Jump Start # 3316

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

It was a question for our times. The old reformers and restorers never had to deal with such a question. The early disciples never thought about this question. No one ever asked Jesus about this. But I was asked. It was by one of our sharp young college students. He wanted to know if using AI to write sermons was ok. AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. It’s been in the news a lot. To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention to it. I’m more interested in keeping up with Divine intelligence than AI.

As we stood there talking about it, one of our school teachers said that teachers use it all the time to make their lessons plans. I confessed that I wouldn’t even know how to access it. While we standing there, this young college student on his phone accessed an AI app and asked it to produce a five minute sermon on Jesus. Just like that, there it was. It lacked passages, but it even had a simple introduction as if one could stand before a crowd and just read that from the phone.

I suppose that there will be preachers turning to AI to write their sermons. Now here are my thoughts about that:

First, is having AI write a sermon much different than taking an outline from a sermon book and preaching that? We all get ideas, read things, do research and borrow from one another, but to have someone else do all the work for you sounds a bit lazy to me. Just who is behind the AI info that is going out seems to be fuzzy. No one seems to know.

There is a passion in writing sermons that transfers over to the delivery of the sermon. Borrowing ideas is one thing, but by the time one modifies it, adds things to it, changes things, it becomes his own sermon. But to take something someone else has written and read it without putting your self into it doesn’t seem right. Our verse tells us to do the work. Preaching is work.

Second, AI may produce a fine sermons, but you are the one that people will ask questions and seek advice from. You must be able to defend what you have said. AI can’t talk to a person and comfort them as Titus did to Paul. AI can’t fellowship. AI can’t build faith. AI is information driven, but can not take the place of knowing Scriptures and being an example for others to follow.

Third, the info AI produces must be examined by the Scriptures. Good Bible students understand this. Many thoughts in books using verses have not used those verses accurately, nor in context. Just because AI says it doesn’t make it right. Only God’s word is right. There can be a real danger if someone using AI to make sermons doesn’t have the sense nor the insight to discern truth from error, a lot of damage can be caused.

Is it wrong to use AI? No. But use that as just one of many steps in building your sermon. Nothing beats your own study, observations and knowledge of God’s word. Those looking for short cuts and the quick and easy way of doing things would be better off doing something else. The ole’ expression, ‘if you can’t find anything else to do, you can always preach’ shames the hard working servants of God and discredits the great value that preaching has to God.

Where do sermons come from? From life. From reading. From talking to others. From personal study. From what is needed.

AI in time will become a tool of Satan to do harm.

Roger

Jump Start # 3243

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

  Recently a post has been circulating around on Facebook entitled, “Twelve things you need to know about your preacher.” I will list the twelve statements from that article:

1. He is lonely, and so is his wife.
2. Ministers and their families are watched constantly.
3. He will be criticized often, many times without just cause.
4. Members will gossip about the minister and his family.
5. Members will challenge the preacher in his knowledge of Scripture.
6. He is on call 24/7.
7. He will probably be underpaid.
8. Ministers will be blamed for the church’s failings.
9. Preachers are not pastors, but members expect them to be pastors.
10. Preachers frequently deal with discouragement.
11. When a minister loses his job, he starts over from scratch.
12. The minister serves the church, but he fights for his family.

What a list! I’ve been doing this preaching thing for more than four decades. And, yes, I could not only agree with just about all of those things, I could add about a dozen more. Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on a Sunday recently. Most had the day off. The preacher didn’t. If he wanted the day off, he would have to take a vacation. Even on vacation, the preacher realizes that Sunday is coming. Sunday is always coming. A class needs to be taught. A sermon must be preached. On vacation he is working because Sunday is coming. It’s hard to relax because Sunday is always coming. I have stayed with folks where the guest bed was the pull out couch in the living room. I was the last to bed and the first up because everyone walked through the living room. I’ve had strange dogs licking my face in the middle of the night at a home I was staying in.

