Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 107
November 2, 2015
Will Christ Confess You? (Sermon)
Series: REVELATION! Letters from Jesus to the Churches
Title: Will Christ Confess You?
Text: Revelation 3:1-6
Date: November 1, 2015 AM
Place: Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
Speaker: Pastor Ken Pierpont
I Don’t Care What You Think
I’ll tell you what I think…
Let me tell you how I feel…
It seems to me…
I was once taught that good decisions require good information. Intuition, emotions, feelings, opinions, even human logic are not an adequate basis for good decisions. When we are making vital life-altering decisions we need good information. We need truth. The Word of God is truth. When you need to make a good decision, see what God has to say about it. What does the Bible say and where does it say it?
1. Don’t base your decisions on how you feel–your emotions.
2. Don’t base your decisions on what you think–your logic.
3. Don’t base your decisions on texts of the Bible that are not addressing the issue you are discussing.
4. Base your decisions on a careful, thoughtful understanding of the right texts of Scripture. The first question to ask when wrestling-through any issue or Biblical question is: “What are the key passages of Scripture that clearly address this issue or question?” After we have discovered those texts then we need to go to work to see to it that we have handled those passages accurately. This is hermeneutics… the art and science of interpreting texts.
When you are discussing a Biblical issue listen to yourself. Are you continually saying “I think” or “I feel” or “It seems to me”? These phrases indicate that you are not building your views on a firm, biblical foundation. It really is not important what I think or how I feel. What is paramount is “What has God said?”
Can I be blunt? I don’t care how you feel or what you think…
And you shouldn’t care what I think…
You need to know what God has said.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
November 2, 2015
October 30, 2015
No Show
(Classic re-post from 2001)
This weekend I spoke to a father-son retreat at a small camp. There were only a couple dozen guys there but there was a sweet spirit among them and good fellowship. A fifteen year old boy stood and lead singing with a guitar and the men sang with obvious zeal and conviction. As I drove away my heart was full. I knew we had met with the Lord. To get back to Fremont in time for Sunday school and church I had to leave without speaking to anyone, but someday in eternity I believe I will see some fruit from what happened this weekend. I am convinced the Lord met with us there.
When I am asked to preach in a jail or rest home or in a small meeting or country church I always go if I possibly can. I’m sure I learned this from my parents who have served God in humble, faithful anonymity for over forty years. Sometimes they served in country villages so small the traffic didn’t even slow down. Jesus did the same thing. He once said; “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
One summer evening when I was a boy still lives in my memory. It was the Lord’s Day in New Carlisle, Indiana. Mom and Dad worked briefly with a church there and decided to start a Sunday evening service. They knew attendance would be small at first but they were a little surprised when no one showed up for the service at all. I expected my Dad to cancel the service but he went right ahead as if there was a crowd of 300. He prayed, gave announcements, and lead singing while Mom played the piano. At first my sister and I were the whole congregation.
About twenty minutes into the service the back door slowly opened and an elderly couple walked in. They were my mom’s aunt Betty and uncle Bill. They lived about a half-hour away in South Bend. Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill were not believers and they never attended church. They came out of kindness to Mom and Dad, sat quietly through the rest of the service and left.
Mom stopped them on the steps of the old church house and there, while my sister and I caught fire-flies on the lawn in the failing light of a summer evening, aunt Betty and Uncle Bill stepped over the threshold of faith into the family of God.
Some people questioned the sincerity of their decision but after a few weeks it was obvious to anyone who knew them that after years of hard living and unconcern about the things of God their lives were greatly changed.
They walked faithfully with the Lord for the rest of their lives and went to be with Him peacefully within an hour of each other one night. They were faithful to the Lord and to each other until death.
During my ministry I have preached countless times to tiny groups in humble churches and homes, jails, hospitals, and rest home chapels. From time-to-time it is my privilege to speak to a large group of people in a coveted place. But no matter where I preach I always try to remember that God often does really big things in really small places. And when the crowd is small and the place is humble I try to pour out my heart as if someone’s Aunt Betty or Uncle Bill are there hearing the sweet story of Jesus’ love for the very first time. The way I see it no job is small if it is an assignment from the King of kings.
(six years after the incident described in the first paragraph of this story I was called to pastor the church that sponsored the retreat–ironic that I had written; “someday in eternity I believe I will see some fruit from what happened this weekend…”).
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
October 30, 2015
October 29, 2015
Boring Sermons?
