Sermon Preparation

Sometimes people ask me, "So what do you do all week?" Pastors have interesting jobs in that we tend to do a lot of different things, including counseling and cleaning, research and repair, ministry and maintenance. (I was taught in school that writing in three's and alliterating were effective communication tools—I use them sometimes, but mostly I find them amusing.)

Yet the most important thing I do each week is deliver the sermon on Sunday. That's the time when I have an opportunity to be used by God to reach the greatest number of people. So I really enjoy preaching. And that means I need to prepare a message each week.

Don't get me wrong, I love studying the Bible. But sometimes it is hard for me to stay on task during sermon prep each week. I take Friday's off, so that means that my sermon needs to be done by the end of the day Thursday. That means that Thursday is crunch day.

I liken sermon preparation to writing a term paper each week. I probably spend in the neighborhood of 8 hours on each sermon. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less. It's easy for me to go down a rabbit trail, studying something that really doesn't apply to the sermon. It's also easy for me to get distracted by an email or some news online.

So that's part of what I do each week.

Boomer Blogging

I read several blogs regularly, because I use Outlook, and have it set to download a few blogs automatically. Josh's recent experience with appendicitis was fodder for a whole lot of posts on his blog, and I get a kick out of reading Brenda Boston's blog, and I'm following Larry & Krista Lain's in Mongolia.

But I just don't seem to take the time to blog myself. I realized that when I saw Josh's favorite blogs. Mine is listed, and it said that my last blog was 4 month ago. OK, now it doesn't say that any more.

I've had an interesting summer full of physical work at church. Brad and I spent 2-3 weeks ripping out the termite and rot infested lumber in the walls of our church, and replacing them with a solid structure. Then I moved into outdoor mode and spent the last several weeks working on the new lawn north of our church. A lot of people put in a lot of time, clearing rocks out of the soil, leveling the field, installing irrigation, and sowing seed. The grass is starting to sprout now.

Growth takes time, and you really can't hurry it up. You can prepare the soil, make sure there is enough water, sow the seed, and then let God work. It's that way for grass, and it is that way for people too.

Bribes

I really haven't had to deal with bribes, living in what is probably the most open and honest society in the world, and I am grateful for that. But when I have travelled overseas, and when I have spoken with those who do so often, there has arisen the question of whether or not we should offer bribes when they are expected/demanded.

It is the American Christian assumption that giving bribes is corrupt, unethical, and unbiblical. So I decided to check out what the Bible has to say about bribes.

The word "bribe" or "bribes" is used 27 times in the NIV. Of those, there are many instructions not to take bribes, but not one command to not give a bribe. In fact, Proverbs 17:8 says, "A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds." Receiving bribes is unbiblical. Giving bribes works, according to the Bible. As far as I can tell, the Bible is silent about the ethics of giving a bribe.

However, the Bible is not silent about giving things to authorities when those authorities demand it of you. Jesus himself told his disciples to give to the Roman soldiers even more than they asked for.

In Luke 6:27-30, Jesus instructs those who were being unfairly treated by the Roman law enforcement troops:
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

And in Romans 12:18-21 Paul writes:
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”  says the Lord.  On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Maybe if when a corrupt official expects a bribe, he is not thinking as a corrupt person, but is just operating in the only system he knows. And when we righteous American Christians refuse to give him the bribe he thinks he deserves, it just confirms in his mind what he already had heard--that American Christians are cheapskates.

On the other hand, we don't want to be taken advantage of, wasting the money God has entrusted us with.

What it all boils down to is is this: What did Jesus say we should do?