Jump Start # 1575

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

  This week we are discussing preachers and preaching. Our verse today is the premier passage for preachers. There is a seriousness to their work (be sober). There is a toughness and courage that they need (endure hardship). They need to do their work (do the work of an evangelist).

The preacher doesn’t run the church. In too many places, the preacher does the work of the elders, the secretary, the maintenance man, and the one who orders and stocks all the supplies. The poor preacher is so busy doing the work of others that he has no time to do the work of an evangelist. The work in the kingdom involves all of us and we all have our roles.

Today, we focus upon those two words, “endure hardship.” No one likes “hardships.” We try to avoid them at all costs. It is because of hardships that some switch jobs, mates and responsibilities.

There are hardships that come with preaching. Not everyone likes the message of Jesus. Some folks don’t want to be moved, changed or challenged. Some are happy doing nothing, going nowhere, and leaving no footprints for others to follow.

I fear that some preachers are a bit thin in the “enduring” department. It doesn’t take much and they are upset, complaining, whining and ready to move. Endure, preacher. Endure. Remember the prophets. Remember Jeremiah. Remember John the Baptist. This enduring takes time and faith and a whole bunch of patience. It’s easy for the young preacher to get so discouraged. Boy, I’ve been there. Many times. The young people are a mess. The young couples seem too busy for the Lord. The senior citizens are stuck in their ways. Woe is me, the preacher cries. Why am I here? He dreams of wonderful congregations where everything is great and running like a watch. But here he feels stuck. He feels like an outsider. He doesn’t feel included. He feels that everyone is his critic. Sound familiar, preacher? Been there. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you are there to help turn the direction of that place. Maybe through your teaching and your example, the people can learn, get stronger and become what the Lord wants. Don’t leave because things are not good. They need you. They need someone who understands. They need someone to hold the line with the Lord.

In some places, it’s not the young folks that need changing, but the leaders. Stubborn elders who are stuck on auto pilot do not see that they are killing the life of a congregation. Preacher, help those men. Have Bible studies with them. Show them Ezekiel 34 and John 10. Look at shepherding from God’s perspective.

Hardships. You will have them. Endure. Put up with them. Don’t drop out and run. Don’t throw in the towel. They need you. They need what you can teach them. Endure. Endure. Endure.

Now, let me say something to shepherds or elders. Far too many young preachers get discouraged because of you. Shame on any of us if we cause a young preacher to become so discouraged that he gives up preaching. These young men are full of energy and ideas. Listen to them. Don’t discount them because they are young. Shame on you if you do. They may need some guidance, but listen to them. Get these young preachers what they need to do their work. Some of them are duct taping worn out copy machines that should have been thrown away decades ago. We have the latest and greatest at work and at home, but we use garage sale junk to let our preachers work with. Get with it, men. Black and white is 1970’s. Get color. Get the men what they need to do their work. Don’t limit them. Don’t hold them back because you are afraid to spend some money. Put some money in the work there.

Shepherds, when a young preacher presents an idea to you, have the decency to get back with him. One constant complaint I hear, is that  suggestions are made and the elders don’t say, yes, or no. They say, “We’ll get back to you on that.” And, then they never do. The ideas just vanish in thin air. Do you realize what this does to the heart of a young preacher? If you are not going to do it, tell him and explain why. If you said, ‘We’ll get back to you,” then do it! Shame on you, when you don’t. These young guys are pouring their lives into the work there. At least have the decency to support them, praise them, help them, and give them a chance. The breaking point of most of us is when we feel the leadership is not supportive, moving or caring. Some shepherds ought to give serious thought to stepping down. Some are so busy traveling the world, growing a company, seeing the grandkids, that they don’t have time for the church. They are names on a letterhead and that’s about it. We expect the preacher to do his work, and he should. We ought to expect the same from God’s shepherds. Either shepherd or get out of the way! The list of discouraged preachers I could name here is very, very long. What is tearing them up are elders who are content with doing as little as possible. Have you shepherds ever sat down and just had a heart to heart chit chat with your preacher? Have you ever asked him, “What can we do to make your work better?” Have you?