The Problem of Boring Sermons. Let’s be honest… On Sunday morning it’s easy to let your mind drift or get mentally lost when the pastor is preaching. I have preached every Sunday morning and most Sunday nights and Wednesday nights for the last 36 years and hundreds of times in-between. I know what I’m talking about. I can usually tell when someone’s mind is wandering off to the lunch menu or their fantasy football team. I do my best to capture and hold the attention of people, but it helps a lot if both the the guy in the pulpit and the folk in the pew are working at it.
Questions. Here is a good way to make the message more interesting, if your pastor announces his text ahead of time. This works well when your pastor is preaching through a book of the Bible so you can anticipate what portion of Scripture he is going to preach from. Read the passage ahead of time starting early in the week so the passage is on your mind and in your heart all week. Read or listen to the passage from a few different translations and paraphrases. Now here is the key thing to make the messages more interesting. Write down any questions that come to your mind. Pepper the text of scripture with questions. Who, what, where, when, and why. It’s also helpful to ask “So what?” Here are three more great questions to ask…. (These are questions you can ask in your heart while the pastor is preaching) What does the text say? What does that mean? What does that mean to me? When you answer these three questions you are observing, interpreting, and applying Scripture.
What does it say: Observation.
What does it mean: Interpretation.
What does it mean to me: Application.
By all means if you ask questions of the text the message will be more interesting because as the pastor preaches he will be answering the questions you have been carrying in your heart all week. If you want the sermon to be more interesting read the Scripture ahead of time and ask questions of the text.
Don’t Belch and Walk Away. Early this morning I had a hospital visit. It was dark when I pulled into my parking place at the church. I thought about supper last night. Lois had made a delicious beef stew and had it ready for me when I finally got home after a late meeting. I took a minute to send her a text to let her know how much I appreciated the meal and the cozy atmosphere she always creates in our home. Don’t forget to pray for your pastor and encourage him by interacting in a positive way about his preaching. He spends many hours a week in preparation. It’s good to know that you just don’t eat, belch, and walk away without gratefulness or thought.
Additional Tip: Get a good study Bible. I recommend the John MacArthur Study Bible or the ESV Study Bible. These will help you think more deeply about the text. Every week when I begin to study my text I am tempted to believe that the passage is not interesting or applicable to my life. The more I dig the more fascinating and relevant it is. The more I study, the more I see how all the pieces fit together into a single picture.
Pastor Ken Pierpont
Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
October 29, 2015
October 26, 2015
Return to the Ark of Salvation!
Last week I preached a three-day revival at the Ark of Salvation in Atlanta, Georgia. The church is pastored by Nathaniel Bronner Jr. His brothers C. Elijah and James Bonner are also pastors on staff.
The folk at the Ark are some of the warmest and most wonderful people I have ever spoken to. The are unmatched in their hospitality. It was a delightful weekend. They went out of their way to get me back to Detroit so I could be back in the Evangel Pulpit on Sunday Morning.
Lois and I visited the Ark ten years ago and I was delighted to be asked to return. I shared with the Ark Congregation three messages based on the Grand Master Key to the Universe. I believe these are some of the most important messages I have ever written.
During the warm weekend I was able to get out and take a few walks and spend some time thinking and praying with a quiet heart under the Georgia Pines. The Ark congregation is fill of joyfulness. They express their faith with incredible energy. They deeply love Jesus. their music and worship is high-energy. They respond to my kind of preaching with explosive enthusiasm. While I was there I had time to think with deep sadness about some of the tensions in our nation between people groups because of their differences. I wonder what would happen if all of us who a followers of Jesus would spend time getting to know brothers and sisters in Christ who are different from us.
This morning I’m overwhelmed with the goodness of God to allow me to preach the riches of Christ at Evangel and so many other places. I am humbled at the kindness shown me from Pastors Bronner and the congregation and staff of the Ark of Salvation. A special thanks to Suzanne and Rev. Robert and Sharlotte Williams. I will continually pray for the Ark of Salvation and the Bronner brothers and follow their ministry with great interest.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
October 26, 2014
He Searches Minds and Hearts (Sermon)
Series: REVELATION! Letters from Jesus to the Churches
Title: He Searches Minds and Hearts
Text: Revelation 2:18-29
Place: Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
Speaker: Ken Pierpont
October 18, 2015
The Suffering Church (Sermon)
Series: REVELATION!
Title: The Suffering Church
Text: Revelation 2:8-11
Date: October 11, 2015 AM
Speaker: Ken Pierpont
Place: Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
The Suffering Church
Series: REVELATION!
