"My Preacher"

This week I have been enjoying the FHU lectures. Personally it is the most encouraging week of my year. My life changed by coming to Freed-Hardeman. My mentors and Bible teachers are mostly still here.

The lectures this year were dedicated to brother Clarence DeLoach. Brother DeLoach now attends with the church where he retired from local work (Willow Ave. in Cookeville, TN), where I currently preach. I can say without hesitation that brother DeLoach has been my biggest supporter since I followed him there. He is a great man. He is a princely man. He is a Christian, a gentleman, and one of the greatest preachers of our time.

On an occasion or two, since coming to Cookeville, brother DeLoach has introduced me to people in town by saying, "This is my preacher." The first time he said that, my mind went back in time to the FHU lectureships from years ago. I was attending a lecture by brother William Woodson. As I walked into the auditorium brother Woodson saw me and smiled and said, "There's my preacher." William Woodson was one of our members when I preached at Pulaski St. in Lawrenceburg, TN. I feel about brother Woodson as I do about brother DeLoach. Two of the greatest preachers, and men, that I have ever known.

It is extremely hard for me to write this article. But it has been on my mind and heart and I want to express these feelings. I do not want anyone who reads this to think that I am "name-dropping." I don't want anyone who reads this to think that I am a good preacher just because of my association these men. The fact is, I just happened to be so fortunate and blessed to preach for congregations where they have been. This week at FHU is just a reminder to me about how unworthy I am of all of the work and knowledge of men who I believe are the greatest bible students and evangelists in the world.

For William Woodson or Clarence DeLoach to say that I am their preacher reminds me that the preacher is nothing. When I compare my life to them - I know just how far below them I stand. But I can be their preacher, because I preach the gospel. The power is all in the message. The Bible is the life-giving, spirit-transforming, eternity-changing power of our Almighty God. The smallest man can preach its truth to the greatest, and it can change both of their lives.

I want to say to those of you who are preachers, that many people say to others about you, "This is my preacher." Whether they are presidents of companies, Bible department faculty, governors, public officials, or just the people who come in off the street who need a physical meal as much as they do a spiritual one, you represent something to them that is very important. They all equally depend on you to preach to them the truth of the loving message of God's saving gospel. We should take as much care in teaching it to the heathen or infidel as we do to the greatest and strongest Christian we know.

I am thankful for all the people whom I have been able to call, "My preacher." I am thankful for all of those who have given me the honor of that same title in their lives. Anyone can preach the gospel, because the gospel is the message of the true Teacher and Preacher and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

"...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" ~ Romans 10:15

If I Had a Hammer

Pete Seeger and Lee Hays wrote a song in 1949 entitled, "If I Had a Hammer." This song was originally a part of the progressive movement, and later became an anthem of the American Civil Rights movement.

Consider the lyrics:
If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land
I'd hammer out danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a bell
I'd ring it in the morning
I'd ring it in the evening
All over this land
I'd ring out danger
I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

If I had a song
I'd sing it in the morning
I'd sing it in the evening
All over this land
I'd sing out danger
I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Well I've got a hammer
And I've got a bell
And I've got a song to sing
All over this land
It's the hammer of justice
It's the bell of freedom
It's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

I can relate to the sentiment of this song - but in a different way. I have always wanted to have a hammer that would break the hearts of sinful men. I have always wanted to have a bell that everyone could hear at once, that would call them to feast upon the word of God. I have always wanted a song to reside in the souls of men, because of the love they have with God and with one another because of the saving blood of Jesus Christ.

But wait - we do have a hammer, we just aren't hammerning! We do have a bell, we just aren't ringing! We do have a song, we just aren't singing!

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the Lord, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? ~ Jeremiah 23:29

Powerful Hugs

This past Sunday morning there were two people that absolutely made my day. Their names are Paige Grenz and Alex Meadows. These two little girls know how to give a hug! They have parents who love them and display love before them. Whenever Paige or Alex happen to see me they always come up and wrap their arms around me and they don't let go! One of the greatest blessings of being a preacher is that innocent children love and trust you. Their parents have taught them this is a person who cares for them and loves them and wants them to go to heaven.

These hugs were especially nice because my family was out of town and I was alone that Sunday. It reminded me of the fact that we have many people who worship every Sunday by themselves. One of the greatest things you can do as a Christian is to hug a widow or widower when they come into the church building. They need affection and they miss it. A kind smile and a friendly hug is a welcome gift to a person who deals with loneliness.

After I got those hugs from Paige and Alex, a lot of things didn't matter anymore. It did not matter if I said everything perfectly in the pulpit. It did not matter if I was going to sit alone or eat lunch alone after services. It did not matter that I was tired and it did not matter how other people treated me for the rest of the day. A display of unconditional affection reminds you of your value. People need other people who simply love them for being themselves - who care about them just because of who they are.

I want to say to Micah and Gretchen Grenz, and the Nathaneal and Casey Meadows (and to all of our young couples with children), thank you for bringing your beautiful children to Willow. Thank you for teaching them about God. Thank you for sharing these wonderful kids with us. They make our congregation better and our building a better place. They remind us to be pure, and think positiviely, and to encourage each other with kind words, warm smiles, and powerful hugs.

"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'" ~ Matthew 19:14

The Bible: Not Just for Kids

I don't know when this happened or how, but it seems that we are living in a generation with adults who think that Bible study is not as relevant as it used to be. People think it is a great idea for their children to be in Lads to Leaders, but they themselves may not be interested in leading. People think it is super for their kids to go to VBS, but they themselves won't attend the adult classes that same week. And folks want their kids to have memory verses and they want them to learn the books of the Bible, yet many of our older folks do not memorize verses, and they cannot give you the list of 66 books or the minor prophets or judges of Israel like they once could.

