16

Jump Start # 3112

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3112

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The core component of Christianity is teaching. God sent out His servants not to build homes, dig irrigation ditches or feed the homeless. They were preachers of God’s word. Our faith is wrapped around a message that is taught and we believe that message. Teaching God’s word, from young ages all the way up through adults until God calls us home. Teaching takes place in the home. Teaching takes place one on one. Teaching takes place in our public Bible classes.

Two things are very common in so many congregations today when it comes to teaching. First, many are reluctant to step up and teach. Second, and this may be the reason for the first, is that many have never been shown how to teach. Handed a class book and pointed towards a classroom, the one teaching feels overwhelmed, scared and unsure. It’s even worse when it comes to teaching an adult class. Very few like teaching an auditorium class full of adults. The challenges can be great. Once the quarter of classes ends, many a teacher says to himself, “never again.” And, never again is what takes place.

We need to help people feel comfortable, confident and useful as a teacher of God’s word. Here are a few thoughts:

First, teaching children is not the same as teaching adults. Teaching little kids is not the same as teaching middle school or high school aged children. Some are good at one and not so good at others. Because one can teach one age group does not mean that he can teach all the age groups. Children talk. Adults stare. Children will shout out answers, even obvious ones. Adults stare in silence.

Second, the atmosphere on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening is totally different. For children, on Sunday mornings, many are sleepy and not very alert. On Wednesdays they are charged up and ready to go. For the adults, it’s just the opposite. After a long day of work on Wednesday, many adults are tired and lifeless. On Sunday mornings, they are more alert and engaged.

Third, there are always challenges to teaching. For the young children’s classes, it’s keeping them in their seats and focused. One class clown can take the class over and it quickly becomes a headache for the teacher. It’s best for the teacher to have a helper in the smaller classes. One can quickly see which children are respectful and have had lessons at home and those who have not.

For the adults, there is the one in class who wants to dominate. He does all the talking. He answers all the questions. Everyone sits in silence, because they know this one person will do all the talking for them. The teacher cannot let one dominate nor take over the class. Some what to teach from their seat without being the official teacher. Others want to challenge the teacher and think it’s cute to put the teacher on the spot or in the hot chair. Their goal is to be controversial and stump the teacher. And, rather than lowering the nets into God’s word and deepening our faith, the class turns into a debate session and people feel frustrated.

The teacher must teach. The teacher must control the class and the flow of the class. Rather than allowing the same person to do all the talking, pick someone else to read a passage or to answer a question. Keep the flow moving. Don’t get bogged down chasing rabbits that have nothing to do with the topic being studied. The bottom line is that you are teaching God’s word and that must be done.

Fourth, some teachers fear running out of things to talk about. The solution to this is to have much more material than you will use. It is better to have too much than not enough. So, the teacher must be busy during the week doing his homework and getting his notes prepared so he can teach.

Finally, it would be helpful to spend some time helping teachers learn how to teach. Lecturing adults is not the same as with children. Asking questions that are so obvious usually gets no response. Team teaching with someone more experienced and can share some tips is helpful. Watching how others teach is very useful.

Our verse today shows the emphasis Jesus placed upon teaching. New disciples were to be taught. That continues on today. In many ways, more good can come from classes than from sermons. Classes need to be practical, Biblical, useful and informative.

God bless all the men and women in the kingdom who teach. You are making a difference.

Roger

15

Jump Start # 3111

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3111

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

I’ve been preaching for a long time, more than four decades. I have no idea how many sermons I have written, thousands I suppose. A while back someone said to me that with all those years behind me I ought to be able to write a sermon in ten minutes. I guess he was indicating that I could spend the rest of my time doing something else. Write a sermon in ten minutes? I probably could and it probably would seem like I wrote it in ten minutes. The longer I have done this, the writing of sermons hasn’t gotten any easier nor faster. I guess I’m too picky and I want every sermon to be the best that I can do.

All of this leads us to our verse today. You see, on a Sunday morning, there is more than one sermon that is preached. Oh, we recognize the sermon from the pulpit, with the powerpoint and fill in the note blanks that go along with that. But there are other sermons taking place all throughout that auditorium. Most times we don’t recognize them and many of us would not even call them sermons, but they are. Our verse today reminds us that we are all teachers as we sing hymns together. We are reminding, praising, thanking and warning one another through those powerful, powerful songs. When we put faces and names behind the words we sing, there is more passion in our proclamation.

