Sermon Tone Analysis

How Should We Treat the New Preachers?

\\ Matthew 7:12; Ecclesiastes 7:10

 

Introduction:

A.        When a new preacher comes to a congregation, it is a time of transition.

B.        It is often difficult to accept the new person without unfavorable comparisons to the previous preacher.

C.        This is true in marriage.

1.         Gayle Napier, “If you have been divorced and decide you could, should, and want to get married again, you probably should wait at least two years or you will have more people in the bed than you can sleep with.”

2.         Often true of second marriages, regardless of the reason.

3.         In the heat of his best sermon, “We’re all sinners before God,” the preacher swept his hand slowly over the congregation and commanded in a quavering voice, “Let any man or woman among us who can claim perfection rise!”

To his utter astonishment, a middle-aged man in the last pew rose.

The congregation gasped.

The minister leaned over the podium with a stern, piercing look.

“Surely, sir, surely you don’t consider yourself perfect,” he sputtered.

“No, no, of course not,” said the man.

“I’m standing in proxy for my wife’s first husband.”

D.        An Intentional Interim Minister is needed if a church finds itself in one or more of the following situations:

1.

The minister served seven or more years before leaving,

2.         The minister resigned under pressure (a forced termination),

3.         The minister’s resignation was requested due to ethical or moral misconduct,

4.         The minister departed in the midst of severe conflict within the church,

5.         The church has not conducted a self-study of its structure, history, priorities, mission or vision in the last 5 years, or

6.

The church has a pattern of the last 2 ministers leaving after having served the church for only 2-3 years (Ronald G. Brown, http:~/~/www.montroseministries.org~/Interm.pdf).

E.         Maybe by talking about it we can improve the relationship of Berry’s Chapel and the new preachers:  Wes and Andy.

F.         I will give you my points, illustrated by many e-mails I received from preachers I asked to help with this lesson.

I.

TREAT THE NEW PREACHERS LIKE YOU HAVE TREATED ME.

A.        I have had nearly fourteen years of pleasant ministry.

You have treated me and my family well.

B.        Three things I think of that you have done well:

1.         Communication. Matthew 7:7,8

a.

When I came, I told you I had in the past had people not to tell me what they needed and I didn’t do what they wanted because I didn’t know about it.

Some would later want me to feel guilty.

b.

I told you I hoped you didn’t do that, but if you did, I wouldn’t cooperate.

c.         Please tell me what you need.

d.

You have done that well.

(1)        Sick, hospital room.

(2)        Sick, no visitors.

(3)        Sick, not visitors, but we would appreciate the elders and preachers dropping by.

(4)        Sick, no visitors, no announcements in bulletin or on Newsline.

If elders and preachers want to visit, that would be OK.

e.

There have been times when friends have called telling us to visit, put names in the bulletin when the family had instructed otherwise.

We have followed the family’s instructions.

2.         If you treat your next preachers like me, you will have to treat them different from me.

a.

You have not required me to be like Glen Randolph, Terry Jones, or any other preacher.

b.         Thank you.

c.

I could not have done that.

d.

Your next preachers may not be runners, bike riders, ventriloquists, or tell you children they are powerful.

e.

But they will have great things to contribute.

f.

Let them be themselves.

3.

You have encouraged me.

a.         Words.

Ephesians 4:29

b.         Letters.

c.         Concern.

d.         Compassion.

Galatians 6:2

(1)        During a difficult time in 1994, Charlie Washam came by often, stepped into the upper room and asked, “How is your son doing?”

(2)        The next question, “How is dad doing?”

e.         Meals.

II.

TREAT THE NEW PREACHERS LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

Matthew 7:12

A.        What do you need when you are in a new position, confused, disoriented, maybe questioning whether you should have made this move or not?

B.        How do you like to be compared with someone else?

1.

I have been discouraged by those who–in years gone by–continued to tell me about preachers who were much better than I.

2.         I become uncomfortable and suspicious of those who have continually told me how much better I am than previous preachers.

At first I believed some of the people.

The longer I stayed at each place, the more I respected, appreciated, and~/or had compassion for my predecessors.

III.

TREAT YOUR NEW PREACHERS LIKE YOU WOULD TREAT JESUS IF HE WERE THE NEXT PREACHER AT BERRY’S CHAPEL.

A.        Someone said, “Don’t suggest that.

They crucified Him.”

B.        But not everyone did.

C.        There were those who loved Him and helped Him.

D.        In effect, we are treating Jesus as we treat others.

Matthew 25:34-40

 

IV.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FROM PLENTY OF PREACHERS.

A.        Article written by a preacher to the congregation where he had served several years:

1.         Realize that each minister and his family will have their own talents and interests.

Allow them to be themselves and resist the temptation, however natural, to make comparison or expect him to do things a “certain way”, especially based on past ministers.

2.         Resist the temptation to quickly get him “on board” with your particular desires for the church, or to have him immediately “line up” with you on some church issue.

Let his view of the congregation and his decisions on where to act initially come from the elders of the church.

3.         “Adopt” his family quickly.

Take them out for Sunday lunch.

Encourage him.

Show hospitality.

4.         Expect him to preach the Word, and, when he does, do not assume it was meant only for your personal situation.

Remember, even if it fits, it may have been just what the Lord wanted you to see, and was probably done with your best interest in mind.

Consider the things said according to how they match with scripture, and resist the temptation to allow emotions to determine your perception.

Do not be looking for his mistakes.