Category Archives: Preaching

I Am Grateful

29 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Holidays, Preaching

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As a Christian, for what are you grateful?

I am grateful to the Lord because back in 1983, Alamogordo, New Mexico, I obeyed the Lord Jesus, associating my life with His in faith and water baptism – exactly like the Lord called on me to do. Paul wrote in Romans 6:3-4, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (KJV), and this is exactly what I did.

I am also grateful to the Lord because I learned the church of which I was a member (the Nazarene Church) came into existence well-over eighteen-hundred years after the time of Christ. Eighteen-hundred years too late. I also learned the Lord’s church came into existence merely ten days later than when Jesus ascended to the Father (Acts 2). As great as the Nazarene Church was to me in the early years of my life, the Lord’s church is far more influential because of who Originated it.

I am grateful to the Lord because I serve as a preacher in His kingdom. With this role wherein I serve, I have a heavy responsibility placed on me to do at least two things. First, live the life of Christ as revealed in Scripture. Second, be faithful to teaching that which He said He wants taught. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). I do not have the liberty to go too far, or not far enough. I must stay with the Lord with a “thus saith God” in my preaching and teaching. I could faithfully serve the Lord in any number of roles, but I chose to serve the Lord in this role.

I am grateful to the Lord for His mercy. As I look back over my life as an adult (nearly forty years), I am humbled by “where I was” and “where I am now.” The baggage I brought to the Lord is more than some have experienced, but perhaps not as much as you. Still, I carried a full load. To this day, I have many regrets associated with that baggage, but in the Lord’s mercy, He remembers it no more. Gratitude beyond measure I have to the Lord for that!

I am grateful to the Lord, as I mentioned a moment ago, for the responsibility placed on me. It is my prayer He is pleased with what I am doing. I am grateful He has given me the ability to write, to think quickly and deeply, to challenge error, but to do so with compassion, understanding and without a threatening disposition. I am grateful to the Lord for a thick-skin. Time and again people try to penetrate, but I know my standing in the Lord’s presence. I know my strengths, and I know my weaknesses. I know what is true about me, and I know what is false about those things said concerning me. For me to be offended, as one sister said, one would need to use a two-by-four against me. I refuse to be troubled by that which is not the truth. In fact, it is only truth that I want to penetrate, and especially the Lord’s truth.

For what are you grateful?  RT

Paying the Preacher

24 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in Leadership, Preaching, Teaching

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A difficult topic of discussion for any preacher is that which pertains to his pay, or, as some describe it, his support. It is a difficult topic because it appears unseemly for a preacher to “make the case” to be supported by the local congregation. To add to this difficulty, some Christians thinks that the preacher ought to be paid less than he (the preacher) thinks is warranted for his family.

Though this topic is difficult, Paul addresses the very point in 1 Corinthians 9. It appears that some Christians in Corinth thought Paul and Barnabas ought not to be (or have been) supported; in fact, Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions to elicit from his readers clear answers to the questions asked. If one is honest with self, then the topic could easily have been laid to rest, but therein lays the problem—honesty was lacking, and agenda held sway.

In 1 Corinthians 9:3, Paul was called upon by some in the church to defend himself, as if he was in a court proceeding. “They were calling him to defend himself as one would before magistrates in court” (Reese, p. 299). He understood how tremendously unfortunate it was that he would have to even travel down this road; travel he did, though. He did this in order to help the saints understand the propriety of “paying the preacher” for the work he does (9:3-7). To buttress his point in supporting the preacher Paul made use of Scripture (Deuteronomy 25:4). “In the quoted verse Moses is saying that an ox that is being used in the harvesting of a crop must be allowed to enjoy the benefits of that harvest” (Oster, p. 203).

It is clear, then, that God designed for His preachers to be supported by the brethren in the work they do. (It is important to highlight word work. There are many, unfortunately, who work very little and are paid a king’s ransom.) Paul said it was his prerogative as to whether he received support or not (9:15-18), but that God designed for the saints to “pay the preacher” is beyond dispute. Paul laid to rest the propriety preacher support.

