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

Jump Start # 3405

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

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. It was early. The sun was just coming up and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The air was cool. I was driving to the church building. I love those early Sunday morning drives. There are not many cars on the road. Things are quiet and peaceful and my mind was already thinking about the wonderful Lord that I was going to worship.

As I was driving, my mind was working through my sermon that I’d preach that morning. I was thinking about the points, the passages and how I wanted to end it. The thought occurred to me about so many of my dear friends, all across the country, who were likely doing the same thing. Friends in Texas, who are preachers. Friends in Alabama who are preachers. Friends in Tennessee who are preachers. Friends here in Indiana who are preachers. Friends in Florida who are preachers. All across the country this morning, pulpits would be filled with men who love the Lord and want to see all draw closer to the Lord.

Each of these preachers would be preaching different things. Some would be working through a text, carefully looking at the context and explaining words. Others would be trying to help someone who has a broken heart from the pain of the world. Some would be preaching about Jesus. Some would be explaining a principal or doctrine that is necessary in our walk with the Lord. Each would have an open Bible. Each would be speaking from the heart.

All across the country God’s word would be echoed out, strong and clear. Some would preach the best sermons of their lives. Some would see a person asking to be baptized. Some may hear the words of complaints and wonder if they did something wrong. Each of them would think throughout the day if what they did helped anyone. Some would be complimented. Some would be ignored. Some would receive criticism. And as the day ended, they would be thinking what am I to preach next week. Some would already know. Some wouldn’t have a clue.

My friends, the preachers. I love them. I need them. They have made a huge difference in my life. I am honored to be named among them. It is incredible that God takes His perfect word about His perfect Son and allows imperfect people like me to proclaim it.

A beautiful Sunday morning. As folks arrive at the church house, the preacher has been up for some time. He has been going over what he wants to say that day. He is grateful that people trust him with the incredible job of preaching God’s word to them.

Sometimes the sermon is longer than some want. Sometimes the sermon hits very close to home, closer than some want. Sometimes the message brings joy to hearts. Sometimes there is a tear that comes to our eyes. Sometimes the sermon makes us feel uncomfortable, realizing that we need to do something to be closer to the Lord. Sometimes the sermon challenges us. Sometimes there is a bit of guilt that we feel. But all of that, is to help us know Jesus and walk closer with Him.

A beautiful Sunday morning. The birds were singing. The sun was rising. And, the preachers were ready to proclaim God’s word. What a wonderful thing that takes place on a Sunday morning.

I just love Sundays—it’s the best day of the week!

Roger

Jump Start # 3170

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

Recently I was preaching in a meeting at a place that I had been before. But it had been a long time since I was last there. In fact, it had been 16 years since the last time I had preached there. And, the amazing thing  was to hear so many saying that they remembered my sermon, “Bloom where you planted.” I had preached that there sixteen years ago. They still remembered it. I used to preach that sermon a lot. I wore that thing out and have not touched it in a long, long time. I did not remember that I had preached it there. But here, going on two decades later many remembered. Now, let’s put some things straight about this. The sermon is just ok and the preaching at the best isn’t all that good, but it’s one of those moments when the time is right and people identify with it.

I was thinking all about those kind comments last night. I’ve been preaching more than forty years. How many sermons are remembered? The Sunday comes to an end, the sermon goes into a file cabinet and on we go to other projects, another sermon and more classes. The preacher hopes that someone is helped at the moment. The preacher hopes that somehow his choice of lesson was what was needed that day. Some days it is. Some days it’s not so much.

Deep within the ego of many preachers is the hope that our sermons would be remembered like the songs of our favorite singers. So many hits. So many songs. But truth be, most of us do not even remember many of our own sermons.

The value of a sermon is not in how long a sermon is remembered years after it was preached, but whether it did us any good. Like the showers of rain, the garden needs that nourishment to grow. How many rain showers are remembered? Growth isn’t a one time event. It’s a process. It’s like a little child growing. Each meal and each day he is growing. He is stretching up. He is changing. And, that is the process of our spiritual growth. There is no one sermon that will be the vitamin for life that gives you 100% of what you need. There is no one sermon that will answer all the questions that you have. But those sprinkles of rain upon the heart allows one to grow and get stronger every day.

The interesting thing about sermons is that some that I think didn’t go over so well, others love. And, sermons that I thought were really fascinating, seem to land like a dud. But I have learned that the value of a sermon is not in the comments that people say. Some will say every week, “Good sermon.“ They are honest and they liked the sermon. Others will not say anything. The preacher wonders. But later on, something is said and a thought from one of those sermons surfaces. They heard. More than that, they remembered. And, more than that, it stuck with them and it helped them.

We preachers all have our own styles not only of developing a sermon but of even delivering a sermon. And, styles are like decorations. Some appeal to you and some may not. But our job is not to become fixated upon the mouthpiece but upon the message. Take us to the Scriptures and let us see Jesus, that’s what a sermon ought to do. Some are masterful at showing us things in the text that we never saw before. Some are great at putting life and definitions to words. For others, it’s all about getting those words out of the Bible and into our hearts. Practical application that is real, useful and relevant, that’s how some preach.