Hardships come. Some come because we are humans. Some come because we are Christians. Some come because some are preachers. Have thick skin, Mr. Preacher. Folks who would never ever give a lesson, can be experts about preaching. Just thank them, and carry on. Some who have never studied a passage, can blast away in a Bible class, discounting everything you have just said. Carry on, Mr. Preacher.

Very few places, if any, would list the salary of someone on the bulletin board where anyone and everyone can see what you make. The size of your house, the clothing you wear, the type of car you drive will be analyzed through the lens, “are we paying you too much?” Carry on, Mr. Preacher.

You are expected to sit with every family through every surgery, be at every ball game the young people play, preach every funeral, go to all the graduation parties, do every wedding, and never make a mistake. Carry on, Mr. Preacher.

You are expected to be the first to arrive at the church building and the last to leave. Always. Carry on, Mr. Preacher.

If your ties are too flashy, you’ll hear about it. If you preach too long, you’ll hear about it. If you use too many stories, you’ll hear about it. If you talk too fast or too slow, you’ll hear about it. If it’s too hot in the church building, even though you have nothing to do about that, you’ll hear about it. You hear those complaining about the mothers who don’t take their babies out. What you are supposed to do, I have no idea. You’ll hear rumblings that the church isn’t growing, as if it is all your responsibility. You’ll have every typo in the bulletin and on the slides pointed out to you. If the grass hasn’t been cut at the church house, someone will tell you, as if that is your job. If someone is always late, they’ll complain to you about it. Hardships. Carry on, Mr. Preacher.

You are doing the Lord’s work. Don’t get sidetracked. Don’t get overwhelmed by these things. Keep doing your work. Teach and preach and teach and preach. God bless you for what you do.

Endure, man. Remember the Lord!

Roger

Jump Start # 1417

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

Today is a very special day for me. It’s not my birthday, that was last week. It’s not my anniversary, that’s in a few months. On this day, many years ago, something very special started and I want to take this avenue to reflect upon this personally. I admit that I’m sentimental. Dates, anniversaries mean a lot to me. A few years ago the congregation I preach at celebrated it’s 100th year of existence. That’s huge in my book.

Thirty-five years ago today, it was a Sunday morning. I was single. I had moved to the community of Benton, in southern Illinois. And on Sunday, August 24, 1980, I preached my first sermon as the new preacher of that congregation. I had been preaching pretty much every Sunday for a couple of years before that, but on this day, I was the new minister for that congregation. I had just a few books, a few sermons and was very new and inexperienced at what I was supposed to do. My sermon that morning was, “Compliment but Crucify.” It was about honoring but displeasing the Lord. There were 66 in attendance that morning. Within two years, I moved to Indianapolis and started preaching in Greenwood. I remained there for 15 years. From there, I moved to Kansas City and preached there 10 years. Now, I’m in New Albany, Indiana.

Thirty-five years of preaching. Preaching almost every Sunday. That’s thousands of sermons, classes, articles and talking to folks about their soul. Those thirty fives years have allowed me to crisscross this country preaching. I have met thousands of wonderful people. There has been weddings and too many funerals. There has been young men that I tried to teach what I knew about preaching. There has been thousands and thousands of books gathered and file cabinets stuffed with articles that were saved. I was allowed to preach in India as well as in a Federal Prison. I’ve met some really amazing people. I’ve met some of the best people who were just as common as they could be. I’ve been in so many homes and eaten at so many pitch-ins and potlucks. There has been some funny things happened in those years. There has been some serious and sad things that has happened. I’ve had to bury some people that were very dear to my heart. I preached my mother’s funeral many years ago. I’ve been asked a zillion questions. I’ve had the opportunity of speaking on the radio, on TV and had a newspaper column in a local paper. I have been allowed to speak on some lectures with some of the finest preachers alive today. It’s always made me wonder what I was doing on the same program with them. I started before cell phones and computers, and now we are live streaming our services. Our Jump Starts are being read world wide. Who would have thought that. I’ve had folks get mad at what I preached. I’ve had people tell me that what I said changed their life. I’ve seen young men grow up and are now preaching in other places.

