Jump Start # 2834

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

The other day I heard of a young preacher who decided that he no longer wanted to preach. There seems to be a growing number of young preachers who are quitting. That ought to cause us to give some thought to what is taking place. There may be some who feel that this is a good move. Just let the various men in the congregation take turns at preaching is a noble idea. That puts more men back into God’s book studying and it develops good communication skills. But there is also a down side to this. The novelty quickly wears off. Then it becomes a real burden finding someone who will fill the pulpit. What’s worse, is when someone doesn’t want to preach but feels that he has to, few will benefit from that. There is a level of depth that most times will not be reached by having different men speak each week. Depth takes time, study, tools, experience. Most just can’t devote that level of commitment. So, simple, first principles lessons and Bible classes are taught over and over.

A growing church comes from a growing pulpit. Here are a few of my thoughts about young preachers quitting.

First, expectations may not have been realistic. A lot of the work of preaching is alone time with books, thoughts and paper and pen. Study is just that, study. The praise at the door on Sunday after a sermon is not what preaching is about. Presenting the word of God is about changing lives and building hope. It’s getting people to see the will of God. It’s moving people out of their comfort zone. It’s developing and maturing faith. It’s encouragement, teaching, and strengthening hearts. It’s dealing with tough issues and controversial topics in a fair and Biblical manner.

Second, our passage reminds us of several things that come with preaching. Hardships must be endured. There is a work that must be done. And, it may be those hardships that some do not like. It may be that some cannot endure them, or, as is often the case, the preacher’s wife cannot endure seeing her husband having to face hardships. Everyone can be a critic. People will let you know if they think you are not dressed right, your hair is not right, if you misspelled a word in the bulletin, if you misused a word, if you misquoted a passage, if you got your facts mixed up. For a young man, that can be too much. He can get the feeling that he can’t do anything right. And brethren who have heard decades of preaching will try to tell the young preacher where he’s missing it. Rather than being helpful, some can be cruel and unkind. Rather than sitting down and helping, some give a parting shot as they walk out the door and that parting shot is rude, uncalled for and mean spirited. Just because a guy gives one Wednesday evening invitation a year, he feels that he is qualified to tell the young preacher all about preaching.

There are hardships. They must be endured. The thinner the skin and the more sensitive the spirit, the less likely one has the patience to put up with hardships.

Third, preaching is work. That’s what the passage says. Don’t listen to those silly comments about only working one day a week. You’ll work nearly every day. Long hours. Lots of things to do. Even on days off and on vacations, the mind is running. Sunday always comes and there is always a class to be taught, a sermon to write, someone to encourage, some question to answer. Always. I’ve been doing this for more than forty years and it never slows down nor does it stop. Preachers quickly realize that this is not a job that I can leave at the church building and come home. Preaching becomes a way of life. It follows you everywhere. Now, those that are absorbed into this, will do well. Those that love helping others will excel. Those that want to see the Lord’s kingdom explode in size, will find more and more ways to push themselves. But for others, just getting a sermon on Sunday will be the extent of what they do.

Like in other fields of work, those that push themselves, go beyond what is expected, will thrive. The athlete that continues to practice after the official practice is over, only betters himself. The professor who continues to research and do studies, not because he has to, but because he wants to, will do well. And, so it is for the preacher. Those that are continually looking at how to better communicate, how to better themselves by deeper studies, better ways to connect with people, will do well.

It concerns me that many young men are not interested in preaching. There may be many, many reasons. But it might help if we created an atmosphere which was inviting to young men. Young men see how the current preacher is treated, talked about and endures. That may be a start. It just may be that the reason young men are stepping away from preaching is not on them, but on us. That sure is something to think about.

As our culture is quickly turning secular and godless, we need more and more voices crying in the wilderness the message of the Lord. Be an encourager! Be a supporter! Be a backbone to your congregation!

