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GET OUT OF DEBT FREE

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YOU OWE A DEBT YOU CANNOT PAY

By Ken Blue

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23.

That most Americans are so far in debt they can’t see a way out is an understatement. However, there is a much greater debt accumulating that few know about or give much thought to. God tells us that our sins carry with them a debt. All of us are sinners, therefore all are debtors. We sin each day in word, thought, and deed. If you only committed three sins per day; at year’s end you would have 1095 sins, and you would be practically perfect if you only sinned three times per day.

Suppose you live fifty or sixty years and only commit three sins per day, you would face God with 65,700 sins against your account. You see, the wages of sin is death; sin is death to your spiritual life, to your physical life and to your eternal life. You and I owe something that we cannot pay!

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]You can get out of debt free![/perfectpullquote]

Now, for the good news; you can get out of debt free! Notice that our text says the gift of God is eternal life. Because we sin willfully, we have accumulated a debt we cannot pay. Because Jesus Christ never sinned, He paid a debt He did not owe. In simple bookkeeping, we have a -1 in our account and He has a +1 in His account. If we could get His +1 moved to our -1, it would balance the books and we would not owe anything!

That is exactly what God does for every sinner who realizes that he cannot pay what he owes. We acknowledge our hopeless state and receive God’s gift of mercy and life in Christ. You see, death is the wage for our sins, but eternal life is God’s free gift to all who will receive it.

Notice that it is a free “gift”. You don’t work for a gift, you can’t pay for it, nor do you deserve it. Your only option is to reject it or accept it. If you want to get out of debt FREE, accept God’s gift in Jesus Christ today.

GOD’S BLESSINGS ON OPEN DOOR BAPTIST CHURCH

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By Pastor Jason Murphy

One year ago I took over as the Senior Pastor at Open Door Baptist church in Lynnwood, WA for Pastor Ken Blue who had started and pastored Open Door for 39 years. I can honestly say that I don’t believe the transition could have been any smoother. That is a testament to God’s Grace; Pastor Blue’s handling of the transition, a good staff, great people at Open Door, a supportive wife, and many of God’s people praying. Through the years at Open Door, there was rarely a Sunday that we did not see someone make a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior. By the grace of God, that has continued this past year. Pastor Blue asked me to write an article sharing what God has done at Open Door in the last 12 months. Since Oct 12th 2008 we have seen:

196 first time visitors- These are the ones who filled out visitor cards.
71 professions of faith- These indicated that they were accepting Christ as Savior.
23 baptized-These were publically baptized.
96 people joined our church- These 96 people took the mandatory 3 hour class which covers:

Our Structure
Our Strategy
Our Doctrinal Statement
Salvation-Baptism and the Lord’s supper

At the end of this class they are required to sign the Membership Covenant of Open Door Baptist Church

I have trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior and have been baptized by immersion (or will be baptized at the next opportunity). I enthusiastically support Open Door’s purpose and strategy and I desire to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

I. I will share the responsibility of my church by:
• Praying for her health • Inviting my unchurched friends
• Warmly welcoming those who atten • Sharing my personal testimony (Romans 14:19, Romans 15: 7, John 1:41, 2 Corinthians 5:20)

II. I will support the message of my church by:
• Attending worship faithfully • Honoring Christ in my lifestyle
• Getting involved in a Small Group • Giving regularly
(Hebrews 10:25, Acts 2:42, Philippians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 16:2)

III. I will protect the unity of my church by:
• Acting in love toward other members •Following the leadership
• Refusing to gossip (1 Peter 1:22, Ephesians 4:29, Hebrews 13:17)

IV. I will serve the ministry of my church by:
• Discovering my gifts and talents • Developing a servant’s heart
• Finding a place of ministry (Romans 12:6, 1 Peter 4:10, Philippians 2:3-4,7)

As a pastor, I am honored anytime someone would make a decision to join our church and allow me to be their Pastor. So, if the Lord tarries we will continue to do what we are doing and always try to improve in every area. We are living in exciting times with a tremendous opportunity to reach people for Jesus Christ. Below is a picture of those who just joined our church in the last 3 months by taking our membership class, which we have 4 times per year.MEMB

THE SONG AND THE SERMON

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THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SONG SERVICE

confused business manBy Ken Blue

Perhaps the best example of “the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing,” is in the lack of coordination between the Pastor’s sermon and the music director’s selection of songs. Seldom do these two connect the music with the message. I have watched song leaders pick songs for the service five minutes before a service begins.

