Jul 01

Stopping the Craziness!

The apostle Peter says a “speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Pet. 2:16).  Peter is referencing the Old Testament story of Balaam who desired to curse Israel.  He was rebuked in his actions by a donkey who God miraculously allowed to speak.  What was the “madness” of Balaam?  This term madness means “insanity, madness, or folly.”  Put commonly, it means to be crazy or out of your mind!  What was Balaam doing that would prompt the Apostle to say he was insane, mad, or crazy?

Peter said, he “loved gain for wrongdoing” (2 Pet. 3:15).  He was greedy and loved the idea of making a profit off of doing sinful things.  Peter said this is “madness.”

How many folks in our world today are insane or mad if we use this definition?  How much money is made each day by folks through wrongdoing.  The pornography industry is a 10 billion dollar a year industry.  Alcohol sales in the U.S. equal about 90 billion dollars a year.  Many make money through unethical lending and business practices.  Many lie and steal their way to money.  Peter says all of this is madness!  If we look at our world honestly, we must admit our world is insane with its love of money!  We must not give in to the craziness!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/stopping-the-craziness/

Jun 29

Marriage Statistics: It is Not as Bad As Quoted

by hisks from www.sxc.hu

by hisks from www.sxc.hu

The popular quote from preachers and others is that 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce.   This means the divorce rate is 50%.  This statistic has never been accurate because it is based simply off of the number of marriages and divorces.  New research suggest much better statistics, especially amongst Christians.

I am going to refer you to two articles that highlight actual research data.

1.  You Know How They Say the Divorce Rate in the Church is 50%: Prepare to be Shocked  – This article reflects statistics about Christians in the broad sense in America and says that the divorce rate amongst church attenders is 15 – 20%.  It also states that 80% of marriages are happy, not 30% as sometimes found.  These stats were found through an 8 year study.

2.  Stop Quoting Bad Divorce Stats  – This article looks at Census data and says that 72% of people who have ever been married are still married to their first spouse.  It goes on to say that actually because this stat does not take into consideration death of a spouse, that the divorce rate is much less than 28%.  The 50% number has been wrong for years, because it does not take into account all of the marriages that are continuing.  This article goes onto state that “practicing Christians have a much higher statistical success rate at marriage today.”

I hope you will take the time to read these articles more closely.  But chiefly I hope we will stop propetuating the myth that 50% of marriages end in divorce.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/marriage-statistics-it-is-not-as-bad-as-quoted/

Jun 26

How to Use Questions Effectively in Bible Class

Questions by immrchris from freeimages.com

Questions by immrchris from freeimages.com

In a previous post I wrote about my 7 Bible class teaching aims.  In this post I want to think about how to use questions effectively.  I am still a learning and am not an expert on this topic.  But here are some of my thoughts and I hope you can share yours to better aid myself.

Jesus used questions throughout his ministry as a part of his teaching method.  I think questions help your students actually think and participate in the lesson.

Here are 10 ways to use questions effectively.  I also share some example questions from a couple of lessons from the early chapters of Exodus.

