15

Jump Start # 1645

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1645

Acts 8:39 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.”

 

Our verse today is found at the conclusion of the Ethiopian’s conversion to Christ. His questions were answered. He learned about Jesus. He understood what he had to do to become a Christian. He was baptized and he and Philip parted. Our verse ends, “but he went on his way rejoicing.”

 

That is an aspect that we sometimes forget about. This week I have been writing about some tough issues within the church. Sometimes we do not always put forward our best. We make mistakes. Sometimes we let people down. We are not perfect. We get blamed, and sometimes we deserve it. But, it’s great being a Christian. Don’t ever forget that.

 

This world seems to be spinning more and more out of control. We live in scary times. Lives can end suddenly, as what took place in France yesterday. There are things that we do not understand. We live in times where people hate us because of our freedoms and because of our beliefs. There is every reason to cower in fear and fill our hearts with worry. But we don’t. We won’t.

 

It’s great being a Christian. I went to the funeral home yesterday of a sweet woman who was a Christian. She was a school principle. She was the wife of a preacher. Her journey here ended way too soon. She touched many lives. What made that day was knowing that she was a believer who walked with the Lord. She’s fine. The Lord has her and she will be safe. She has left incredible footprints for her family and friends to follow. Those that do not understand, view death as a loss. It’s tragic. It’s so sad. Not so, for believers. It’s great being a Christian. The best just begins at death. It’s not over. It’s just starting.

 

It’s great being a Christian because I can talk to my Lord today. I don’t have to wait. I don’t have to make an appointment. He’s always there and He wants me to talk to Him.

 

It’s great being a Christian because later today I get to sit down with another Christian and talk about the Bible. Two believers sharing thoughts together about God’s holy word. That’s amazing.

 

It’s great being a Christian because Sunday is coming and I will get to be with my church family and we will sing and pray and talk about God’s word. It will be awesome to see a full church building. It will be great  to see smiling faces and get hugs. It will be great to be encouraged and helped. I wish it were today!

 

It’s great being a Christian because I know that there is an incredible group of shepherds who are doing their best to help me get to Heaven. They love me and all the church family. They work hard to help us get along and smooth out the bumps in our spiritual journey. It’s great to know that I have help and I’m not in this all by myself.

 

It’s great being a Christian because I am connected to the greatest people on earth. I have friends world wide who love the Lord and walk with Him every day. I have a network of incredible friends who want me to go to Heaven. They are such a blessing in my life. I wouldn’t know these people if I wasn’t a Christian.

 

It’s great being a Christian because I know that I belong to God. I am His child. He is watching out for me and I want to honor and glorify Him. Many choices that some folks are on the fence about, I’m not, because I am a Christian. My path is clear. I have a purpose and because of the Lord I can make a difference in the lives of others.

 

It’s great being a Christian because everywhere I go, the Lord is with me. I am never alone. I don’t have to figure everything out. I don’t have to be burdened with the troubles that life presents. I trust the Lord. He’s proven to be good.

 

It’s great being a Christian because I now understand what really matters. I don’t have to chase wealth, be first or try to always stand on top. Those things do not matter. Walking with God is what is important. What God wants is what I want. What a difference that makes in life. Things are calmer. Things are less stressful. Getting to Heaven is what it’s all about.

 

It’s great being a Christian because it means that I am loved by God and I am forgiven by Him. I’m not perfect. He knows that and I know that. That doesn’t hurt our relationship. My heart wants to be with Him. I know Him. I trust Him. I believe Him. I wouldn’t change this for anything.

 

It’s great being a Christian.

 

Have you forgotten that?

 

Roger

 

14

Jump Start # 1644

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1644

John 4:17-18 “The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You have well said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.’”

  These last few days we have been looking at those who seem to be left out, isolated and lonely in church. There are those who attend huge congregations but they feel all alone. Sometimes, it’s the way they want it. They don’t want to be close. Other times, it’s because the church doesn’t know how to respond, especially to divorced people, as we mentioned in our last Jump Start. There is one other area that I want to look at. It’s those who are spiritually messy. That’s the best way to say it. Their lives have been a mess. Maybe they are the cause of the divorce. Maybe they got a divorce for no other reason than they are tired of the person that they were with. Maybe they have bounced in and out of addictions. Maybe pills and alcohol has been a major part of their life’s story. Maybe their kids have been taken out of their home. Messy lives. Messy spiritually. It is those who have made such major mistakes in their lives that are often looking for something, anything. They look to Jesus. The church can run them off because they are so messy.

