My job

I recently started a verse-by-verse study of Jeremiah and Lamentations, which means you can expect a few devos from those books coming here and there for the next, oh I dunno, let’s say eight months. Early in the book, as the prophet is given his commission to preach, the Lord takes the opportunity to offer, essentially, His version of the job description of a prophet/preacher. Since that’s my job, and since, ultimately, it’s God who I work for, I took an obvious interest in what the Lord says I’m supposed to do…

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 

Jeremiah 1:10

The job of a preacher is to be more than just a public speaker; the role carries the weight of authority “over the nations and over the kingdoms.” I am answerable only to God regarding what I preach. No government, no bully, no eldership, no one has the right to silence my preaching of the truth. That doesn’t mean suggestions aren’t welcome. That doesn’t mean wisdom about when and how to preach something isn’t needed, but when it comes to the subject matter, not even I get to decide that. I preach what the Lord says.

Likewise, the job is about more than just telling stories; preachers must tear down evil and cultivate good. That’s described for us here with a gardening metaphor. If sin is a weed that ruins a nice garden, then the job of a prophet/preacher is to “root out, pull down, destroy, and throw away (down)” the weeds wherever they are found.

Having said that, a good gardener doesn’t just focus all his time on the weeds. To do so would mean neglecting the growth of the plants. Thus, a preacher/prophet must “build and plant” as well. The brethren must have evil exposed and sin rebuked, but they must also have good habits encouraged, and good deeds praised. This will be Jeremiah’s challenge

A preacher who only harps on evil will find his audience dwindling with every sermon. Likewise, a preacher who only ever preaches feel-good fluff will end up with an audience that’s increasingly apathetic to the dangers of the world. Both scenarios will result in a church that’s dead sooner or later.

The solution, as always, is balance.

I’m about to start my fifth year with you here at North Heights. You know what that means? That means the Honeymoon is over. That means fewer and fewer generic “aint it great to be saved” and “aint sin just the worst” kind of sermons. After a while, the “new preacher” stops being the new preacher and becomes just “the preacher.” Once you people start having me over for dinner, doing your weddings and funerals, and confiding in me your struggles that need prayer, I’m no longer just “that preacher we hired.” Once we get to that point, like it or not, I’m part of the family at North Heights. You’re stuck with me!

With that, comes the need for me to preach sermons that go deeper, hit harder, and touch hearts in more specific and personal ways. That means identifying sin, not just in general, but in ways it is affecting our North Heights family. It also means seeing opportunities for encouragement, not just generally, but in ways that will directly—positively—impact our North Heights family. You might have your toes stepped on more often. On the other hand, you might hear a sermon that feels like it was directly written for you (in a good way!). It won’t be an accident.

It’s my job.

~ Matthew