30

Jump Start # 3460

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3460

Philemon 9 “yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”

In the political arena, as things start gearing up for the presidential election next year, there is a lot of talk and discussion about whether or not President Joe Biden should run for reelection. It’s not his age, but his cognitive reasoning and strength that has many wondering if he is up to the task.

Now Jump Starts do not delve into politics. That’s not our purpose nor our place. But what many are asking brings up a great question about those who function as leaders in the church. Aged shepherds and preachers are something that is not given much thought. The role of shepherds is often viewed like a Supreme Court Judge, one serves until he dies.

Let’s take a short walk down this road and give this some thought:

First, with age comes the blessing of mountains of knowledge, experience and wisdom. To have served the people of God for multiple decades also means that person has see about everything imaginable. There have been building expansions, the hiring of preachers, the appointment of other shepherds, the death of members, the growth of little ones until they are now big and are adding to the kingdom. Such experience doesn’t come from books, but from life. A long, long journey with the Lord, through valleys and mountain tops, tears and joy, hardships and happiness, brings a wealth of knowing how to help people. That is a blessing of age. Such experience is a rich blessing to any congregation.

Second, among preachers, many have not done well financially and late in life they must continue to preach because they need the money. This presents a real difficulty for all around. If the preacher is starting to slip mentally, and is making mistakes continually he ought to step down. His family ought to be the first to pull the plug and have that discussion with him. But if finances are the issue, a real problem is at hand. The church may not be in the position to pay his retirement along side of hiring a new preacher. And, if the aged preacher doesn’t want to step down, things become dicey and even ugly. The ole’ saying in sports is to go on when you are on the top. Many athletes hang on too long and their final few years of playing are not good. They hurt the team and they hurt their image. That is a call that the shepherds have to discuss. Is the aged preacher hurting the church? Are people leaving because of him? One would hate to fire someone who has given his life to preaching, but the good of all must be considered.

Third, proper steps can be taken to prevent such a sad situation as we have painted. Shepherds need to have discussions with their preachers about finances, investments, retirement. A man in his 30’s or 40’s needs to be putting in place the right steps that will keep him from being a burden, either in the pulpit or to the church financially. By the time a preacher is in his 50’s, he ought to be well on his way in saving and investing. Caring for the preacher involves much more than paying him each week. It’s looking after him and helping him make the right choices. Some do not understand finances and investing. So have no interest in those things, yet, to ignore these early steps can result in someone like Joe Biden trying to preach every Sunday. Weak in voice and thought, tiring easily, not able to keep up with things, quickly becomes a burden rather than a blessing to a church.

There has been a shift in how long preachers stay with a congregation. There was a time when about every four years preachers moved. But now, preachers are staying decades. That’s a win-win for both the preacher and the church. Trust, credibility and commitment are established and good things can happen. But with this shift in length of staying, there hasn’t been much of a shift in how preachers are paid.

A man ought to preach or lead the people of God because he wants to, is capable and is effective. Having to do it because he’s broke or having to do it because he can’t take his fingers off of things are not healthy attitudes to have.

In our verse today, Paul recognized himself as being aged. Apostles didn’t retire. Most died in their prime because they were killed. Preachers and shepherds are not apostles. There comes a time for a person to step down simply because he cannot do the job any more. Yet, there are many other things that he can do and many ways a congregation can use his wisdom and experience to help them.

Having good conversations about topics such as this is healthy and it can lead to good developments along the way.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 3459

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3459

1 Peter 3:8 “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit.”

Recently I have heard of three or four different congregations having serious internal problems. Some left and formed a new congregation. Hurt feelings. Things said. Misunderstandings. Promises broken. Trust shattered. Hope dashed. And, a conclusion reached that we can no longer continue on with these people. It’s time to leave.

Leaving a congregation isn’t always bad. It’s a hard decision. People often do not understand. If remaining means I cannot worship well, my family is affected, and resentment and bitterness rises up towards some, especially the leaders, then one needs to leave. There are situations when the congregation has taken a turn for the worse. There are times when unbiblical decisions have been made. Then one must consider, do I stay or do I go? Some leave much too soon. Some leave every time they find something that they disagree with. They jump from one place to another, back and forth like a little rabbit. It’s not good for the family, their influence or any good that they hope to accomplish. Others stay to long. The pressures, stress and fighting intensifies and often their children become the victims. As the kids grow up and move out, they want nothing to do with what they have witnessed.