 

Our verse today comes from the story of the woman at the well. The text tells us that it was noon, and odd time for a woman to be drawing water. Most times, this would be done early in the morning so she could get about her work. This woman, a Samaritan, was there at noon. Did she run out of water and need more? Or, perhaps, she came at a time to avoid others. In a small village word gets around. She had five husbands. Nothing is said about what happened to them. Did they die? Did she run them off? Did they just leave? Who knows. She is with someone now, but she is not married to him. It could be that she gave up on marriage. There she meets Jesus. There she learns about the Savior.

 

Change the scenery behind this story. Instead of being in Samaria at a well, imagine it takes place at a church building in America. One Sunday morning, this woman and her man shows up for church services. She is greeted with smiles, handshakes and warm welcomes. A visitors card is given to her. It is noticed that her last name and his last name are not the same. Questions arise. Is this your boyfriend? She says, “we live together.” Shocked, the greeter silently steps away. Someone else comes up and welcomes the woman. They find out that she has been married five times. That person slips away. Someone mentions to the preacher that we have visitors today. Before he can make his way over to meet her, he is informed that she has been married several times and is currently living with someone. Disgusted, the preacher goes the other way. By the time services have ended, word has trickled through the congregation. “She is one of THOSE kind of people.” Some suspect that she is there to get money. Others wonder, why she is there. A few fear that if she comes back, it will make the church look bad. The common thought is that we don’t want to be too friendly because it might give her the wrong idea. And certainly, the church makes sure that doesn’t happen. Avoided. Shunned. Ignored. The couple leaves and never returns again. No cards are sent. No visits are made. They are forgotten as quickly as they showed up.

 

You know all too well that what I have written is true. You know all too well that in far too many congregations that would be the standard practice. You know all too well that the general attitude is that we don’t want her kind coming here. She may influence the teenagers, some suggest. Others believe that there is no hope in changing those kinds of people. Back to our comfortable and safe ways the church returns with little thought about what it has done. I know this is all too well, because I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it toward the divorced. I’ve seen it toward a young man who was sitting in jail. I’ve seen it toward those who are spiritually messy. Sometimes, Christians can act very unchristian.

 

I once was surrounded with such spirits. These comments would come out in Bible classes. You’d see a visitor getting the third degree of questioning as soon as they stepped in the door. Those attitudes plagued a generation of congregations. It hurt them. It ruined many of them. It took a while for me to rid myself of such thinking. It can be done. It must be done.

 

Now, some thoughts.

 

First, we ought to want anyone to come to worship, spiritually messy and all. At services, they ought to witnesses love, forgiveness and grace, something that they will never see on the streets. It is at services that they can learn about the holy God and the righteous life that He wants us to live. It is at services that we see that prodigals are welcomed. The church isn’t a place you go to after you have cleaned yourself all up. It’s for the hurting. It’s for those who have made mistakes. It is for those who are spiritually messy. Through the teaching of God’s word people can learn. Those messy Corinthians changed. They were immoral. They had wrong attitudes. They learned about Christ. They were washed, justified and right in the sight of God.

 

Second, I really doubt that Jesus rolled His eyes or looked disgusted with this woman at the well. He engaged with her in a long conversation. He didn’t toss her under the bus. She had a soul created by God in His image. She had a soul that Jesus would give His life to save. Too often, we see the problems a person has and we fail to see the soul that they have. Problems can be fixed. Souls must be saved.

 

Third, when we treat folks unkindly because they are messy, we forget that we had a messy side to us as well. We weren’t Heaven’s little darlings. We weren’t so soft and cuddly that God couldn’t resist us. We broke God’s laws. We trashed His holy name. We were selfish and sinful. We disappointed and broke the heart of God. Have you forgotten? We too, needed the cleansing blood of Jesus. Let’s get off the high horse and remember that messy people are but a step behind us. Every sinner has a future and every saint has a past. Did you forget that?

 

Fourth, don’t be so quick to draw the sword of God and lop off heads. “They need to be told that they are wrong,” and I suppose you just love being the one to do that. Are you the right one to do that? Are you doing that to drive them away, or to lead them to Christ? Are you doing this with gentleness, showing and teaching God’s way, or just pointing the way to the door? Be patient. The spiritually messy folks do not need fifteen people telling them that they are wrong. What they need is fifteen people who open up their arms, and with smiles, welcome them to worship. Let the leaders in patience help these folks. You, be a friend. You, be kind. “Be a friend to someone like that?” Yes. Exactly. Your kindness can build bridges to Christ. Showing that you care to someone who can’t do anything for you is just the point. Ask them out to eat with you. That’s probably not happened to them in light years. Invite them to sit with you. Tell them of other classes that they might be interested in. Help them. Don’t be guilty of running them off.

