PreachingHelp.org

Anyone who has ever done any traveling realizes that “Time Zones” have to be taken into account.  While visiting Israel a few years ago, I found myself wide awake at 3:00 a.m. every night.  It just didn’t seem like it should be bed time, but according to the time zone we were in, it was.  I had to learn to take into consideration the time zone I was in, and attempt to conform to it.  That meant that sometimes I had to try to sleep when I wasn’t sleepy, and stay awake when I was tired.

While we’ve all heard of E.S.T., C.S.T., M.S.T., P.S.T., we may be guilty of failing to consider the most important one.  It’s called, G.S.T., and that stands for “God’s Sovereign Time.”  Failure to consider this “time zone” caused problems for many people.

Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted a child in their youth.  Their prayers were answered, but not according to their time, but according to  God’s Sovereign Time (G.S.T.).  Mary and Martha wanted the Lord to heal their brother, Lazarus.  He did, but not according to their time, but according to God’s Sovereign Time (G.S.T.).  And then there’s your story.  What is it that you have been praying for?  Before you become disillusioned or disappointed with God, please take the time zone into account.  Are you expecting God to work in your time zone (E.S.T., C.S.T., M.S.T., P.S.T.) or are you allowing him to work in his (G.S.T.)?  Give it some thought.

I enjoy writing.  I’m no wordsmith and I still have much room for improvement, but I would like to think that I’m better at this craft today than I was 10 years ago.  If I were to break down my typical duties each week, a good bit of time would be spent in writing, or preparation for writing.  So, the question follows, “why write?  Why spend time writing when you could be doing other things?”

Here are the answers I would give to those questions, and these answers are reasons I would give to encourage others to write as well:

• Through writing, you’ll reach people all over the world.  On a typical Sunday, I will reach approximately 350 people with a message that I prepared.  Through writing, I can reach countless more people.  Just yesterday, I examined my blog for the past 24 hours.  During that time, people from 72 nations visit my site, and over the past week, 7,730 people visited my blog.  Writing will take the scope of your ministry much larger than the local church.
• Your writing will outlive you.  How many of us have read and been encouraged by articles written by men who are now deceased.  Wouldn’t you like to know that even long after you are dead, your labors will continue to help others in their relationship with Jesus?  That’s what writing will do.
• Writing will help keep you fresh and studying.  Writing forces you to read, study, and listen.  You can’t draw water from an empty well, and you can’t write when you have nothing to say.  This is what helps you stay fresh.  Writing will help you develop the ability to look at ordinary things and draw spiritual applications from them.
• Writing will help you stay relevant.  Many people are looking for a leading voice on moral, social, and religious issues.  Writing can allow you to be the person to whom they look for direction and guidance.  Through writing, you have the ability to embolden, challenge, and mobilize people regarding present, timely concerns.
• Writing is simply a matter of stewardship.  How else can you reach so many for so little cost?  To whom much is given, much shall be required.  How can we not use this medium effectively and give account to God.

Writing is hard work, but it can pay great dividends.  If you’ve been thinking about writing, let me encourage you to do so.  After all, God thought it was a pretty effective way to communicate.

On April 22, 2012, Wyatt Sawyer, a long time gospel preacher passed away at the age of 88.  I never met this man, but he had an impact in my life.  You see, when I was a young boy, my parents handed my sister and me a book entitled, “Must the Young Die Too?”  This book recounts the life of a young man from a good family who ran with the wrong crowd, and as a consequence, ended up forfeiting his life at the hands of the state. Wyatt Sawyer was the author of this book.

In this book, Sawyer, in a very compelling way, made me aware of the dangers that youth face, and how quickly life can unravel by instantaneous but poor choices.  I learned by the powerful illustration in this book that decisions made today are not just about today, but affect our tomorrows, in fact, sometimes whether we even have a tomorrow.