Title: The Suffering Church
Text: Revelation 2:8-11
Date: October 11, 2015 AM
Speaker: Ken Pierpont
Place: Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
How to Resist Becoming a Worldly Church (Sermon)
Series: REVELATION! Letters from Jesus to the Churches
Title: How to Resist Becoming a Worldly Church
Text: Revelation 2:12-17
Place: Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Michigan
Date: October 18, 2015
October 15, 2015
Pirates in the Park
On the way home from the study every evening I pass a park filled with pirates, dozens of them every autumn night. They are Riverview Pirates, young Riverview football players practicing for thier Saturday games. They wear bright yellow pants and burgundy jerseys. When I see them I always feel a pang of memory… sweet memory of a year I spent watching each Riverview Pirate practice and game with intense interest.
I had skin in the game-literally. Our youngest son, Wesley was once a Riverview Pirate. He was, in fact, everything his dad ever dreamed of being and was not…. Wes was the starting quarterback on offense. He was the middle linebacker on defense. He was the punter and he was a kick-returner. He played every down of every game. I suppose in the interest of full-disclosure I should tell you that the team did not win many games. But it was an unforgettable year.
Every weekday I tried to arrange my schedule so that I could be leaning on the fence watching every practice and standing on the sideline at the line of scrimmage for every snap of the ball come football Saturday.
I have a vivid and wonderful memory of a night game under the lights. I was in the stands with Daniel, Wesley’s next-older brother, when Wes took the snap, faked a pass and ran around the right end for sixty-five yards and a touchdown. We shouted and celebrated. To us it was bigger than the SuperBowl.
It seems like Wesley grew up quietly. He was easy to raise. Obedient. Respectful. Good to his mother. A fine son. He is a hard worker. He worked with men from the church and they always had good things to say about his work-ethic. He made us grateful.
Then one summer evening He took his old Ford truck and he drove off to college. The week before we had spent some time together on North Manitou Island with his brothers and his little nephew, Kyle Kenneth. It was memorable to say that least. You can read all about that
here and here and here and here and here and here.
I was speaking at camp in Northern Michigan when he left for college. I saw the picture he posted–a shot of the setting sun over the hood of his truck on the way to college in Grand Rapids. I called his mother who was closed away from the rest of the family in her room weeping. Her baby boy was gone. His room empty. After a year his time in Grand Rapids he followed Dan, as he so often has, this time to New Mexico and then to Texas to work in oil and then in geo-thermal drilling.
News began to filter back of coming-of-age, of hard, dangerous work, and then of a young lady, Dylan. Her pictures were beautiful. We looked into the stunning blue eyes of this young lady in the pictures that began to surface on social media. Our son, who had no intention of getting serious about a girl changed his mind.
Dylan is a devoted and sincere Christ-follower. She took a break from her studies and spent a month on a mission in Kenya with her church. She fell in love with our boy. He fell in love with her.
Last Saturday night he took her to dinner in Ft. Worth at an outdoor restaurant. After dinner he took her for a walk along the river and surprised her with a special gift–tickets to a concert with one of her favorite bands. They drove to the concert. In the middle of the concert the lead singer called Wesley forward. He asked Dylan to come with him. He said; “Don’t you have a question you want to ask Dylan?”
Wes dropped to his knee and held a diamond engagement ring out to Dylan. She held her hands over her face for a moment in joyful surprise… and then said yes. They embraced. The concert-goers burst into loud applause.
Wes has taken a job in West Michigan. Dylan will follow him. They will marry in Austin in early January.
On the way home from the study on an autumn evening I look over at the young pirates in the park and I always think of Wesley. I remember the little blond boy in the drive riding without training wheels at three. I remember a couple years when he wrote and performed creative Christian rap. He went down in the basement and worked for hours on those songs. When he left I went to his room and paged through the journals where he worked out the lyrics. I remember hundreds of times when he quietly listened to my messages over in the Pierpont section, second row, piano side. Far right section. I remember trips to camp, thoughtful gifts, and birthday breakfasts. I remember his great love for Christmas, Christmas music and Christmas books. I remember his quiet loyalty, his special affection for his mother, his quiet kindness to his sisters. His affectionate ways. I remember the night at summer camp when he began to take hold spiritually and follow Christ with a personal faith.
Driving by the park on an autumn evening, passing the football practice usually a happy tear forms in the corner of my eye. Then I brush it away. People say of all the children Wesley looks the most like me. I wonder if he and Dylan will have a child with her stunning blue eyes.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
October 15, 2015