 

The prodigal left the pigs because he remembered how well his father’s servants were treated. He was a son, yet the servants at home were better off than he was. His father was a good man. His father was generous. If I can only get home, maybe, he’ll let me stay. Many folks do not know this about God. They blame God. They have a crooked view of God. They have been hurt and they have wondered why God allowed that? You can help them to know the truth about God. You can help them to know that you too, once were messy but now, through Christ, you are walking in righteousness. You can show them what a great life it is being a Christian. They’d expect the preacher to say that, but not you. Hearing you say that gives them hope.

 

If we are busy spreading the word, messy people will come. It’s what you do that will determine if they will stick around or not.

 

O’ to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer!

 

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 1643

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1643

Matthew 15:23 “But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, ‘Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.’”

  Our verse today is about the Syrophoenician woman who came to Jesus because her daughter was possessed with a demon. This woman was a Gentile. Jesus happened to be in Gentile regions. She was desperate. She needed Jesus. The disciples didn’t know what to do with her. Their solution was to send her away.

 

Yesterday, we wrote about those who feel alone in the church. Some are this way because they are new and others are this way because they have not made any friends. They worship in a crowd, but they are alone on the inside.

 

There is another group that often feels alone in the church and that is the divorced. The Bible is plain about who can get a divorce, and even when God’s word is followed, those that have done right are left out and not included any more. I have friends who have experienced this. It was devastating to them. They were once a couple but their mate left them for someone else. They continued to walk with God. They continued to worship and live righteously. But their world was crushed. Friends in the church avoided them. People that once included them, no longer did. They were in a very vulnerable state spiritually and were left on their own. People walked away from them without talking to them. They were made to feel like this Syrophoenician woman. “Send them away,” was the unspoken word. One person wrote about his experience and said that he received more support and encouragement from work than he did the church. The divorced are the walking wounded. Their feelings, faith and trust has been shattered. They need support. They need guidance. They need love. Instead they are treated like lepers. Send them away. In the first century world, we are told that lepers had to live in colonies and as they approached a village, they were to shout, “leper, leper,” so people could avoid contact. Today, the modern leper is the divorced. Folks would rather they be put in a colony somewhere and as they enter the church building, shout, “divorced, divorced,” so everyone can flee from them.

 

Shame on us for treating our brothers and sisters this way. Shame on us for ignoring the wounded among us. Shame on us for shooting our own wounded. We have manufactured words to describe the parties in a divorce, “the guilty and the innocent.” Those are not Biblical words, but we like to use them. The problem is, few believe that any one is really “innocent.” They feel in their minds, that somewhere he or she is partially to blame as well. The proper Biblical terms are “fornicator” and “non-fornicator.” That’s the principle at hand. And, even if someone made a mistake and ruined their marriage, doesn’t their soul matter? Do we just cast them out? Jonah was the cause of the storm in the opening pages of that book. The sailors realized that. They tried everything to save Jonah, but finally, at the bidding of Jonah, they cast him overboard. That’s what too many churches do to the divorced. You are not welcomed here. The divorced is no longer used in services, even if he is “innocent.” He is benched for life. He cares the stigma with him and he is no longer considered one of the truly faithful. When his name is mentioned, it is immediately followed with, “he’s divorced.” The calloused, indifference to the souls of the divorce has crushed many families. There are those who no longer walk with the Lord because of the way God’s people treated them. Being rejected from the church, many turned to the only option that they knew, and that was the world.

 

What should we do? What can we do from this point forward?

 

First, the shepherds of the congregation, need to see to the spiritual needs of the wounded, including the divorced. They need to pour more time and attention, not in lecturing, but in nurturing and guiding the divorced. From their example of love and care others will follow.

 

Second, it may seem awkward at first, but friends need to include the one who is divorced. Extend their love to him. Invite him out to ballgames. Send food home with him. Do social things with him. Don’t treat him as if he has a problem. If the divorced wants to talk, let him talk. If he doesn’t, don’t preach to him. Don’t make him feel uncomfortable.