But now, here’s my point.  Wyatt Sawyer had a positive impact in my life.  His words of encouragement have stayed with me for over 35 years.  Friends, don’t discount your influence.  Impress the importance of godliness upon the young people in your life.  Point them to good books, don’t shield them from “real life” examples of what happens when one leaves the path of godliness, and teach them the importance of decision making.

I’m a better person because of Wyatt Sawyer.  Please accept this challenge… Spend the time you have to make the young people in your sphere of influence  better people because of you.

(All I ask is if you start this article, take the time to finish it.  And if I wrote anything that is not true, or that does not accurately represent God’s will, please, in kindness, correct me).

I believe the headlines say it all: “How To Have The Most Romantic Night Ever,” “Tonight Will Last Forever,” “Dresses So Hot They Sizzle,” “Your Hottest Prom Body,” and “Sex – It’s Your Call.” These are the messages being marketed to teens regarding the High School rite of passage called, “The Prom.”  These were the headlines of such magazines as “Seventeen,”  “Young & Modern,” “Prom Magazine,” “Your Prom,” and “Modern Bride,” which all published special issues promoting the Prom.  I believe that these popular teen magazines are sending our young people some rather disturbing messages about priorities in life as well as sexual purity.

Before picking out a dress or a tux, or helping your children to do so, I would like for you to weigh the following thoughts before deciding to attend the Prom.

First of all, there is the issue of dancing to consider. Is dancing wrong? No, not necessarily.   There is no sin in moving one’s feet to the rhythm of music.  Not all dancing involves indecent dress, unchaste contact, or illicit movement.  In fact, the Bible records instances when righteous men danced as an expression of their joy  (1 Chronicles 15:25-29).

However, dancing that calls for close bodily contact between unmarried males and females; that involves indecent and suggestive bodily movements; and involves impure handling of a dance partner is wrong.  The kind of dancing that God’s word condemns is the kind of dancing that stirs one to have impure thoughts, and act in impure ways.  Frankly, that is precisely the problem with most of the dancing that takes place today.  Its appeal is sex.  Now, there is nothing wrong with sexual attraction either.  In fact, sexual attraction is a perfectly healthy matter that God created.  However, that attraction must be kept within proper bounds.  It should never be tantalized or it will very likely get out of control.  Unmarried people who have no legitimate means to fulfill their sexual desires need to be extremely careful to avoid any situation that could feed or flame such desires.

While it is true that the Bible does not say, “Thou shalt not dance,” it does say that those who practice “reveling,” “licentiousness,” and “such like sins” shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).  If you feel a temptation to dismiss this warning, make sure that you’re not more willing to justify what you “want” to do more than you are willing to justify God’s high moral calling.  Discipleship and obedience are demonstrated, not by compliance to God’s commands, but compliance to his commands when our will differs from his.  Who wins then?  Self-denial is never easy, but it is required (Matthew 16:24).

Second, there is an issue of modesty.  Many of the dresses that are worn at the Prom are “short at both ends.”  I have been in the presence of young girls (Christian girls) who were bragging about how low-cut their  dresses were, and how much cleavage they showed.  In stark contrast to the mindset of these girls, the apostle Paul instructed women to dress in a manner that professed godliness (1 Timothy 2:9-10).  Clothing that exposes or emphasizes those parts of the body that create lust is certainly inappropriate.  What is the message of the clothing worn to the Prom?  Does it profess one’s sexuality?  Does it tease, and entice?  Does it profess godliness and purity?  Or does it say one desires to be “chased,” or does it say one desires to be “chaste?”

Third, there is an issue of priority.  Is being at the “in” place, and having the approval of one’s peers more important than one’s commitment to Jesus?  Is one’s desire for peer acceptance stronger than one’s desire for God’s acceptance?  I have heard some parents speak and act as though their children will be scarred for life if they do not attend the Prom.  Quite the contrary; my concerns are that a young person might be scarred for life if they do attend the Prom. While living in Kentucky, here are a few things that happened at our local Proms.

• Guys and girls rented cabins at a local state park where some spent the night drinking and engaging in sexual immorality.