I remember years ago one of the elders in Kansas City, going through the year end stuff. He came to my salary. He stated it before everyone, which was a bit awkward. He then went on to tell the congregation that there were no taxes taken out, no insurance offered, no retirement plan, no benefits. I leaned over to my wife and said, “Remind me why I am doing this?”

But here is my take on that Facebook article. It reminds me of the guy who owned a small farm and he hated it. He wanted to move. He hired an agent to list his property. One day as he was reading about another place, beautiful pond, quaint but darling home, wonderful garden, scenic view, he called his agent and said that he wanted to see that place. That’s exactly what I’m looking for. The agent told him that he was reading about his own property. When one is discouraged all he can see are the problems and often he fails to see all the good things.

First, there is a divine dignity to preaching. Run through the list of preachers in the Bible, such as Noah, Moses, the prophets, John the Baptist, the apostles and even our Lord. Preaching was God’s way and God’s design to spread the message. Go into all the world and preach. Not put on a play. Not write a book. Not tell stand up jokes. Preach. Preaching is God’s choice.

Each week we preachers get to stand before an audience and deliver the word of God. There is no other message more important than the saving message of Jesus Christ. This is greater than finding the cure for Covid, cancer or any other ill that plagues our times. The answer to rising crime is Jesus. The answer to prejudice is Jesus. The answer to selfishness is Jesus. And, we preachers get to bring the book before the people. What an honor. And, on top of that, we get paid. We get paid for what we ought to do for free.

Week after week, people come with a question. They seek your wisdom and insight. They are looking for help. They come to the preacher because they trust him. They know his character. They love him. What a joy it is to help people understand, see and learn.

It would do good for current preachers to take a strow down through history, even American history and look what preachers endured. Many were paid with a live chicken. Many crossed rivers on horseback and then stood, dripping wet, before a crowd and preached. They traveled by train, by horseback and foot. They preached in log cabins, out under trees and just poured their souls out for Jesus Christ. Those reminders sure make us today seem like we have nothing to complain about.

Second, every job, and that is EVERY job, has down sides, negative things and parts that are not easy or pleasant. Working with the public is tough these days. The guy who drives the truck, the doc in the office, the pilot in the skies, the one in the military, the school teacher, the house wife, and, yes, the preacher, all have good things and unpleasant things that come with the job. One can focus upon the negatives, and if he does that long enough, he’ll eventually quit.

In a time when we are seeing fewer and fewer preachers, I find it troubling that such a post is making the rounds on Facebook. Rather than encouraging, it’s discouraging. Rather than rallying the troops, it spreads discontent and may cause even more to quit. Sure, some brethren have been critical and unfair. Some elderships are misguided and troublesome, but there have been so many wonderful, wonderful disciples that have encouraged, helped and supported we preachers through the years.

In the past few weeks I have preached far too many funerals. Those are tough for me. I try to make each one unique and special. I pour hours into writing those words that I will speak. When I am done, I am really done. Emotionally drained, tired, and wondering all along if I did any good for a hurting family. The love of others is what drives us preachers. It’s not the pay. It’s not the hours. It’s helping souls connect with Jesus.

Not everyone ought to preach. And, we need to stop trying to make preaching like a business model, because it never will be. On the ball shepherds can do a lot to help the situation with their preacher. Preaching is different and very few understand it except a fellow preacher. But, neither do I understand the funeral business. I’ve been around a lot of funeral directors lately and only someone in their business truly understands their world. But isn’t that the same for a doctor? There are many professions that on the outside may seem easy, but once one steps into it, our eyes are really opened.

Have I been discouraged as a preacher? Yes. Have I felt alone? Yes. Have I felt underpaid? Yes. Have I been criticized? Yes. Have people gossiped about me? Probably. So, then why do you do it? One simple answer, Jesus.

The greatest marvel of all, is how God takes the perfect story about His perfect Son and allows imperfect people like me to tell that story. That is amazing. And, I get to do it over and over and over.