 

Third, if he is walking with the Lord, continue to use him in services. If he has done nothing wrong, don’t treat him as if he has.

 

Fourth, encouragement is essential to life. We all need it. A phone call in the evening. A card sent in the mail. A phone text. All of these things allow the divorced to know that people are thinking of him. He is not alone. Friendship is something that we all need, especially after the death of a loved one or a divorce. Our emotions are crushed. We feel alone. We need friends. Ask the divorced to sit with you during worship. Ask him to go out with you afterwards for dinner. Be a friend.

 

If the divorced is a woman, she might need help doing yard work. Round up the kids and get over there on a Saturday and do what you can. If the divorced is a man, he man need help with cooking. Make up several dishes that he can freeze and eat later. Let the divorced know that they are not forgotten.

 

Fifth, one of the best things, especially from the leaders standpoint, is to sit down with the divorced and ask the person what the church can do to help them. Let them know that they have a church family that loves them and are with them. Show them that they are not alone.

 

Maybe if these, and other simple things were done, the tide of people leaving Christ would stop. Maybe they would sense the great bond of fellowship and the love among each other.

 

I don’t think I’ve done well in this area. Often, it’s because a person doesn’t know what to do. So, we don’t do anything. And the conclusion from the broken heart is that no one cares. No one called. No one came by to see me. No one invited me anymore. I can see the faces of those that I let down. Not wanting to get involved in ugly domestic messes, it’s easy to stay at a distance. Their silent cries were ignored. They became lepers. I regret and am ashamed of how I treated some in the past. It will never be that way again for me. NEVER.

 

I am thankful for those who have had such great faith that they endured the stares, the comments and the ugly way the church treated them. They hung in because of the Lord. The Lord never treated them this way. The Lord did not send lepers away. The Lord did not send the Syrophoenician woman away. The Lord doesn’t send away. I want to be more like Jesus. I want people to know that they have a friend in me. I want folks to know that they can count on me. Right or wrong, I want people to know that I love them and will do all I can for them to help them walk with the Lord to Heaven.

 

The walking wounded is often right among us. Do you see them? Can you slow down and help them? Send them away, or help them? Which of these is your approach? Which would you like to be done to you? Which did the Lord do?

 

Roger

 

12

Jump Start # 1642

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1642

Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (KJV)

  It seems very strange but it is becoming a common occurrence in many congregations, and especially larger congregations, which makes this seem most unusual. I’m hearing more and more people say, “I have no friends in church.” Or, they might say, “I feel alone in church.” What makes this really hard to understand is that they say that while sitting around 250 to 400 people every Sunday. One of the common myths and even complaints directed toward large congregations is that “you can’t know everyone.” That’s really not true, but how is it that a person can feel like they know “no one.” These sad words come not just from single people, but from young couples. These words do not come from just new people. I’ve heard it expressed from families that have attended the same congregation for decades. “We just don’t know anyone here.”

 

Making friends is not as easy as it seems. Some have no trouble with this and others don’t know how to begin. Fellowship is limited when we do not feel close to each other in the church. Some of the great benefits of a church family is missing when one feels alone spiritually. Problems are often carried alone because there is no one to talk to. One never feels connected or that they belong when they are on the outside looking in. Some church leaders are oblivious to this growing problem. It seems to be felt especially among younger Christians. If nothing changes, the friendless member will eventually drift away. He will believe that he is not needed, wanted nor liked. He is often not invited to social activities that people have. He is always on the outside. His fears and doubts feed his low self esteem. He will even question whether God likes him.

 

I have had conversations with lonely Christians too many times. Human nature demands that we be social beings. If a Christian cannot find the social interaction that he needs among Christians, then he will find it among those who are not Christians. There begins the pull back to the world. There begins the first steps of departing. It happens and few notice it. They don’t notice it because he is not in the “inner circle” of friends. I have known preachers who have felt this way. I have known Christians who longed to talk to another Christian but didn’t feel close enough to be able to do that. We are not talking about someone who is in a congregation of five people, we are talking about a person who worships with hundreds. The isolated and lonely Christian is an easy target for Satan to pick off.

 

What can be done? What should be done? Here are a few suggestions.