• Public intoxication resulted in arrests by the local police force.

• “Dirty dancing” (and that’s the way I will describe it.  To be more specific would be offensive) performed on the “chaperoned” dance floor was broadcast over our local cable system.

• Immodest, revealing, clothing was worn which leaves little to the imagination, and must elicit impure thoughts from those of the opposite sex.

• Young people lied to their parents about their whereabouts while staying out all evening and returning home in the morning.

• Parents forced their children to attend the Prom against the child’s own wishes.

• Parents attempted to convince other people’s children to attend the Prom because they would be missing out on “one of the most important nights of their life.”

And here’s the clincher…every one of the actions mentioned above were done, not by the non-Christians living in our community, but by young people who are members of the Lord’s church!  If this is the way that disciples of Jesus conduct themselves at this event, then how do you suppose the world acts?  It is no wonder that our school system would annually mail out a letter to area churches asking for their help in keeping what they describe as “one of the most dangerous nights of the year for our young people” as safe as possible.

I fear for those who go to a dance, spend all night with their date, come home the next morning (which happens to be the Lord’s day), and find themselves too exhausted, because of their carousing, to go to worship or to truly worship in spirit the one who shed his blood for them.  Do we really think that such is acceptable because, after all, “it’s the Prom?”

Young people, keep your commitment that you made to the Lord.  Guard your heart and mind from the fleshly lusts which war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11), and guard your influence as well (1 Timothy 4:12).

Parents, help your son or daughter make decisions when those decisions have the potential to harm their relationship to Jesus.  If your child isn’t strong enough, or mature enough to make a responsible decision, then exercise your parental obligation and make that decision for him.  Periodically, because of the tremendous peer pressure they are under, young people need your help to say  “no,” so be strong for them.  Help them make Christ-focused decisions that will bring honor to God.

Friends, whether Christian teens can attend the Prom and abstain from immorality and guard their heart as well as their influence is a decision that ultimately they will have to make, but allow me to remind you that the Prom is only one night of out an entire lifetime of events.  That single night won’t “make” your life, but it certainly has the potential to adversely affect it.  I, and thousands more just like me, can assure you that there is life without a Prom.

I’ve been a Facebook user since 2006.  Since that time, I would consider myself a moderate user (my children would choose the term “creeper”).  Whatever term best identifies me, I’ve been around long enough to be “put off,” “disappointed,” “embarrassed,” and “shocked” by some of the things I’ve read and seen.  Therefore, I’m going to share a few “Etiquette Tips” for Christian Facebook users.  Now, I’m no “Emily Post” (for those of you who don’t know who Emily Post is, Wiki her), but I do think the following suggestions would go a long way in making Facebook a more productive experience.  So here’s my “Top Ten List.”