It’s time to stop the pity party. Put away the tissues. Put on your big boy pants and take a long look at what the apostles went through. We are not the scum of the earth, as they were. We are not homeless, as they were. We have not gone about hungry, thirsty and poorly treated, as they were. We have been blessed. What an honor it is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our verse today says, “endure hardships.” Complaining about how hard it is doesn’t sound much like enduring. Onward Christian Soldiers—that’s our call. That’s our mission. In rain or in sunshine, we will deliver the message of Heaven to a dying world.

Could things be better? Certainly. Wise shepherds who read this ought to give serious thought about how they could make life better for their preacher. It begins with simply asking that question. Have you ever done that? Sure you give him a paycheck, but is that it? Does he struggle with discouragement? Is he approaching burnout? Do you even know? How close are you to the preacher?

Just sitting down, one on one, a shepherd and the preacher, being honest, transparent and open, will go a long, long way to helping things. You see the polished sermon on Sunday morning. What’s the week been like for him?

The more conversations that can take place, without the fear of intimidation, threats, or possibly losing his job, the more a team atmosphere will be created and the more good that will be done for the kingdom.

God bless my fellow preachers! Maybe no will ever know all that you do, but God does. Keep it up. You are making a difference now and for eternity!

Roger

Jump Start # 3168

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

A recent Bara Institute report shockingly revealed that one-third of today’s preachers want to quit. The number, 38%, is up nearly 10% from just a year ago. The report indicated that preachers under the age of 45 were the most likely to consider quitting. More than 4,000 churches have closed in America in the past two years, according to Bara. Many factors were given for wanting to quit preaching such as the lasting impact of the pandemic, loneliness, burnout, depression, political strife, and just being tired of all the things that go with preaching.

Understand, the organizational structure of most denominations is not what we read in the New Testament. Their preachers, commonly referred to as pastors, have more of an CEO operational concept of running a church. The denominational hierarchical organization, larger than the local congregation is a concept not found in our Bibles.

However, even within our fellowship, the number of preachers quitting is growing steadily. And, true to the Bara article, it seems that a vast majority of them are in that 45 and under age bracket. Fewer younger men are going into preaching which all points to a famine of preachers in coming years. Now, we can ignore such things and then we will wake up one day wanting to know what happened or we can begin to address this seriously.

Some thoughts:

First, from our passage today, there are some hardships connected to preaching. Every Sunday the preacher stands before one hundred or more people who can in a second can become critics and unload every opinion, idea and problem in his lap as they walk out the door and go home. There are hardships. Endure them. Get a backbone. Develop some thick skin. Don’t let every comment get under your skin, nor is it your job to fix every problem that people give you. The preacher is to preach and teach God’s word. Take a long, long look at what those apostles and early preachers went through. They weren’t paid well. They suffered greatly. Their love for the Lord and His kingdom kept them going. Could it be that the desire for an easy job loaded with perks and benefits has caused some to be disillusioned and disappointed to the extent that they quit?

The work can be long, hard and lonely. Just this past week, I have written five blogs, recorded six podcasts, taught four public classes, lead a leadership workshop, preached a sermon and prepared to head out of town to preach a meeting. I can’t tell you how many emails, phone calls and people I’ve talked with this week. Am I tired? Yes. Is it necessary to do all of these things? Probably not. But I see the good that is being done. I see lives changing. I see hope building. I see positive things taking place. Now, I could complain about this. I could cry to my elders about this. I could think about quitting. But I signed up for this. I am a preacher of God’s word. This is what I am supposed to be doing. There is a work that is to be done and we need to do it. Certainly, I could ride out on old sermons, stop Jump Starts and do as little as possible. But that’s not me. That’s not going to bring success and growth in the kingdom. Endure. Endure hardships. That’s what God says.

Second, shepherds need to have a heart-to-heart talk with their preacher more than once a year as they consider giving him a raise or not. Is he tired? Is he having the signs of burnout? Is he overwhelmed? Do you know? Do you notice? Do you care? This is where I think many preachers in our fellowship end up. They sense that no matter what they do, no one cares. Leaders have long ago quit leading. Ideas, vision, motivation all must come from the preacher or it won’t exist. After a while frustration builds. Why do all of this? On top of this, many do not feel like they have the backing and the support of the leaders. Tough things need to be preached. Some members squawk. They complain. The leaders remain silent. They won’t get involved. They won’t support nor defend the preacher. And, for the young preacher, he feels as if he is left to die alone on a hill. Discouragement is one of the hardest things on the heart of a preacher. And, if not dealt with in a positive fashion, that discouragement will destroy him.