Roger

Jump Start # 2659

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

It happened exactly forty years ago today. It was a Sunday morning. A young twenty-three year old stood behind a pulpit before a crowd of sixty-three people and preached “Compliment but Crucify.” And, in this small southern Illinois community, began a journey of preaching that continues today. That young guy was me. I had been preaching just about every Sunday for two years. It was different places each week. Now I was beginning the journey of being a full-time preacher. Just five years past being baptized I was now embarking on preaching full-time. It was a new career and a journey that I did not know where it would take me. Forty years ago. Forty years ago TODAY.

Since that time, I’ve gotten married, preached in the Indianapolis area for fifteen years. Then I moved to Kansas City for ten years. I’ve been back in southern Indiana, very near some of the places where I once first started preaching, for more than a dozen years.

When I first started, my office was a small, small room where folks changed clothes before they were baptized. I got some cinder blocks and boards to be my bookshelves. Forty years later, my office takes up two rooms, eight file cabinets, and hundreds of notebooks and file folders.

Forty years of preaching and here are some thoughts:

First, preaching remains work. It still takes time to write articles, develop a sermon and present things the way that I want. I don’t believe in short cuts. I don’t believe in just doing things to get by. Every article, every class, every sermon, and now, every podcast, every video—must be the best I can do. Hit a homerun every time, is my thinking. Sometimes one doesn’t. Some times you hit foul balls, grounders and you might even strike out. But you try. You try your best. It’s easy these days to be a lazy preacher. Get on the internet, borrow someone else’s sermon and spend the week goofing off. Not me. I’m not wired that way. God gave His best and I have to do my best. Always. And, when I can’t then it will be time to stop.

Second, people are a fascinating study. There have been so many faces that have crossed paths in forty years. Some were just a flash across the sky, like a comet. Gone as soon as they came. But others have touched my life for the better and I hope that I have made a difference for them. I know just about exactly how many sermons I’ve preached in those forty years. There has been so many funerals and weddings that I conducted. I can’t remember how many times I’ve sat with families in surgery waiting rooms. I visited prisons and even preached overseas for a few weeks. I’ve been in lectureships, Gospel Meetings, special VBS for young people, marriage seminars, on radio and on TV. And, through all of that are people. There have been people who have disappointed me. I’ve prayed and prayed for some and they just didn’t want the Lord. I never counted how many I baptized, but there’s been a bunch. Some in swimming pools at camp and some late at night at the church building. I’ve seen young men catch on fire for the Lord and some are preaching God’s word today. I’ve seen men appointed as shepherds of God’s people. So many names. So many people. And, I feel that I have benefited the most. I have been encouraged, supported, defended and called “friend” by so many. What a blessing to be surrounded by God’s people. They are indeed the greatest people on earth.

Third, preaching has put me in the circle with some of the finest preachers in the world today. I am amazed at my fellow preachers, both young and old. I love to be around them because we share something in common. Our journeys, though each unique, have many similarities. I gain so much from being around these high quality people. I love their families and I love the work that they are doing. There was an old country song that said, “All of my friends have been cowboys.” For me, my friends have been preachers.

Fourth, the Lord has been so good to me on this journey. Doors have opened. Opportunities to teach have happened. The Lord has blessed me, cared for me, and helped me. This has never been a journey of my own. The Lord has been involved all along. Days when I was so discouraged that I wanted to quit, the Lord touched my heart through the friends in my life. When I had to make some tough decisions about moving, the Lord opened doors and helped me.

In the past few weeks, three or four preachers have asked me about the number of young preachers who are quitting. The turnover seems to be high. Higher now than in times past. It could be that they had unrealistic expectations. It could be that they just could not endure as our passage states. It could be that their family wanted them around more. There is a cost to preaching. There is a sacrifice even to the family. I’m not sure why so many young preachers are quitting. This is concerning. Possibly we need to shepherd these young men more closely.