Pastor, if you perform a wedding, the party selects wedding songs and music to match the occasion. If you serve at a funeral, the songs match the event. At a birthday party, they sing “Happy Birthday.” So, why is it that most song services in church have no connection to the sermon? The reason, no doubt, is ignorance of its importance or a lack of planning by the pastor. Many pastors have no idea what their sermon subject will be a week from Sunday. That may be the real cause of the problem.

Everything that happens in the service should reinforce and support the purpose of the sermon. This includes all the services. That means that the Pastor must plan all sermons or subjects weeks before they are preached. He must then meet with the music director and see that the songs support the sermon.

How is it at your church? Do the songs have any real purpose or are they just filler? Are the songs selected because they are familiar and old favorites, or do they promote the theme of your message? Think about it, and see how next Sunday’s selection matches the goal of your message.

One way to correct this problem is for the pastor to fill out the order of service and see that all involved in the music ministry receive it. Include in it the song selection. If you are doing a theme for a month, ensure that everyone, who needs to know, is informed of what you expect. The more people you have supporting your objective, the more likely you are to achieve it, and the more you communicate, the more they will be able to help you.

TURNING INWARD

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By Ken Blue

Churches, like individuals, have birth, growth, maturity, and death. For a church to have birth and growth, it must be outward focused. This ought to be obvious. It is also necessary for a church to mature as pastors and teachers do their appointed ministry. However, unlike individuals, most churches don’t have to die. They begin to die as soon as the pastor and people change their focus.

I read years ago that the average church, twenty years old or older, has turned inward and has shifted from a mission outreach to inward ministries. That is, buildings and programs become center stage. The pastor and the people are busy, but their busyness has little or no consideration for the lost or church growth.

Activities and ministries, in many churches, are for existing members only. How to use that ministry to include outreach is seldom considered in the planning, if any planning is done. Sermons are crafted for the members as pastors dive deeper and deeper into the hidden mysteries of the Word. In other words, the church has shifted from a growth mentality to a maintenance mode.

The pastor’s job is unique. He must maintain a red-hot outreach ministry. He must improve the buildings, and he must mature his congregation. But, he need not let the church die. How can that be prevented? Don’t allow the church to turn inward. Keep an outward focus in everything you do.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS SAVE MONEY

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WISDOM REGARDING MONEY

moneyBy Ken Blue

The Bible may have more to say about money than any other subject. The reason could be because of man’s love for it, and the wickedness perpetrated by many to possess it. The love of money is the root of all evil. We observe this mostly in big business and big government. Wealth and riches should never be the goal of life. Scripture states that many of God’s people have erred from the faith, and brought nothing but sorrow and grief to themselves and those they come in contact with because of their aspiration for money.

On the other hand, God has some positive things to say about the wisdom, the necessity, the value of saving money and how we use it. A good steward will not be greedy for money, nor will he squander it. The believer is a steward of all God gives him and must conduct himself accordingly to be obedient.

I have heard pastors preach against saving money. They tell themselves and their congregation that saving money is a lack of faith and that they should be putting their money in heaven. This teaching and attitude is not scriptural nor is it an act of faith. In fact, it is just the opposite. That teaching is unscriptural and foolish.

Listed below are several proverbs written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived:

  • “In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. Proverbs 15:6.
  • A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Proverbs 13:22.
  • Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19.
  • There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. Proverbs 21:20.
  • Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. Proverbs 6:6-11.
  • He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Proverbs 10:5. 24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28.”

It would take volumes to completely deal with the subject of money, but the wise pastor will prepare financially for his church and for his family. He will also help his church members to do the same. It is not a sin to make all the money you can; if you do it honestly. However, you must also be willing to give away all you can for the cause of Christ and save all you can for the future. There is no conflict between these three.