Category Archives: Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like

“The World, The Flesh, and the Devil” (James 3:15 sermon)

Posted on 2022/05/16 by Shawn Thomas

Cheryl & I have a family “Messenger Chat” with our kids, so we can keep posted on all our goings on in the family, and we often send pictures back and forth. It’s really one of the best things we … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Home & Family Life, Sermons | Tagged Am I A Soldier of the Cross?, balanced view of demons, Book of Common Prayer world flesh devil, C.S. Lewis devil anesthetic, church, Commodore Perry we have met the enemy, culture, demonic, demons, epe geios, Ephesians 2:1-3 world flesh devil, Ephesians 6 spiritual armor, Ephesians 6:12, Ephesians 6:13, feelings, I Corinthians 2:14, I don't feel like, I feel like, I John 4:4, intercessory prayer, is this vile world a friend to grace, James 1:13-14, James 3:15, James 4:1, kids and church, media, Peter Bezich World War II, prayer, praying for your family, Romans 7 Apostle Paul, sniper, spiritual enemies, spiritual protection, spiritual warfare, Studs Terkel World War II, technology, the devil, the flesh, the world, the world the flesh the devil, time, Walt Kelly Pogo we have met the enemy and he is us, world flesh devil, world system | Leave a comment

“Testing The Fruit Of Your Salvation” (James 1:21-27 sermon)

Posted on 2018/05/14 by Shawn Thomas

For Mothers Day we got some things for Cheryl for the garden. She loves to garden outside — and I love to go out and walk through the garden with her for 5 minutes before I go inside to read! … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged age, Bible, Book of James, born again, church, church attendance, conviction, darkness, doer of the word, faith, Faith works, fruit, fruit of salvation, holiness, I John 1:5, II Corinthians 5, James, James 1, James 1:21-27, James 1:21-27 sermon, John 13:17, John 3, light, Matthew 13 parable of the sower, minister, ministry, mirror, mirror of the word, new creation, obedience, orphans, Paraliament, purification, repent, repentance, salvation, sanctification, scripture, service, sin, slavery, widows, William Wilberforce, word of God, works, worship | Leave a comment

Do You Really Want To Know God’s Way?

Posted on 2018/02/08 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 25:4-5 David prays, “Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me …”. Many Christians might identify with these words. Upon reading them they might say, “Amen! … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship | Tagged devotions, discipleship, God's will, humility, leadership, prayer, pride, Psalm 25, purity, quiet time, sanctification, sin, wait on the Lord | Leave a comment

What Real Faith Looks Like: Trusting A Benevolent God

Posted on 2013/06/27 by Shawn Thomas

One of my favorite scenes from the movie world is from the Christmas classic: “A Christmas Story”, when little Ralphie discovers the BB gun which his father had bought him for Christmas. The dad watches with delight as Ralphie opens … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like | Tagged Daniel 4:29-30, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 2:9, faith, God is good, Greek word thelema, Habakkuk 3:17-18, I Timothy 2:4, II Peter 3:9, James 1:17-18, Jimmy Stewart, Job 1:21, John 3, John 3:27, Joshua Breland testimony, King Nebuchadnezzer, Mark 10:18, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 119:68, Romans 6:23, salvation as a gift, self-made man, Shenandoah, the goodness of God, trust, you must be born again | Leave a comment

“What Real Faith Looks Like: Perseverance” (James 1:12)

Posted on 2012/09/23 by Shawn Thomas

In 1998, I ran the Tulsa Run road race with Paul, David & Libby, our three oldest kids. Cheryl took a picture of the four of us at my favorite time of a race: when it was OVER! After the Tulsa run … Continue reading →

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“Comforting the Afflicted & Afflicting the Comfortable” James 1:9-11

Posted on 2012/09/16 by Shawn Thomas

In the early 1900’s, humorist Finley Peter Dunne said that “The newspaper does everything for us. It runs the police force and the banks, commands the militia, controls the legislature, baptizes the young, marries the foolish, comforts the afflicted and … Continue reading →

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“What Real Faith Looks Like: Total Commitment” (James 1:6-8)

Posted on 2012/09/09 by Shawn Thomas

Cheryl and Michael & I were waiting in the drive through at Wendy’s the other day, and it looked like the people in front of us were having a difficult time making up their mind as to what they wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons | Tagged Charles Spurgeon, Choose whom you will serve, commitment, cool vs. Christ, double-minded, doubt, doubting, Ephesians 4:14, faith, God or mammon, Hipster Faith, I Kings 18:21, inconsistency, James 1:6-8 sermon, Joshua 24:15, lack of commitment, Landry Jones, Matthew 6:24, Mr. Facing Both Ways, seeking God, split personality, total commitment, two-headed snake, What Real Faith Looks Like, Whitney Hand | 2 Comments

Wisdom in Trials (James 1:5)

Posted on 2012/09/02 by Shawn Thomas

Sometimes when a pastor preaches verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible, he comes to a passage which he is not sure will apply to anyone in the congregation that day. I can assure you that the verse we are studying this … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like | Tagged Cheryl thomas testimony, definition of wisdom, friends, Genesis 25:22, Henry Blackaby, James 1:5 sermon, James sermons, Job 28, Psalm 147:3, Rebekah, seeking wisdom, Shawn Thomas seminary testimony, trials, wisdom, wisdom deficit, wisdom in trials, wise counsel | 4 Comments

“What Tested Faith Looks Like” (James 1:2-4)

Posted on 2012/08/26 by Shawn Thomas

We have a lot of people here at First Baptist Church who are going through different “storms” in their lives right now. My own current battle with dysautonomia is well-known to most of you. But I know that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons | Tagged "I Walked A Mile With Pleasure", cocoon butterfly story, drunk driver, endurance, faith, genuine faith, hupomene, James 1:2-4, Joe McKeever, maturity, purpose of trials, Robert Browning Hamilton, Samuel Rutherford, sermon, Sirach, suffering, teleios, tested faith, testing, trials, tried faith | 4 Comments

“What James’ Faith Looked Like” (James 1:1)

Posted on 2012/08/19 by Shawn Thomas

David Boudia just won the gold medal in the 10 meter diving competition in the London Olympics. In 2008 he also participated in the Olympics, and afterwards he went to college at Purdue. He immediately immersed himself in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Sermons | Tagged commitment, David Boudia, James 1:1, Lordship, saving faith | Leave a comment