The blessed glory of telling the story

I have discovered in recent years that the hymnal has become a spiritual journal for me. Each page reminds me of some brother or sister whose life is connected in my memory with a particular song. Perhaps they introduced me to a hymn, told me that one was their favorite, sat beside me in church as together we sang “their” song, or taught me some truth that is powerfully expressed or illustrated in a song.

I can hardly turn a page without seeing the faces of my personal “great cloud of witnesses” as they continue singing the “wonderful story of love.”

One such song is “I Love to Tell the Story.” We sang it regularly in the congregations where I grew up, and it has always lived in my heart.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;

I love to tell the story, because I know ‘tis true; It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story: More wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies of all the golden dreams;

I love to tell the story: It did so much for me; And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, ‘tis pleasant to repeat What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet;

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

These days, this precious old hymn belongs, in my heart, to Jim Bill McInteer. Brother McInteer lived from 1921 until 2010 and continues to be a source of great encouragement to me as a preacher. In my growing up years, my home congregation would often invite him to come and preach a gospel meeting or to be part of a special day when we marked an anniversary or celebrated the start of a new ministry. Brother McInteer was the perfect preacher for such an occasion. Every time he spoke, we knew two things for certain: He loved God and he loved us. Years later, when I was interviewing to become the preacher for the College Church of Christ in Searcy, AR, I was asked who my preaching heroes were. My first answer was “Jim Bill McInteer.”

When I went to Nashville in March 2010 to attend Brother McInteer’s funeral, I was handed a bulletin for his service. On the cover was a picture of Brother McInteer and the theme for the service: “I love to Tell the Story . . .” On the inside cover were written the words of Psalm 40:9 from The Message:

I’ve preached you to the whole congregation, I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that. I didn’t keep the news of your ways a secret, didn’t keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth for myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.

Nothing could have been more fitting. Even in death, Jim Bill McInteer reminded us of “the blessed glory of telling the story.”

On that occasion that I mentioned before when, in an interview, I was asked, “Who are your preaching heroes?” another name that I mentioned was Harold Hazelip. There were so many things that I appreciated about him, but high on that list is that he was a preacher. In a memorial written about him in the Magnolia Messenger by C. Philip Slate (who, appropriately, is also one of my preaching heroes), Brother Slate stated, “Although (Harold Hazelip) made contributions in academics, Harold always preached. He cared about the local church and the proclamation of the Word.”

Though I am myself no longer a “young preacher,” I find that I am richly encouraged and deeply moved these days by older preachers I have known who loved to preach the gospel. The Apostle Paul, himself, is another such hero of mine. Not only was he a faithful preacher of the Word, but near the end of his life we get a glimpse from his final letter to Timothy about his feelings concerning “the blessed glory of telling the story.” Knowing that his days were almost finished, he addressed his young protégée one last time. With age in his voice, the wisdom of years in his inspired pen, and perhaps even with tears in his eyes, he wrote,

“I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12).

“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel” (2 Timothy 2:8).

“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: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2).

“Always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:5-8).

These three preachers remind us of something that can easily get lost in the noise, the conflicts, the burdens, distractions and disappointments of life; it is, indeed, a blessed glory to tell the story of Jesus. Nothing else can save. Nothing else in the entire world matters more. And nothing else is nearer to the heart of God. May God forgive us when we lost sight of this, and may he open the eyes of our hearts to see, once again, what a sacred privilege we have to preach the gospel.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

If you have considered quitting ministry, you have plenty of company. In a report from Barna published in March, 2022, 42% of preachers have considered leaving full-time ministry. That number is up 9% from a study published by Barna in January, 2021. The top five reasons are stress, feelings of loneliness and isolation, political divisions in the church, unhappiness with the effect of ministry on the ministers’ family, and a sense of pessimism about the future of the congregation.

If you are feeling burned out, know that you are in godly company. David once said, “I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God” (Psalm 69:2-3). Elijah once believed that his life and ministry were worthless. He said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (1 Kings 19:4). Job regretted the day he was born, and Jeremiah wanted to quit preaching, even when he couldn’t. He said, “O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, "Violence and plunder!" Because the word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not” (Jeremiah 20:7-9).

We preach, and people are depending on us to feed them every week. But you can’t feed anyone from an empty plate. We believe we have been called to serve, and so we push on. And if we feel discouraged and empty, we try to ignore it. If we can’t, we begin to feel guilt.

