Why Did I Become a Preacher?

After having preached full-time for only a few years a good friend exclaimed excitedly at the end of a worship service, “Now, that is what I call preaching.” A visiting preacher spoke that day. My friend was not intentionally unkind, and I did not take it personally, but it did sting.

I know that I’m not a great orator, but I don’t hang my head low feeling sorry for myself. I have a job to do: Present the word of God.

When I stand to teach or preach I am often hit with an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I wonder, “How can I possibly communicate a relevant message to all of these people?” In the audience I see kids who are old enough to listen. There are adults of differing generations; people with different backgrounds, interests, circumstances, needs. “Is my sermon relevant?”

Paul said, “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” Yet, how can that be done this Sunday? To this audience with all their differences???
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I don’t joke around when I preach. In my experience, the things that ‘you’ find funny may puzzle or offend others. (Some folks love a dose of sarcasm; others disapprove strongly, others miss the humor entirely.)

What about a good story? All too often, whether humorous or enlightening or emotionally charged, stories overshadow the biblical truth they are meant to illustrate. So, what good is a story remembered when truth is not?

There is a place and a time to share the riches of the original languages of the Bible, the Greek and Hebrew. Yet, if I am simply blinding you with my brilliance, “I” block out God’s glory!

I was taught that a preacher should start a sermon with a joke or humorous story. I don’t believe that. (Check out Paul’s sermon in Athens.)

I was taught that every sermon should have three points and, at the end, a poem. I don’t believe that either. (Sermon on the Mount???)

I’ve been told that the preaching style of the orators of the 1800’s was real preaching. Then again, others say the fire-and-brimstone preaching of the 1940’s and 50’s was real preaching. Then again, the preaching style of ‘the preacher that you loved when you were growing up’ was real preaching. Real preaching???

Again, we are so different from one another that rarely does a single lesson pierce the heart of every person. Yet, I know that…

The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
—Hebrews 4:12

The power is in the word of God...not me.

God wanted His prophet Ezekiel to sound an alarm:

Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. 
—Ezekiel 3:17

A preacher’s job is to relay God’s message. He has no control over the way people respond.

When the preacher Philip approached the man from Ethiopia asking if he understood the Scriptures, the man said, “How can I unless someone guides me?” —Acts 8:31

That is also my role, to guide through teaching.

I answered my title question years ago. So, based on the God-given task of a preacher, what is your role when God’s word is spoken?

Are you listening?

Mark Stinnett

What Are You Doing on Social Media?

When it comes to social media, I’ll admit that my phone’s a dinosaur and I’m a caveman. But I’m not naïve. Social media can be really good , but also really bad. Like so many things in life, social media is not the problem, but the way people use it can be.

What are some pitfalls of social media?

1. Everybody can see your post: My wife told our kids, “Assume that anything you post will be seen by your mother.” That’s great advice, because social media is simply NOT private...it’s social. The typical mindset when posting is very narrowly focused. People think of a small audience of friends who will enjoy their post. Yet, regardless of the app used, there is always a way to capture and share posts. And if it’s questionable, your mom probably WILL see it. (God will too.)
2. There is no ‘undo’: You cannot unspeak and you cannot unpost. Sure, you can ‘delete’ your post, but it is still out there. There are real companies with real computers that store all the text, pics and videos posted to the ‘cloud.’ In addition, facial recognition software is used with amazing accuracy. The primary objective of a tech company is to make money; they DO NOT really care about you or your reputation. So, assume that your posts are archived, not deleted, and that your face has been identified.
3. You cannot undo stupid: We all have moments in our lives that we wish we could erase. Social media does not forget; it documents stupid for all time (like a tattoo you regret). If you post a rant, do you want your boss to read it? A prospective employer? (Yes, they check social media.) What about your Bible study group? Those friends you forgot were your friends? What happens when you change your view!! Not only that, think of the foolish pics/videos, not the silly ones, the truly embarrassing ones; things that really were inappropriate. There is no unsee.
4. Social media reveals: Review your posts over the past year; what kinds of things did you post? [‘Selfies’ can easily become ’selfish-ies.’] I found that I enjoy family, gardening, flowers, butterflies, food and humor in the form of silliness and light sarcasm...and, of course, writing about the Bible and spiritual things. I really enjoyed my past posts. No regrets. What does social media tell about you?

Understand that social media is a means of communication and God had some things to say about our communication. We find warnings and encouragement from the Book of Proverbs:

A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind. (18:2)

He who winks the eye will be ruined.
And a babbling fool will be ruined. (10:10)

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth…. (27:2)

Can you apply this nugget of wisdom to your use of social media?

Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. 
—Ecclesiastes 10:1

And finally, listen to the Apostle Paul:

So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 
—Romans 14:19

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus….
—2 Timothy 2:19

It is not just about being careful, but about being wise.

