22

Jump Start # 2600

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2600

2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

NOTICE: Monday is a holiday so there will be no Jump Start.

This Jump Start reaches yet another milestone, number 2600. Who would have thought. Another milestone also reached is our readership. It is at an all time high. Both of these are amazing to me personally and I am glad through this medium we can connect, touch, encourage and help one another. Thank you for all the kind words you have sent. Several have said, “we have never met, but I feel like I know you through your writings.” That’s special and I do hope we can meet on this side as well as on the other side.

Our verse today identifies legacy, passing the baton. Paul taught Timothy. Timothy was to teach others. The others were to teach even more. And, this has been the model that still works from the first century. I was taught. I have taught others. There are others I taught who are out teaching more. In turn, those will teach others. We teach the doctrine of the Bible. We teach the principles. We teach the applications. We teach what passages mean. We bring Jesus alive in the hearts of others. We change the hearts of others. This, in turn, changes their eternal destination. This impacts their family.

Now, as in any area of life, a person needs to learn. It’s one thing to teach what the Bible says. But then that person needs to learn how to teach others. Training people to teach is a valuable visionary aspect of each congregation. Training men how to give lessons, preach and help others is something that is never a waste of time. As Paul wrote these words to Timothy, he knew his time was about up. Two chapters later he would reveal that the time of his departure had come. He was about to be executed. He wouldn’t be around. Timothy had been taught. Now, Timothy was teaching others. In time, Timothy would have to leave and it would be those others who would carry on. It has always been this way. The kingdom is much larger than any one of us. It will survive without us. But, it is up to us to pass that baton on.

Here are a few ways this can be done:

First, do some team teaching. Someone who is in the position of a Timothy, finds someone who has desire, ability and talent. Together they teach a class. The Timothy teaches most of the lessons and the other watches and learns from Timothy. Between classes, some follow up and tips and helps are given by Timothy. The next session of classes, Timothy teaches less and the other teaches more. Confidence, experience and ability begin taking shape. Now, the one Timothy trained is ready to take on classes all by himself. As he does this, Timothy looks for someone else to train.

Second, preachers can spend some time with men helping them prepare lessons for invitations and sermons. This doesn’t have to be a formal preacher training program, but sharing tips, advice and help. Show how to look at a passage. Explain the value of a few good books that explore words or the background settings to passages. Show them how to make an outline. Helping them, helps the church. Paul taught Timothy. Timothy taught others.

Often you see what happens when this isn’t done. A preacher leaves or dies. Suddenly nearly everything comes to a halt. No one knows how to teach a class very well. Preachers from other congregations are called to fill in because no one there knows how to give a decent sermon. That congregation relied upon the preacher but they never developed or trained others. Vision was lacking. There was no legacy plan established.

Third, nearly all of us who are active in teaching and preaching can look back to someone who took the time, was patient with us, and guided us and helped us. We stand upon the shoulders of those before us. We would not be here today had it not been for others who taught us and helped us. Those people in our lives are dear to us. They are our heroes. Now, it’s our turn to do the same for others. Passing that baton is important.

Now, this leads to the introduction of our latest book, “The Friday Five.” For the past couple of years we have posted on our website five simple statements, an outline you might say. They come out every Friday. They still do. Friday Fives is what we call them. These are not layered with passages, nor filled with thoughts. These are the bones, the skeleton upon which one can build lessons. These came from my sermons, articles, classes and things I have picked up here and there. This is a great beginning place for someone needing ideas to build an invitation or a sermon. It’s like a sermon seedling book. Here’s the ideas, now you must plant it and develop it. There are 126 short outlines or “Friday Fives” in this booklet. We offer this for free. It’s just one way this Timothy can help others.

If you would like a free copy of “Friday Five” email me (Rogshouse@aol.com) and please include your mailing address. “The Friday Five” is our 26th book that we have produced.