A question that often arises, however, is concerning the amount the local congregation should render in support to the preacher. There is no hard-fast answer to such a question. It is reasonable in considering this question to take into account two primary things: 1) his family size and needs, 2) the ability of the congregation to support. If one or both can’t be addressed, then other options need to be considered. In summary, to “pay the preacher” is proper because God designed for it to be done (9:9-14; cf. Galatians 6:6-7) and because the work that he does is tremendously important. It is that way in the Lord’s eyes, and it should be that way in the eyes of the saints also.

 

Just as they did

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in love, Preaching, Wisdom

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Nicodemus asked, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51) Making judgments in life is something we all do and cannot fail to do. That is just the way life is! The standard we use, however, is of most importance. To a godly person it goes without saying that the standard used needs to be (and is) God’s word coupled with charity. Unfortunately, many who identify themselves as Christians fail to utilize both. The standard is not God’s, but their own, and what charity is used is merely perceived, not real. It was in this failure to apply both that the religious leaders utilized, killing the Lord. When we do what they did, we will “kill” just as they did.

 

The Deprived Ones

25 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by in Leadership, love, Preaching

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When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he wrote concerning two things; first, he wrote to encourage them in the Lord and for them to avoid the divisive spirit that was amongst them already; second, he wrote to answer questions that were troublesome to them. In the course of addressing these two main points Paul also addressed why it was that a divisive spirit existed among them. A divisive spirit exists because people accept the wisdom this world presents as enlightened and reject, as a result, God’s wisdom. The Bible uses terms like “flesh” or a “carnal spirit” to describe such a way of thinking.

When these two approaches meet (man’s wisdom opposed to God’s wisdom), the clash is great and a spirit of division pervades. This divisive spirit drove a wedge between the Christians in Corinth because of personalities; people wanted to be aligned with prominent preachers. Paul addressed this matter when he spoke about his own experiences in relation (or comparison) with those in Corinth (4:1; 2:1-5). Paul was judged by some in Corinth as being inadequate for the occasion he was called upon to engage (preaching the good news of God). He mentioned that as an apostle he was considered foolish, he was deprived of necessary things like food, water, and sufficient clothing, and that he had no real place to call home (4:9-13). Paul, however, was not going to be thrown off his God-ordained task of preaching and teaching; rather, he used his circumstances in order to serve God, the brethren, and even himself (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Let us make an application: Christians can be deprived of many things in this world. This does not mean—and this needs to be said and stressed—this does not mean that God is not blessing the “deprived ones,” when, in fact, He is and has already done so. The problems many face in this life are associated with believing that possessions are the outgrowth of God’s blessings. There is no necessary connection, none! Blessings from God are spiritual (Ephesians 1:3). Whatever physical blessings we are fortunate to possess and enjoy can be (and should be) used to glorify the Lord. Let us not think, however, that because we don’t have something that the Lord is not on our side. To think this way is discouragingly wrong!

 

The Lord’s Desire

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Amos, Leadership, Preaching

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                The Lord’s prophet, Amos, was a man chosen for a task that was very much a burden to the people. It was to Amos that He spoke the words to Israel (the northern kingdom with its capital in Samaria), “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” (4:12). Though the Lord addressed His words to Israel in particular, it is worth notice that the Lord’s pending judgment was toward those outside of covenant relationship.

                The Lord identified seven nations that had judgment against them; not only did He identify these nations, but He also described the problem. Syria was merciless with its army of destruction, the Philistines were the same, Tyre failed to honor its treaty with others, Edom was plagued because of jealous rage, Ammon killed innocent children (a form of abortion), Moab exhibited desecrating destruction, Judah because of their failure to hear and obey the Lord, and to Israel because of slavery, greed, and perversion. The importance of noticing this is because the Lord responded to evil wherever it may have exhibited itself, not simply to those within covenant relationship.

Our country is not in covenant relationship with the Lord; when people speak about this country being a “Christian nation,” what is in view, historically, is the moral foundation put in place that was to guide us. It is clear that the moral foundation put in place has disintegrated. How can we change the direction that our community is traveling? A hard thing to do to be sure, but there are some things that can be done. First, be devoted to the Lord and His way of righteousness. Second, be sure to be a positive influence on those who do not know the Lord’s way. Third, never let your personal politics trump the Lord’s way of righteousness. Fourth, continue to pray for our leaders and our country. These are things that can be done, but in all things the Lord’s desire will be done!