Here are a few other sermons that are preached throughout a worship period:

  • You preach a message of cheer when you say, “Good morning” to those you meet. Often people drag in worn out and beat up from the world. Some come carrying troubles and trials in their hearts. Some gather with sorrow on their faces and tears in their eyes. Some are scared. Some are worried. Some need a friend. And the cheerfulness of a greeting can remind someone that this is the place to be. The Gospel is Good News and we need to be reminded of this. The world is full of bad news. Things are not right in this country. Some are new and not sure if they have a friend among us. Some are feeling the burden of guilt and are not sure that they ought to be there. But your smile, the warmth of your joy will send the message that we are glad you are here, and you made the right choice. You preach that every time you smile and welcome someone.
  • You preach a sermon of reverence every time you bow your head during a prayer. You are showing to God and to those around you, that God is greater than you are. We don’t stand toe to toe and eye to eye with the Lord. Our heads our bowed, our hearts are humbled before our amazing God. Little ones watch you. I’ve had children tattle “My dad didn’t have his eyes closed during the prayer.” I asked them how they knew that. But they notice. Others hear you say, “Amen,” as the prayer ends. Solemn. Sacred. Special. Our worship points upward to the Lord.
  • You preach a message of hope when you open your Bible and follow along with the reading of God’s word. It doesn’t matter whether your Bible is on your phone, tablet or in print version, you are showing that you are interested and want to see for yourself what God says. We only remember so much of what we hear. We remember more when we hear and see. We remember even more when we hear, see and write. Taking notes is a great way to learn more about God’s will. Brining a Bible and using it during worship is a sermon that you preach.
  • You preach a message of hope when you leave worship rejoicing. The world is dark. God is not. The world is lost. God is not. The world doesn’t know. God does. We leave with our heads held high. We leave with the reminder that our God is on the throne. Gloom and despair belong to the world, not the people of God. What wonderful expression of faith and hope we see when people in conversations, talking, sharing, hugging and thankful for one another.
  • You preach a message of salvation when you encourage others to come back to services. You are saying, “We’ve found something that is good and I want you to be a part of it.” You see the wonderful benefits of fellowship. You realize that no where else will you find the comforting hope, the assurance of faith, the joy of promises, and the trust that is only in Jesus. You will declare, “It is good for us to be here.” And, that optimism and joy spreads to others.

You probably won’t put the hours into writing a sermon like the preacher does, but in many ways your sermons can be more effective and more powerful than what comes from the pulpit. So many sermons on a given Sunday. We only hope that someone is listening.

Roger

14

Jump Start # 3110

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3110

Ephesians 4:16 “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every join supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

My wife put me on a mission the other day. She wanted me to find a specific brand of peanut butter. She had bought two new jars but they were recalled. She returned them, but the store didn’t have anymore of that brand. Go find peanut butter, that was my task before I headed home for the day. During the outbreak of the pandemic, toilet paper was in short supply. Now, baby formula is hard to get. Building supplies, car parts, even appliances are hard to get. The supply chain has been disrupted and it has impacted many. And, now in the Shouse house, we are looking for peanut butter.

All of this takes us to our passage today. Ephesians 4:14-16 is one long sentence in our English Bibles. It is a sentence containing 95 words. On top of that, this one sentence has twelve commas. I certainly can’t do that. I like short sentences. But, beyond the structure of this sentence, we find what makes a church work. Different parts, like gears, all rotating and connecting and each serving a function. Together the church grows. Together the church matures. Together the church stays together.

Here are how a couple other translations word this:

  • NIV: joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
  • ESV: joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself in love

We members are the working parts or the joints. When we do what we are supposed to do, the body functions strongly and well. Just like a car engine, when everything is running smoothly you can travel far and safe. But when a part isn’t working, your engine makes funny noises. Sometimes it stops because one part stopped working. Every part is essential. Every part is necessary.

From this, we learn some valuable lessons:

First, our role, or part may be different from others, but it is still necessary. Not everyone can stand behind the pulpit on Sunday. It’d get a bit crowded and there would be no one to hear the lesson. Some parts are bigger than others. Some parts are more visible than others. But every part is necessary.

When describing the spiritual gifts and how they work in the church, Paul told the Corinthians about functioning body parts. He used our senses, touch, sight, smell, hearing. Without any of those, we are limited. So, we must not be jealous of each other. We ought to be thankful that there are those who can add what I cannot. Together, we work. Together, things get done.

Second, every part is designed to work. Every joint supplies, is how our passage puts it. And, right there is a real problem. Because some don’t supply. They take. Like the hitchhiker of days gone by, he’ll hold out his thumb hoping you’ll stop and give him a ride. He won’t pay for the gas. He won’t help with the driving. And, when you have gone as far as he wants, he’ll get out. I wonder if some are doing the same with the church these days? They are along for the ride and will not help out in any way and when the church has taken them as far as they want to go, they’ll get out.

