5.18.49a 11.5.2019 Support Your Local Preacher 2 Timothy 4.1-2

Entice: You are leaders in your congregations. Elders, deacons, sources of wisdom and "tribal knowledge." You've given up Monday Night Football to be here. I hope to encourage you by addressing an issue close to my heart. Preachers. I want preachers to thrive. I want preachers whether new or experienced to thrive. I have made it a part of my ministry to encourage preachers.

• Entice: You are leaders in your congregations. Elders, deacons, sources of wisdom and "tribal knowledge." You've given up Monday Night Football to be here. I hope to encourage

you by addressing an issue close to my heart. Preachers. I want preachers to thrive. I want preachers whether new or experienced to thrive. I have made it a part of my ministry to

Engage: What is your role, how is it important, and why is it critical? Much of that has to do with the barrage of voices speaking in our current church culture. These days preachers are bombarded by materials produced by what I call the Worship Industrial Complex. Some of those materials tell preachers that they are overworked. Much of that overwork comes from a preoccupation with the peripheral aspects of ministry. Planning, Programming, Pastoral Care are important elements of a located ministry. But preacher has to be the number 1 priority. In addition these "preaching helps" advise preachers that they are preaching too much. This, after most congregations have reduced or removed evening services so that even though he may preach a sermon many times the preacher only need to write 1 a week. And yet preachers are told that 50-52 weeks a year is simply too much.

encourage preachers.

▾ Engage: What is your role, how is it important, and why is it critical? Much of that has to do with the barrage of voices speaking in our current church culture. These days preachers

are bombarded by materials produced by what I call the Worship Industrial Complex. Some of those materials tell preachers that they are overworked. Much of that overwork

comes from a preoccupation with the peripheral aspects of ministry. Planning, Programming, Pastoral Care are important elements of a located ministry. But preacher has to be

So, the "experts" refine the preaching task by reducing expectations.

the number 1 priority. In addition these "preaching helps" advise preachers that they are preaching too much. This, after most congregations have reduced or removed evening

services so that even though he may preach a sermon many times the preacher only need to write 1 a week. And yet preachers are told that 50-52 weeks a year is simply too

much.

And often preachers are called to preach in congregations which do not encourage sound, long-term, biblical, cumulative preaching.

• So, the "experts" refine the preaching task by reducing expectations.

• And often preachers are called to preach in congregations which do not encourage sound, long-term, biblical, cumulative preaching.

Expand: You know these verses.

2 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Expand: You know these verses. Paul wrote them to encourage Timothy but they also speak to other leaders giving us the parameters of the preachers work. Far too often the

Paul wrote these words to encourage Timothy but they also speak to other leaders defining the parameters of the preachers work. Far too often the preacher has to fight to keep those parameters inviolable.

Excite: It excites me to say that you men can help your preacher preach better, serve your church longer, and build the Kingdom more soundly…

preacher has to fight to keep those parameters inviolable.

by allowing him to

• Excite: It excites me to say that you men can help your preacher preach better, serve your church longer, and build the Kingdom more soundly… by allowing him to

Explore: Preach as he is called to preach.

• Explore: Preach as he is called to preach.

Explain: The words Paul uses to encourage Timothy… provide several expectations for your preacher…

• Explain: Paul encourages Timothy…his words provides everal expectations for your preacher…

Expect him to…

▾ Body of Sermon: Expect him to…

1 Be Biblical

▾ 1 Be Biblical …Preach the word…

…Preach the word…

1.1 Do not ask his opinion. Ask for biblical conclusions. Do not ask for guesses ask for guidance.

1.2 Don't look for political, ideological, or sectarian alignment. Don't ask him who he is voting for. Don't ask him what clubs he belongs to or what news channel he follows. His interests may be interesting but Christ requires one thing and so should you. Require him to search the scripture and unashamedly, fearlessly proclaim what he finds there.

Christ requires one thing and so should you. Require him to search the scripture and unashamedly, fearlessly proclaim what he finds there.

Expect him to…

2 Be Prepared

▾ 2 Be Prepared …Be ready in season and out of season;…

…Be ready in season and out of season;…

• 2.1 If you want a prepared preacher help him clear some things from his calendar. Help him say no. It is hard work to intensely study the Bible and to form the fruit of biblical

2.1 If you want a prepared preacher help him clear some things from his calendar. Help him say no. It is hard work to intensely study the Bible and to form the fruit of biblical research into effective sermons.

research into effective sermons.

2.2 Remind him that there are good things which distract from what is best. Remind him that there is a door on the study for a reason. Ask him what He's reading, what he is thinking about, ask him about his long-term preaching and teaching plans….

thinking about, ask him about his long-term preaching and teaching plans….

2.3 And then expect him to be prepared. Don't let him go off half-cocked. Expect him in certain contexts to always have a ready word.

• 2.4 Expect him to…

2.4 Expect him to…

Expect him to…

3 Be Practical

▾ 3 Be Practical

…reprove, rebuke, exhort…

3.1 The Worship Industrial Complex will have you believe that practical preaching arises from analyzing the felt needs of people and then hop-scotching through the Bible like the preacher is at the track going through the Daily Racing Form looking for some good bets This is just wrong, and wrong-headed. There is nothing more powerful that God's word faithfully applied to the lives of believers and appealing to the lost.

preacher is at the track going through the Daily Racing Form looking for some good bets This is just wrong, and wrong-headed. There is nothing more powerful that God's

word faithfully applied to the lives of believers and the lost.

3.2 Paul even covers that: reproving, rebuking, and exhorting are natural applications rising directly from the Word.

3.3 Expect him to…

Expect him to…

▾ 4 Be Humble. …with complete patience and teaching.

4 Be Humble

. …with complete patience and teaching.

4.1 The lone real risk to powerful preaching is pride, an inflated sense of self-worth. Paul addresses this issue within the larger exhortation.

4.2 It does not matter how accurate the preacher preaches, or how timely is the application if he is an impatient, crotchety know-it all who looks down on his listeners; he. will. fail. (Been there…done that)

4.3 Patient instruction models the process of Jesus. His Word. His Gospel. His Salvation, forming His people. Christlike patience and a teaching attitude remind us that it's not about us.

about us.

Shut Down:

So, that is what you should expect of Him. What can you do to realize these expectations?

Give him space (Time and environment to do his best work)

Give him security (Financial and employment stability)

Give him support: let me illustrate with an analogy...

• Notre Dame de Paris is renowned as one of the greatest examples of Medieval cathedral architecture. Beyond that there are the artistic treasures. The frescoes, paintings, gilding, stained glass…which are rightly regarded as a part of the humanities global artistic heritage. And this year…it burned. Thankfully the fire did not entirely destroy either the structure or contents but did significant damage. In the end what made the Cathedral work was not the statuary, not the paintings, not the grand organ, not the liturgy, not the history, not artistic achievement or even the worlds biggest organ...It was the flying buttresses. Not very glorious, not real glamorous. They just supported the whole thing.

stained glass…which are rightly regarded as a part of the global heritage of significant masterpieces. And this year…it burned. Thankfully the fire did not entirely destroy either the

structure or contents but did significant damage. In the end what made the Cathedral work was not the statuary, not the paintings, not the grand organ, not the liturgy, not the

history. It was the flying buttresses. Not very glorious…they just made it all possible.

• You cannot expect gilded preaching on Sunday if you do not support your preacher.

The whole structure falls to the ground without the flying buttresses that keep it aloft.

• If you want your preacher to grace your pulpit with the emblazoned fire of God's holy word…If you want him to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, if you want your pulpit to ring with power. You must support your preacher.