Roger

21

Jump Start # 2599

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2599

Psalms 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sometimes a person just has to love the plain, bold and even, ‘in your face’ language that we find in Scriptures. It’s like a “Stop Sign” in life. Our verse today is an example of this.

“Cease striving” is also translated, “Be still.” You can hear a school teacher trying to quiet down her classroom so she can teach. You can hear a mom trying to get the kids quiet so she can talk on the phone. And here, God is trying to get us to simply be still. The New American Standard footnotes this “Cease striving,” with, “let go, relax.” Let go.

First, we need to let go of trying to run the universe. We can’t do it. It’s overwhelming to us and that’s God’s job. So, “let go.” With this comes trying to figure out why everything happened. We are always looking backwards rather than forward. Why did I get cancer? Why did I not see that coming? Why this and why that? Somehow if we knew the “whys” to everything, that would bring comfort to us. It wouldn’t. It just stacks on more grief, more guilt and more stress. Let God run things. Pray. Trust. Believe.

Second, let go of worry. This is a natural consequence of the first point. Trying to figure things out leads to worry. And, worry never accomplishes anything. It always takes. It steals a good nights sleep. It steals our faith. It steals our joy. It steals our peace of mind. We worry and worry and worry about so many things. Peter said, “casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” Casting. Throwing off. Or, in the context of this article, “letting go.” We’ll show God what bothers us, but we want to hold on to it. We will talk to God about what troubles us. But we have a hard time giving those things to God. We want to hold on to them. We want to keep them. Let go, is what our passage teaches.

Third, let go of trying to fix every problem in every person. That’s hard for many of us. It’s hard for me. I have so many that pour their hearts out to me and I feel like they need something from me. So, I try to fix things. And, guess what happens when you can’t? You worry. And, here we go again. Some problems we cannot fix. Some problems only God can fix. Some problems are up to the people involved to fix. We can listen. We can give advice. But like the passage says, we must “let go.” We can teach others. We can influence others. We can show others. But we cannot change another person. They must do that on their own. And, you will learn that some people would rather talk about the mess than do something about it. Not everyone comes to their senses and leaves the pigs as the prodigal did. Some will talk about the smell of pigs. Some will talk about how dirty pigs are. We hear these things and think, “then get out of the pig pen.” But, they don’t. They stay there. It’s beyond all reason and sense. It can drive us crazy. But as long as they stay there, there is not much you can do. Some stay so they have something to complain about. If they can’t complain, then they can’t talk. You can’t fix every problem. Let it go.

And, let me add to this, we can’t fix all the church problems in the brotherhood. I’m not sure if that is even our responsibility. This social distancing and staying home has led to many folks becoming very bossy and judgmental toward others on social media. My focus needs to be with the congregation I am a part of. I may give advice to another place if I am asked, but it’s up to them to do what they do. They may do things differently than the way we do things. That will be up to them and God. We can get too caught up in what others are doing, not knowing all the factors, history or issues at hand, and make judgments that do more harm than good. The Bible teaches us to “love the brotherhood” not fix it. Problems are a lot like cars traveling towards each other at night. The other guy’s headlights seem brighter than yours. We see everyone’s problems but our own. Let go.

Fourth, we need to let go of pride, selfishness and the things that keeps us from being like Jesus. We can’t change others, but we can certainly change ourselves. It’s a lot harder to work on yourself than others. But this is where our focus and attention needs to be. How is your attitude? How is your outlook? Are you growing inpatient with others? Are you more testy and irritable? Are you standing next to the Lord where He wants you to be? Don’t blame the current storm. Don’t blame social distancing. Don’t blame the gloom and doom of the nightly news. If it were not those things, it’d likely be something else. Let go of what doesn’t belong in you.

There is more to just letting go. Our verse reminds us to know that He is God. He is powerful. He is everywhere. He is good. There is nothing you know that He doesn’t already know. There are things He sees that you cannot. There are things He is doing that you do not understand. Cease striving and know. Let go and trust. It will be ok because He is God.