We all need to be adding and supplying to the whole. Encouragement and prayers are the easiest ways we can help. But, it’s more than that. It’s serving as shepherds and deacons. It’s teaching classes. It’s giving up a Saturday for someone who needs some help. It’s staying late after services to talk with someone who is discouraged. Supplying. Adding. Doing our part. Working. That’s the idea.

Third, when some parts don’t work, it affects the parts that are working. The work load becomes heavier because fewer are doing what they could. Folks get tired because no one wants to do what they can. Discouragement takes over. In time, other parts stop working. Before long, the ole’ engine is sputtering, smoking and barely moving. It’s a real mess now. It gets that way because we wait for others to step up. We’ll jump in when the other guy does. Well, the other guy is waiting on you. So, both sit on the sideline of life, waiting, not supplying and not doing what God created them to do. Rather than waiting for the other person, take the lead and be a leader. Do what you can. Even if no one else does, you know what to do.

Supplying…working…functioning…that’s what we all need to do.

Roger

13

Jump Start # 3109

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3109

1 Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord! He has given rest to His people Israel according to all He has said. Not one of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses has failed.”

Our verse today follows Solomon’s long prayer at the dedication of the new temple that he constructed. Throughout his prayer he reminded himself and the people that God  has kept what He had promised. God said, and it came about. God promised and not only did God remember, but He kept His promises. This ancient reminder is good for us today in these troublesome times.

First, God is faithful. We get disappointed and hurt by the broken promises and empty words that so many say today. Vows are broken, commitments not kept and people get let down. We wonder who we can trust. Just who can we believe? The answer of course is the Lord. The time table from Moses to Solomon is measured in centuries. God kept all His promises He made through Moses. Time meant nothing to the Lord.

Second, because we don’t always keep our word, does not mean that God is that way. Rightly or not, people will make an evaluation and a judgment about God from what they see in us. Some may declare that there are hypocrites in the church. Probably true. But God is not that way. The church is not perfect. I would agree with that. But the Lord that we follow is. Although we may disappoint and let others down, God hasn’t and God won’t.

Third, in the days of darkness and valleys that never seem to end, God’s word is something that we know is sure and true. Often no one else understands what we go through. Some will make grand statements revealing that they don’t have a clue as to what they are talking about. However, God knows. And, even in the dark periods of our lives, God’s word shines true. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, is what John wrote. That promise from God ought to be meaningful to us.

Fourth, the truths that we have believed and held for years we know remain true. God doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t take back promises. The hope of Heaven, the blessing of forgiveness, the assurance that He will never leave us and the promise that we will see His face are all things that ring true. They were true during World Wars. They were true when governments were toppled. They were true when disease and death plagued villages. They were true when corruption filled state houses. They were true when evil raised it’s head. They remain true when the darkness of mass shootings, the fear of rising trouble fills our hearts. For the soldier in the foxhole, the patient in a hospital bed, for the parent who buries a child, for those who do not know how they will feed their family, the promises of God ring true. God keeps His word.

This is a message that we must share with others. Our hope comes from Heaven, not the White House, Court house or even our own houses. Darkness creates worry, fear and an uneasiness. And, as Solomon was joyously celebrating the opening of the Temple, his words from ancient Israel would have brought images of Egyptian armies pursuing, hungry days in the wilderness and wondering if they ought to turn back. God took care of them. God promised. God kept His promises.

Knowing that someone greater than we are, not only sees what is going on, but He has made promises that are not changed by the times. His promises are not touched by what is going on around us. God promised Abraham a land. Solomon refers to that in his dedication prayer. Years, Egyptians, Seas, wilderness, fortified cities, none of those things changed what God promised.

And, for you and I, politics, wars, hard times, isolation—none of those things will change what God has promised. Greater is He who is in us. He is greater than any evil. He is greater than Satan. He is greater than any trouble. He is greater than an army. He is greater than any politician. No laws, no wars, no governments can thwart the promises of God.

Not one of the promises failed. Not one. 100% success rate. 100% fulfilled. God said it, and it will be.

These are the things that we need to wrap our hearts around.

Roger

10

Jump Start # 3108

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3108

Acts 16:2 “And he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium.”