We need to take a very, very long look at what has taken place in the past several decades. Allowing people to throw verbal darts at the preacher and complain to no end has been accepted. God doesn’t like complainers. There is no place for this among the people of God. Sour and weak members are allowed to say unkind and unfair things and they go without any response from the leaders because they fear they may leave. Maybe they ought to leave! If they are not going to walk in the shadow of Christ, then their ungodly attitudes and spirit  needs to hit the road. I know these things. I have been hit by these things for decades. It’s time for shepherds to protect the flock and this includes from itself by putting a stop to negative, gossipy, complainers who are never content, never happy and never adding to the kingdom. Shepherds, defend your preacher when he is in the right. Don’t allow cheap shots to be taken. Change the culture of the environment there. We have closed a blind eye for far too long on the destructive impact complaining has on the heart of a young preacher. Those sinful tongues may have gotten away with things in the church building, but Heaven knows. Heaven has witnessed what happened. We won’t tolerate sin in the camp, but we will allow cheap shots, trash talk and gossipy tongues to ruin hearts that simply want to preach and teach the Lord’s word. Those days must be over! We must recognize that those sour hearts are not doing the will of God and they will not be allowed among the people of God.

Third, it’s time to restore the honor of preaching God’s word. Preaching is the avenue God chose to deliver His message. The greats, from the prophets, judges, apostles, Noah and even our Lord, were preachers. Because a guy has given one Wednesday night lesson in the past four years does not qualify him to speak objectively nor critically of what preaching is. Oh, he thinks he understands preaching because it took him three weeks to work up his ten minute Wednesday invitation. I have changed spark plugs in my car. Does that mean I understand what a car mechanic’s day is like? Really?

Rather than shooting your preacher down, help him. Encourage him. He too needs to be built up. Preachers quitting ought to concern us. What can be done to stop this? What can we do?

Roger

Jump Start # 3021

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

My latest dive into Restoration History has taken me to a book printed in 1880. It is entitled, “Memoirs of Deceased Christian Ministers who died between 1793 and 1880.” That sure sounds like an exciting read, doesn’t it? There are 975 names recorded along with a brief sketch of their lives and their work. Many of these were in Indiana, and that’s what has drawn me to this book.

Most of these preachers were part of the Christian Connexion or Newlight movement and never fully embraced the reformation or restoration principles. Some came out of the Cane Ridge period and were influenced by Barton Stone. They preached the Bible only as a rule of faith.

Here are some things I want to share with you:

First, most of us would not recognize these names. There were a few that I had become familiar with in earlier research. But isn’t that even true today among most of us. For most of us, outside our area, we don’t know very many other brethren. We know the names of some preachers, but our knowledge of the kingdom in other places is limited. There are occasions where some gather from other places, but still, we have limited exposure to brethren in other places and even more limited knowledge about how congregations are doing in other places. Because of that, it is easy to conclude that all congregations are about the same. Revelation 2-3, shows us that isn’t the case. There, we find one church hating the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and another congregation embracing that doctrine. Lukewarm. Loveless. Lifeless. Thriving. That’s the descriptive landscape of many of the seven churches of Asia. So it is among the congregations today. Some are doing really well. Some are growing, even during this pandemic. Some are steady and maintaining. Others are declining. Vision. Leadership. Diligence. Involvement. All of those are factors which shape a congregation.

Second, as I was reading through the “Deceased Christian Ministers” book, I was amazed at how many died at young ages. But the stories in this book help to explain this. The times were tough. Crossing rivers in the dead of winter, traveling through forests that had no trails, so many became ill and never recovered. Most poured their lives into the preaching that they did. Most were very poor and at their death they left families alone to struggle to survive. One example was a preacher by the name of Melyn Baker who died in 1852. One year, according to his journal, he traveled 3125 miles, preached 211 times and received $150.00 for the year. These preachers wore themselves out for the sake of the Lord.