There are just a few personal things I need to say about these years of preaching.

First, I owe everything and all to my Jesus, whom I love. It was the Lord who has gifted me, opened doors for me, and given me the chance to preach. I would never imagine all the things that I have been able to do in those thirty-five years. The ugly things have been few. The blessings, enormous. My prayer is that I have been true to His word and that I have honored Him through the work that I have done. Thank you, Lord.

Second, I owe so much to my wife. We got married just a couple of months after I began preaching. So, she has been with me on this journey. I have left her at home with little kids so many times as I have had Bible studies with folks or been on the road preaching. She has helped polish me and encourage me. I’ve bounced so many ideas off of her and she has helped tone me down when I was ready to storm the castle. She has never, not once, complained about the work I do. She never suggested that I do something else. She understands that this work is so much a part of my DNA, that preaching is my life. It is hard for me to turn my mind off. I’m always thinking, writing, reading, working. Always. She has been patient with me. Thank you, Debbie. I don’t know if I would have stayed with this, if it had not been for you. You have been my number one fan and my greatest help. You have helped me be the preacher that I am today. I’m honored to have four grown kids who know me as “Dad.” It may not always have been cool having a dad that preached and you have sat very embarrassed through sermons as I used you for illustrations. But today, each of you serve the Lord, married Christians and are bring up your children in ways that please the Lord. I’m blessed.

Third, there are brethren who have been friends, supporters and helpers all along this journey. There is a preacher named Bob Dickey, who is preaching in Florida, and another, named, L.A. Stauffer, who is preaching in St. Louis, whose influence got me started on this journey. I do not come from a family of preachers. I knew very little about this. Their help early on was incredible. There were others, all along the way, that helped. There were the brethren in Benton, Greenwood, Hickman Mills, and Charlestown Road that gave me a chance. For them, I am thankful. There were kind hearts such as the Harmon brothers in Kansas City, Bob Roberson and Morris Franklin in Greenwood, who helped so much. Dear friends such as Don Truex in Temple Terrace, FL, Rickie Jenkins in Garland, TX, Kenny Moorer in Florence, AL, who have meant and helped me more than they will ever realize. There are those who are no longer with us, such as Billy Skaggs, Jim Babcock, Dick Dewhirst, Donna Finney who touched my heart and I benefited from knowing those incredible people. The list of dear friends is long. The number of people who have been there, helped me, encouraged me, written me cards, included me and supported me could fill a Texas sized football stadium.

Brethren have always supported me better than I deserve. I have never written a support letter in my life. I’m glad. I have worked where there were no elders and I have worked with elders. Today, I work with some of the finest shepherds that walk this earth today. Great and godly men who allow me to teach them. Amazing.

Our verse today, Paul’s words to the young preacher, Timothy, tells him to fulfill his ministry. Do the work. That’s what that has always meant to me. Some of us are good at preaching. Others are better teachers. Others excel one on one. Some water better than they plant. For others, it’s just the opposite. Some are great encouragers. Some can write. Some can see just what needs to be done. It’s hard for any of us to wear any of these hats well. We try.

I’m certain that there is not another 35 years of preaching left in me. The end of this preaching will be sooner than I probably want. How many more years are left has become something that I think about now for the first time. I don’t know when or how this journey will end, but it will someday. We know that. It is my hope that there has been some good done. As Nehemiah ends, “Remember me, O my God, for good.”

Thank you for letting me reflect and go down memory lane.

Roger

Jump Start # 1272

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

  This verse has been on my mind lately. I’ve been reading a book entitled, “Autopsy of a deceased church.” One of the common denominators among dead churches is that preachers move in and move out rapidly. They don’t come and stay. The author, Thom Rainer, noticed a cycle among preachers:

• Year 1: Honeymoon
• Years 2-3: Conflicts and challenges
• Years 4-5: Crossroads, part 1. This is when many preachers leave.
• Years 6-10: Fruit and Harvest
• Years 11 and beyond: Crossroads, part 2.