 

First, there is a responsibility upon the person to make friends. Our verse speaks of that. A man must show himself friendly. There are those who are naturally shy. There are those who just leave as quickly as they can when services are over. They come for God and only for God. They miss out by not being part of a church family. So, if I am this way, I must work at trying to make friends at church. How? Don’t come at the last second and leave as soon as you can. That’s a start. Get there and talk to people. Be friendly. People are not judging you as you might believe. Wear a smile. Stick out your hand and greet people. Sit in different places. It’s easy to point fingers and accuse a place of not being friendly when you are doing every possible thing you can to stay in the shadows and not let people know you. If a family invites you out or to their home, accept the offer. This is how you get to know people. “What will we talk about?” Just start with a few questions, such as, “Have you being going here very long?” “Where do you work?” Let things flow. When they ask you a question, it’s not like you are being interrogated by the FBI, so don’t give one word answers. Talk. Take a step, risky as it might be, and allow people to see who you are. You might be amazed that people will like you. When we put up barriers all around you, people cannot know you. You will find people who have similar interests that you have. You will find people who have gone through similar things as you have.  You may find a person that you really like. You must be friendly.

 

Second, there is a responsibility that the church family has. New people can often feel that they are on the outside. It is important that we break down those barriers and include them and accept them. Remember the first time you met the family of the person you were going to marry? When you were just dating, it was awkward. Once you got engaged, things were better. Once you were in the family, it was great. There was that process of knowing you and you knowing them. The same is true at church.

 

  • Make it a point to greet new faces on Sunday. It’s easy to gravitate to just our friends or talk to the people who sit around us. Move around. Sit in different places. Look for new people and greet them. Smile. Stick out your hand. Tell them your name. Invite them out to eat with you. Put down the judgmental attitudes. New people, especially those who are not Christians, might show up in shorts. They may have blue hair. They might have tattoos. There might be a pack of cigarettes showing in their pocket. They may even walk in with coffee in their hand. Don’t blow the war trumpets. Don’t roll your eyes. Don’t whisper as they walk by. Don’t think that God loves you more than “them.” Be glad that they are there. They could be out behind the building shooting heroin. They came to worship. Welcome them.  Don’t start getting on folks about this and that. If you do, you won’t see them again. Be friendly.

 

  • Have an arrangement with several families that when someone becomes a member that immediately they are invited into homes for a meal. Work out a system with those who are willing to do this. Within a short time, that new family may be in six to ten homes. Immediately they begin to feel part of the church family.

 

  • Look for those who seem to be isolated, lonely or don’t talk to many people. Have your radar on. Shepherds need to be watching for this. The one that doesn’t fit in, feel welcome, or has friends, may be one who drops out. Don’t let that happen.

 

  • Avoid the “club” atmosphere by including new people when you have parties and get togethers. It’s easy to just invite the same ole’ gang time after time, but those who are not a part of the “gang” will sense that and feel isolated and not welcome. Include others.

 

  • After a short time, start using new members in services. Allow them to participate publicly. Allow them to teach and do other things. Help them understand the routine and how worship flows, but incorporate them. In some places, the new folks are never included, used and it’s the same ones who do everything. New faces, new ideas can help a place.

 

  • Practice the golden rule. How would you like to be treated if you were the new face on Sunday? The friendliness of a place can do more good than a month of sermons.

 

Now, a true story. There was a lady in her 60’s that showed up one Sunday, years ago at another place where I once preached. A widow sitting in front of her greeted her and asked if she would like to go out to eat. The visitor, not knowing this lady, quickly turned down the invitation. The next week she was back with her husband. In time a study was set up. I baptized them both. I will never forget what she told me right before she was baptized. She politely said, “Roger, it wasn’t your sermons, but it was that invitation from the lady the very first time I came.” She went on to say that she had been going to another kind of church for 25 years and no one had ever asked her to go out to eat. That so impressed her that she wanted to see what was going on. “And, that woman, was just a member,” is something that stayed with her. The couple I baptized and the lady who first gave the invitation to go out to eat have all passed away.  But that memory, that example, that touching story never will.

 

The lesson from the pew can be greater than the lesson from the pulpit.

 

Be friendly.

 

Roger

 

11

Jump Start # 1641

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1641

Matthew 5:1-2 “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them.”

 

It’s Monday morning. Back to work. Back to our routine. The busy weekend is over. Sunday worship is over. A young preacher recently asked a class he was teaching, “What makes a good sermon?” Are the things taught on Sunday remembered and carried over on Monday and the rest of the week? Just what does make a good sermon? Preachers think about this often. When the preacher has preached well, the compliment is often, “You sure hit that one out of the park.” That makes the preacher feel good on the inside, but it also creates great pressure because he knows that he needs to do the same again the next week.

