Category Archives: Discipleship

He Will Convict

Posted on 2017/08/14 by Shawn Thomas

“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8) The word “He” in this verse is important for a couple of reasons:

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged conviction, conviction of sin, Holy Spirit, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, John 16:8, salvation, sin, spirit | Leave a comment

A Surprising Key To Abiding In Him

Posted on 2017/08/08 by Shawn Thomas

After Jesus shared with His disciples the importance of “Abiding in Him” in the first verses of John 15 (“abide in Me … apart from Me, you can do nothing”, etc.) one might ask, “But HOW do I ‘abide in … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged abiding, abiding in Christ, abiding in Him, commandments, John 15:10, John 15:5 | 1 Comment

“Principles of Effective Praying” (Matthew 6:6-8 sermon)

Posted on 2017/08/07 by Shawn Thomas

The great British preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote: “Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God.” (SOTM, p. 45) … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Bill Elliff, Catholicism, commitment, conversation with god, discipleship, George Muller, God vending machine, Hail Mary prayer, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, hypocrisy, Jesus, Kathmandu, Lord's Prayer, Mark 1:35, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, MasterLife, Matthew 6:6-8, meaningless repetition, mechanical repetition, model prayer, Our Father prayer, prayer, prayer wheel, praying, principles of prayer, priority, relationship, relationship with God, repetitious prayer, rote prayer, rut in prayer, salvation, Susanna Wesley, Temple, The 18 Benedictions, tip of the iceberg, vain repetition | 2 Comments

The Father’s Pruning Work

Posted on 2017/08/03 by Shawn Thomas

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2) Christians who undergo trials or difficulties may be tempted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged bearing fruit, branches, discipleship, fruit, fruitfulness, holiness, John 15:2, pruning, sanctification, service, trials, vine, vinedresser | 2 Comments

Keeping His Commandments

Posted on 2017/07/28 by Shawn Thomas

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21) It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged commandments, discipleship, John 14:21, knowing God, love, love and commandments, obedience | Leave a comment

The “Next” Verse …

Posted on 2017/07/26 by Shawn Thomas

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) Much attention is focused on Jesus’ promise in John 14:14, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it”, and rightly so. And yet it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged commandments, discipleship, I John 2:3, John 14:15, Lordship, love, love relationship, obedience, relationship | 1 Comment

“The Unseen Battle”

Posted on 2017/07/23 by Shawn Thomas

With three of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church’s adult members on mission in three different nations the next couple of weeks, our members need to realize the important responsibility we have to support our colleagues in prayer. In the biography, Hudson … Continue reading →

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Distractions From Devotions

Posted on 2017/07/21 by Shawn Thomas

Our church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, North Carolina, is sending three adult members out to different mission fields this weekend: one to Wales, one to Haiti, and one to Romania. I sent them this quote from China Inland Mission … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible study, daily mission, devotions, home mission, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, John 15:5, missionary work, missions, prayer, quiet time, service | Leave a comment

Being With Him

Posted on 2017/07/19 by Shawn Thomas

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) No wonder these words are among the most beloved in scripture. … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged discipleship, fellowship, heaven, John 1:43, Mark 3:14 | 1 Comment

Knowing Vs. Doing

Posted on 2017/07/17 by Shawn Thomas

Although it is a relatively unknown verse, John 13:17 should actually be one of the most important in the whole Bible, because it really all comes down to this: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged application, discipleship, doing, James 2:19-20, John 13:17, knowing, salvation | Leave a comment