Interestingly, through all the problem churches we read about in the N.T., and there are several, from the Corinthian mess, to lukewarm Laodicea, judgmental Romans, to the dead Sardis, leaving and starting another congregation is never given as a solution or even an option.

Our verse today lays the foundation necessary to have a fellowship. Five key expressions:

Harmonious: get along with one another. Blended voices make a harmony. Inside a piano, each key pressed brings a hammer to strike the string. That makes a note. What is interesting is that the string is actually three strings. When a piano is in tune, you hear one note. It’s like the one mind, the one voice, the one purpose that the N.T. speaks about.

Sympathetic: care. You care for others. You let them know you care. You think about them. You pray about them. You do things for them. Sympathy can be described as feeling what you are going through in my heart.

Brotherly: connected. We are brothers. We are family. We are related. Family means something. Family supports one another. Family defends each other.

Kindhearted: compassionate. The difference between sympathy and kindhearted is that sympathy is what you feel, kindhearted is what you do. One leads to the other. Kindness in your words. Kindness in your actions. Doing good because you care.

Humble in spirit: crucify self. Put others first. Stop talking about yourself. Stop always thinking about yourself. Why should I, do I have to, are not the words from a humble heart. Put others in the spotlight. Work together. Be a team player.

Not only is this a great passage for us, but it was first demonstrated through Jesus in the choosing of the apostles. What a mixed group that was. Some were physical brothers, and others were not. Most were from Galilee, one was not. There were strong ideological differences between zealots and tax-collectors. There were egos, misunderstandings, judgmental attitudes, and pride in that mixture. Yet as they traveled with Jesus, they saw harmony by the Lord. They saw the Lord caring. They saw the Lord doing good. They saw the humble spirit of Jesus.

As different as the apostles were, Jesus showed them how to be servants, work together, and be humble. And, sometimes that is the very thing that we need today. We get our feelings hurt and all we think about is self. We begin to nurture negative attitudes and start remembering other things that we should have forgiven and let go a long time ago, but we haven’t. We’ve kept those hidden deep within us. And, when the right occasion surfaces, we bring out all those mean and nasty things that were said to us. We remember when we were not invited. We remember being ignored. And, like logs on a fire, those bad memories just fuel more reasons why we don’t like those people and why we need to get away from them.

When Paul wrote that joyous Philippian letter, he named Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. I wonder if the Lord was writing a letter to our congregations, would He identify us by name and tell us to get along with each other? For all eternity, Euodia and Syntyche are known as two who weren’t getting along. And, I have been to places and decades and decades later, some are still talking about the trouble, the damage, the heartache, the leaving that some have done. Their names are remembered, and like Euodia and Syntyche, it’s not for a good thing.

Now, we often want to tell someone else, “Did you listen to that,” when maybe it’s me who ought to listen to that. Maybe I need to ask myself, how hard am I trying to be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted and humble. Maybe, just maybe, I’m the one who is out of tune. Rather than sounding like one note, we sound broken.

The only one who smiles during church problems is the devil. It’s time we took that smile off his face and declared, hard as it is, we will stand united, together as one.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 3458

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3458

Acts 17:2-3 “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.’”

It happened 180 years ago this month. Alexander Campbell, the great restorer of primitive Christianity, engaged in a debate in Lexington, KY with Presbyterian N. L. Rice. This would be Campbell’s fifth debate and it would be the longest of his debates. For sixteen days, (November 15-December 1), from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, every day,  the two men discussed baptism, the role of the Holy Spirit in conversion and the use of human creeds. The debate was printed in a massive 912 pages, half a million words, book that is still available today. The outcome of that debate solidified the movement of restoration and need for immersion for salvation.

The age of debating has pretty much fizzled out. I have attended a few many years ago. Today, most don’t care what the Scriptures teach. Most justify what they do by how they feel. Feelings have pushed faith and Scripture out of the picture.

Our verse today, shows that the apostle Paul for three weeks was reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence about Christ. Although formal debates do not attract the attention nor the crowds that they once did, what we learn from our verses today is so helpful in talking to our family and others.

Notice some things Paul did:

First, he went to them. They didn’t come to him. If we sit back and wait for others to bring up the topic, then it probably won’t happen. If we wait for others to ask us a question, we’ll be waiting a long time. Paul went to them. He was on the offense. He started the conversations. That’s a lesson for us. Ask the questions that will bring about conversations. “Did you go to worship this weekend?” “What Bible verses are you reading?”