Running through my mind as I write this is that Disney song from Frozen, “Let it go.” Let go of past hurts, bad feelings, and ways others let you down. Don’t keep track of those things. Don’t keep a score card. God’s definition of love in 1 Cor 13 says that love does not take into account a wrong suffered. One translator put it this way, “Love doesn’t keep score.” Do you know the language of score keeping? “You never…” Never. They have kept track. They have kept the score. Or, “You always…” Always. That’s score keeping. Love doesn’t keep the score. Love lets go.

Let go…pry your fingers off. Don’t look back. Don’t hold your hands out to try to take it back. Let it go and let God have things.

Roger

20

Jump Start # 2598

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2598

Luke 12:4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more they can do.”

“Aren’t you afraid,” that was asked of me recently. The country is starting to open up. People are returning to stores, restaurants and houses of worship. Some are going boldly. Some are skeptical. Some are tired of staying home, and some are afraid to leave their home. Mixed emotions. Mixed feelings. Mixed messages found on Facebook and even from the experts.

Years ago, in religious debates about baptism, the question was raised, “What if someone was on the way to the creek to get baptized and a tree branch fell and killed him. Would he be saved?” And around and around the debaters would go on that topic. Later, the same argument shifted to the church building. What would happen if a ceiling tile fell and killed a guy on the way to being baptized on a Sunday morning? But you know what was missing in those arguments? Any proof. In all the church history, restoration documents, old periodicals and old books that I have read for decades, I have NEVER, NEVER read of someone being killed who was trying to obey God. I’ve even seen in India, when I was there, people being baptized in rivers. There would be a man upstream and a man downstream, hitting the river water with boards. They did this to keep the alligators away. Never heard of a man getting eaten by a croc while trying to be baptized. There were reports of people being killed in the same river doing laundry or bathing. But not being baptized.

What was missing from these debates was a trust and faith in God. The God-factor was left out. It seems to me if God is running the universe, like we say He is, then God will protect a man who is trying to obey Him in faith.

Now, in our verse, Jesus tells us four principles.

First, He calls us “friends.” That word means relationship. That word involves feelings, love and comfort. Not everyone is our friend. We have business contacts. We have people we know. And, then there are our friends. We have a hymn that begins, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Friends do things for each other. Friends help each other. We are more than followers of Jesus. We are more than disciples of Jesus. We are the friends of Jesus. This puts us in the same place as Abraham, God’s friend. Putting this in our world today, if the Lord had a cell phone, your picture and number would be listed. If He was on Facebook, you would be one of His friends. The Lord likes you.

Second, do not be afraid. Fear not, that expression is found more than 300 times in the Bible. Fear and trust do not dwell together well. The more we fear, the less we trust. The more we trust, the less we fear. There are many things that can scare us, including this coronavirus. In the context, Jesus reveals the ultimate scare. Do not fear those who kill the body. That seems easy to say. That’s about the worst thing that could happen. He’s not talking about an accident or, a medical procedure that didn’t work. He’s talking about murder. In religious settings it’s called persecution. Those that would kill have eyes full of hatred and anger. They did when they killed Jesus. They did when they killed Stephen.

How scary to be surrounded by a group that is shouting angrily at you. Threats, insults, accusations, hatred, prejudice, foul language fills the air. Their faces show that they mean business. They don’t want to talk, discuss nor debate. They want you dead. They are beyond reason. They are not thinking about the consequences, getting caught or the trouble that may follow. It’s all about the moment. They want you dead because you are one of “them.” You are a follower of Jesus. They hold sharp rocks in their hands. Their eyes are set on you. And, here, our Lord says, “Do not be afraid.” In the second and third centuries, this story would be played out in the Roman Coliseum. There, professional soldiers would kill innocent, unarmed Christians. There is one story about a young Christian woman who was brought to be executed. The Roman soldier was nervous about killing a woman. She guided his hand with the sword to her throat. She feared not.