Let me tell you - (those of the adult generation) - the Bible is not just for kids. It is God's intention that you, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). We are further instructed as we age to "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). The key words in these verses are "desire," "grow," and "knowledge." We must continue to have that innocent desire to build a relationship with God. We must grow in the knowledge of God, which can only happen through diligent study (2 Tim. 2:15).

It a sign of spiritual immaturity, and certainly the work of Satan, for adults to be distracted from the thing they need the most: a personal, working knowledge of the holy Scriptures. But as long as "grown-ups" are happy with wandering through the foyer for worship and Bible periods, being casually late to class, and are not even concerned with attending Bible class or having their own personal time for Bible study, this problem of our adults being less educated on the Bible than our children are is going to persist.

It is absolutely wonderful to see adults taking an interest in the spiritual lives of the younger generation. But don't lose focus! The older generation must be equipped to lead the younger. We must be studying and preparing now. Many of us are becoming that older generation much sooner than we suppose. Every generation has a responsibility to know the word of God and to keep it.

There is never a time to quit studying God's word. Adults, pick it up again and God will bless you more than you have ever dreamed. The Bible is most certainly for children...all children everywhere, all the time. God be praised that we are all, by His grace and according to our obedience, regardless of age, children of God.

"I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word" ~ Psalm 119:16

Where Visitors Go To Die

Having been raised in the church from infancy, and having been a located gospel preacher for 15 years, I have learned that there is a place where visitors and sometimes even members go to die. I was less than 10 years old the first time I ever went doorknocking, and about that same age the first time I participated in a weekly visitation program. I was afraid. I was weak. I was imperfect - I am still all of these things. The point is that there is really no excuse for not reaching out to people who need the Lord and His church.

There is a place where visitors go to die right in our church buildings. If you wanted to do a study on it in your local congregation, you would locate the spot. Visitors sit there, and nobody speaks to them. They got unlucky. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where some of the members only talk to their friends after services. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where members beat them out the door as soon as amen is said. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where there are members who have never decided to obey the great commission. Forget going into all the world...these members won't even go across the pew.

As a preacher, I am going to let you members out there know that I am looking for visitors on Sundays. Jesus died for our visitors, too. I may not talk to you every week because I am looking for lost sheep. If you would join me then we could make sure that there are no places in our building where visitors go to die. It may not be what you want to hear, but I know exactly where some of the "dead spots" are in our current building. And unless things change I hope that visitors don't sit in those particular places.

Move off "your pew" and make a place for a visitor. Invite a visitor to eat lunch with you after services. Introduce yourself and tell each visitor you are glad to see them. Invite every visitor to come to Bible class and show them how to get there.

There is a place where visitors go to die. Make sure that it is not next to you. You are accountable.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all..." ~ Galatians 6:10

Reservoir or Pipeline?

I went to a minister's worskhop this past Monday and was blessed with both instruction and fellowship from several of my preaching brethren. During our devotional period David Lipe taught from 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

As he discussed the charge to spread the message, the content of the message, the challenge within the message, and the character of those who teach the message, he asked a simple question - "When it comes to our relationship with the gospel, are we a reservoir or a pipeline?"

Too many Christians are like the Dead Sea. They are reservoirs that do nothing but hold the life offering Jordan stream. They never give it, but they always receive it. Although they have been blessed, by their inactivity they refuse to be a blessing to others.

Christians must choose to be more like the Sea of Galilee. Mankind sustains life by its constant qualities, and from it there is a perpetual spring that blesses every land to which it flows. There is nothing that the Sea of Galilee has that it refuses to share.

The gospel was never meant for reserviors. It was given to us that we might be pipelines from God to man. Each of us should examine our own relationship with God based on our willingness to carry out the great commission. If you are a part of a church of 200 - you should have 200 evangelists. It you are a part of a church of 400 - you should have 400 evangelists.

The gospel is not just for church members and visitors on Sundays before lunch. The gospel is for everybody, everywhere, everyday!

Are you a reservoir or a pipeline?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation..." ~ Romans 1:16

If I Were Every Christian...

When a person is baptized into Christ, they put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). Unfortunately, too many people take Him off almost as soon as they put Him on. There is a great misunderstanding in the religious world about salvation. It is not a one-time event, but a lifetime commitment (Phil. 2:12).

Each one who has obeyed the gospel needs to constantly examine their relationship with God (2 Cor. 13:5). One of the greatest and most pratical ways to test the level of our faith is to measure the stature of the church in relation to my personal dedication to her success. If I were every Christian, how well would the church be doing?

If I were every Christian, what would the attendance be each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, Bible class?

If I were every Christian, how many people would be invited to worship?

If I were every Christian, would the contribution go up or down year by year?

If I were every Christian, would the sick or hurting or absent always get a call or a visit?

If I were every Christian, how much benevolence would the church be doing?

If I were every Christian, what would be the general response to the preaching and teaching of the gospel?

If I were every Christian, how much food would be prepared for fellowship meals, funerals, and those in need?

If I were every Christian, would there even be any fellowship beyond worship services at all?

If I were every Christian, would the church be happy, encouraged and growing, or depressed, skeptical and dying?

If I were every Christian, would the gospel be in the community, or would it just stay at the building?

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." ~ Luke 14:27