Third, the power of the Gospel changes lives. It did then and it does today. Stories abound of rough and lawless troublemakers turning from their wicked ways when they heard the pure Gospel of Christ presented to them. Native Americans, or Indians, were often evangelized by these pioneer preachers and many became believers. The Gospel works. When a heart is honest and good and it intersects with the word of God, positive change and results will follow. That’s the power of God’s word. It still works today.

Fourth, the good that we are doing today is often unmeasurable. We like tangible markers. What’s the size of your church, we ask someone. How many were there on Sunday, we ask. Visible numbers. How many were baptized? What’s the contribution? Easy to see ups and downs in those numbers. But there are other markers that are harder to see. The personal growth within a person. Someone who is getting stronger and more confident in their faith. A person that steps us to teach a Bible class for the first time. A person who is willing to shepherd the people of God in that location. Teens refusing to cave in to the temptation of their friends. Business folks who put honesty, ethics and integrity above a profit line and who will not compromise or sale out. It’s hard to measure a church getting stronger spiritually. The numbers may not show it. The dollars may not show it. But it’s there. It’s there in the way folks worship. It’s there in the way people show the light in the community. It’s there. It’s just hard to see.

Finally, what would be said of our time here? What if there was a later edition to this book I have been reading. What if it could include your name? What would be said about your work in the kingdom? What would others notice and what would others appreciate about your labors in the Lord? People might talk about the way our house looks or the car we drive or the style of clothes we wear, but those things do not add value to the kingdom. In this book, I’ve read about several adventures on horses. That was the common mode of travel in the early 1800’s. I read about sick horses. I read about tired horses. I read about a few horses that died. But never was I told what kind of horse they rode or what the horse looked like. Those things just didn’t matter.

You do not have to be a preacher to make an impact in the kingdom. You do not have to stand before a crowd to make a difference. You do not have to be a man to make a difference. Your talents used. Your influence shown. Your love extended. That’s the key to helping out in the kingdom. You send a card. You take some food. You compliment. You share a ride. You welcome. You forgive. You invite. You extend you throughout the congregation.

Making a difference…not to make a name. Not to get yourself in a book. But to help someone see the Lord a bit better. To help bring honor to our Savior. That’s what it’s all about.

Notice the action words of our verse today. Be sober. Endure. Do the work. Fulfill. Pour yourself into the God’s work. Give your all—that’s what Jesus did. That’s what the apostles did. That’s what those early disciples did. That has been the trademark of God’s people for centuries.

Roger

Jump Start # 3010

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

Last week, Wilson Adams wrote a wonderful piece about the need to shepherd the preacher and especially the preacher’s wife. And, I thought I would add some thoughts here in our Jump Starts. The preacher’s wife, often standing by her man can be the loneliest person in the congregation. She hears her husband venting his frustration about the lack of leadership, the failure of others and the disappointments that come with preaching. More than anyone else, it is the preacher’s wife that reminds him of the good that he does. She is also the one that can truly analyze his sermons like no one else. When her preacher man comes home, feeling like trash and his ego trampled by thoughtless comments, it is the wife who encourages him to stay with it and keep on.

Often, people will pressure the preacher’s wife to share insights that only she and a few others know. Some expect the preacher’s wife to be a walking Bible concordance and to be able to answer every conceivable situation that some dream up in their minds. As the preacher’s wife walks into the church building, she knows all eyes are looking at what she is wearing. If it’s deemed too expensive, the whispers begin about how much are we paying the preacher. The kids of the preacher are often expected to be little angles while everyone else’s kids are little demons. It’s hard for the preacher’s wife to talk to anyone within the congregation, lest what she says gets around or else it be considered complaining.