  1. Use questions to begin class.  You set the tone for participation and creative thinking at the beginning of class.  If I want to have a good class discussion, I will always try to begin with questions.
    1. What is the best trip you have ever been on in your life?
    2. Considering your past now, what did you think about yourself in high school and college?
  2. Use questions that are relevant and focused on the students current lives or the current world.
    1. We break Moses’ life into 3 stages.  What are some of the stages of our lives?  How does God work to mature us through these stages?
  3. Use questions that create a level of controversy to get the students to thinking.  I personally do not like much controversy or tension, so I don’t want to use outlandish methods, or create doctrinal disputes, but I often will try to put forward questions that allow listeners to agree and disagree.  The teacher can then let the students share their thoughts.
    1. Did Moses act rightly or wrongly in murdering the Egyptian?
  4. Use questions that have been provoked in your mind from the text or subject.  Be honest about your questions and share them with the class.  They will often help you learn more.
    1. What are some key elements in our lives that we need to have that allows us to be molded by God like Moses was molded through his years?
  5. Use questions that help the students consider the thoughts, emotions, reactions, motives, and attitudes of the characters in the Bible stories.  
    1. Would you say the Egyptians were insecure?  What happens when people become insecure?
  6. Use questions that are specific rather than abstract and broad in nature.   
    1. If you were Moses’ mother, what emotions would you experience?
    2. After years in Pharaoh’s palace who did Moses identify with as a person?  What do you think caused this identity?
  7. Use questions and be comfortable with the silence of the class.  One mistake teachers often make is asking a question, but only pausing for a brief time for a response.  The teacher needs to be comfortable pausing and waiting for the class’s response.
  8. Use questions like Jesus as your method of allowing students to discover truth and learn content.  One of my favorite ways to teach is to have a text that you can ask good questions from and the students are eager to discuss and learn.  When this happens, a wonderful dynamic occurs in the classroom and everyone pools their knowledge and the teacher and students alike end up discovering messages and concepts from the text.  Teachers have to be willing to let the subject often go where they did not intend, but more learning often occurs.
    1. How does the story of the midwives really serve as a small version of the entire Exodus message?
    2. What does this story teach us about God’s time frame?
  9. Use questions that help the students apply the lessons learned.
    1. What could we learn from Pharaoh’s daughter?
    2. How does fear affect our lives?
  10. Use questions that take a quote from the book or from the text and ask what is the author meaning or do they agree with the statement.
    1. What is meant by the statement, “who did not know about Joseph” (v. 8)?  What lessons are in this thought?

What ways do you use questions effectively to teach?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/how-to-use-questions-effectively-in-bible-class/

Jun 25

A Stumbling Block is Not a Complainer’s Stone

Paul teaches us in Romans 14:13 not to “put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”  Paul is saying, we should consider the person with a weak conscience who has not matured in the faith.  In context the weak are the legalist who are struggling with eating meat offered to idols and observing holy days.  These weak brothers are not to be judged on these matters of liberty, but are to be respected.  Paul says, the strong should not put a stumbling block or cause of offense before these weak.  In other words, you should sacrifice doing something you know is okay, for the sake of your brother, who may be offended and lead to stumble.  The strong must consider their example as they live their convictions.

 Yet, people can turn the stumbling block into a complainer’s stone.  The weak, as Paul describes, are not the complainers who are upset for not getting their way.  They are not the ones who try to stop every new idea or new ministry.  The eldership can be turned into a board of complaints.  Churches and elderships can be held captive by vocal members or a small clique who is always offended or seeking to bind their personal opinions on the whole congregation.

The purpose of Paul’s teachings in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 is not to justify the complainer, but to create mutual respect, acceptance, and love between brethren.  As Charles Hodge Jr said some emphatic things along these lines which spurred my thoughts; here are his:

“Weak consciences are one thing; hard hearts are another. . . The weak conscience is an admission. . . People who hide behind “the stumbling block” usually think of themselves as strong.  It is an admission of weakness. . . Be honest!  The “stumbling block” is not used by novices, new converts, or weak members–it is used by “old settlers” to have their way.  Since you now know better, do not let them get by with it.”  

I don’t know if this short post made much sense outside of studying the overall passages, but I hope it has helped you better understand the distinction between respected the weak with their strong convictions and the complainer who is intent on getting his way.

—————

Check out Charles Hodge’s complete two articles at www.Biblecourses.com – The Stumbling Block (1 and 2).

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/a-stumbling-block-is-not-a-complainers-stone/

Jun 23

Can We Understand the Bible?

by juliaf from www.sxc.hu

by juliaf from www.sxc.hu

           The email was clear.  The boss would be away on vacation next week and he had a list of duties he needed me to carry out for him.  I read the list and understood each task; I knew I could do it.  Before leaving work, my wife texted a list of grocery items and asked me to stop by the pharmacy and get a prescription filled.  I understood her list and the pharmacist understood the doctor’s request.  Later that evening, I read a newspaper and a book.  The authors all communicated a message to me which I understood.  Before bed, I grabbed my copy of God’s word, commonly called the Bible.  I read it and understood its message of joy, peace, righteousness, and salvation.

            Sadly, many in our world have no problem believing the first part of my story.  They believe a boss’ email, a wife’s text, a doctor’s prescription, or an author’s writing can be understood, yet they say the Bible cannot.  This belief when honestly considered leads to some reprehensible conclusions about God, Jesus, and the Apostles.  