Mark Stinnett

How Do I Find Contentment?

I think that social media has revealed our discontentment as a nation. Laws are necessary to safeguard our highways from distracted drivers who endanger themselves and others by answering texts and calls. Some people have been injured by walking into traffic while texting. How often do you see a table of people at a restaurant...their mind engaged elsewhere: phone.

People are constantly diverting their attention to someone else, to somewhere else, to something else. Living in the ’here & now’ is...boring!

When I was a kid I would make fun of my friends when they quipped, “I’m bored.” I would snap back, “Are you dumb? You can’t think of anything to do?” Then we would jump up and go do something! (It was not as unkind as it might seem in our day. No one was offended . We weren’t trained to think that way.)

“I’m bored,” is often the voice of lazy discontentment. It comes from people who want someone else to provide the entertainment or activity, but only as they like it. Boredom is most often selfish. Constant activity on electronic devices has not made us content.

Contentment is about being at peace with who I am and where I am and who I’m with...now. Contentment is not struggling to leave ‘now’ or leave ‘here’ or leave ‘them.’ Contentment is not struggling to ‘get ahead’ or ‘get even’ or even ‘get.’ Contentment endures the current circumstances even when something else is preferred. Contentment lives in the ‘here & now’ but sees beyond knowing that this is not all there is.

My title question, How do I find contentment?, is the wrong question. Contentment is not found. It is not something a person searches for like a deep truth. It is not something a person stumbles across like a hidden treasure. 

Contentment is not ‘found.’
Contentment is a decision.

Let me show you….
After telling the Christians in Philippi of his joy for their concern for him, the Apostle Paul wrote:

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
—Philippians 4:11

It is important to read his statement carefully. He did not claim that he had learned ‘how’ to be content, but that he had learned ‘to be’ content in whatever circumstances. He was expressing to his fellow Christians that there was no reason for them to worry about him. He had learned “to be content…” 

• When enjoying prosperity; and
• When suffering need.

The reason he could be content in all kinds of circumstances was because he knew the source of his strength.

I can do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me. 
—Philippians 4:13

It was Christ who gave him strength to resist greed when living in prosperity. And it was Christ who gave him strength to endure the difficulties associated with being in need. 

Do you find yourself always wishing for something different? To be somewhere else? To be with someone else? You are choosing to detach your mind from your current circumstances and feel sorry for yourself because of the things you desire but do not have.

The decision of contentment is the decision to change your focus from yourself to Christ.

Choose to be content.

Mark Stinnett

Would You Be Content with Wealth?

Have you ever noticed what the Apostle Paul said about contentment and wealth?

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
—Philippians 4:12 (NASB95)

You saw it, right?

Paul said that he knew how to “live in prosperity” and had learned the secret of “being filled” and of “having abundance”!

If Paul had not said the same thing in three different ways, I’m not sure that I would have paid attention. I think that is the point: "Attention!" He wants us to think about wealth in a way that is not natural to the human mind.

Solomon acknowledged the power of money:

Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
—Ecclesiastes 10:19 (NASB95)

It is natural to think that lots of money, living in prosperity, being filled and having abundance will guarantee an easy (or at least, easier) life. In fact, if there are no financial worries, plenty of food and an abundant supply of everything else, then…

I guess that’s the question…“Then… what???”
(Read this slowly.)

• “This is life???”
• “We’ve got it made???”
• “Rest easy now???”

Solomon was looking at the reality of life on this globe we call earth. When you look at people who have no relationship with God, you most often see people who are in one way or another chasing the ‘almighty dollar,’ or at least, something the dollar will provide.

We are tempted to think that contentment belongs in the conversation with poverty, not wealth. However, Paul was dealing with the reality of human nature.

When people get money their character is most often revealed. Whether money tempts a person to chase more money or to waste it with frivolous spending, attention is focused on self.

When you get money back on your tax return do you plan ahead on how you will spend it for yourself? Invest it for yourself? 

Have you ever thought beforehand that you would like to honor God with part of what you have received?

Ask yourself the same question regarding a bonus from your work, an inheritance, a substantial raise or promotion, a financial gift.

Does having money make you think about God or is it more likely to make you forget God?

Paul made an astounding statement: He said that he had learned to be content in prosperity. That means that he learned to keep his focus on God instead of himself. He did not become intoxicated with wealth. In prosperity, he remembered that enough IS enough. Contentment.

Give me neither poverty nor wealth. Feed me with food that I need for today, so that I don’t become overfed and deny you by saying, “Who is the Lord?” or so that I don’t become poor and steal, and then misuse the name of my God.
—Proverbs 30:8-9 (ISV)

Can you pray that proverb with sincerity?
Only if you are content.

Mark Stinnett

August 4, 2019