Through the years a congregation becomes adjusted to the type of preaching they receive on a regular basis. When a different style comes in, it often takes a moment to get used to that. It’s like a bowl of chili. The family gets used to mama’s chili. Then the family goes to another home for a visit and chili is served. It’s different than the way mama makes it. It’s still chili and it’s still good. It’s just different. That’s sort of like listening to different preachers. Is one better than another? Not really, not as long as they are preaching Jesus and staying true to the text. I’ve sat through some sermons and taken dozens of notes. I have sat through others and never wrote one thing down. But often, it was the later that really helped me.

It’s easy for us to try to make all preaching the same. I’m glad it’s not. We notice the different styles when we read what Paul wrote and what Peter wrote. Paul is deep. Romans is a tough book. Peter is practical. Peter gets to the point quickly. I find myself more like Peter than Paul. Ought we change Paul into Peter? Never. Is Peter better than Paul? No. Both are needed and both are very helpful. And, so it is among us. Some preachers are all business in the pulpit and they bring a seriousness to the word of God. Others use humor and stories but have a powerful way of punching God’s word into our hearts. Peter and Paul. That’s what we have today.

Our verse today reminds us to preach the word. We are not to preach ourselves, our opinions or our likes, but the word of God. Stick with that. Learn how to preach well. Make adjustments.

Remembering a sermon sixteen years ago. That really touched by heart.

Roger

Jump Start # 3053

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

The other day I was looking for something on my shelves and ran across a book that someone had given me some time ago. It was a compilation of sermons by six physical brothers. The book is called, “Sermons we like to preach,” by the Andrew brothers. They were all siblings and all six of them preached. There is about ten sermon outlines by each of these Andrew boys. What caught my eye to this book was the title, “Sermons we like to preach.”

More than once, when I have been asked to preach at another place, I have been told, “Just bring your favorite sermon.” Sermons we like to preach—let’s put some thought to that.

First, often the sermons I like, few others do. I find something in the Scriptures and become passionate about preaching it and it just seems to hang in the air. Other times, often because of a packed schedule, I put something rather simple together and people will leave saying, “It’s the best you’ve ever done.” In my mind, it’s not even close to the best. Preachers have sermons they like. I wonder if Paul had some that he liked? I wonder if the sermon on the mount was the Lord’s favorite sermon?

Second, the value of a sermon should not be measured by how many people rave about it, but rather how much good it accomplishes. Did that sermon make people think? Did it lead them to change? Did it bring them closer to the Lord? When Peter preached that Pentecost sermon in Acts 2, the people were pierced in the heart. That doesn’t sound like a good feeling. When Stephen preached Acts 7, the people were cut to the quick. The success of sermons is not in smiles, laughter or entertaining a crowd. That’s not the function of a sermon. Sermons are to put us before the Cross. The sinfulness of our ways is not something that we are proud about. Being lost and alienated from God is not a good place to be. The warnings of Scriptures may make us upset, even mad. But the mercy and grace of our God ought to melt away any pride that we have and open our eyes to how much we need Jesus.

The nature of “out of season,” means simply that, “it’s not in.” Where I live, a person cannot get a fresh, locally grown garden tomato in January. Won’t happen. They are out of season. And, out of season sermons may not be our favorites. They may be controversial, hard to listen to, and calls upon us to change. But, it is those sermons that can do the most good for us. We can’t preach always about Heaven. If we did, some would never know that there is a Hell. We can’t always preach about the love of God. If we did, some would never know about the wrath of God. Preaching just what we want or like can make our theology lopsided and unbalanced. The opposite of these things is just as true. If we always preach about the wrath of God, some may get the impression that God doesn’t like us.

In season and out of season. There will be sermons I like and sermons I don’t like. There will be sermons that knock the shine off my shoes and sermons that will warm my heart. Gotta have both of them. We need both kinds. We need to preach about the Authority of Scriptures, as well as raising kids, and cultural differences, and character studies, and worship, and Jesus, and church and on and on.

Third, as one preaches to an audience, some will be helped and some won’t. It’s not uncommon for two people hearing the same sermon to have totally opposite reactions. One may think it’s the best he has ever heard. The other, hearing the same sermon, may think, “I’ve heard better.” Why does that happen? It’s because of where the audience is on their journey with the Lord. Some enter Sunday morning, feeling good, confident and strong. Others enter, with a world of worry and stress. They both hear the same sermon. One benefits greatly. The other not so much.

Fourth, our mind and heart has so much to do with how we hear a sermon. If we are not paying attention, if we are filled with troubles, then the words pass right over us. But if we come, Bible in hand, with the intention of seeing, learning and growing, that most times is exactly what takes place. The work of the preacher can be lost because the audience isn’t ready or prepared to hear a sermon. The chit-chat of the world fills our time before worship begins and as soon as the last amen is uttered, we immediately return to the chit-chatting of the world again. What about those words we just heard in the sermon? What about the challenge to change and become? How quickly we may drive those thoughts out of us and forget things before we reach our cars in the parking lot. Taking notes, writing things in your Bible—wonderful ways to keep the sermon alive. Talking about the sermon over lunch is yet another powerful way to pull as much out as you can.