I’m not sure what I make of his cycle. It seems too simplistic and it certainly isn’t true in many cases. It’s doesn’t fit my preaching career. The first congregation I was with for about two years. Then to Greenwood, Indiana for 15 years. Then to Kansas City for 10 years. Now, back to Indiana and starting my 8th year. What kills this cycle is that family situations and relationships with people and leadership within the church is different in every place. No two places are the same. No two places have exactly the same blessings nor troubles. Some congregations are old and they feel old. Some are very active and busy. Some need guidance. Some just need the barn door opened and you to get out of the way. Not only are congregations different, but so are preachers. We can be a strange breed. We have egos. We have ideas and plans. We get tired. We get our feelings hurt. And as we age, we change, hopefully for the better.

There are several congregations that are looking for preachers right now. That’s a common thing. Preachers move. Preachers die. Our passage helps us to see a few things that ought to be helpful in understanding what the preacher is supposed to do. We need reminders of these things.

Paul gives us four wonderful concepts:

• Be sober in all things. This is defining and describing the character of the preacher. Sober carries the idea of seriousness. All Christians are to be sober. This has nothing to do with alcohol, but everything to do with clearness of thought and vision. The work we do is serious. The preacher is not the local comedian. He is presenting the Holy God upon the Throne of Heaven, not the stage of a local theatre. Our words are serious. We deal with life and death situations. Sin, souls, Heaven, Hell are not to be taken lightly. I want a preacher who will not throw punches, but with kindness, tell me the truth. I need to know. Sober doesn’t mean sour, ugly, mean, or grumpy. We deal with the Gospel. That very word means, “Good news.” Some almost apologize for telling us good news. I like a preacher that smiles. I like a preacher that is kind. I like a preacher that works up a sweat when he’s preaching. Lincoln said he liked preachers that looked like they were fighting bees. That’s my kind of preacher as well. Sober. Sober in all things.

• Endure Hardships. Preaching isn’t a cake walk nor is it for the faint of heart. Hardships come from many places. Some are internal that no one ever notices. It comes from the prayers and tears that are poured out as he tries his best to find the right words to lead people to Christ. Some hardships come from brethren. They ought to be the preacher’s greatest cheerleader, but often they are not. Critics catch every misused word. They find every typo in print. They ride the preacher, expecting perfection, even though they are not close to that standard themselves. Hardships can come financially. Our times are the best for preachers and what they are paid. I’m treated like a king where I’m at and that bothers me often. But for many good preachers, they struggle financially. The brethren don’t see the need to pay the man very much. He never complains. He works hard for the Lord. Brethren live in fine homes, vacation to exotic places and drive the newest automobiles, while the preacher struggles. His kids need braces but he knows that he cannot afford that. His kids must go to community colleges because that is all they can afford. It hurts, but he continues on. Then there are those external hardships. People who consider his views to be too narrow. He doesn’t fit in with many because he is “the preacher.”

In an interesting contrast in this context, Paul reveals that the congregation will not endure sound doctrine, but the preacher is to endure hardships. He is doing what the congregation won’t do. His heart and hide bear the marks of hardships. To a young Timothy, these words might involve prison, beatings and eventually death. They did for the beloved Paul. Endure. Hang in there. Quit complaining. You are doing what you signed up for. Do not throw in the towel. Endure.

• Do the work of an evangelist. Evangelize. Preach. Teach. Use every medium you can. Reach every person you can. Not all your teaching is done to the congregation. Not all takes place in the church building. Not all your work is done on Sundays. Do this work. Often, a congregation fails to understand what this work is. They think the preacher is the one to give rides to the airport, because “everyone else is working.” What do they think the preacher is doing? NOT WORKING. He is called to help someone move. He is there to help paint. He is viewed as the church handyman. He is the one to put shingles on the church building. He is the one to cut the yard around the church building. He is the one to pick up trash, lock the doors and do everything but count the money. Again, more and more places are getting away from this kind of thinking. It still prevails among some. What the congregation sees on Sunday morning is the easiest part of preaching to me. It’s all the phone calls, studies, visits, emails, research, writing that takes place behind the scene that most never know anything about. Most wouldn’t know how class books are made. They are just “done.” Do the work preacher. Work hard. Work long. Wear yourself out in service for the King. A lazy preacher is a bad preacher. A sloppy preacher isn’t much better. Pay attention to details. Put thought into what you are doing. Have a schedule. Teaching and preaching takes preparation. It takes time to study, think, write, research. It is a balance between spending time with the books and spending time with people. Both are needed. Both are important.  A 9-5 guy probably won’t do well. Get busy preacher. Do the work.