Finally, I know that the end is getting much closer than I may want to admit. There comes a time for everyone to step aside because of age and effectiveness. I won’t have another forty years of preaching in me. That’s just the way it is. I also know, from my vast study of Restoration History, that the church will carry on when my labor here is done. It is my prayer that I have helped some on the way. I hope that I have lifted weary hearts. I hope that I have taught and explained things and made the Lord come alive to some. I hope that I have made congregations stronger and better. But it’s before the Lord that I must lay my work, knowing that He has seen how hard I’ve tried and how true I have wanted to stay with him.

It all started forty years ago today! Thank you for letting me share this and walk down those wonderful lanes of memory.

Roger

Jump Start # 2637

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

My good friend Ken Weliever, and fellow blog writer, had a great article last week about “What do preachers do when they are not preaching?” That’s a question many wonder about. Ken’s article is not only a must read but it is also one to be used in training programs and even in Bible classes.

Our verse today, Paul’s words to a younger preacher has a series of four action statements.

• Be sober
• Endure hardship
• Do the work
• Fulfill your ministry

This is stated in contrast to the congregation. Paul warns Timothy that the congregation will not endure sound doctrine and will turn to myths. But you, as our verse begins, are to be different. You, are to stay the course. You must do the work.

So, what does a preacher do when he is not in the pulpit? For most, they only see the preacher on Sunday morning standing behind the pulpit. What’s he doing the rest of the week?

First, he is doing the work. Those old and stale comments, “You only work one day a week,” not only are insulting, disrespectful, but they are hurtful. Ask your dentist if he is a quack while he is drilling your teeth. That won’t be a good experience. “You only work one day a week” shows the ignorance of the person who speaks it. Go to any restaurant, other than fast food. When you order your food it takes time to prepare. The server doesn’t just pull it out of his pocket. If he did, you wouldn’t eat it. So, stop with the “you only work one day a week.” It’s not funny! It illustrates your ignorance of God’s word and how out of touch you are with the congregation. Maybe if you were involved more you would know what is going on!

What’s the preacher doing? He’s reading. He’s studying. He’s shaping sermons. He’s preparing classes to teach. He’s writing. He’s answering a bunch of questions. He is encouraging. He is teaching in private studies. It takes time to do all of those things. The preachers I know would love to put in a forty hour week. It never happens. Most of us are working seven days a week. When we get home, the work comes with us. There are always things to do.

Second, what is the preacher doing? He is thinking. Always thinking. That mind rarely shuts off. Even on vacation, another article to write. Another sermon to preach. Another class. And, most of the preachers I know are creative. I think that is in the DNA to be a preacher. It’s like a song writer. I’ve heard the stories of writers jotting a few words on the back of an old envelop and going to the studio and cranking out a number one hit. Their minds are creative. They just think that way. Preachers are similar. They are thinking about how to make things better. How to create a more inviting atmosphere. How to better connect with people. How to better reach the community. How to help the teens. Over and over and over, the preacher is always thinking. He’s thinking about YOU. He’s thinking about how to motivate you. How to get you to see the big picture. How to get you more committed, more involved and more useful to the kingdom. While we are thinking about fun, food and family, the preacher sits on his vacation with you running through his mind. Why is it that you will not teach a class? Why won’t you serve as a shepherd? Why are you always stuck in neutral?

Third, the preacher is growing spiritually. We all must do that. The preacher realizes that to be a leader one must be ahead of everyone else. So, he is busy learning, growing and becoming himself. He uses his experience to encourage younger preachers. He is always trying to find better ways to communicate and spread the word of God. He understands the value of being fresh, relevant, and practical. He has to know what is going on in the world and what’s running through the minds and hearts of the brethren. He must be on top of things and a step ahead.