 

What makes a good sermon? Superficially, the answer may be nothing more than how the preacher preached. Some would answer that question based upon “the delivery” and not the content. Was he passionate, energetic, and easy to listen to? Was it short? Often the measure of the sermon is solely based upon the “performance” of the preacher. A good public speaker doesn’t always make a good preacher.

 

What makes a good sermon? Is the answer based upon how easily it is to remember what was said? Were there certain catch phrases that just stuck with me and I will use those phrases myself?

 

What makes a good sermon? How about how Biblical the sermon was? Did it teach God’s word? Was it honest with what the Bible says? Did it explain things that I did not know about the Bible? Did I learn anything?

 

What makes a good sermon? Did it affect me in any way? Did it challenge me and move me to change and be like Christ? Did it open my eyes to what God is expecting of me? Was there application and relevance to the world we live in? Sermons are more than college lectures that give out facts and information. Sermons are the bridges to Christ. They are the means to persuade people to be like Christ.

 

Our verse this morning, is how the sermon on the mount begins. That sermon, preached by Jesus, is commonly considered to be the greatest sermon preached by the greatest preacher of all time. The sermon on the mount covers three chapters in Matthew’s Gospel. It moves quickly. There are many little subjects that are addressed. At the end of the sermon, Matthew tells us that the crowd was amazed because Jesus taught “as one having authority.” This is especially true early in the sermon. Multiple times in Matthew 5, Jesus would preach, “I say to you…” The audience hadn’t heard rabbis teaching that way before. Most rabbis quoted old dead rabbis. Their lessons were generally dry like toast. Jesus’ sermon moved along. It was personal. He didn’t talk about Israel, but instead, “you.” I say to “you.” Over and over it was “you.” Jesus was talking to the audience. He knew where they were. He used comparisons. He told them what not to do but also, what to do. The sermon ends with stories about what they would do with those words. Would they use those words to build their lives upon or would they continue on as they were?

 

What makes a good sermon? People have their favorite sermon for different reasons. It may have been a sermon that opened up things and changed them. It may have just been the right time in life and they were going through some valleys and it touched their hearts.

 

It has been said that there is Five sermons in every sermon. First, there is the sermon that the preacher wants to preach. Second, there is the sermon that the preacher studies to preach. Third, there is the sermon that the preacher actually preached. Fourth, there is the sermon that the audience heard the preacher preach. Fifth, there is the sermon that the audience wished the preacher preached. On a good day, all five are the same.

 

Some of my favorite sermons that I have preached, few people said anything about. Some sermons that I really didn’t like, it seemed the audience loved. Which really gets to the answer to this question, “what makes a good sermon?”

 

The answer is any sermon that is Biblical and helpful in getting me where I need to be with the Lord. There isn’t one single step to making a good sermon. It’s the combination of the preacher, the delivery, the content, the audience, and the situation of the moment. Some will remember what is said at a funeral much longer than what they heard in a Sunday sermon. It was the moment and what was said. What one person thinks is a good sermon, someone else may not like. There may be one person who leaves on Sunday and declares that is one of the best sermons he has ever heard. The next guy that leaves, slept during the sermon. That’s always a mystery to me.

 

Those of us that preach, we work hard in trying to make every sermon great. We do this, not for the accolades or job security, but rather, because we want to help people and we want to do our best for the Lord. There are many, many truly dedicated men preaching. I’m honored to know so many personally. I know that they work very hard to do the best that they can do on Sunday. Monday comes, many of them are drained, tired and wondering if they did anything worthwhile on Sunday. Immediately, the thought comes to their minds, Sunday is coming again, what will I preach on this week?

 

Have you told your preacher that you appreciate the work that he does each week? Preaching a good sermon once in a while is not all that hard. But to do it week after week, often twice every week. That’s hard stuff. Finding the right ideas. Finding the right way to say things. Making things interesting, challenging and Biblical. Digging. Researching. Studying. Then, there are all the other things he must do during the week. It’s not easy. God bless those who are pouring their all into what they are doing. They are making a difference. It is because of their hard work that the word of God is sinking deeper and deeper into our hearts. It is because of their hard work that we are getting stronger in faith.

 

What makes a good sermon? Great question. I believe the best answer is simply, a sermon that did something for me.

 

Catch your breath, preacher, then get back at it. We need another good sermon this week!

 

Roger