Third, Jesus says that they will kill the body. They will be successful in their hatred and violence. God is not sending ten thousand angels to rescue you. You may die. God is not promising to put a shelter over you. How great that would make us feel if the Lord said, “do not fear, they cannot hurt you.” No, death is real. Death is final. Death can happen. And, here is where faith comes in. For the believer, death is only a passage way, a door. It’s not the end. It’s not the worst thing that can happen. It frees us from this world and this body to be with the Lord. Believers know that. Believers don’t fear death. This is hard for us. Jesus is telling us do not be afraid. Yet, we give ourselves a pass on this command. We think it’s ok to be afraid, because someone is trying to kill us. Jesus says, “Don’t.” Don’t be afraid, even if you die.

Fourth, after death, they, the killers, can do no more. They have freed you from the physical bonds of this life. You will be safe in the arms of Jesus. The following verse tells us who to fear. It is the One who can send the soul to hell. That’s God. God can do things beyond death. I think sometimes we are just too earth bound. That citizenship in Heaven thing is more of an idea than a reality. We don’t fit in here. We long to be with God.

So, when someone asks, “Aren’t you afraid?” My answer is “No.” I believe God will help those who are trying to obey Him. And, if for some reason we die, isn’t that where we want to be anyway? Now, we can be careful and make adjustments, but fear shouldn’t enter into this. We walk by faith.

Don’t be afraid. Trust God. He is good.

Roger

19

Jump Start # 2597

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2597

Mark 10:22 “But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”

Our verse today is the conclusion of the Lord’s conversation with the rich, young ruler. He had a one-on-one talk with the Lord. What an amazing experience that would have been. Can you imagine just you and Jesus? This young man had many great things going for him. He was wealthy. That beats most young people. Many today have student loans and are just starting their careers, they are not making much. Our verse says he owned much property. That is remarkable. He was also a ruler. A ruler at a young age. It sounds as if he inherited this, but we do not know.

He came to Jesus. He didn’t just come, he ran. He bowed before Jesus, even though he was a ruler. He didn’t see himself as superior to Jesus or even an equal. Equals stand and talks face to face. He had a question for Jesus. It was the greatest question he could have asked. It was about eternal life. He understood that he had to do something to obtain eternal life. He understood that there is an eternal life. He wanted to know just what he had to do.

This young man had a problem and he didn’t realize it. He had a idol in his heart. There was someone greater than Jesus in his life. It was his wealth. His possessions had become his god. He wanted Jesus, but not more than his possessions. He’d follow Jesus, but with certain terms and restrictions. Jesus was honest with him. Jesus told him the truth. Jesus wanted him to follow. Sell all. Give it to the poor. Follow Me.

With those words, the excitement dropped. His expression changed. One translation states that his face fell. He became gloomy. He was saddened. He had run to Jesus with great anticipation and hope. Now, he walked away, likely slowly, disappointed and saddened.

Here was a person who was disappointed with Jesus. Jesus didn’t do what he expected, nor wanted. He came running, now he left with his face down. It’s just not what he thought it would be.

Divine disappointments—that’s a topic to look into. Many have divine disappointments. Let’s give this some thought:

  • It happens when prayers are not answered the way I wanted them to be. I pray and either nothing, or the opposite happens. I pray and things do not turn out like I wanted. Divine Disappointment. It causes one to wonder, why even pray if it doesn’t do any good. Prayers answered “no,” are answered. They are not answered the way you may like, but “no,” is an answer.

There are some things to consider here. First, it’s always God’s will, not my will be done. God is running the universe, not us. We see things from our little spot and think we know all there is to know. We can’t see into tomorrow. God is already there. God sees things we will never see. Second, it is possible that I have prayed for things that I shouldn’t. God will not violate His eternal will just for you. Asking for a miracle, when God no longer does miracles is not according to His will. Wanting God to save someone who has a closed and indifferent heart is not according to His will. Third, it may be that my expectations are out of line. God is not a magical genie that answers my every call. He doesn’t owe me three wishes. We are to serve God, not the other way around.

