, a whole of of compromising has been done. And, it isn’t the world that is moving or changing. It’s the modern church that has shifted and that shift has been away from the cross and towards the world.

Second, there is a reason why the world hates us. It’s because of our non-compromising conviction that Jesus is the Christ. His way is the only way. We will be judged one day. What we think and what we believe matters. One cannot live like a sinner and die like a saint. Righteousness, the letter John says, is to be practiced. Practicing sin is of the devil. So, a choice has to be made. Jesus or the world. Jesus or sin. Jesus or the devil. And, those blinded and deceived only see the fun in the devil, they’ll stand right behind him.

The world isn’t moving. It’s staying with the devil. So, for the relationship between the church and the world to get better, discouraged leaders decide to move the church closer to the world. That never works and only the devil wins.

Third, some see that the mission of the church is to do just what Jesus did. The Lord fed 5,000, so the church should. In some ways that seems logical, but remember the Lord is the head and not the church. The Lord also healed people. Should the church build hospitals, clinics and have doctors on staff to care for people for free? Jesus also turned over tables of those He thought were doing wrong. Should the church be doing that as well? Do we rush into a synagogue and trash the place? Do we get whips and drive people out?

The authorization of the church must be found in what God told the church to do. Jesus never owned a home. Can disciples? Jesus was never married or had children. Can disciples? The actions of Jesus were to demonstrate that He was the Messiah and that He had all authority. The church isn’t the Messiah and the church doesn’t have all authority.

As individuals, we do serve. Passages such as Galatians 6:10, James 1:27, Matthew 25:40 show that. The mission of the church is to glorify God and prepare people for eternity. This is done through teaching God’s word.

The world hates you. That’s a reality moment. One by one, as we show the gospel to others, hearts are changed and lives are saved. Changing just to get people to like us is actually selling out. The Proverbs tells us to “buy truth and do not sell it.”

Things to remember in these times.

Roger