The Ol' Summer Break 8.17.2023

    I was able to slow down a little last week. Two consecutive weeks of camp left me tired, feeling a little sick, and a bit behind. This week has been much more “normal” (what exactly is normal for a preacher)? For me, that means lots of study. I am in week 3 of a 4-week series which gives me just over 2 weeks to do the preliminary work for an exegetical series from Philippians. I spent some time organizing and reading resources last week and that will continue for the next couple of weeks. 

    Thousands of pages to read. Reference materials and introductions to commentaries. Historical background materials, linguistic issues, and exegetically significant literature for Philippians. I try and keep the “pile” organized and go through it systematically. When it comes time to move on to individual sermon exegesis, I will leave the preliminary work behind me. 

    Back in the olden days, literature for preaching assumed that the preacher would have an entire month for his summer holiday. Can you imagine? A month for leisure and rest combined with mornings of targeted reading. While I am organizing resources it is not uncommon for me to make the comment “Wow, I understand why someone might need a research assistant.” I enjoy organizing, sequencing, and reading. Yet it would be nice to have a little help. How much more awesome would it be to spend a month away with mornings reserved for study and afternoons devoted to time with my wife!? 

    That is a 19th-century pipe dream that is never coming back. The key is to find refreshment in the daily grind of the grand work to which God has called us. I find it odd when preachers are advised to separate their “devotional” activities from their work studies. The prospective danger is that when we get too close to our work, we take it for granted and it no longer impacts our spiritual life. 

    It seems to me that what is preferable is a man who is so infected by his work that the 12 hours he spends in his study, whether in reading scripture, praying, doing detailed exegesis, preparing worship services, or attending to pastoral matters is both spiritually refreshing and productive.  

    No summer break? No problem. We are allowed, every day to study scripture. I am allowed to immerse myself in the Holy Word and given the time not only to allow it to speak to my spirit but to inform my mind so that I can communicate clearly and accurately what God says to His people. There is no better job and no more satisfying task. Take a break? From this? You must be joking! Even when “away” we should always be engaged. If you do not find refreshment in the proclamation of the Word, you might not be suited for the task.