Ken Blue Ministries

THE SERMON
1#
How to prepare the sermon
By Ken Blue

Sermons topics fall into dozens of categories, and yet there are pastors who think there is only one right way to prepare and deliver God’s word. Most, who adhere to the “one method only”, teach that the expository sermon is the only Scriptural approach to Bible preaching. However, there are those who are confident that the expository method is the surest way to kill a church. They think the topical sermon is the only way to go. Regardless of the methods or styles used, there are some helpful rules the preacher should consider and follow.

The sermon has five parts to it. These are the (1) the title, (2) the text, (3) the introduction, (4) the body and (5) the conclusion. Any one of these, if ignored and not planned properly, can cause the whole structure to collapse and make the sermon ineffective. Some sermons go awry in the introduction. It introduces nothing; and the congregation is at a loss concerning the preacher’s purpose or intent for the sermon. At other times the catastrophe is in the body of the message or in the conclusion.

Some will argue that the text always determines the subject, but that is not true. There will be occasions when the pastor is called upon to preach a funeral, a wedding, an ordination, a missions or a stewardship conference. In these and other similar situations, the pastor will have chosen a subject for his message; he must now seek for a text to support it. Topical sermons often require this approach. The pastor may select a list of topics to preach, and then he will search the scriptures for textual support for them.

There is virtually no limit to the sermon subjects one can preach. It is important not to attempt too much at one time. An example of this is seen when a young preacher announced that his subject today “God, The Universe and Other Things.” That is a pretty broad subject. Pastors should select simple, practical and helpful subjects for his sermons. The “KISS” rule should apply; Keep It Simple Stupid. As the pastor grows in knowledge and grace, his list of subjects and topics will increase
(We will discuss the importance of the sermon title.)

THE SERMON TEXT
# 3
By Ken Blue

Several fallacies surround the idea that the text determines the sermon. It does not. For example, if you are going to preach a wedding, you already know the occasion and the subject. You now search for a text to support the event. The same is true with the funeral. You begin your search for a text you feel appropriately supports your purpose. When you preselect a topic to teach, you then search for scripture to support it. In each case, the event or topic dictates the scripture you will use.
Almost every sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles was a topical message. It would be difficult to find a sermon by the great Charles Spurgeon that is not topical in nature. The 500 sermons by DeWitt Talmage are all topical. Most of the messages by the prophets, by the Lord Jesus and by the Apostle Paul were topical. So, the assumption that the best method is the verse by verse expository method will not stand the test of Scripture.

Having said that, let us not assume that book studies or expository preaching should be neglected. They should not. I believe every book in the Bible should be taught and preaches. Doctrinal and word studies are important. The problem facing many pastors is that they have not learned how to make these studies relevant and helpful to the believers or the lost. They are dispensers of information but not agents of transformation.

When preaching books of the Bible, it best to look at the paragraphs within the chapter and then seek for the one point the Holy Spirit is teaching. The topic should be extracted from the paragraph; the surrounding verses will support your topic and purpose for the message.

Some books do not lend themselves to the above method. Two of these are Leviticus and Proverbs. When dealing with books like these, it is best to look for a topic and then cross-reference to other passages within the book to support the topic or subject.

For the beginning pastor, it is best to choose the smaller books to teach. Stay out of the deep waters until you learn to swim. Don’t be a parrot, simply regurgitating what others have said. Before you study for your sermon, pray and ask God to show you things He wants you to emphasize. The average preacher is preaching in the third person, at people, not to them. What I mean is he stands before others, telling them about people and events that have no relevance, significance or bearing on their daily lives.

As you can see, the text may or may not determine the sermon. If one chooses the topical method only, people may not understand the structure and dispensational nature of God’s Word. So, mix it up. Unless a pastor has mastered the expository method of preaching, he must take care, least he become too “teachy” and stunt the growth of his members and membership growth.

LIFE’S BREVITY

By Ken Blue

Life is entered amid the tears,
Like the weavers shuttle; flies.
Like a vapor, it disappears,
Like clouds in the restless skies.

Life is measured, as but a span;
Only threescore years and ten.
As brief as the breadth of a hand;
One step from cradle to end.

Life’s compared to a breeze that blows;
For some, in turbulence spent.
Allusive, as the wind it goes,
For the troubled and content.

Life’s a shadow cast by the sun;
Shades of a purpose unseen.
Fleeting; it’s always on the run;
As a token placed between.

