Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

I have a great respect for people in the construction trades.  Plumbers, carpenters, electricians and many others help build our homes, schools, churches and industries.

One of the things that they have in common is the “tools of their trade.”  Each craftsman has to have specific tools in order to do their work.  That is why many of them drive pickup trucks filled with saws, hammers, wire cutters and pipe wrenches.

Pastors and teachers have their own “tools of the trade.”  One of their tools is books.  Teachers use books to help their students read and learn, and for preparing their lessons.  Students use books to learn on their own.

Pastors use books to study and prepare sermons, and for Bible lessons.  We use them to broaden our understanding of theology and gain insight into passages in the Bible.

Today, many pastors and teachers are using books and other resources that are available on the Internet.   The number of these resources is almost unlimited.

I have gathered my “tools of the trade” over the past 45 years.  I have books that I purchased decades ago that are still very helpful in my studies.  Some of the books in my library were given to me as gifts from friends, family and church members.

In addition, I have dozens of notebooks filled with over 40 years of sermons, study notes and illustrations.  I am grateful that I have preserved years of material that I can refer to as I prepare new studies and sermons.

I have often told the people at our church that if there is ever a fire on our property, don’t worry about the music equipment or office computers – save my books!  These are priceless resources that cannot be replaced.

When the Apostle Paul was near the end of his earthly ministry, he wrote a letter to his young apprentice, Timothy.  In that letter he instructed Timothy, “When you come, bring the books and the parchments that I left with Carpus,” (2 Timothy 4:13).

These resources were some of the “tools of Paul’s trade.”  They were portions of the Bible and other resources that he used in his ministry.  Even in his older years, he had an insatiable desire to keep on learning.

What are the tools of your trade?  For many people today, it is their smart phone and computer.  For others, it may be some specialized piece of equipment or a motorized wheelchair.

Whatever your “tools” are, treat them with care and use them to help others.  You will be glad you did, and they will, too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Ave. Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org.