Tag Archives: preaching

“Standing By The Cross” (John 19:25 message)

Posted on 2018/12/03 by Shawn Thomas

One of my favorite stories of the Civil War is of a Union officer whose unit was coming under particularly heavy fire from the Confederate cannon. Someone rode up to him and said they thought they knew why they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged "nothing in my hand I bring, "simply to Thy cross I cling", A Christmas Story, Acts 8, Charles Spurgeon, Christmas program, Civil War, cling to the old rugged cross, cross, cross of Christ, discipleship, evangelism, faith, Galatians 6:14, good works, gospel, I Corinthians 15, I Corinthians 1:17-18, I Corinthians 2:1-2, I Peter 2:21, John 19:25, let it wave high it is our glory, Lottie Moon offering, ministry, Old Glory, one way, Philip, preaching, Rock of Ages, salvation, saving faith, SBC International Mission Board, Sentinel Island missionary, sin, stand by the cross, standing by the cross, Sunday School, the cross, the gospel, the message of the cross, The Old Rugged Cross, trust, why should I let you into My heaven?, witnessing, women, women's rights, works, works and salvation, worship, worship services | Leave a comment

“Culture-blind” — or Cowardly?

Posted on 2018/08/13 by Shawn Thomas

In Washington Irving’s delightful The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, the author journals about his attendance at a venerable English country church: “The congregation was composed of the neighboring people of rank, who sat in pews sumptuously lined and cushioned, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Uncategorized | Tagged C.S. Lewis, church, compromise, courage, cowardice, culture, culture blindness, favoritism, James 2, James 2:1, James 2:1-6, Lesslie Newbigin, partiality, poor, preaching, reform, rich, The Country Church, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Washington Irving | 2 Comments

“No Strange Fire: Honoring God in Worship” (Leviticus 10:1-3 sermon)

Posted on 2018/04/09 by Shawn Thomas

When I was pastoring in Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal came to our church one Sunday to share his testimony. It was a big day; we had one combined service, and every seat was filled, with standing room only. There were … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged Abba Father, Acts 5, Ananias & Sapphira, Apostle John, awesome God, balance, Bible, caesar banquet shamed, cat in church, celebrities in the church, clothing, creativity, dress, dress and worship, entertainment, entertainment and worship, familiarity, fear of God, focus in worship, giving, glory of God, God's word, Governor Bobby Jindal, Hebrews 13:28–29, house of prayer, hypocrisy, Leviticus 10:1-3 sermon, Lord's Supper, Malachi 3:10, Nadab & Abihu, obedience, prayer, preaching, regulative principle, relationship with God, respect, Revelation 1:13, Revelation 1:17, reverence, salvation, scripture, singing, songs, strange fire, testimonies, testimony, Unseen presence, worship, worship planning | Leave a comment

What We Preach

Posted on 2018/01/03 by Shawn Thomas

“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8) Here Paul shares the essence of the Christian message. Both what this message is, and what … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged Christian message, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 3:8, I Corinthians 1:23, John 14:6, ministry, preaching | 3 Comments

“Jesus’ Warning Against False Religion” (Matthew 7:15-20 sermon)

Posted on 2017/11/06 by Shawn Thomas

Last Monday, WWOK tv in West Virginia reported a scam that has been going on in Kanawha Country, in which someone posing as a local deputy calls and demands a fine to be paid over the phone. The county said … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Matthew sermons, Sermons | Tagged 5 Solas, antichrist, Atlantic magazine, Baptist Faith & Message, Benny Hinn, celebrity Christianity, creative worship, creativity, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, disguise, doctrine, Eugene Peterson, faith, false prophets, false religion, false teachers, fruit, fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, Grema Wormtongue, heresy, heretics, I John 4:1, II Corinthians 11:14, J.R.R. Tolkien, Litrugy of the Ordinary book, Lord of the Rings, Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 7:15-20 sermon, novelty, pastor, preaching, relevant, repentance, salvation, same-sex relationships, Satan, satellite churches, scams, sermons, Shepherd, teaching, theology, Tish Warren, video churches, worship, you will know them by their fruits | Leave a comment

Standing By The Cross

Posted on 2017/09/07 by Shawn Thomas

“Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25) Don’t miss this little phrase in the narrative which describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged commitment, conversation, courage, cross, cross of Jesus, dedication, discipleship, evangelism, faith, John 19:25, lifestyle, loyalty, persecution, preaching, salvation, standing by the cross, suffering, The Old Rugged Cross, trust, witnessing | Leave a comment

Passing On The Word

Posted on 2017/08/21 by Shawn Thomas

“For the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.” (John 17:8) In His High Priestly prayer here … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, child rearing, discipleship, family, God's word, home, John 17:8, preaching, scripture, teaching, truth | Leave a comment

“The Disciple’s Indispensable Book” (Matthew 5:17-19 sermon)

Posted on 2017/07/10 by Shawn Thomas

John Bunyan’s classic story, Pilgrim’s Progress, is generally regarded as the 2nd-most widely read book of all time outside the Bible. In it he tells the allegorical story of “Pilgrim”, who leaves “The City of Destruction” where he lives, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Alvin Reid, Baptist Faith & Message, Beatitudes, Bible, Big Picture of the Bible, book, commitment, creation, discipleship, Ezra, Ezra 7:10, Fall, heaven, Hebrew, homosexuality, homosexuality and Bible, homosexuality and Leviticus, II Timothy 3:15, inerrancy, infallible, Israel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Bunyan, keriah, Law, letter, LGBT, Matthew 5:17-19, McDonalds, moral law, Old Testament, Old Testament and homosexuality, Pilgrim's Progress, preaching, redemption, restoration, sacrificial law, scripture, Sermon on the Mount, Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, stroke, teaching, word of God, yod | Leave a comment

Jesus’ Word & Salvation

Posted on 2017/05/09 by Shawn Thomas

“As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” (John 8:30) The Bible tells us that when Jesus spoke the words He did in John 8, that “many came to believe in Him.” Sure, there was controversy, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Ephesians 6:17, evangelism, God's word, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John 8:30, ministry, preaching, Romans 10:17, salvation, scripture, teaching, word, word of God | 1 Comment

What Are You Teaching?

Posted on 2017/05/02 by Shawn Thomas

“So Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.’” (John 7:16) Jesus did not “take credit”, in a sense, for His teaching; He said it wasn’t “His” but rather that of His Father … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Biblical preaching, creativity, exegesis, exposition, innovation, John 7:16, preaching, teaching, teaching styles | 1 Comment