Just don’t overdo it.

In  a sermon, the pastor tells of  his recent visit to a historic cemetery in the region.  He saw an epitaph that will linger with him for a long time.

He tells of the time he was a special guest at the dedication and commissioning of a military ship built in his area.  The steel of the prow came from the World Trade Center’s ruins, from 9-11.  From the ashes of the devastation came the strength of the mighty vessel.  It’s a great sermon illustration.

He describes his tour of  the White House alongside the local Congressman.  He thought of the nation’s leaders who have called this their home and recommitted himself to praying for them.

Perhaps he told the church of  a conversation with the mayor regarding a new plant to be built just north of the church, an industry said to  bring in hundreds of new employees and new residents.  A church must be poised to reach out to new people moving to their area, he preached.

Pastors should live in the community they serve and be knowledgeable about its history, its current events, and its politics.  Whether he ever mentions it or not, knowing this will undergird his sermons and his leadership from time to time.

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A friend called me out on something I had said, and he was right.

“Joe,” he said, “you tell young pastors to find themselves an older pastor as a mentor.  But my experience is that many older guys are less committed to Christ than the younger ones.  And some of them will scoff at the notion of pastors protecting themselves from temptation with the women, not riding in a car with a woman alone, that sort of thing.”

He wondered if I didn’t want to revise my advice.

I told him I have been blessed by having some godly older pastors in my life, and some of them have made invaluable contributions.  But I’m sure he’s right.  Just because a man has seniority does not make him a role model, endow him with wisdom, or gift him with a heart of compassion or a headful of sense.

So, let’s focus on how to choose an older pastor as your advisor, mentor, counselor, and most of all, friend.

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From time to time I think back on the first really difficult lesson about preaching the Lord gave me.  I was 21, newly called into the Lord’s service, a college senior, and engaged.  At Christmastime, a country church invited me to preach in the Sunday morning service. I was elated.  And it was Christmas, right? This should be simple.

The problem was that I worked 72 hours that week selling men’s clothing in downtown Birmingham, my college job. When I got back to the apartment each night, I was so exhausted I did not feel like thinking about the sermon.  Finally, I decided to wing it in the sermon.  (Now, if you are a pastor, you can imagine me–a first timer!–trying to ‘wing it’ when I’ve never preached before.  You know the impossibility of that.)

I would simply tell the Christmas story and preach the various aspects of it.

The other problem is that Margaret  and I arrived in time for Sunday School and were sent to the young people’s class.  The teacher was apparently intimidated by my presence–the very idea is ridiculous, but since I was the preacher that day, she assumed I knew more than I did–so she asked if I would teach the lesson.  And foolishly, I agreed.

Preachers in the audience will recall how eager you were to do anything when you were first starting out.

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For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;  only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  (Galatians 5:13)

When you rescue an endangered brother, “consider yourself, lest you be tempted,” said the Apostle.  He knew the danger of going into “those places.” (Galatians 6:1)  Therefore, we are to “make no occasion for the flesh,” which is the KJV reading of our text.

To “make occasion for the flesh” is to plan to fail.  The fellow who has been sober for months keeps a six-pack handy “just in case.”  The dieter has lost 50 pounds and is so proud of herself, but “just in case,” she keeps a stash of Twinkies in the back of the pantry.  The godly young man who has recommitted his life to Christ rejoices that he is finally free of the lust that drove him so long.  But “just in case,” he keeps some DVDs hidden where only he can find them.

Planning to fail.  Sound familiar to anyone?

“We are not ignorant of (the devil’s) devices,” said the Apostle.  (2 Corinthians 2:11)

There are so many snares out there, set by the enemy to trap the faithful.  The object is to put him/her out of business.  “To steal, to kill, and to destroy,” said our Lord in John 10:10).

A trap never looks like a trap.  It is baited, whether the object is to catch a mouse, snare a grizzly or humiliate a servant of God.

The middle-aged couple sitting before me to be sketched drew up closer.  “May we give you a prayer request?”  I quit drawing and said, “Sure.  What’s up?”

They told me their adult children were serving a church in the area.  That congregation is going through a major crisis right now.  “Last Sunday the pastor resigned.”

But he didn’t resign to go to another church.

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