Category Archives: Sermons

“In The Beginning, God” (Genesis 1:1 sermon)

Posted on 2018/01/08 by Shawn Thomas

Some books have such famous opening lines that many people can name them just from hearing the first words of the book. See if you can name some of these books from their first lines: — “It was the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Sermons | Tagged bara hebrew, Bertrand Russell life purpose, Bible, Bible genealogies, centrality of God, creation ex nihilo, cross of Christ, Deuteronomy 18:15, doctrine, egocentrism, Genesis, Genesis 12, Genesis 1:1, Genesis 3:15, Gregory of Nazianzus when I say God, heliocentrism, I Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53, John 1:3, John 3:16, Nietzsche deny God, protevangelium, Psaalm 110:1, Psalm 139, redemption, resurrection of Christ, Rick Warren Purpose Driven Life not about you, salvation, seed of woman, spontaneous creation, Stephen Hawking Grand Design, theocentrism, Trinity, Triune God, when I say God I mean Father Son Holy Spirit | 2 Comments

“Every Day With Jesus” in 2018 (Ezra 7:10 sermon)

Posted on 2018/01/02 by Shawn Thomas

A few weeks ago they came out with an interesting list of the books that people lie about reading, in order appear well-read: among them are George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, (42%), Tolstoy’s War and Peace (31%), James Joyce’s Ulysses (25%) … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Sermons | Tagged application, Bible, Bible Reading, Bible study, commitment, commitments, daily devotions, discipleship, Ezra 7:10, family Bible reading, Hudson Taylor, MasterLife, New Year commitment, quiet time, read through the Bible, scripture, social media, study, teach | 1 Comment

“Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)

Posted on 2017/12/18 by Shawn Thomas

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas program last weekend was when B.J. and Amy and Greg sang that beautiful song of the annunciation, which is right out of Luke 1:28, where the angel appeared to Mary and said: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged "Sovereignty of God", assurance of salvation, Christ, Christmas, church, Colossians 2:9, Current Events, deity of Jesus, depravity of man, ecclesiology, Ephesians 1:13, Every Day With Jesus, faith, Genesis 6:5, God with us, God's plan, Hebrews 1:3, Holy Spirit, Hymn In The Garden, I Corinthians 6:19, II Corinthians 13:9, illustrations, Immanuel, Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14, Jesus, Jesus and marriage, John 14:8-9, John 1:12, King Ahaz, man, Martin Luther, Mary, Matthew 1:23, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Elf production, Romans 8:15, salvation, sealed in the Holy Spirit, smallpox vaccine, The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, trust | Leave a comment

“For The Mouth of the Lord Hath Spoken It” (Isaiah 40:1-8 sermon)

Posted on 2017/12/11 by Shawn Thomas

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which Martin Luther initiated when he questioned the unbiblical teachings of the church of his day. Emory University in Atlanta actually has a big collection of Lutheran … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Bible, Bible application, Bible Reading, Every Day With Jesus, God's word, inerrancy, Isaiah 40:1-8 sermon, Isaiah 53:6, prophecy, salvation, scripture, scriptures, substitionary atonement, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, Tom Sawyer, Voltaire 100 years Bible, William Tyndale, word of God | 3 Comments

“The Greatest Mission Trip” (Philippians 2:5-13 sermon)

Posted on 2017/12/04 by Shawn Thomas

After our morning service today, we have the opportunity to stay for soup and sandwiches, sponsored by our student ministry, to support the Hamburg, Germany mission trip that they will be going on this summer. I’m excited that a dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Sermons | Tagged Bill Borden, Borden of Yale, Burke United Christian Ministries, Christology, church on mission, deity of Jesus, Dr. Jim Smith, Elf at the CoMMA, Everyone wants a revolution no one wants to do the dishes, glory, God the Son, greatest mission trip, humility, Incarnation, India missions, Isaiah 6, Jesus, John 17:5, Lesslie Newbigin, lifeguard, little things, local mission, Lottie Moon offering, Luke 19:10, Matthew 20:28, mission trip, missionaries, missions, Philippians 2:5-13, ransom, sacrifice, salvation, service, Son of God, The Greatest Mission Trip, Thou didst leave Thy throne song, Tish Warren The Liturgy of the Ordinary, Trinity | 1 Comment

“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

“Happy Reformation Day”: The 5 “Solas”

Posted on 2017/10/29 by Shawn Thomas

There are some days on the calendar that everyone knows are important. January 1st is New Year’s Day. December 25th everyone knows is Christmas. (December 8-10 everyone here better know is our “ELF” production, right?!) And of course this Tuesday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons | Tagged 5 Solas, by grace alone, evangelism, Martin Luther, October 31st, Reformation, Reformation 500 sermon, Reformation theology, salvation, Sola Fide, sola gratia, sola scriptura, soli deo gloria, solus Christus, theology, through faith alone | Leave a comment

“The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)

Posted on 2017/10/23 by Shawn Thomas

A few years ago Cheryl & I were going to a big public event, and we were looking for the line to get in. We saw this one big crowded line, so we figured: That must be the one we … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons | Tagged Acts 4:12, Bible, Christology, Cornelius Acts 10, doctrine, Eric Metaxas, eternal life, evangelism, giving, God's word, heaven, hell, Here I stand, hypothetical situations, I John 5:12, Jesus Christ, Jesus deity and humanity, Jesus only way, John 10:9, John 14:6, Martin Luther, Matthew 7:13-14 sermon, missions, missions giving, narrow way, narrow-minded, Noah, objective truth, offerings, one way, Oskar Schindler, Reformation, salvation, scripture, sola scriptura, the cross, truth, truth is narrow | 4 Comments

“Worthy of Worship” (Psalm 65:1 devotion)

Posted on 2017/09/28 by Shawn Thomas

I have heard several people this week say that they are looking forward to the cooler weather that is coming in at the end of the week, and fall — and Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged "Worthy of Worship", actions, Apostle John, awe, be still and know, commandments, deeds, Genesis 28, Hallelujah, intercessory prayer, Job, John 14:15, Lottie Moon, Lottie Moon and C.H. Toy, Lottie Moon love, Luke 6:46, obedience, praise, praise methods, prayer, Psalm 100:1, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 65:1, Revelation 1:17, reverence, silence, tithe, ways to praise, worship | Leave a comment

Using Jesus’ Model Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 sermon)

Posted on 2017/08/21 by Shawn Thomas

Hudson Taylor was the missionary to China who founded the Inland China Mission which touched multitudes of Chinese with the gospel. When Taylor was home in England, a young man who was interested in the ministry decided to go and … Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged devotions, Ephesians 6, forgiveness, God's will, hour long prayer, how to pray for an hour, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor prayer, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, interceding, intercession, kingdom requests, Mark 1:35, Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 6:9-13, morning prayer, praise, pray, prayer, prayer agenda, prayer outline, prayer requests, prayer time, praying for an hour, Psalm 100:4, quality prayer, quiet time, requests of the Model Prayer, scripture memory, spiritual protection, spiritual warfare, temptation, Thanksgiving, The Lord's Prayer, The Model Prayer | 1 Comment