Life’s as water spilt on the ground,
It dries and it disappears.
Search is vain, it cannot be found;
Untraceable; as grief’s tears.

Life’s mirage, on the horizon,
Keeps dancing, slipping away.
Charming; with deceit devising,
A game with the mind to play.

Life passes as a leaf that fades;
Its home; the awaiting sod.
Although, gloriously arrayed,
It quickly returns to God.

MILKSHAKES AND ORANGE JUICE
By Ken Blue

“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matthew 25:15.

Capacity differs from person to person. Thank God, the capacity of some things can change. A few years ago I was at Denny’s restaurant for breakfast. After placing my order, I told the waitress I would like a grass of orange juice. When the order came, the glass was full, but I couldn’t help but notice how small it was! It must have been about 6 oz. One gulp and it was gone!

Some months later, my granddaughter and I pulled into the drive-through at Dairy Queen and ordered milkshakes. When they came; were we surprised? Each container was approximately 16 to 18 oz! They were filled to the brim, and we were delighted at the task before us.

There is a great difference between people and fixed containers. People can grow and increase in capacity. The above text confirms that every man and woman is given different capacity and is expected to increase. I hesitate to tell anyone that God has given them only one talent. It is easy to justify complacency and lack of drive, if we assume we have reached our potential. We must face the truth; there are those with greater capacity than ourselves. However, God expects us to at least double that which He has entrusted to us. If you are an orange juice glass or a milkshake container, your purpose is clear and capacity fixed. But, you are not, so, don’t settle for less than your best for the Lord Jesus.

THE SERMON TITLE
# 2
By Ken Blue

‘For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8.

In my first article on the sermon, I stated that there are five steps in the construction of the sermon. These are: (1) the title, (2) the text, (3) the introduction, (4) the body and (5) the conclusion. Obviously, many pastors fail to understand the purpose or the power in the title. In fact, I have heard sermons that did not have a purpose or a title. If the preacher had one, he never let anyone in on his secret. Remember, in preaching, there is a difference between the subject, the theme and the title. The subject (doctrine), may be God. The theme may be the love of God; whereas, the title would state a specific example or personal application of God’s love.

Some years ago I took my first book to the local bookstore, and I asked them to place it on their shelf and sell it for me. The manager said, “Pastor Blue, I am sure the content of your book is good. But, the old saying is still true; it is the cover that sells the book.” He did not stock my book, and I have since attempted to improve the covers.

The same principle applies when choosing a sermon title. It must get the interest and attention of people, if you expect them to come. People are not searching for truth; they are looking for answers to life’s problems and pain. Of course, we know it is the truth that will set them free; but if we can’t get them through the doors, we cannot give them the truth they need.

The title should state in capsule form what the sermon is about, and there should be no doubt as to its purpose. One pastor copied the following sermon titles from a local newspaper. - “On the Road to Jericho,” - “No Longer Walking on the Other Side of the Road,” - “The Gathering Storm,” - “Peter Goes Fishing,” - “The Ministry of Cracked Pots,” - “Becoming a Titus,” - “Give Me Agape,” - “River of Blood,” and - “No Such Thing as a Rubber Clock.” You can see why no lost person would be drawn to church to hear these sermons. It is impossible for the lost to tell what the purpose is or how it would help anyone.

If you are trying to be cute, any title will do, but if you are attempting to reach the un-churched, the title must reflect the intent of the message in no uncertain terms. Here are some examples of understandable and helpful titles. “Five Steps to a Debt-Free Life,”- “How to Start Over When You’ve Failed.”- “How You Can Avoid the Four Marriage Busters”. - “How You Can Know God Exist.”- “How You Can Know God Loves You”. - “What You Can Learn From Your Pain”. - “Discovering Your Purpose in Life”. Each title is clear and addresses needs and questions the un-churched have.

D. L. Moody said, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” The sermon title is the message in a nutshell. The sermon, itself, should explain, inform, and apply the truth contained in the title.

THE UNSEEN PRISON
By Ken Blue

There is an unseen prison,
With bolts, chains and bars.
The floor is ever changing;
Despair hides the stars.

The prison holds victims firm;
They lack strength or will.
Human efforts to escape,
Those walls; victor still.

The walls are of fleshly lust,
Ceilings, mans own pride.
Floors crafted of impure thoughts,
Where the captives hide.

No light shines in that dungeon;
Darkness rules that den.
The walls, bars, and the ceilings;
All forged from our sins.

The slaves firmly shackled there,
Despair hour by hour.
Their hope for a full release,
An external power.