Fourth, the preacher is doing so many things behind the scenes that others will never know about. He is with a family that is having issues with a teen. He’s talking to a man whose marriage isn’t hitting on all cylinders. He is with a family that just buried a loved one. He’s talking to a young couple who want to get married. He’s visiting homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and even jails. He’s in the coffee shop meeting with someone who has questions. His phone is always ringing with some need. His email is full every day. There are dozens of texts he must deal with. Often much of this is with folks outside the immediate church family. His influence and connections have drawn him to people all over the country or even the world. He does what he can to connect people to the Lord.

And, on top of these things the preacher has a family. He has a house to take care of. He has a yard to mow and cars that need maintenance. His day doesn’t end at five. He’s working every weekend. He doesn’t get holidays off. He pours his life into his work. Most have very little retirement. Most know that the tide can shift at any time and he could be asked to leave, which would mean that he would have to sell his house and move to another city. When age becomes a factor, he knows that he will be replaced, whether he is ready or not. And, when it is time for the old preacher to step down, there won’t be a gold watch given but a few slaps on the back and a wise crack, “Well, you only worked one day a week anyway.”

Why does the preacher do this? Long hours. Few benefits. Little security. We do it because we love to preach. We do it because we love to see the kingdom grow. We do it because the Lord allows us. We do it because it’s the right thing to do.

What’s a preacher doing when he is not preaching? He’s working. He’s working hard.

Roger

Jump Start # 2513

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

Our passage today is written from Paul to Timothy. It’s written from an apostle to a follower. But, what I like, it’s written from an older preacher to a younger preacher. I once was considered one of those young preachers. Not any more. I can’t fool anyone. I’ve been preaching too long to believe that I am a young preacher.

When I was that young preacher, technology was so different. I didn’t have many older preachers in my life. That was my mistake. Blogs, Facebook, email, texting, cell phones, none of that existed. We poor young preachers didn’t make very many long distance phone calls. It cost too much. The means of communicating was letter writing. Slow. Very slow. So, there’s a bunch of us around my age who just learned by trial and error. It’s different today. I’m in contact with so many young preachers. They reach out all the time and I’m honored that they feel that I can contribute some advice and help.

Our verse tells the preacher that he is to endure hardships. What a contrast, because just before this Timothy was told that the congregation will be unable to endure sound doctrine. They can’t tolerate that. They won’t stand for that. So, they will find preachers who make them feel good. Ear ticklers, is how the apostle described those preachers. They weren’t standing in the truth. They were making sure that the congregation liked them and they liked the congregation. They couldn’t endure, but Timothy, you must endure.

Hebrews tells us that Jesus endured the cross. There’s that word again, “endure.” Put up with. Patient towards. Longsuffering. Hanging in there. All of those concepts fit with endure. How did Jesus endure? Peter tells us that Jesus left us an example to follow in His suffering. He didn’t complain. He didn’t whine. He wasn’t a crybaby. He didn’t pout. He didn’t threaten. He endured.

The endurance race is a long one. It’s not a sprint. It’s not measured in feet, but rather, in miles. It takes a lot of preparation and about all that is in you to finish an endurance race. When you see those crossing the finish line, a common expression is, “I think I’m going to die.” It’s hard.

Now, take those thoughts and put them back into our verse today. The preacher is to endure hardship. There are hardships that come with preaching. That’s the nature of the work. Those that can’t handle it, need to find something else to do. A doc who doesn’t like being around sick people needs to find something else to do. An accountant that doesn’t like numbers, is in the work business. There are hardships that come with preaching.

• Sometimes they come from brethren, especially those who do not understand what a preacher’s work is. Some think it’s the preacher’s job to do everything. He’s the custodian, the yard man, the office secretary, errand boy and the go to person when you need someone because “everyone else is working.”

Some of Paul’s harshest criticism came from brethren who didn’t have the heart of Jesus. Preach the wrong thing and you’re likely to get an earful at the door. Don’t preach something and you’re likely to get an earful at the door. Every mistake, typo, misspelled word is loudly drawn to your attention. At the end of services, bulletins and class material are left in songbook racks, dropped on the floor and discarded like junk mail. Every sermon is supposed to be better than the last one. Some will criticize the way you dress, where you sit, how you walk to the pulpit, where you stand after services, the type of car you drive, where you park that car, and how your family behaves. All eyes can be upon you. The preacher is about the only person who has salary posted where everyone and anyone can see it. Endure.