So how do we get out of this downward spiral? How can we keep preaching when we feel that there is nothing left in our spiritual tank?

Too often we burn out because we are trying to carry the burden of ministry by our own strength, resourcefulness, and resilience. They will never be enough. Ministry will always be 5,000 people and five loaves and two fish. The strength we need comes from God and not us.

If you’re feeling burned out, spend time every day in God’s word and prayer –not for your sermon on Sunday, but for you. The secret to staying in love is talking with and listening to and spending time with the people we love. It’s also true in your relationship with the heavenly Father. God has promised to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19), and He will if we will communicate and walk with Him.

Get some rest. Take a mental and physical break from the task you’re trying to do. The Bible has more to say about rest than it says about work! Even God rested! Ask yourself how much of your work is just busy work. Step away from non-productive efforts to rediscover what your purpose really is.

Ministry will always be 5,000 people and five loaves and two fish

Sometimes we burn out because we ignore the things that we need to take care of in our own lives. We do this because we have our priorities in the wrong place. Remember God’s order of priorities for you. Your own relationship with God comes first above all other things. Your relationship to your family comes second. Your relationship with the church is third. And your relationship to the world is fourth. Many of our stresses come because we get these priorities out of order. Remember that serving the church and serving God are not necessarily the same thing.

Find a friend with whom you can share your heart and know that they will keep what you share with them confidential. It won’t always be another preacher. Sometimes it will be an older saint who has been where you are and has found the answer in God. Loneliness is a killer of peace and joy. Isolation keeps us from seeing life with true perspective. God did not make you to be a loner. There is no substitute for friends.

Sometimes burnout happens when we take responsibility for everything that happens in the church. We feel that we should have had better answers, we should have done more, we should have been there whenever there was a need. And since we weren't, we feel that everything negative that happens is at least in part our fault.

Can I tell you a secret? You aren’t that important. God is, and He can handle reality better than you can. Only God can carry the weight of the world on His shoulders. And He can carry you as well!

So step back, take a deep breath, remember that God is in control. You don’t have to change everything, you just need to be faithful and trusting. You may plant or you may water, but the increase comes from God.

So preach, not in your own strength, but in His. Turn even your failures into opportunities by giving them to the God who works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

And maybe one other thing. You don’t have to be “excited” every time you get in the pulpit. You’ve not been called to be the cheerleader of the church.You’ve been called to be God’s messenger to people who need an authentic message from God spoken by an authentic child of God. Do that, and God will bless you and fill you with what you need.

Bill Watkins, bwatkins@crievehall.org

Imagine the perfect congregation, if you will. Baptisms are always a hundred or more annually, babies are being born weekly, and each baby is well above average in beauty and intelligence. The weekly contributions exceed the budget, and there is always a surplus at the end of the year. The elders, deacons, and ministers all get along perfectly, and there is never a disagreement doctrinally. Okay, now wake up. You are dreaming…and so am I! Now let reality set in; we all know the church is made up of all types of people and personalities. The Church is a perfect institution filled with imperfect people.

Now imagine standing before the congregation (it does not matter the number of members) and visualize each pew and try to remember each much akin to preaching each week to hurting people. Some are looking for a word, just one word, to help make it through the week. Others are needing a full message to help them through the day. Each person in the pew has a heartache… everyone hurts a little.

What the average Joe or Jill in the pew needs, in my opinion, are elders who know the flock that they shepherd and preachers who can address the heartaches and give some hope. In Matthew chapters five through seven, Jesus addresses the answers to most of the world’s problems in the text. Jesus offers what we call the beatitudes. He offers words regarding personal relationships, not taking revenge, how to love your neighbor and an

(1) Visit with as many members as possible and earnestly listen for any underlying message. Your sermon in the future just might help that family. Never, and I mean never, use a visit to preach directly to a person who confided about a painful event in their life as a sermon example. God gave us two ears in which we hear and one tongue for us to speak. Many preachers are thinking of what to say before the person they are conversing with has not even finished speaking. A pause to hear and reflect is always important.

(2) Spend quality time with people other than in a church setting. Visit in a home, and have a meal with someone you might not usually visit. Be that preacher who visits the hospital and nursing home. When you are needed, be there. In another’s pain, you might be able to speak in such as way as to help.

(3) When a baby is born, be there to offer a prayer for the new mom and dad and, of course, the new life. People will never forget your being there on that special day.