  • It happens when I expect the church to do things that it cannot not or will not. The church must follow the pattern of God in the Scriptures. I want the church to put on a carnival for my kids. It won’t do that. I want the church to buy me a new car. It won’t do that. I want the church to come and clean my house. It won’t do that. I want the church to babysit my little ones. The church won’t do that. Now, some modern churches are all about those things. They’ll educate your kids, walk your dog and wash your car. They’ll make you laugh, dry your tears and analyze why you are the way you are. Congregations that are serious about following the N.T. and being the Lord’s church are serious about sticking with what you read in the N.T. These places will teach God’s word. They will guide you and encourage you. Their mission is to honor God and get folks ready for Heaven. They’ll teach. They’ll preach. They’ll worship. That’s the purpose. That’s what they are designed to do. And, when someone is looking for the buffet table, they will be disappointed. When some are looking for game night, they will be disappointed. What about ballgames? Movie nights? Free popcorn? Nope. The home can do that. The community can do that. The church has another purpose.

You don’t take your car to the post office for an oil change. They won’t do that. You don’t take your dog there to be groomed. They won’t do that. The post office has a specific function. It’ll sell you stamps and mail your packages. That’s the function. Does one get angry, disappointed and disgusted that he can’t get his oil changed and dog groomed at the post office? If he does, he simply doesn’t understand. It’s the same for the N.T. church. People expect the church to be a school, a gym, a place to eat, a place for entertainment, a place to find a date, a place to do your nails and just about everything and anything except prepare you spiritually for Heaven. That is the function and the purpose.

  • God can be disappointed in us when we do not do as we ought to. There is really no excuse. It’s not that we don’t know. It’s in the Bible. God left examples for us to follow. I expect Jesus was disappointed with the young ruler because he walked away from Jesus. I wonder how many times the Lord may be disappointed in us when we choose forbidden fruit, and listen to other voices, and follow other paths than what He has shown us.

The rich, young ruler walked away from Jesus sad. His face fell. He had run to Jesus in excitement. But now, he was disappointed. Many are still walking away from Jesus sad. They want to do whatever they want. They want to marry anyone and everyone. They want little commitment. They want to live like a sinner and die like a saint. And, it simply doesn’t work that way.

Disappointed. I wonder what this young ruler told folks when he got back home. Did he trash talk Jesus? Did he blame Jesus? Did he make it all Jesus’ fault? The Lord would give him eternal life, but it had to be the way the Lord said. The problem wasn’t with Jesus, it was with the heart of the young ruler.

And, in the same way, our divine disappointments are not really with the Lord or His church, but with us. Unwilling to change, we will be disappointed. Holding on to vain and worldly expectations, we will be disappointed. Not wanting to follow the Bible, we will be disappointed. Wanting Jesus on our terms, we will be disappointed.

Sure makes a person think, doesn’t it…

Roger

18

Jump Start # 2596

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2596

Revelation 4:3 “And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.”

The official word is “spectroscopy.” That is the study of rainbows. There are twelve different kinds of rainbows that are recognized and labeled by the scientific community. I got to thinking about rainbows the other day. I was out driving and there was a light rain coming down and the sun was coming out. The perfect combination for finding a rainbow. I never get tired of seeing rainbows. On rare occasions a person might catch a double rainbow. That’s really special. The homosexual community has kidnapped the rainbow as a symbol of their freedom and rights. But long, long before that, the rainbow belonged to God. It still does. The rainbow was a promise first given to Noah and his family. A promise that God has kept all these centuries later. God always keeps His promises.

In our verse today, the rainbow is found in Heaven. It is around the throne. The color has changed. Rather than the primary colors of red and yellow, Heaven’s rainbow is green, the color of emeralds. And, unlike our rainbows, that require rain and sunlight, and they do not last very long, Heaven’s rainbow is much different. There is no sun in Heaven. I doubt that there is any rainy days in Heaven. And, this rainbow isn’t visible for just a few short moments. It seems to be a permanent fixture above the throne of God. It is a constant reminder that God has promises and He will keep them.