“Sermons we like to preach.” I have a few of mine that I like. Most were only preached one time. What I’d rather preach is what you need to hear.

Roger

Jump Start # 2374

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

The chorus of one of the hymns we sing says, “I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.” This is the proclamation of all Christians. We love the Lord. We love what the Lord has done. We love what the Lord has promised. And, we love to tell others about that.

I’ve been reading the story of an old Indiana preacher named Daniel Sommer. He started preaching in the late 1800’s. He played a significant role in the direction of God’s people during a turbulent period of change and unrest. His name became a label for what some considered a narrow and negative mindset. In his time, men who wanted to be preachers picked up a Bible and started preaching. They weren’t trained, mentored or guided by older preachers. They were self taught and did things the best that they could.

In his own words Sommer said, “There are men who delight to preach, and regard it a high honor; but I do not. I wish I could. In early life, I enjoyed working on a farm and chopping cord-wood more than I ever had the work of preaching! The good accomplished by my labors is my only comfort. I am not a natural talker, and don’t like to talk…Sixty-five years of labor that has been almost constant has not made much change…Besides, I dislike to be in a crowd, and dislike most of the compliments on my preaching that I hear.”

Basically, here was a preacher who didn’t like to preach. My advise to him would be go back to the farm. One can work in the kingdom and serve the Lord well on both sides of the pulpit. Preaching isn’t the only way to influence others and to lead people to Christ. I’ve known preachers who said from the pulpit that they were depressed. That certainly puts a dark cloud over what they were to say next.

The art of writing sermons and the presentation of sermons takes some talent and some find it easier to do than others, but to declare that one does not delight in preaching makes us wonder about motivation, purpose, zeal and passion. There are times in life we have to do things, but we may not want to. Taking out the trash isn’t the highlight of my week. Getting blood drawn at a lab doesn’t thrill me. Sitting in a waiting room while my car is being worked on isn’t something that I get excited about. Those are things that have to be done. Those are things that are necessary. I’m not motivated nor passionate about those things. But, preaching shouldn’t fall into a category like that. Preaching is necessary. God declared that. From the early days until now, God has used preaching as the means to communicate His will. Moses preached. Noah preached. The prophets preached. The apostles preached. John the baptist preached. And, even Jesus preached.

But to have a preacher who doesn’t like to preach, is like an artist who doesn’t like to draw, or an athlete who doesn’t like to play in a game. All of us preachers have different aspects of preaching that we like better than others. And, there are sermons we like and sermons we don’t like. We look at our fellow preachers and often wish we could borrow some of their insights and talents. But, among the preachers I know, we like to preach. Preaching does a lot of good. Preaching builds faith and drives away fear and worry. Through preaching we become stronger in the Lord. We become motivated and challenged to take up the work of the Lord.

So, what do you like about preaching? I ask that to young men who want to preach. Their answer speaks volumes as to what they expect, and how well they will do.

My son who preaches is in town this week. We spent a lot of our time together talking about preaching. He’s been doing it long enough now that we can really have some great conversations about preaching, traveling, and the ups and downs of preaching. We even wrote a sermon together this week. Preaching is much more than standing behind a pulpit on Sunday. In fact, that’s the easiest part of preaching. And, that often is the greatest measure of preaching, how well one does behind the pulpit.

So, what do I like about preaching? Here’s a few things:

• It is exciting to see and learn truths in God’s word and then to share than with others. It’s wonderful to be able to help others see what you see. And, when they get it, to see them grow and change is a marvelous thing!

• I like the production of a sermon. Starting with a blank screen or sheet of paper, and taking thoughts and shaping them and filling them and rearranging them and building them to a completed sermon. Each week, we preachers go back and have to start this process over. Some weeks, the well really seems dry. Other times, the thoughts flow so easily. But to look back and to see in just a few days you have gone from a sketchy idea in your mind to a powerful sermon that you preached is such a joy.

• I like the love, confidence and trust that others put in me to lead them in God’s word. One must be careful and not abuse that trust nor take advantage of it. But it’s an honor to have people come with their questions and hope that you can help them see what they ought to do.

• To love preaching is to love the Lord. The message is His story. And, how can one not love to tell others about Jesus. Preaching is not about the preacher but it’s about the message. It’s about Jesus. This is not an ego ride and those that view preaching that way or as an easy way to make money typically bomb as preachers. To preach well, is to put Christ before the eyes of others. The audience ought to walk away impressed with Jesus, not the preacher. The preacher is simply a voice, an avenue by which thoughts travel. The destination is Jesus.

We who preach ought to love preaching. We need to work at it. We need to study it. We need to become the best that we can. Our hearts need to be drawn to the cross.

I love to tell the story…I hope you do!

Roger