• Fulfill your ministry. Finish what you have started. We understand the expression “the fulfillment of prophecy.” That simply means the prophecy came to be. What was said, became reality. Peter said, “This is that” concerning the prophecy of Joel. Fulfilling your ministry means bringing it about. Don’t be just talk. Show folks. Be an example. People shouldn’t be complaining about the character, work habits, or attendance of the preacher. Fulfill. Finish. Show folks. Be the example. Be the leader. Be the first one.

Thank you for letting me share these thoughts. Have you told your preacher that you appreciate what he does? You ought to let him know that. Does he feel alone in what he is doing? Does he know that he has your support, confidence and prayers?

The role of preaching is important. It is important to God. It ought to be important to us.

Roger

Jump Start  # 844

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

Do the work of an evangelist. Those were the words of the aged, experienced and wise apostle Paul to the young preacher, Timothy. I’ve heard a lot about preachers recently. Some good, some not so good. I had lunch recently with a preacher that baptized me and was the catalyst into my becoming a preacher. Here we sat together at a table and I found myself still asking him questions, still being mentored by him. One of my all time favorite preachers is coming to town this weekend. He’s a dear friend and an amazing preacher. I’m about to bust with excitement. It’s always awesome to be with Dee.

Do the work of an evangelist. A simple statement. I gather that many churches, and from what I’m seeing, many preachers are not sure what that means. Let’s look into this.

To start, consider what the work of the evangelist is not:

• The preacher is not the guy who is available during the week to do what we can’t. I sure have seen that. Grandma needs to go to the doctor and everyone is working, call the preacher. Now, why would folks do that? It is because they don’t think he’s doing much. Isn’t he working too? Yard work needs to be done during the week, call the preacher. Someone needs a ride to the airport, call the preacher.

• The preacher is not the handyman at the church house. Ask the preacher to pick up trash after services, or cut the lawn at the church building, or fix a leaky facet in the bathroom at the church building…he’s available, have him do it. Some even think that is part of his job description.

• The preacher is not the youth activity director. Most preachers I know will do things with young people because they love people of all ages. But to think that it’s the preachers job to have the kids in his home, to arrange activities for the teens, to keep the kids interested is not correct. Those are the things moms and dads ought to be doing. It’s easy to pass them off to the preacher and then all parents have to do is drop the kids off with a bottle of pop and leave the rest to the preacher. Sorry, not his job.

• The preacher is not to solve all church problems. Some problems are so complex and engrained in the fiber of the people that only the Lord can do something. A young preacher moves into a community to work with a church. Within a few months he finds that the church is fussing and at odds with each other. He is told one side of the story and is expected to make things right. When he fails, because people do not want to admit wrong and apologize or forgive, he is put into the hot seat and before long is asked to leave. Another young preacher is brought into that mess with the same expectations and the same results. Those folks ought to just shut the door and make up their minds if they want to follow Jesus or not. Some problems we must solve ourselves. Some problems are not the preachers job to solve.

• It is not the preacher’s job to run the church. He’s not in charge of the place. He just happens to be the preacher. Some run to him as if he owns the church and pressure him to make decisions that are really not his to make. Because he has keys to the front doors, does not mean that he runs the place. God ought to run the church. When we forget that, bad things usually happen.

Now, what is the preacher’s job? It is to preach and teach God’s word to everyone he can and to use every avenue he can to do that. This means the preacher will teach classes to many and to few. He will teach on Sunday morning and Tuesday afternoon. He will teach in the church building and in someone’s front room. He will teach using email, letter, or phone call. He will preach in a church building or on video. He is to preach and teach God’s word.