When Philip went up to the chariot that the Ethiopian was riding in, he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He went to him.

Second, he reasoned from the Scriptures. That’s important. That’s powerful. That’s where we must begin. Some will reason from feelings. Some will reason from self. Some will reason from what their parents did. Some will reason from what their church tells them. Paul went to the Scriptures. That’s the source. That’s always the best place. The Scriptures are absolute. They are God’s answer.

Some may have to understand how to read Scriptures. Some many need to understand the authority of the Scriptures. But once that has been established, go to the book!

Third, he explained and gave evidence. Paul didn’t just read a passage. He taught. He explained. He showed the proof. Our faith is not blind. It does not rest upon thin air. Give the evidence. Back up what you say with Scripture. It’s not what our church believes. It’s not what I’ve always heard. Look in the book. Dig. Lower the nets.

Let me add, it is very helpful that the person you are talking with has a Bible. Let them read and see these things in their own Bible. If the discussion ends, their Bible will always say what you showed them. Be kind. Stick to one topic and don’t spend an hour jumping from one topic to another and chasing rabbits through the fields. You’ll accomplish nothing that way.

Explain. Show. Give evidence. Then it will be up to the person’s heart and God. You have done your part. There are many current events that give you an opportunity to have a Bible discussion. The war in Israel, is it prophesied? What about abortion? What about changing gender? What about worship?

Get to the book and let’s see what God says about this.

Honest hearts change when they see clearly what God says.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 3457

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3457

Proverbs 31:12 “She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

I sat down with a young couple recently to talk to them about marriage. As I was looking at them, many thoughts were swirling in my mind. They are young and in love and hopeful. And, here I sat being married for more than four decades. Being married is a blessing. It is something that God invites us to. Marriage is His idea.

Now, here are the sad realities of where we are these days:

  • The average length of a marriage is 20 years
  • On average, marriages that end in divorce last just 8 years
  • Living together before marriage, increases the chance of divorce by 40%
  • On average, there are 2,400 divorces a day
  • Half of the children in this country will witness their parents getting a divorce
  • 1 in 5 women divorced are living in poverty

When one focuses upon such a sad state of marriage, you feel like telling a young couple who are thinking about getting married to “RUN.” But our failure to do things right does not mean God’s plan is flawed. It is we who are flawed.

Unreal expectations, poor communications, keeping God out of the relationship, not worshiping together in a Biblically healthy congregation, selfishness, in-laws butting in, financial stress—some of these and all of these are enough to chip away at the foundation God built. A lack of trust, harmony, and forgiveness will sink the ship of marriage.

So, how do we keep our marriages together. More than that, how do we keep them spiritual, thriving and healthy? We all journey through some tough and difficult passageways. Some make it and many don’t. Some hang together, but things are stressful, empty, and lacking joy.

Our verse today helps. It’s from the section commonly called ‘The Virtuous Woman.’ But, the back story is that these are the words of a mom to her son, the king. This is the kind of woman who will help you. The verse before says that the heart of her husband trusts her. Our verse says that she does him good, not evil. Immediately, we are seeing the idea of the right ingredients in a healthy relationship. Trust. Goodness. Kindness. Thinking of the other. Putting the other first.

Here are some suggestions:

First, men, you must take the lead. You are the head. That doesn’t mean be bossy, selfish or demanding. You are following Jesus. Your example is Jesus. Jesus brings the best out of the church, so must we husbands. So, sit down and watch that soapy Hallmark Christmas movie with your woman. Don’t be on your phone, don’t be making rude comments, or sighing, or worse, sleeping, as you watch that movie. If it means a lot to her, you make it mean a lot to you.

Men, you set the temperature in the house. Not literally, but emotionally. So, when things are too hot, cool things down. And, when things are icy, warm things up. There are days when your wife just wants to talk. She doesn’t want solutions. She’s looking for ears that sympathize and hearts that care. You, provide that.

Second, each person in the marriage needs to grow closer to the Lord. Like a triangle, as the sides get closer to the top, the sides pull closer to each other. That’s simple geometry. It’s also simple Bible principles. Living with grace, patience, love and forgiveness enriches relationships. Stop demanding perfection, because you are not perfect.

And, through the years, the insides, which are hard to see at first, become more beautiful and the most important aspect of your marriage. It’s wonderful to worship together. It’s wonderful to pray together. It’s wonderful to be on the same page about life. It’s wonderful to talk together about classes, sermons, and little gems found in personal Bible studies.