Jesus is the unseen Door;
Death, freedoms merit.
His grace sets the captives free;
Led by His Spirit.

There is an unseen prison,
With bolts, chains and bars.
Full pardon is provided,
Written in His scars.

Romans 6:11-16

A THREEFOLD CORD
By Ken Blue

“A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ec 4:12. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1Jo 2:16.

The “cord” is used several ways in Scripture; some are positive, some are negative. A threefold cord consists of three smaller cords braided together to make a strong rope. Obviously, it would have three times the holding power of a single cord.

John says all the sins of the world are classified in three categories; they are the flesh, the eye and pride. Any one of these cords is strong enough to subdue the strongest of men, but when a man is bound by all three, only God’s power can release him.

The lust of the flesh: The word “lust” speaks of desire, or the object of desire. It is anything which pampers the appetites, or indulgence animal tendencies. Our culture lives for this, and it is the lowest form of worldly indulgence. It includes comforts, food, sex, alcohol, drugs and a host of other addictions. This cord has most of the world in bondage.

The lust of the eye: Not everything pleasant to the eye is sin. God has made the eye with the ability to appreciate the beautiful. God made trees that were “pleasant to the sight”. The cord here is that which is intended to gratify the sight only. Examples of this are costly clothing, jewels, elegant furniture, impressive palaces, etc. Peter speaks of those having eyes full of adultery. Sadly, most women and young girls dress with the intent to have men lust after them. Many of the great men in the Bible were shamed or destroyed through the lust of the eyes. No wonder Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would have no sin.”

The pride of life: The meaning has to do with boasting of one’s talents, accomplishments, appearance and ambitions. Pride can manifest itself in many ways, it is impossible to list all of them. The one thing that keeps the lost man from salvation is his pride. Pride can be laid at the feet of most arguments, divorces and wars. God hates a proud look; no doubt because we have nothing to be proud of. It was this sin that caused the fall of Satan. Pride always precedes a fall; yours and mine.

Any one of these cords is more than enough to bind men and women and send them to hell. However, the three combined create an impossible situation. The only hope of release is to humble yourself and turn to Jesus Christ as your only hope. He came to set the captives free! A threefold cord is not easily broken; but He can break it!

WHY SOME CHURCHES CANNOT GROW
By Ken Blue

Dr. Tom Malone said, “An expert is any old spurt away from home.” I am not an “expert” on any topic. However, over the years, I have observed a few things that hinder the numerical and spiritual growth of a church. I list some of them, but not in any order of importance.

Location and facilities: Where a church is located is important. I have seen whole communities change culturally and racially in a few short years. When that happens, it will have a dramatic impact on the church. The church must make a change in its culture or sell the building to those who are part of the emerging culture.

Another factor that hurts church growth is the condition, the age and the configuration of the buildings. Some people will tolerate an old building, but they will not accept a dirty and unkempt one. Paint and water are inexpensive; so, spruce up the place. If you are in the wrong location, consider a move.

Outreach and marketing: There are two colossal errors concerning outreach. One is the misconception that door to door soul winning is the only key to outreach. Secondly, that the word “marketing” is unscriptural. Statistics prove that 80% of the people, who visit a church, do so because a friend or family member invite them. Less than 1% come as a result of door to door soul winning. However, if that’s your only method, the percentage would be 100% in your case. Churches could learn from the world and the cults what effective methods they are using to reach the masses and apply them where appropriate. The world is wiser in this matter than most churches.

The pastor might as well save church money and stop advertizing in the newspaper and phonebook. Young couples use the internet and watch television. Have the best web page possible for your church and have it designed to reach the un- churched. Place radio and television ads when finances allow. Do brainstorming and discover every method available; then use the ones you approve. Pastor Al Hughes, recently started a “Sign Ministry.” The positive results are worth looking into. Most growing churches have found that promoting three or four big days through the year will attract the community, if planned and promoted properly.

Atmosphere and attitude: It never enters the mind of some pastors how important the atmosphere of a church is. Every business owner understands its importance or he goes out of business. Pay attention to the next store or restaurant you visit. Notice how they try to appeal to those who enter their doors. If you are unimpressed, you will not return.

The selection and style of music is critical here. Some of the best preachers I know kill their church with dead, somber music. Someone has correctly said, “You cannot have an Episcopalian song service, a Lutheran sermon and a Pentecostal invitation.” The atmosphere and attitude should be positive, exciting, uplifting and enjoyable. The lighting, the decor and colors are all important. Many churches have a funeral home atmosphere and then wonder why everyone looks dead.