Let’s consider a few of the promises of God:

  • We have a divine appointment with death (Heb 9:27). Death comes and then the judgment. We’ve seen this promise fulfilled in every generation. Knowing that God keeps His promises, we ought to prepare ourselves for what we know is going to happen. We can spend so much time focused on this life that we forget that there is a life that lasts much longer on the other side of the door of death. The secular world can’t come to terms with this. Everything possible is done to try to keep a person alive. Sitting in a wheel chair, nearly lifeless and unable to communicate or hardly functioning is viewed as better than dying. Yet, for the child of God, we know there are other Heavenly promises connected to the appointment with death. We will live on and on. If we are walking with the Lord, things are only going to get better once we pass through that door of death. An unbelieving generation sees death as the end of the journey. We know better. We have the promises of God that attest to this.
  • God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (1 Cor 10:13). When a person says, “I just couldn’t help it,” that’s not the right answer. Yes, they could. They may be weak. They may not have tried very hard. But God doesn’t put us in impossible situations. This same passage also promises that with temptation God provides a way out. There is an escape hatch. You don’t have to sin. The temptation is not greater than you. Now, there are certainly things we can do that will help us be stronger or they will make us weaker. Strengthening your faith will help you resist temptation. Having your mind set on things above will help you look for the door of escape that God provides. Sin is a choice. It’s a bad choice. But it’s a choice that we make.
  • God promises to never desert you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5). God is with you, always. When you journey alone through those dark valleys, God is with you. When you stand alone before the trials of life, God is with you. The only time God is not with you is when you turn your back to Him and walk away. The prodigal found himself to be all alone with the pigs. His father still loved him and wanted the best for him. However, his father was not in the pig pen with him. When you are alone, you are not, if you are walking with the Lord. He is with you. He promises never to leave you. And in this time of social distancing, stuck at home, you are not alone. God is with you. This is why worshipping at home is essential until we can be together. God is there. God is with you. He deserves your best.
  • God promises to forgive those who walk with Him (1 Jn 1:7). Our salvation is not wrapped around perfect church attendance, or a full knowledge of God’s word. Our hope is in the love and grace of God. Our faith and His grace is what will save us. This is a pivotal point for so many of us to see. A person looks at his life and realizes that he just hasn’t done enough. I had a discussion with someone about this recently. In tears, this person confessed, “I just haven’t done enough for the Lord.” Who has? And, just what is “enough?” We haven’t built arks. We have spent a night with lions. We’ve not sailed the seas to preach in far away places. We’ve not had people throw rocks at us because of what we believe. How is Heaven possible when we study the lives of Daniel, Joseph or Paul?

First, we must stop thinking that we have to do what they did. We must stop comparing ourselves to others. Two talent doesn’t feel bad because he didn’t do what five talent did. He did what he could do. Second, we must move past this idea of if I do “enough” God will open the doors to Heaven for me. That is salvation by works. And, in that system, you can never do enough. Our hope is in God. Saved by grace through faith is what Ephesians were told. Do you believe? Are you truly trying? Are you making adjustments for the better as you journey through life? Stop beating yourself up and see Heaven’s rainbow. God will forgive you if you keep up with Him. Don’t stop until He stops you. Don’t give up. Don’t give in.

  • God promises to send Jesus (2 Pet 3:9-11). The day of the Lord will come. God promised. Things will change when He comes. The kingdom will be delivered to God. The dead, all the dead, will be raised. The judgment will take place. The earth will be destroyed. And, eternity in Heaven or Hell will be realized. That means, for the faithful, things are only bound to get better. For the unbelieving, things are destined to only get worse, much worse than they ever expected. God promised.

Rainbows—more than pretty sights in the sky. Reminders of a faithful God who keeps His promises.

Roger