That necessitates that he understands God’s word and knows how to teach. It also necessitates that he understands how to connect with people and explain to them what God’s word says. He is a teacher but more, he is a preacher of God’s word. His goal is not just informative, but life changing. He is trying to persuade people to follow Christ. He is using the teachings of Christ to change attitudes, behaviors and thoughts of people. His job is to preach and teach. That means warning when God has warnings. That means showing hope where God has hope. That means instructing when God has instructions. The greatest tool he uses is the Bible. He doesn’t need strong arm tactics, cheap psychological tricks, high pressure gimmicks that force people into doing what they don’t want to do. That is not his way. He wants people to want Jesus. He wants people to choose Jesus because they want Jesus and they see that they need Jesus.

The preacher may not be the smartest in the Bible in a congregation. He may not even be the best public speaker among the congregation. He is the one who has decided to devote his life to pointing people to Heaven. His work involves helping those who have made messes of their lives. Poor choices, sinful habits and broken lives reveal the worst in us. A preacher with loose lips will not do well. A preacher who doesn’t like people, will not do well. A preacher with little patience will not do well.

His work necessitates studying. A person cannot teach what they do not know. He must read. He must like to read. He must think, consider, and get it himself. A man who doesn’t like to read, will struggle as a preacher. A man who can’t think for himself will get in trouble as a preacher. He must do research. He must be able to explain clearly what the Bible says. He doesn’t have to know everything that is false. He simply has to know what is right. The word “gospel” means “good news.” His message, life and attitude ought to reflect that. His work surrounds the good news that the world needs.

One of Jesus’ first parables was about a sower. He threw seed out in the fields. This is similar to the work of the preacher. Often, the preacher never sees the good that he has done. Often, it takes a long time for that seed to spout, grow and become a mighty oak. The preacher doesn’t worry about not seeing the results. He knows they will come. God is good. God gives the increase. His job is to get the word into the honest and good heart.

I have a son who is now preaching. I look at him and see myself more than 30 years ago. I have surrounded myself with some incredible preachers. They are some of my best friends in life. They have helped me so much. Preaching is a work. It’s not for the lazy nor the guy who can’t do anything else. It’s not for the person who is not self driven. I remember a preacher telling me years and years ago, that after ten years he ran out of ideas on what to preach about. He quit preaching. Is it any wonder?

Paul’s words to young Timothy remain the best advice we could tell any preacher today, “Do the work of an evangelist.” Get to it preacher. There are those who need to know Jesus. There are those who need to be encouraged. There are those with doubts who need to be assured. Do the work. There’s not enough time to golf every day. There’s not enough time to play around every day. There’s a work to be done. Do the work! Do it well!

Roger

Jump Start # 387 

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

Note: This Jump Start is dedicated to James Finney—a fine man, a dependable and faithful preacher who lived this passage. James passed away Saturday at the age of 95.

  Words from a preacher to a preacher—that’s what our verse is about today. Four simple statements that define the character of the preacher’s work.

• Be sober—same words used by Peter when he told us about Satan being a roaring lion. To be sober is to be serious, alert and conscious of what is going on. Preachers are not stand up comedians. They are want-a-be actors. They are presenters of God’s word.

• Endure hardships—this is a contrast to what Paul said earlier in this chapter. He reminded Timothy that a time was coming when the listeners would NOT ENDURE sound doctrine. That can’t endure, but you must endure. They can’t endure God nor His word. As a result they will make your life miserable. You endure. You hang in there. Don’t quit because it’s difficult. Don’t throw in the towel because you don’t get 5 weeks of vacation like some in the business world. Few things are worse than a preacher who can’t endure. Hardships in Paul’s mind was persecution. He and the early preachers faced it. Stephen was killed after the audience put their hands on their ears, rushed him and then stoned him. Paul was beaten many times. They endured. Today, the preacher must endure the sarcasm, nit picking and tongue of many folks, especially and sadly, those from the congregation. Some pick and pick at the preacher until he finally gets fed up and leaves. Then they are astonished that he left. Shame on us for that! Don’t they realize that God will judge them for the way they are treating another Christian? Endure, Paul says. The message is greater than you.