There is a crisis taking place. A major shortage. It’s nationwide. It’s not baby formula that I have in mind. It’s not supplies that may be sitting on a ship on the West coast. But something is missing and it’s just getting harder and harder any more. What am I talking about? Preachers. Yep, there seems to be a short supply of preachers these days. Some may rejoice. Many won’t notice. But it ought to be something that catches our attention and we ought to be concerned. There are a few reasons for this.

First, the generation before me is basically done. There are not many of that generation that are still actively preaching. My generation is experiencing many who are retiring.

Second, since Covid, many have quit. One reason or another, many found it easier working secular jobs than staying with preaching.

Third, there many congregations that now have two preachers and that drains the small pool of preachers even more.

Fourth, fewer younger men are becoming preachers.

And, because of this, so many congregations are looking for a preacher. I don’t remember another time when I have heard of so many churches that were looking for a preacher. Now, in some ways this provides the opportunity for men in the congregation  who are not preachers to step up and do what they can. This is good, but it’s only a bandaid. After awhile, this gets old, fewer will want to volunteer and the depth of lessons often is missing.

We may be heading into a season where preachers may have to work with more than one congregation.

Our passage is a powerful reminder of the value of mentoring and leading our young men into serving the Lord. Our verse is about young Timothy. Paul chose Timothy because of what he saw in that young man. He was well spoken of by brethren in two different cities. Timothy had been busy. He was working with churches in such a way that he had established himself as being faithful, dependable and something that Paul noticed.

What can we learn from this:

First, in our homes, has serving in the kingdom lost it’s appeal? Where are the men who are stepping up to serve as shepherds? Where are the young men who are being allowed to give lessons and being encouraged to preach? Has income tainted our eyes about things? Do we hold our sons with such strong grips that we do not want them to live far from us? Timothy was leaving. His mother didn’t know if she would see him again. Things were dangerous wherever Paul traveled. Yet, she let him go. Seek first the kingdom means just that. The kingdom takes on more than just a priority, it becomes the priority. It’s first on my mind. It’s first in my heart. It’s before what I want. It’s before my happiness. It’s before all things. Paul wanted Timothy. In our times today, a Timothy’s mom would pitch a fit. He’s going to the local university. He’s staying around here. He’s going to marry a nice girl and the grandkids will be with me. He has so much talent that he’s going to business school. He can always preach later, if he wants to. But that wasn’t the thinking of Timothy’s real mom. Paul needed him and she let him go.

Second, have we lost the honor of preaching within our congregations? Anybody can preach, and most often they do. Try anything and everything first, then if all else fails, you can preach. I am honored to have near and dear to me some of the greatest preachers our times have known. They do more than just give a lesson on Sunday and teach a class. They are going out of their way and doing the extras that no one requires, expects or thinks of. Special classes. Unique podcasts. Powerful blogs. Traveling near and far to teach the good news of a risen Savior. These men have poured their lives, their hearts and their energy to being the best that they can. All of them could throw a sermon together in a matter of a few minutes, but not one of them would do that. They hold with the highest integrity what they are doing. They are examples of the dignity and honor of preaching God’s word. They deserve every nickel they are being paid and more.

But within the congregation, have we lowered our estimation of preaching? Have we cheapened what God has established? It is through preaching that God chose to deliver His message. Noah, Moses, the prophets, the apostles, John the baptist, and even our Lord were all preachers. Maybe some preachers are the cause of this indifference to them. Maybe some have not worked hard. Maybe some have not lead an example that ought to be followed. That’s a few bad examples. That’s not declaring God’s way and God’s system is broken.

Third, we need to develop a way to get young men to see the value of preaching. We can do this by allowing young men to give lessons. We can do this by having preachers help young men. We can do this by creating a culture in which we take care of our preachers and we train men to understand that preaching is more than what happens on Sunday morning.

Preachers are not our solution, salvation or hope. Jesus is. But through the avenue of preaching, God’s word can be deeply and clearly taught. Lives can be changed. Grace can be understood. Hope can spring forth. Will we survive with fewer preachers? Yes. Will there be a shift someday and more step up to preach? We hope.

Congregations that have a preacher that is doing a great job need to take care of him. That involves much, much more than a monthly paycheck. Do you support him emotionally? Have you told him that? Aside from a paycheck, what are you doing for him? Have you asked, “Why would someone want to stay among us and preach?” Does he receive more complaints that compliments? Do you supply him with the tools so he can do his job effectively? What about burnout? Have you noticed any signs? Are you willing to do anything about it? Does he have to use a vacation to take off a holiday? So many things to think about. Everyone wants a Thoroughbred, but if we treat him like a mule, he’ll look for greener pastures.

Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. Timothy’s mom didn’t stand in the way…

Roger