Intensely Prepared

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in history, Preaching

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The Lord told His disciples that as He was opposed, they would be also (John 16:1-4). In the 21st century in which we live, in the United States our appreciation for that sentiment is hardly experienced. Those who were faithful to the Lord in the first century, and the following centuries, experienced it often. For instance, even going back to the time of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20), the Lord’s prophet was put in stocks (similar to hand and leg cusps) that was designed to torture its victims. One man said it was designed to distort one’s posture, making it crooked. If you can’t appreciate that, be sure to thank the Lord for it. Again, in the first century, at the time in which Nero was emperor (A.D. 54-69), Christians were persecuted in Rome, even used as human torches to be a “lamp” in Nero’s garden. “The Roman people who hated Christians were free to come into the garden, and Nero drove around in his chariot wickedly enjoying the horrible scene” (The Church in History, p. 8).

Persecution, the Lord told us, is something that each Christian should be prepared to experience (2 Timothy 3:12). Because of such preparation is made, because there is clarity of vision with regard to why it occurs, and because there is hope associated in the knowledge of eternal things, does not mean the one who must be willing to endure will necessarily have the intensity of his experience lessened. Let us not forget, however, that when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he said, “…it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, NKJV).

There is no real way to speak in a positive way of persecution, but it is much easier to speak well of those who are prepared to endure it for the cause of Christ. Jesus willingly went to the cross of His death; it wasn’t because He looked forward to the pain and agony, but because He understood the purpose of it all. This is in contrast to one who has placed his or her hope in self-preservation, or that hope one finds in worldly things.

A SALVATION SHOW

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in Man-Made Churches, Preaching, Presumptuous, Teaching

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A good number of years ago Neil Diamond wrote and sang a song that still resonates with me today. That song: “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”  I suppose a number of people can interpret it any number of ways, but I interpret it as both humorous and as a slight against preachers who have more interest in promoting themselves with their “healing” services than they have in promoting the gospel of Christ. The Scriptures are rather plain-spoken about such people – and they need to be called out (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 John 4:1).

“It has been said that God has performed many miracles through Chiles,” we are told. During the days of the prophet Isaiah, God’s prophet was preaching to and against the charlatans of his day. The standard by which any and all preachers were to be judged was the written word of God (Isaiah 8:20). The subjective feelings of a person were only accorded respect when that person lived by the Lord’s expressed word. For the individual or individuals eternity hung in the balance!

It may seem harsh to some to call out preachers who promote things contrary to the Lord’s written words, but it is necessary (Jude 3). It may be that these self-promoting preachers are doing many good things in the community and, if so, there will be nothing negative coming from me in that regard. On the other hand, whatever good may be done or may have been done does not allow a compromise of the Lord’s written Word. In fact, the good deeds that is (or are) done by any and all will not be that which judges us on Judgment Day; it will be the words spoken by the Lord Himself 9(John 12:48).

The challenge, therefore, to all religious folk is to measure everything by the Lord’s word (Romans 15:18; 1 Peter 4:11). RT

Your Name is Moses

20 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by in Leadership, Preaching

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Your name is Moses, and you have been given a task by the Lord to do something monumental – something never having been accomplished before and not ever again will it be accomplished. Yet, as you look at yourself you feel that you are entirely inadequate for the task. You offer reasons to be excused from this task, but the Lord hears none of those reasons as being justifiable to relieve you of the responsibility given you. In a sense, you acquiesce. You do so because the Lord is the Lord and when he speaks, though there may be some doubt about self or the ability to tend to the event, the Lord is still the Lord. You then descend from the mountain.

You and your older brother go to Egypt. You are fortunate to get an audience before the Pharaoh. You and Aaron go in and declare the Lord’s will (Exodus 5:2), but the king of Egypt looks at you as if you are morons (using today’s expression). The king asks, “Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?” He no more gets the question out than he declares that he does not know (recognize) the Lord and he will not let Israel go, embarrassing both of you.