            If the Bible cannot be understood, then God failed in communicating a message of salvation (2 Tim. 3:14-16).  To believe such ultimately makes God to be cruel and a twisted jokester.  You see, to say the Bible cannot be understood is to say that God wrote a book telling about how His son died for the sins of humanity and what mankind must do to come live with him in Heaven, but it is impossible to understand.  It is akin to a wealthy father revealing to his children in his will a mass hidden fortune, but leaving them no instructions on how to find it.  If it is impossible to understand the Bible, then God failed to do what a boss, wife, doctor, and author can do.

            If the Bible cannot be understood then Jesus lied.  Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4).  Six times he used the phrase “have you not read” to rebuke those who should have known the Old Testament scriptures.  He saw the scriptures as authoritative and identifying Him as the Messiah (John 5:28-29, 46).  He said the “scriptures cannot be broken” (John 10:35).  He viewed himself as accomplishing and fulfilling scripture (John 19:28).  He expected people to understand scripture (Mat. 4:1-11; Luke 16:31; 24:19-34).  He said that you will find the truth by abiding in the Word of God (John 8:31-32).

            If the Bible cannot be understood then the Apostles deceived.  Paul called the scriptures “holy” and said a child could understand them.  It is through knowing the scriptures that one is made “wise for salvation through faith” (2 Tim. 3:15).  He said “All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Paul even told the Ephesians to “understand what the will of the Lord is” (5:19).  Peter viewed the Bible as being written by “holy men of God” who “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).  Peter saw the Word as providing salvation and living and abiding forever (2 Pet. 1:22-25).

            So, when many today disparage the Scriptures saying you cannot understand their true message, they often neglect to consider what that says about God, Jesus, and the Apostles.  Some Christians are quick to avoid doctrinal convictions, because they have adopted the relativistic culture’s message that the Bible cannot be understood.  They see the search for objective truth useless and advocate just taking the Bible as a love letter.  This view costs people their souls!  God didn’t fail, Jesus didn’t lie, and the Apostles didn’t deceive.  The Bible can be understood.  Doctrine does matter.  The scriptures must be understood and obeyed!

            Does this mean that we understand every verse or have the proper interpretation on all the Bible?  Certainly not!  In fact, Peter said that Paul wrote some things that were hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:16).  Even the most learned scholar can only offer a plausible interpretation, or two or three options to some difficult texts.  But, the gospel message of what God did and what man needs to do to be saved is clearly revealed in Scripture.  It requires us to “be diligent” as a worker before God in studying and rightly dividing the Scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15).  And that might be just the problem!  When the Bible isn’t understood, the problem is not God’s, Jesus’, or the Apostles’.   Rather it is our failure to read and study.  God wrote the Bible to you and for you.  You can understand it, and in fact, we will give an account of our obedience to it on the day of judgement (John 12:48).

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/can-we-understand-the-bible/

Jun 19

The Snail Mail Ministry that Still Makes a Difference

Old Pen and Postcard by Ladyaustin at free images.com

Old Pen and Postcard by Ladyaustin at free images.com

I was visiting with a brother who’s health has declined in recent months.  He has been in lots of pain and discomfort.  His health has caused him to miss worship on a regular basis.  He said they had received an incredible amount of support from friends, family, and fellow Christians.  People have brought food, set with him, taken them places, called, and prayed.

Then he paused and said, “We have received lots of cards!  Two or three a day!  People that say they can’t do anything for the Lord, don’t know about sending cards!  Anybody can send a card and make a difference for the Lord.  We have been so encouraged by the sweet cards.”

In the day and age of Facebook, email, text-messaging, and cell-phones, the old faithful ministry of sending cards is still powerfully effective.  In fact, I would say it may be more effective now, because of the rarity of written letters and cards.  

It means something that somebody took some time, composed or signed a card, and mailed it to you.  It is non-intrusive, and communicates a powerful message of love.

Don’t think you can’t do anything for the Lord!  Determine to mail a card or thank you note.  It will be time well-spent.  Card sending is not for everyone, but for many it is a great way to serve.

You may never know how much difference it made.