• Some hardships come from trying to persuade people who do not want to be persuaded. They are content, stuck and not changing. Endure.

• Some hardships are internal, within the preacher. He’s working every weekend. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, he’s working. He doesn’t get company cars, stock options, and a world of other benefits that others do. Jealousy and envy are two enemies that the preacher must keep at bay. In the days that Paul wrote those words, most of this would not have been the situation. But here we are. Endure.

• There are hardships from travel. Endure.

• In Paul’s days, there were hardships in the way the preacher was supported financially. Endure.

• Some hardships are external, especially from the world. Look at what Paul went through. I tend to think this is where he was going with the “enduring hardships.” Persecution. Put in prison. Beaten. Those were common elements in Paul’s life. The scars that he wore would make most of us turn away. Endure.

But no matter the hardship or where they come from, God expects the preacher to endure them. The preacher must know that this comes with being a preacher. Quitting because you don’t like it, or you’re not treated the way you feel like you ought to be, or someone gets on you about something, doesn’t say much for endurance.

Tough it out preacher. Don’t lose your cool. Don’t look for greener pastures. You are doing the Lord’s work. You stand in a long line of preachers going back to Noah. The words of Christ that you preach saves souls. Those precious words change lives and impacts eternity. Don’t look for the easy way. Don’t look for the comfortable way. Get in there and do the Lord’s work. Do the work. Endure hardships. Be tough. Use your faith.

Every preacher that has preached for a decade or more has stories. Good ones. Sad ones. Thrilling ones. Heartbreaking ones. Good times and tough times. And, any preacher that has been doing this for more than a decade understands the value of enduring.

There is just something about that…

Roger

Jump Start # 1576

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

  Onward we journey in our series about preaching and preachers. Today, we look at the expression, “do the work of an evangelist.” Preaching is a work. It needs to be seen as that. Anyone who thinks it’s a easy way to make a buck, please do us all a favor and do something else. A man’s heart must be in preaching to be the kind of person that God expects and wants. The reality of preaching is that there is little time off. The preacher works during the week and he works every weekend. With people working in the days, the preacher will have studies and visits in the evening. His day is filled. If he is honest he will bust it for the Lord. Many write their own class material. Many are going out of their way to do things that they wouldn’t have to do but they do, because they want to make things better. That’s the drive and the heart of preaching.

There has been some who have not understood this. Without a time clock, without folks down at the church building, the preacher could play around all week and throw together some simple thoughts on a Saturday evening, or worse yet, just borrow a sermon from the internet, without developing it himself, preach it on Sunday,  and no one knows, but the preacher and the Lord. The laziness will catch up with such a person. The congregation will suffer. The preacher, since he is so visible each week, has a huge part in setting the atmosphere of the place. Is it friendly, warm, and inviting—the preacher has something to do in it becoming like that. Is it cold, distant and stiff, again, the preacher has something to do with that. He alone, isn’t responsible for all of that, but he sure plays a big role.

Do the work of an evangelist. What is that work? It is preaching and teaching God’s word. It is doing that publicly and it is doing that privately. It is using every tool, media and resource that he can to get the word of God out.

His job is not to save souls. God does that. He is to teach and preach. So don’t measure his success by the number baptized. Remember Noah—he only saved his family. If Noah was preaching today, many would fire him for being a failure. We must be careful with such thoughts.

His job is not to solve all the problems in the church. Some can’t be solved because the people involved do not what them to be solved. He is to preach and teach.

