“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (I Corinthians 15:19)
How important is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? In this part of I Corinthians 15, Paul listed a number of consequences if He had not been raised: “our preaching is vain”; “your faith also is vain”; “those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished”; etc. Here in :19 he makes a very strong statement that should cause each of us to evaluate our faith: Continue reading
I was reviewing James Chapters 1 & 2 on the way to the office yesterday when all of the sudden, one of the verses sent shudders down my spine: Continue reading
“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (I Corinthians 14:26)
After detailing several ways in which members might wish to contribute to a worship service, the Apostle Paul adds the purpose of these gifts: “Let all things be done for edification.” The word “edification” here means to “build up” — and by that he means building up the spiritual lives of others, not our own egos or spiritual resumes. This is significant. Continue reading
“When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.” (Jonah 3:6)
What an extraordinary picture this verse renders of the response of the king of Nineveh to the word of the Lord through Jonah. As :4 indicates, Jonah had proclaimed “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” How did the king respond to this word? Continue reading
There was an article in the paper a couple of years ago about the Nativity Scene in St. Albans, West Virginia. It included a picture of the scene, because it was so unusual: it had a stable, some sheep, camels & a donkey, and even some “visitors” – wise men – but that is it! There was nothing in the stable – no Mary, no Joseph, and no baby Jesus! It was revealing that the two town officials that were contacted had differing stories about why it was that way. The parks superintendent said that the Holy Family was left out because of “separation of church & state” concerns. Interestingly, the mayor (the politician!) said it was just a technical difficulty – you know, too hard to get all those characters to fit inside the stable! Either way, it is definitely ironic that the One the nativity scene is supposed to celebrate was left out: Jesus Christ!
Unfortunately, that is how it often is – people celebrate everything at Christmas except Jesus. We celebrate “family” – and it is great to get together with family at Christmas; we exchange gifts, and that is wonderful. There is even this “mystical” thing we call “the spirit of the season.” But oftentimes, Jesus Christ Himself is left out. So for the next 3 weeks, I want us to focus on the One the season really celebrates: Jesus Christ, with a “mini-series” I am calling: “The Christ of Christmas.” The messages will all be based in the book of John, chapter 1, and we will look at what that great chapter teaches us about Who He is, and what He came to do for us. We will begin this morning by looking at John 1:1-3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”
These verses proclaim that the Christ of Christmas was and is God! Continue reading
“For I am God, and there is no other; God, and there is no one like Me … saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
If you’re tempted to worry about something today — especially if you are concerned about God’s kingdom’s work — here is a good word for you through the prophet Isaiah: Continue reading
“You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; your ears are open, but none hears.” (Isaiah 42:20)
Addressing the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah, God tells them that they have “seen” much in His Law, but actually “observe” little. The Hebrew word translated “observe” here means to “keep, watch, preserve” (BDB) — in other words, they were not putting into practice all that they had seen and learned in His word. Continue reading
“The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” (Isaiah 42:21)
This little verse is packed with insight that should inform and direct each of our lives as God’s people: Continue reading
In Psalm 12:1, David begins his prayer with a very simple, basic request: “Help, Lord …” but it may have actually been the best prayer he ever prayed! Continue reading
After months of waiting, this week it is finally here! Starting this Friday Pleasant Ridge will be presenting our Christmas musical “The Grinch” downtown at the CoMMA. It is a major production, and preparations have been made for months in advance: the choir has been practicing twice a week all fall; actors have learned the lines for their characters; costumes have been sewn; tickets have been bought and given to friends and co-workers; tests have been made on the equipment for the characters that will fly; videos have been made; all kinds of people have been lined up for food, and child care, and decision counseling, and greeting people at the CoMMA — preparation in every imaginable way has been made for this program.
Preparation is vital for something like this, because programs of this magnitude do not just “happen.” It takes preparation to make something like this come off successfully. What we need to see is that there is another kind of preparation that needs to be made if this program will accomplish what we really desire — and that is our SPIRITUAL preparation. If our hearts and lives are not right before God, and we have not prepared ourselves spiritually, then all the other preparations we have made are made in vain. We must prepare ourselves spiritually if we want to see God work this week. And we need to understand that this same kind of preparation is also vital if we want to see God work in other areas of our lives in the days ahead: in our families, our church, and our community. This morning I want us to turn to a passage of scripture that challenges us to prepare ourselves today, in order that we may see God work in a special way in the days ahead. Joshua 3:5 says:
“Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.'” Continue reading
I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
shawnethomas 