Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 87
January 31, 2017
On The Last Night of January (Podcast #63)
The last morning of January lay a cold, beautiful, white blanket across our world. During the daytime the temperatures rose, melting the snow on the roads and walks and leaving the branches and grass dressed in white. January had been mild—one continuous January thaw—so the snow was a welcome change that did no harm.
We are longing to feel the warm sunshine on our heads, but we are Michigan people—people of the north-and we are deep in the heart of winter, so while we wait we are content with a book and a cup of coffee by the fire looking out on the snow-covered world.
We add a log to the fire. We tend to the birds. We walk in the snow. We devote the time that we would be mowing the grass and tending to the yard in warmer times to a good book or a creative project.
One of the secrets of happiness is to learn quiet contentment with what God has provided for this moment. Spring will come in it’s time as spring always does. God is good and all that he does is good. Now it’s winter—it’s God’s good winter.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
January 31, 2017
January 30, 2017
January 29, 2017
Why Church? (Audio)
Series: Ephesians
Title: Why Church?
Text: Ephesians 2:11-22
January 29, 2017 AM
Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
Pastor Ken Pierpont
January 24, 2017
The Difference Jesus Makes (Audio)
Series: Ephesians
Sermon: The Difference Jesus Makes
Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
Pastor Ken Pierpont
January 22, 2017 AM
January 15, 2017
How to Experience the Power of God (Sermon Audio)
Series: Ephesians
Sermon: How to Experience the Power of God
Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
Pastor Ken Pierpont
Evangel Baptist Church–Taylor, Michigan
January 15, 2017AM
January 11, 2017
Vertical Preaching
I read a book Monday. It was powerful. To me it is worthwhile if I get an illustration or insight or two out of each book I read. Sometimes, though, there is a powerful moment of enlightenment when you are reading a book and you know that you have been instantly changed by a shaft of truth-light falling powerfully on your soul. That happened on Monday.
Often in preaching I have paused to make self-deprecating comments or gestures. Beyond being distracting and an interruption from the main flow of the message, those who love me most have often told me they are something I should remove from my messages. Until Monday I did not understand why that was so profoundly true. Reading this passage showed me why those comments and gestures have no place in the preaching of the Word of God. See if you see it, too:
“We have all seen the preacher who is so self-conscious that the voice of God is lost. Do you like me? Do you think I am interesting? Am I keeping your attention? Did you find that humorous? Am I pushing you too hard? Are you glad you’re here? Will you come back next week? Have I spoken too long? Am I doing a good job? When such issues of insecurity plague the mind of the preacher ad nauseam, God’s voice in the sermon is silenced. Nothing stifles the Vertical thunder like a horizontal preacher full of insecurities because he sees his role larger than it actually is.” (James MacDonald, Vertical Church pg. 220)
The rest of the book is powerful containing many rich insights. I am cautious of movements which have one powerful, dynamic, human leader, but the book Vertical Church is worth your time. Maybe you will find yourself wonderfully on your face before God as I did Monday.
Ken Pierpont
Evangel–Taylor, Michigan
January 11, 2107
January 9, 2017
Chosen and Cherished (Sermon Video)
Series: Ephesians
Title: Ephesians 1:1-14
Evangel Baptist Church-Taylor, Michigan
Pastor Ken Pierpont
January 8, 2017 AM
January 3, 2017
Praying in The Night
Up in the early hours praying for a burden for another. This is what I see from my chair. This tree will stay lit all year at Granville Cottage (our humble home) as a reminder that everything that makes Christmas an enchanting and wonderful time of the year is a part of every Christian’s life every day. Forgiveness. Giving. Music focused on Christ. Love.
I love the words Dickens put in the mouth of Ebenezer Scrooge; “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year long.”