Take a few minutes today and mail someone a note or card!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/the-snail-mail-ministry-that-still-makes-a-difference/

Jun 17

Missing the Intent of the Rule

When summer hit we made a rule that our kids could watch one program together when they all were awake.  The rule was put into place because programs were being started when one or two where awake, and then the late sleeper was missing out.  So we made the rule to wait until everyone is up.  Our goal was to allow, even encourage sleep, and to provide that everyone got to watch the one show.

Seems like a simple rule and one that will take care of the problem.  But parents don’t think like kids!  Over the next week the rule turned into waking the sleeping child up so the show could be started.  This lead to another rule–no waking up of a sleeping brother or sister.

While you may find this story amusing and interesting, being a preacher who has recently been studying and thinking about the Pharisees, I saw this is a great illustration of God and the Pharisees.  

God made rules with good intentions.  The Pharisees it seems originally wanted to sincerely obey those rules, so they actually created many other rules to build a hedge around the commandments so they would not break them.  But over time these traditions left the original intent of God’s rules.  In fact, Jesus says they “made void the Word of God.” (Mat. 15:6).  They were still keeping the law by the letter in their legalistic minds, but they were violating the intent of the law.  For example, the law said they were to honor their father and mother.  Yet through their tradition they had established a rule that if a gift was given to God in place of providing for their parents, then they were free from this obligation (Mat. 15:3-6).

This is Phariseeism, as illustrated by my TV watching kids, it is when you keep the law, but totally miss and even violate the intent of the law.  

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees (Mat. 5:20).  He then takes their misapplication of the OT laws and exhorts his disciples to obey from the heart.  He discusses motives and attitudes.  It is easy to be like the Pharisees, and like my kids, and justify obeying the law, while completely missing the intent of the law!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/missing-the-intent-of-the-rule/

Jun 15

Even Jesus Needed to Hear It

Father and Daughter by (c) Helene Souza at www.sxc.hu

Father and Daughter by (c) Helene Souza at www.sxc.hu

I hear and read so often that kids grow up without feeling and hearing love expressed from their father.  

Leon Barnes, a long-time gospel preacher, has been reflecting on his family in some wonderful posts at leonbarnes.wordpress.com.  In the link just highlighted, he wrote about lessons from his dad.  His dad was a devout and extremely faithful man, yet he struggled with disciplining out of anger and poorly expressing his love to his wife and kids.  Sadly, this was, and is, very common.

Have you ever noticed how God the Father affirms His son?

After his baptism at the beginning of his public ministry a voice from heaven says:

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mat. 3:17)

At the transfiguration, before Jesus embarks on his final journey leading to the cross, a voice from heaven says:

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; Listen to Him.”  (Mat. 17:5).  

If the Son of God needed encouragement and affirmation from His father, don’t you think our kids do?  Kids know instinctively, it seems, that they have mom’s love, but they sometimes wonder about dad’s.  They want to know dad is pleased with them.  Boys wonder, “Do they have what it takes?”  Girls ask, “Are they lovely and valuable in his eyes?”

The Father boomed forth his voice to affirm his son.  Let us as father’s boom forth our voices at every opportunity to let our children know we love them.  Let’s encourage them, rather than exasperate them with impossible standards or our own goals.  Let’s tell them we are well-pleased with them.

Jesus needed this encouragement to face his future challenges.  Our kids need it for their future challenges as well.

I am grateful that my father expressed love and affirmed me as I grew up, and even now.  I make it my aim to express love to my kids through hugs, kisses, encouraging words, and saying “I love you.”  It doesn’t always come natural for us men, but it is important.

Join God, myself, and other dad’s in this pursuit of affirming our children.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/even-jesus-needed-to-hear-it/

Jun 12

Farm Report #3: Thankful for Help

The Tractor and Planter

The Tractor and Planter

This is the third report on our new home and farm progress (The first, The second).

In this report I want to emphasize that we have been humbled and grateful for all of the help we have received.

Before saying more, I would like to update our progress.  We have electricity!!  We got a pole moved and a new one erected.  The electric company buried their service to our meter which we placed on a pedestal on the side of our shed.  We have two-200 amp service panels in place for the supplying of power to the house and barn.  This week we are getting power to the well and to the barn.