Third, nail the exit door shut and keep it that way. Don’t ever mention divorce as a possibility. You are in it for the long haul, and that’s the way you approach it. You don’t threaten to leave. You don’t say things that hurt.

There will be rocky moments. Marriage is like two rivers that come together. At first, there is a little turbulence, but down stream things smooth out and it becomes a beautiful river in which you cannot even tell which part is which. The two have become one. They have become one in body, mind, soul, heart, vision and hope. They speak as one. They believe as one. They simply go together.

Stressful jobs, death of parents, car crashes, moving, raising children—those happen to all of us. Those things can become deal breakers and game changers or they are just another bump on the road of life. Together we get through them. Together we are better because of them. Together we are there for each other.

Satan wants us to believe that getting married is a waste of time. God knows better. We need godly marriages to show the world it can be done and to offer hope for the future.

Staying together—it’s not only possible, it’s what God expects.

Roger

24

Jump Start # 3456

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3456

Nehemiah 13:31 “and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.”

Thanksgiving is over but our thankfulness to God is not. It never is. The book of Nehemiah ends with a prayer, ‘Remember me, O my God, for good.’ The book of Nehemiah is a great historical book that shows leadership, motivation, dealing with opposition and accomplishing a huge task. But it is also a book of prayer. There are fourteen prayers in Nehemiah.

Looking at the prayers in Nehemiah as a unit, we learn some valuable lessons about prayer.

  1. Not all prayers are the same.
  2. Not all prayers are long. Not all prayers are short.
  3. Some prayers are praise and thanksgiving to God.
  4. Some prayers are a call for help.
  5. Some prayers are offered when we are scared.
  6. Some prayers are offered when things are not going well.
  7. Nehemiah was not too busy to pray, nor too proud to ask for help.
  8. Our prayers must be encased in an understanding of who we are talking to.

It is easy to fall into the habit of praying for the same things and in the same way. When that happens, prayer becomes routine and almost lifeless. Sometimes we just don’t know what to pray for. Below is a useful prayer list to help you. Print this out and keep nearby as a reminder and a help.

SUNDAY: Worship. Pray for a clear mind and an open heart to worship the Lord. Pray for ears to hear the sermon. Thank the Lord for His love and grace that He extends to you. Be thankful to the Lord of Heaven and earth.

MONDAY: Your Family. Pray for the health, salvation and wellbeing of your family. Say names. Include in-laws, cousins and grandparents. Pray for your marriage. Pray for better relationships. Pray that your children will walk with the Lord. Pray that you may be an instrument to point the way to Jesus for your family.

TUESDAY: Your Church. Pray for the shepherds, preachers and deacons. Pray for those that teach Bible classes. Pray for those who are sick and hurting. Pray for spiritual strength and unity among the brethren. Thank the Lord for the congregation and the many tools to learn and grow. Pray for those who attend but have not chosen to walk with the Lord. Be thankful for one another.

WEDNESDAY: Your Community. Pray for opportunities to let your light shine among your neighbors and co-workers. Pray about your job and the people that work there. Pray for your child’s school teacher. Pray for the mayor, governor and president. Pray that peace will prevail and that we may live a tranquil life. Be thankful that we live in a country where we can worship the Lord without fear.

THURSDAY: Thanksgiving. This day, thank the Lord. Count your blessings. Thank the Lord for answering your prayers. Thank the Lord for His Word.

FRIDAY: Self. Pray for wisdom, open heart and making the right decisions. Pray for courage. Ask the Lord to help you conquer specific sins in your life. Pray for the right attitudes in life. Ask the Lord to help you be more like Him. Confess your faults and ask the Lord to forgive you. Pray for open eyes that you may help others.

SATURDAY: Praise. Praise God for all that He has done. Think about the qualities and attributes of God and thank Him for being that way. Thank the Lord for thinking so much of you. Tell the Lord that you love Him and want to be with Him, always and forever. Thank the Lord for sending Jesus. Thank the Lord for even listening to you.

You might come up with a better list than I have. Give it a try and spend a few moments in the day praying for what is on your list. You can also just make a list of people. People that are hurting. People that have helped you in the past. People that you long to see saved. People that you love. New faces. Old faces. Young faces.

Don’t get in the rut of always praying the same thing, the same way. There is so much to pray for. This will end our little journey through the subject of prayer. I hope this has helped you.

Roger