(4) On that occasion when a member comes by to chat, they may not be there just passing the time. Often there is a question, a reflection, a need to “pour out their heart” to a listening ear. The time spent is a present on a silver platter. Ask if you can pray with and for them. Hold their hand, pray deeply and sincerely asking God to relieve their pain. Then if it is appropriate, ask for permission to share their story with the congregation. If they approve, tell them how their story might help others who are fellow strugglers. Use their name in the message only with permission. If they decline, ask if you can use the story anonymously. It is without fail, after the sermon, someone will come up and remark. “Preacher? Have you been reading my mail?” “You seemed to look directly into my life with that sermon today!” Isn’t it odd how many times a person thinks they are the “only one” who has experienced a problem, yet ten others had the same issue or problem? Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “there is nothing new under the sun.”

Perhaps some of these suggestions will be an aid and help to you as you preach. As preachers, we hold a most serious opportunity to share God’s Word. On every pew, there are people hurting. May God help you as you visualize the auditorium where you preach. May you then see each person and their face as well as the name of each individual who will fill that pew. They are coming to worship God, and many are carrying a load on their mind and back that is simply too heavy to bear alone. God can use you brother, to lighten their load and draw them to Jesus. Remember, Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Let our sermons and our messages be from deep within, and our brothers and sisters will hear a good word about Jesus as we lift up Christ and His saving message of hope.

Steve Bailey, s.bailey@cocbrownstreet.org, Brown Street, Waxahachie, TX

The heat is our passion for Christ, any other stimuli will fail in the long run. This love you have must be growing –but “Love never ends” you never run out of words concerning what or who you truly love. Paul would say, “…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his suffering, becoming like him in his death,”.

A Race

Our life as a minister is like a race or a journey. Many start, few finish. Many get lost along the way. Others get tired and give up. Some just get bored. We even call this “Burn Out.” The fire just goes out. So how can you run your race to the finish? How can you “Finish the course?” You must avoid at all cost the ruts. Ruts are easy to get into but hard to get out of. And they will take you where you don’t want to go. I once saw a priest conducting a funeral. He has his “holy water” in a nasal spray bottle. So as he conducted his prayers and rituals with a board and indifferent look on his face, he was spraying water out of his “Afrin” bottle. I thought, “Now there is a man who is burned out.” Ruts will do that to you.

Here are some things that will help you stay on the path. Return to the basics. Re-study the fundamentals. See what you missed; you will be surprised. Sing some new songs. I am, after more than 50 years, changing the translation I preach form. This is really hard for me and a little scary. But, what I think will happen is I will be able to see the scripture afresh. The words will be a little different and even on different places on the page. I expect I will find some wonderful surprises, and I will have help getting out of those ruts.

Another thing we must do is give our outlines a rest. You don’t have to burn them just give them a sabbatical. One of the great blessings that I have received by staying with one congregation so long is I have been forced to keep studying. So work up some new lessons.

If you want to be preaching when you are old never stop studying. Try a new method of preaching. Never change the message but maybe the method. The church can change the method by getting a new messenger, why not beat them to the punch by changing the method.

I began my preaching with topical sermons. Then I discovered expository sermons. Now I am experimenting with a narrative approach.

Also, remember there are many messages out there that are not worthy of your time. Some are trivial, angry, or as Paul calls some “foolish controversies.”

Take those who listen to you to the cross. Stay with the important subjects. Now back to the best. Make sure you have passion for Christ. There is a lot of difference between loving to preach and loving Jesus. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t describe what you haven’t seen.

So get serious. Ask the hard questions. And like Peter by the lake, answer Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?”

Paul Shero, paul.shero@sgcoc.com South Gate in San Angelo, TX

by, dale jenkins

I read Paul’s words and at times, I feel I identify with him. I love how much he loved preaching the Gospel. I love his “oh wow, I can’t believe I get to do this” attitude. That’s when I feel like Paul. Listen: “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace…To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ithe unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Ephesians 3:7-8) and “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.

Amen” (1 Timothy 2:12-17).

I’m not in any way close to the vessel Paul was, but I do get the same feeling when I think that I have been so blessed to get to preach about Jesus! Why have I been so blessed to get to do this? It’s certainly not of me or because of some talent or goodness that is of myself!

Can I share with you in hopes of encouraging you, just a few of the reasons why I love to preach?