Preaching and personality: When it comes to reaching people, it may surprise you to learn that your personality may be more important than your preaching ability. That may explain why many of the best preachers have the smaller churches. It could be a personality quirk, a distracting habit or poor manners that hinder ones influence. Most people will talk about these, but not to the pastor.

Some preachers have the idea that if they are not screaming and yelling throughout the sermon, they are not preaching. This is a learned concept and must be corrected, unless you are in a culture where people enjoy being screamed and yelled at; if you are, then keep screaming. Remember you have different people at different services; a different purpose for each sermon and different methods at your disposal. You must understand that people are not as impressed with your preaching as you are. If you doubt this, ask them what your sermon topic was a week ago.

Laziness and playfulness: The call to preach is not a call to slothfulness or amusement. Some preachers are lazy and ought to be fired; they would be if they behaved the same way on a secular job. The preacher must pray and study. He is to be a student of the Word of God. His calling is to studying and teaching. He must plan for church growth and ministries. Then, he must lead others to do the work of the ministry for Christ. Success rises and falls on leadership. If a church is not getting the job done, in most cases, it is a weakness on the part of the pastor. If you are weak in leadership and management, learn all you can on this subject and then do your best. If you are lazy, repent or resign.

Another flaw the pastor must guard against is the temptation to spend too much time playing. There are many good and acceptable hobbies and recreational outlets, but the pastor should avoid being identified with any as an addiction. Your first and foremost calling is to the ministry. Everything else must be subordinate to that calling. Rest, if you must, but don’t be lazy. Play if you can, but don’t get the reputation of an addiction to anything but the ministry.

HOW TO BE BLESSED
By Ken Blue

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalms 1:1-6.

To be blessed, there are three types of people you must avoid. They are the ungodly, the sinner and the scornful. These are known by their advice, their actions and their attitude.

The ungodly will give counsel or advice that conforms to this world’s philosophy and goes counter to the Word of God. This person is the most dangerous of the three and must be rejected. (Examples: Oprah Winfrey, The view, Ellen DeGeneres etc.).

The sinner is more evident. You can identify him by his actions. You can see that his behavior is sinful and that he is going in a direction away from God. Run from this person.

Then there is the scoffer. This person ridicules you and your desire to please the Lord. Many times this person was raised in a Christian home or brought up in church. His chosen rebellion is justified, in his own eyes, by showing scorn or disdain toward those who chose to live for Christ. This man or woman cannot conceal their amoral attitude; avoid them.

Not only are we to make right choices regarding the people to avoid; we must also make wise decisions about what produces a life of blessings. Isolation is not the answer. The first thing we must do is develop a hunger for God’s Word. This is done by reading, by prayer and by meditating on its teachings.

The promised blessings are stability, productivity, affectability and prosperity. These can be seen in the similitude of a tree located by a river. The key words are planted, fruit, leaf and prosper. These are the blessings that result from meditating and obeying the Scriptures. Most of the heartache, sorrow, anguish, misery and pain, in this life, is the direct result of someone’s disobedience and rejection of God’s Word. The unsaved are compared to chaff which is worthless and unstable. They are driven by the winds of a wicked society. The blessings, the promises and the warnings are all in the text. If you want to be blessed, apply God’s Word to your life now.

THE WAR REPORT
#2
By Ken Blue

“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.” Ecclesiastes 8:8

Yesterday, June 10th, Joyce and I spend over four hours at Virginia Mason Hospital with the ALS doctors for my sixth month evaluation. Test revealed that the disease continues to attack the voluntary muscles in my body. The marked weakness is in the diaphragm below the lungs. This muscle contracts and flattens to force air in and out of the lungs. The two tests showed that the muscle strength was down 11 and 17 points from six months ago. This weakness also evidences itself when I attempt to cough.

One of the doctors said she had to ask me a question; it was, “how would you rate your quality of life?” I gave it some thought, and then I told her it was “great”! God gave Joyce and me some wonderful opportunities to explain to different doctors how God’s loving grace is at work in all this. I believe the Holy Spirit was speaking to them. Pray for them that they will come to know the Lord Jesus. Wouldn’t that be great?

As I grow weaker day by day, my confidence in His love and care increases. Thank you for your prayers for us. I know this is the key. I have two invitations to preach in the next few weeks. Please pray for me that I will be a blessing and encouragement these churches. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16.