• Do the work of an evangelist—This is it! Just what is that work? Paul seemed to know. Timothy seemed to know. There wasn’t a job description given here—simply, go do it. Evangelist evangelize, that is, they preach and teach God’s word. This is done to the lost with the goal of bringing them to Christ. This is done to the church with the goal of strengthening them. That is what the preacher is supposed to do. Preach and teach. He does that orally. He does that publically. He does that through writing. He does that privately. His role is preach and teach. He is not the fund raiser, as if there was such a thing in the first century. He is not the mechanic for all things broken at the church house. He is not the one available to take people to the airport because “everyone else is working.” He is to preach and teach. This means two things. He has to study to know. You can’t teach what you don’t know. So he must read. A preacher who doesn’t like to read is like a doctor who doesn’t like blood. Such a one is in the wrong business. Reading, thinking, studying, learning. The second aspect is that the preacher must be around people. All kinds of people in all kinds of settings. The preacher must like people and be comfortable around people. Someone who doesn’t like people is in the wrong business if he plans to preach. Many of these people have dirty lives. They are in a mess. They need Jesus. This is why the preacher must connect with them. If they were perfect, they wouldn’t need Jesus and they certainly wouldn’t need a preacher.

  Most of us see the finished product on Sunday morning—the sermon. Sermon writing isn’t easy. It looks it. And many have given a lesson or two and think this is pretty fair stuff and there really isn’t much to this. That’s true if you give a lesson or two once or twice a year. Try it this week. Plus think of something wrothwhile write to write in the bulletin. Also the church wants you to teach a couple of classes this week. Then you have a few private Bible studies this week. Then there are the phone calls and the “can you get me some information on…” things. Now if someone dies during the week, the preacher will need to do a funeral as well. Now when all of this is done, the preacher starts all over the next week. Thinking up ideas that are fresh and interesting is one of the hardest tasks for preachers. Some do well with this. Others struggle.

  Now, about that sermon, it needs to be interesting or the people will get bored very fast. The sermon has to say something or you are just wasting time. And if the preacher has any kind of heart, he needs to realize that he needs to try to convince, warn, encourage, challenge or simply move the audience to a greater relationship with the Lord. This means he must teach some things that are controversial, difficult and even hard. He needs to teach and preach some things that he doesn’t feel like it. He must teach some things that the audience may not like. The preacher needs to please Jesus, not the church.

  Now, add to this, once the sermon idea has been found, and the preacher has spent time making it, researching, studying, writing and polishing it the best he can, the delivery can make or break the whole message. If the preacher is in a foul mood, tired or just had his ear chewed off  by some member, he must some how find the right attitude and spirit to make the message come across to have the right effect. Few things are worse than a mad preacher shouting from the pulpit.

  Now you might think that I am really on my soap box today, sorry about that. I love preaching. I love writing sermons. If I could make a living out of just writing sermons I think I’d do it. I’ve seen young preachers who have taken so much verbal abuse that they just couldn’t endure any more, and they quit. That saddens me.

• Fulfill your ministry is Paul’s final words here. Fulfill is to finish. Fulfilled prophecy is prophecy that has been completed. Preachers need to finish. It’d help if some finished their sermons—some seem to last forever. But what Paul has in mind is completing your task. Teach and preach. Do it as long as you can. Do it everywhere you can. You do these things because you love the Lord and you love souls. No other reason. That alone is your passion. It excites the preacher and causes him to get up after he has been knocked down. It causes him to return to the office and begin work on his next sermon. Some sermons soar and they change lives forever. Some sermons seem to fall flat and will never be preached again. Such is preaching.

  God has blessed me to be know some incredible preachers in my life. Some of my dearest friends are preachers. I love them for what they are doing. I am amazed at their talent. I thank the Lord that they are on this side of the kingdom. And someday, they will wear out, like my friend James Finney and they will go to that land that they have tried to get the world to see. They will rest from their years of labor.

  Endure…work…finish—those are Paul’s words to Timothy and to all preachers of God’s word.

Roger