- Preaching helps me be a better person: Paul referred to himself as the chiefest of sinners. Some suggest this is a pneumatic device to “keep it real” and relatable. Some suggest he was speaking in hyperbole. I think he was stating exactly how he felt. There are times when I mess up again, when I find myself repenting of the same sin I’ve struggled with for years that I relate. While I strive to be, I am not worthy of the pulpit or the blessed precious privilege of holding forth the Word of Hope. But I have learned that being a preacher has made me a better man. As I am confronted with God’s truth, I must preach to myself and strive to live what I am saying. I often wonder what kind of person I would be if I did not have this daily confrontation with God’s righteousness. The fact is ministers are held to a higher standard by others and, for me, it makes me hold myself to a higher standard.

- Preaching helps keep my ego in check: I’m a human, I’m a man, I’m a Jenkins man…so I have an ego. All humans have egos, the question is will it be in control of the Lord or of yourself. As much as we were “…crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20) and as we

“present(ed) our bodies as a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1), we are still in the flesh, and that “living sacrifice” keeps slipping or crawling off the altar of our intentions (see Romans 7). Ego may not be the biggest sin you face, but as one who stands before God’s People each week and speaks with the authority from the Word of God, most preachers do have to keep that ego in check. Out of the Lord’s control your ego will express itself in many ways; all unhealthy. Whether it is via passive-aggressive, “I’m better” or “look at me and what I’ve done: statements, or self-condemning or self-aggrandizing comments, each draws attention to self and away from Jesus. Yes, a man of God can be out of control in this area. Add to this reality that the critical nature of some of our brethren can be downright mean and destructive; if my ego is in my control, I can be crushed. Or with others, the high-esteem confidence in those of us who preach can cause us to have a higher opinion of self than is healthy. Paul gives the Christ-centric and right approach: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself” (Philippians 2:3-7 and we could read further). Paul’s own amazement at being blessed to preach caused him to worship God, see above 1 Timothy 2:17. For me, preaching takes the focus off self and puts it on the Lord.

- Preaching gives me an opportunity to dig deeper into God’s Word: I love the discovery that comes from a deep dive into the text, into the words of the Word, into the things others have mined and notices about the Truth. My accountant friend spends his work day with numbers and wishes he had more time in the Word. I, on the other hand, am in a sense, paid to study the Word of God. What a blessing.

- Preaching connects me with people’s best and worst days (and I get to speak God’s Truth and exhibit God’s Love in each of them): This is the ministry side of preaching but if I were not a preacher I would not get this beautiful back-stage pass into people’s lives. And, it is not just the grand days like when their child is born, born anew, their wedding, or golden anniversary that we get to celebrate. We also get to be with them on the day the doctor tells them cancer has invaded and they want you to pray with them, when they lay their spouse of 60 years to rest, when the tragic call comes and melts their heart. You get to stand beside them, walk with them, take them to the Throne of God, lift up their eyes and help them see there is a future Home and there is hope in the hardest of days. As painful as those moments are, I love that I get to be a part of directing and comforting in those moments when I don’t even know what to say.

- Preaching puts me in company with the best people I know. God’s People BUT especially with God’s special Servants, YOU: I mean this first of all about ALL Christians. Christians are the best! These flawed bits of clay who love the Lord are my people. Whether it’s my wife, kids, a person who has been a Christian for decades or for only days, what a thrill to get to be a part of their efforts to live for God. But on a more personal level, my heroes have always been preachers and as one, I get to interact with the best of God’s ambassadors. I get a front row seat into your thinking, I get to sit across table from you and learn, I get to hear you pray in a more private setting, I get to ask you about how you “do ministry” and how your ministry is going. I get to see how you react to hurts and to victories.

- Preaching allows me to be a part of the wonderful work that God is doing in the world today: This is the greatest work in all the world! Remember the old Hamburger Helper commercials, we’re not the meal, but we get to help! We are not the message but we are the feet that brings those Good Tidings. My favorite verse on preaching is 2 Timothy 2:20-21 “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” I’m not a vessel of gold or silver, and learned long ago, I never will be, but here’s the good news. I get to be in the Master’s house. I get to be useful to the Master. I’m fine being wood or clay if I get to live with the Master and help in His Work. When dad would miss one of my ball games or some other “important” event, our mom would say: “Your dad would love to be here, but he is doing the greatest work in all the world.” He believed that, she believed that, and I do too. There is no greater work than God’s Work and preaching allows me to be a part of that.

Yes, I unabashedly love preaching, and I hope you do/will too!

Dale Jenkins, tji@TheJenkinsInstitute.com