Sometime after this visit with the king you learn of the heavier burden placed on the people the Lord asked you to lead out of Egypt. They have been burdened with more work that is almost beyond measure in the intensity of despair that it brings; this concerns you greatly. Now, the people have to wander through Egypt and find what was previously provided. The load being so great, a number of the leaders go to the king to present their case to Pharaoh about the unreasonable burden they have been placed under. On this occasion, you stay behind (presumably) and wait for the return of those who went in to meet with the king. However, once again, Pharaoh looks upon all and dismisses the legitimacy of any complaints. In fact, he ridicules you and the Lord you desire to serve (Exodus 5:17). Then the Scripture says,

They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 5:20-21, ESV).

Your name is Moses. Up to this point, it might have been all that you could do to take in hand the “Lord’s rod” and go to Pharaoh, and now you hear this! You are doing the Lord’s work and they place the blame on you and your brother for simply doing what the Lord said was to be done. This is not something that simply rolls off the backs of either one of you; it strikes you so hard that it rattles you. You wonder to yourself, “How in the world will the Lord get us out of this?” you ask. This is not a question that is easily or lightly asked, but it is a question that is asked when it feels like the world is caving in!

Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all” (Exodus 5:22-23, ESV).

This reminds one of the time when Peter was asked by the Lord about whether he and the others might turn away after many found his words troublesome, Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68). This answer of Peter to the Lord is Moses’ answer in a dreadful circumstance, though Moses may not have been too sure of himself at this point. Moses does not reply as Peter did; his reply was more along the lines of “Why have you not done what you said you would?” Moses only understood in part the Lord’s answer. In fact, Moses’ question was answered by the Lord in the very next verse of the next chapter (Exodus 6:1).

Application

Try to imagine you are Moses and this monumental task is placed before you. How would you fare? Moses did not believe in himself to be able to accomplish what the Lord desired, but the Lord taught Moses that it was not in him that led, but in him who called Moses to the task. Even when we believe not in our ability to do the Lord’s will, when the Lord chooses to use man, in that man the Lord believes. The Lord knows that whatever it is that needs to be done, it can and will be done. The Lord also understands, very well, that there is nothing in any of us to accomplish the divine will. Whatever we have, it is not adequate to the task. When the Lord Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done” he taught us a very important lesson.

When the Lord chooses to use man as a servant, what man can overcome? Not only will man be made adequate to the situation, but he will be quite successful – all because it was the Lord’s doing and not man’s. Jesus spoke to his disciples encouraging words when he said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV).  A moment’s reflection allows us to recognize that when the Lord’s will is done, the Lord’s chosen servant will get it done. Not because of the ability of the chosen one, but because of the One who chose. (This article was submitted and accepted by David Pharr, editor of Carolina Messenger.)

KNOW or THINK

16 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in Leadership, Man-Made Churches, Preaching

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Every now and again there will be a remark made about those who are “progressive amongst us.” Who are the progressives, and exactly what is it that makes one progressive? The Scriptures teach, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 7-11, NKJV).

In the context of which John speaks, a progressive is one who does not feel constrained by that which the Lord said. In other words, a progressive is one who thinks what the Lord said does not prohibit in all cases. For instance, the New Testament expressly declares that saints under the authority of  the new covenant will sing with the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16); there is no express prohibition to the use of the mechanical instrument of music. Progressives will assert this does not, therefore, prohibit its use in the congregational setting.

Look at what John said again; to “transgress” or “go beyond” means that one does not stay within the constraints of the New Testament. The NET reads this way, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God” (2 John 9).

Those who are progressive in religious matters can be just as sweet, courteous, genuine and have all the appearance of godliness as any, but in this mistaken approach of theirs they have put themselves in a precarious position with the Lord. What shall we do then? Let us stay within the constraints of the Lord, and encourage (insist) others do the same. Doing so, with the right heart, means we can KNOW we are right. Those who refuse (or don’t) can’t know anything; they can only THINK they are right. There is a difference. RT