As of late, it is the pleas of the preacher’s wives that lead their husbands to move or often just stop preaching. The pressure. The image. The talk. The loneliness. The not being invited or included. The double-standard. Some just want to be a “regular member,” whatever that means. There has been a large number of preacher’s quitting in the past couple of years. And, the number of young men wanting to become preachers seems to be smaller and smaller. There is a famine of preachers coming. This is not going to be good.

We once lived in a house that was owned by the church. Early one morning, we were still in bed, someone was walking around inside. I got up. It was one of the members. When I asked what he was doing, his response was, “We all have keys.” It was thought and believed that the house belonged to the members and they had a right just to come in when they wanted to.

Now, some thoughts:

First, we preachers can certainly be part of the lonely hearts club band and our whining is enough to make a dog howl at the moon. No one wants a complaining preacher. Suffer hardships is what Paul told Timothy. Endure, is what is found in our verse today. Putting up with a few rude comments is nothing to what Timothy had to endure. Get a backbone and be tough. The same goes for the preacher’s wife and his family. Stop this, PK (Preacher’s Kids) stuff. Be a disciple of Jesus. Don’t be like all the lukewarm, dead in the water brethren who have nothing better to do than complain and be judgmental of others. Learn that Bible. Take food to the sick. Get to services. Worship God. Greet others. Extend hospitality. Participate. Sitting in a corner, crying that no one likes me, won’t win friends. Personally, the selfie generation has made too many of us selfish. Do you think Andrew sat around crying because he wasn’t included with Peter, James and John? Do you think he felt like quitting?

I do believe no one truly understands what a preacher goes through other than a fellow preacher. This is why I encourage preachers to bond with other preachers. Not all of them. Find that one or two that can really help you, understand you and be honest with you.

The same likely goes for a preacher’s wife. It’s hard for others to understand these things. There is no security in preaching. At any moment, the preacher could be fired. Many have. Many have for no other reason than some want a change or some blame the lack of growth upon the preacher. Most have zero retirement. Most have to supply their own insurance. I know. Been there for decades. You must take care of yourself. The time will come when the church wants a young preacher and the old guy is shown the door. That’s the history of how brethren have treated older preachers. However, you signed up for this knowing this. The doctor has his own stress and trials. The mechanic has his. School teachers these days are certainly going through so much. It may be good that some are quitting. If you cannot endure, you will give up.

Second, few places of business if any, post the salary of the employees on the bulletin board or had out to everyone the stated incomes. In many places of business, if one talks to another about their income, that’s grounds for dismissal. But, before the eyes of everyone, there is the preacher’s salary. So they look at that and the house he lives in, the car he drives, the clothes he wears. Maybe if we put ourselves in that spot, we’d have second thoughts. Maybe there is a better way than what has been done.

Third, maybe if more consideration to how the preacher’s wife was doing, more preachers would remain where they are and more would stay in preaching. Shepherd that preacher’s wife. Just because the preacher is doing fine, doesn’t mean she is. Conversations ought to be a part of the shepherding process with the preacher’s wife. Don’t’ intimidate her by having her come into the “board rule” full of men. She’ll be scared, guarded and the purpose will backfire. Build a relationship of trust between a shepherd and his wife and the preacher and his wife. Go out to dinner. Build an atmosphere where one can talk openly without fear of “being fired” for what was said. How is the preacher’s wife doing? Do you know?

Through the shepherd’s wife include the preacher’s wife. Make her feel welcome, loved and a part of the congregation.

I look forward to more of Wilson’s blog as he continues this series. May these thoughts get some wheels turning in our minds and begin the process for positive change. Lest anyone think that I have a real bone to pick with the place I’m at, that isn’t the case. I see my wife included, loved and appreciated. It has not always been that way for us in other places. And, it has been hard for her to make close friendships within the congregation. But my wife has been a real comfort and blessing to my work. She has supported what I do, been honest and truly the greatest encouragement I have ever had. I am blessed. Not all preacher’s have that. The nagging wife. The complaining wife. The never-happy wife. All of that wears upon the heart of one who tries to be a servant of the Lord.

There is an ole’ saying, “Behind every good man, stands a woman.” I think it best to say, “Beside every good man is a loving wife that wants him to do well. “

Roger