His job is not to be the administrator, office manager, or CEO of the complex. I’ve known churches that wanted the preacher to cut the yard, fix the copier machine and change the furnace filters. That’s not his job. If he wants to do that because he’s nice, that’s fine. But don’t fuss because he doesn’t. Why don’t you do that? His job is to preach and teach.

His job is not to take the contribution to the bank every Monday. He is to preach and teach.

His job is not to run people to the airport because everyone else is working. What do you think the preacher is doing? Obviously, not working.

His job is not to run errands for others, take people to the doctor, or watch pets while people are on vacation. He is to do the work of an evangelist.

Good churches will understand that. Good churches will recognize the work that he is doing. If the preacher is doing his work, folks won’t be asking, “what is he doing all the time?” If he is really doing his work well, the people might say, “You ought to slow down some preacher.” But he can’t and he won’t.

There seems to be a need to put more thought into the process of hiring a preacher. The typical doctrinal questions are often asked and if he passes the test and the church can afford him, it’s pretty much a done deal if they like his “try out” sermon. Maybe what they ought to be asking about is his work habits. What’s a typical week like for you, Mr. Preacher? How often are you golfing, Mr. Preacher? Ask others about his work. Is he on the phone all day talking and gossiping with other preachers? Is he self driven? Does he have goals? What’s his plans in five years? Personally? For the church? What books is he reading these days? Is he moody? Does he get depressed easily? Is he sickly? Does he need a lot of time off? Does he whine about things? Can he recognize what a church needs and provide that? Is he answering questions that no one is asking anymore? Are his sermons, ideas and thoughts dated? Is he stuck in the 1970’s? Does he take suggestions from elders? Can he work with elders? Is he a team player?

I think many places could avoid problems if they asked these kinds of questions. I remember talking to one group of elders years ago. The very first question they asked was, “How much money did I need?” I felt that ought to have been one of the last questions. It seems that all these other things didn’t matter. Sadly, some churches will allow any male who has breath in his body to stand up in the pulpit. Some do not belong in the pulpit. Some have a record of messes everywhere they have been. In our Bibles, only certain people could be an apostle. Only certain people can be an elder. But it seems that just about anyone can preach, and they usually do! There have been way too many church problems that were caused or surrounded the preacher. Shame on us for that. Preach and teach. Remember that old saying, “Hide yourself behind the cross?” Some of us, have stuck our heads out around that cross. We’ve drawn too much attention to ourselves. We have become bossy and demanding. We want this and that and threaten to leave if we do not get our way. Do the work of an evangelist. Preach and teach, preacher. That’s what we are to do.

Strong churches come from strong members who have been fed a steady diet of God’s word. Preach and teach. That’s our work, preacher. Do it face to face. Do it from the pulpit. Do it in small classes during the week. Do it in homes. Do it on Facebook and blogs. Do it in emails and phone calls. Don’t limit your work to just the neighborhood surrounding the church building. Teach those who may never attend where you are. Teach those across the country. Teach those across the seas. But in doing that, don’t forget those who live across the street.

Hard working preachers are my heroes. I love them. They are impressive. They are doing what they love. They are doing what they ought to be doing.

Some of the finger pointing that folks do to preachers comes from a misunderstanding of what the preacher is to do. We expect the preacher to do things that is not his work. We expect more out of him than we do ourselves. We want him at the hospital visiting, while we stay home and watch TV. We want him to have the Bible class lesson all done, while we haven’t even looked at our lesson. We want him to invite the lost, when we never do that ourselves. And when the church looks like it is not growing, the cry comes to change preachers. We never think, “It’s time to get rid of some members.” The preacher works with the congregation. He is not to do your work. He is not to raise your kids. You are. He is not to solve all your worries. You are, through faith. Stop blaming the preacher for things he is not supposed to do. And when the budget isn’t being met, the cry goes forth, “cut his pay.” Would you sit quietly through that at work?

The hard working preacher needs to be praised, supported and helped. The lazy preacher needs to be shown the door.

Do the work. That’s it.

Roger