1. Don’t criticize the church or your brethren.  Remember, the world is looking on!  When King David learned of Saul’s death, he instructed Israel to “tell it not in Gath…lest they rejoice” (2 Samuel 1:20).  Gath was a Philistine city, the home of Goliath.  David didn’t want the sad news of Saul’s death to be used as an opportunity for his enemies to rejoice.  Can you identify problems and imperfections in your local congregation?  Of course you can, because the church consists of imperfect people.  But may I suggest that when you are able to identify weaknesses and failures among your brethren, “Tell it not on Facebook.”  After all, Jesus has a better way of dealing with it, doesn’t he? (Matthew 18:15-17).
2. Don’t constantly whine.  Or would it be more biblical to say “murmur and complain” (Philippians 2:14)?  Now, I know there are times when you want to share the events of your life with others, and sometimes those events are burdensome.  That’s not what I’m talking about.  In fact, one of the redeeming qualities of Facebook is that it can be a forum to encourage, edify, and bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1).  I’m not talking about one who uses Facebook for those purposes.  I’m talking about the constant complainer.  The one who seems to be unable to count his blessings, but sure can count his/her problems.  Listen, if you’re a Christian, regardless of what your problems are, your blessings infinitely exceed your trials.
3. Don’t take cryptic “pot shots” at some unnamed person who, when they read your post, will know you’re talking about them.  If you have something to say to an individual, go to that individual and don’t take your problem public (Matthew 5:23-24).  By going public, you only peak the curiosity of others and potentially and unnecessarily pull them into something that is none of their business.
4. Think before you post.  Innuendo’s and off-color comments should never be posted (Ephesians 4:29).
5. Don’t post inappropriate pictures.  Pictures showing you breaking the law, abusing alcohol, wearing immodest clothing, etc. damage your influence and do not glorify Christ.  Better yet, do not engage in these activities in the first place.
6. Do some self-evaluation.  Look at your profile.  What do you have to say about yourself.  If you proudly identify yourself as a Christian and the Bible as one of your favorite books, then please make sure the rest of what you like is consistent with that profession.  Saying you’re a Christian and love the Bible, while in the next breath identifying as your favorites some of the most salacious books, movies, and performers causes others to blaspheme God (Romans 2:24).
7. Don’t use Facebook as an escape from reality.  If you’re unhappy about your marriage, get off Facebook and work on your marriage!  I know of too many stories where Facebook became the medium for adultery and broken homes.  You know why you’re “friending” people.  You know why you’re talking with them more and more.  Stop deceiving yourself, and flee from that which can flame inappropriate desires and actions (2 Timothy 2:22).
8. Be kind (Ephesians 4:32).  I’ve sometimes witnessed a person express some biblical error or misunderstanding only to be met with harsh and judgmental words.  The fact that one may be in error doesn’t imply sinister motives.  I’m convinced that the impersonal nature of the Internet emboldens people to act “bigger,” and “tougher” than they really are.  I once had a dog that when she was in the safety of her cage sounded as though she would eat a person alive.  But let her out of the cage, and she became as meek and cowardly as can be.  I’m convinced that some of the harsh, hateful, judgmental words that I have seen typed would never be spoken if they were face to face with their offender.  Paul instructs us to preach with all “longsuffering” (2 Timothy 4:2).  That’s true of what we preach as well as what we type.
9.  Don’t gossip.  The rules of the tongue apply to the keyboard as well.  Give care that what you say is true as well as helpful.  If James were to write James 3:6 today, it might read as follows, “And the keyboard is a fire, a world of iniquity…”.  Lying, gossiping, stating as truth what we do not know to be true, etc. are as wrong on Facebook as they are when speaking to another face to face.
10. And finally, use it for good (1 Corinthians 9:22).  Speak of your faith often, encourage others, point people to Jesus, take advantage of opportunities to speak for Jesus, and let people see that there is an undeniable family resemblance between you and your heavenly Father.

If we would do these things, Facebook would be a better place.  Come to think of it, if we would do these things the world would be a better place.

Do you have any further “etiquette” suggestions?  Share them in the comments section.  Furthermore, if you think these things need to be said, share this on your page for others to read.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity go to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and speak in a weekend seminar hosted by the Edmonton Church of Christ.  It was such an encouragement to go so far away and find so many good people who were striving to conform their lives into the image of Jesus, just as we are here in Knoxville, TN.

However, here’s something that came to my mind as I spent some time with these good brethren.  You know what?  These people had an accent.  I sure could tell I wasn’t in Knoxville, TN anymore.  And don’t you suppose they were thinking the same thing about me?  “Where’s this guy from?”  “He’s certainly not from around here, that’s for sure.”

But now, here’s my point, from hearing one another speak, we were able to immediately learn something about each other. I wonder, if you began speaking, how long would it take for someone listening to you to discover that you belonged to Jesus?  When the people heard Peter and John, they “perceived that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

My prayer is that my “Christian accent” will be as strong as my West Virginia/Kentucky/Tennessee accent, and that the “Christian accent” of my Canadian friends will be as strong as their Canadian accent. Eh?