Amanda learned to drive the tractor and did some bush-hogging one day.  She did a great job.  I have become proficient at running a weed-eater, especially around the pond.  I once had as a lifetime goal of never owning a weed-eater.  Now my goal is to own three – one for each son!  The garden and sweet-corn are not doing so well.  I intend to write more about that later, but let’s just say our schedule, the tremendous amount of rain, and the prevalence of existing grass has not helped the garden areas.

That gives you an update, but now to the subject.

Friends and church members are great at offering their help.  I will not list names but here is a list of things that have been done for us mostly at no cost.  I am sure I am overlooking others that could go on the list.

  • Design help from an architect. 
  • Home plans drawn and guidance given from an engineer.
  • My disk and cultivator reworked with new bolts and improved tremendously by a welder. 
  • Two to three tons of chicken manure donated for the gardens.
  • Someone loaned us a manure spreader.
  • Help in repairing the roof on the barn.
  • Counsel and advice on how to manage water erosion and needed dirt work done.
  • A loaned planter to plant my sweet-corn.
  • A two-row cultivator given to us.
  • The local electrical class building the service and wiring the barn with lights and outlets.
  • A local electrician helping me finish up the electrical service. 
  • Counsel and advice on the farm and animal husbandry.

I think I am sure I am leaving things out and this does not reflect all that family has done to help.  We all need help and can do more when we work together.  So far, this endeavor has taught me how much we are blessed to have such talented and generous friends.

I think this is the nature of rural and farm life.  You need others help and assistance.  You pull together and help each other.

Finally, if you would like to help just come on out, we got lots of fencing, mowing, and weed-eating for you!!

Have you paused lately to consider how you are blessed to have so much help when you need it?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/farm-report-3-thankful-for-help/

Jun 10

We Are the Sermon Ministry

by John Biddulph at Flickr.com -

by John Biddulph at Flickr.com –

This past Sunday we completed our second “We are the Sermon” ministry.  The idea was not original to us, and certainly not complicated.  The aim of the ministry was to reach out to our community with acts of service and love.  A secondary aim is developing deeper friendships and relationships with one another as we work together.  We did two of these days this year.

The Schedule:

Normal morning Bible classes and worship.

2:00 – Afternoon worship with a condensed sermon.

2:45 – Organize and assemble into work teams

3:00 – 5:30 work on the projects

5:30 – Eat a fellowship meal together

The Type of Projects

We made it our aim to have projects available for all types of people.  We tried to plan both inside and outside projects.  Here is a list of what we did this year. Not all of these stayed completely with our intention of reaching out to the community, but most do.

  • Cleared and cleaned two forsaken cemeteries.
  • Mowed community members yards and trimmed shrubs.
  • Washed the siding of a home.
  • Mowed and trimmed the local women’s shelter.
  • Prepared snack baggies of appreciation for workers at the nursing homes and hospital.
  • Had a group prepare the fellowship meal.
  • Had a prayer group.
  • El Salvador mission team packed.
  • Cleaned storage areas of the church building.
  • Did maintenance on the church playground and grounds.
  • Collected and hauled off trees from storm damage in yards.
  • Prepared snack bags for those going to El Salvador.

The Challenges

This ministry involves several challenges that you must combat if you are going to conduct this at your local congregation.

  • Finding a variety of projects to do can be challenging.
  • Finding enough work for a large group (in our case around 100 people).
  • You need to assign project coordinators.  We had a deacon who helped me lead this ministry.  He and 3 other men helped serve as coordinators for the outside projects.  They would assess the needs before Sunday and provide the needed tools and leadership to get the jobs done.  We recruited ladies to purchase the food items and organize the meal and gift baggies before Sunday.
  • Keeping the focus on community members and not church members is also a challenge.  We did not focus as much on community outreach on the second event because of some pressing church needs.  Some of our members had needs because of a recent storm and the El Salvador group needed to prepare to leave.  We felt this was the best way to use the time and labor.

Your church may want to consider this ministry.  It is really just an old-fashioned work day with a community focus and a fellowship meal.  We hope to improve and grow our ministry.  We may do it more often and may not include a meal sometimes.

What ideas or thoughts could you share?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.joshketchum.com/we-are-the-sermon-ministry/