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Paul on Decision-Making, Part III

Posted on 2015/10/27 by Shawn Thomas

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31)

In the book of I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shares several “nuggets” of truth which can help us in our decision-making. One of is found in 9:23, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel”, and another in 10:24 “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Applying these verses to our situations can help us to make godly decisions: we should consider the impact of our decisions on others (see devotion on 10:24 here), and on the witness of the gospel (see devotion on 9:23 here). In the present verse (10:31) we find another consideration: the glory of God. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged advice, Apostle Paul, decision making, decisions, God's will, I Corinthians 10:24, I Corinthians 10:31, I Corinthians 8:6, I Corinthians 9:23 | Leave a comment

“This Is My Story: The Gerasene Demoniac” (Mark 5:1-20 sermon)

Posted on 2015/10/26 by Shawn Thomas

During the Second World War, when Hitler conquered France, he immediately shut down the borders to keep the people from leaving the country. But one small border town saw its population diminish rapidly, so the Germans searched for the answer. It turned out, this town had a cemetery that straddled the border with the neighboring country, which was free from Nazi control. The locals opened up an ancient gate in the wall of the cemetery, and they kept having “funerals” – except the people never came back! They went out to the tombs, but they just kept on walking, right out the back gate, to their freedom!

This morning, our next “story” is the story of a man who also found “freedom” in a cemetery – it is the story of the Gerasene Demoniac – a man who was bound by the power of Satan, but who found freedom among the tombs by the power of Jesus. We have talked before about how a good outline of a testimony is to share your life “before” Christ; then how you came to know Christ; then your life “after.” We are going to follow that outline this morning as we look at the “story” of the Gerasene Demoniac from Mark 5:1-20 … Continue reading →

Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons | Tagged Acts 1:8, All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name, cemetery, demon-possession, demons, evangelism, Jerusalem, local missions, Mark 5:1-20, mission, missions, salvation, Satan, spiritual warfare, story, testimony, witness | 1 Comment

Decision-Making, Part II

Posted on 2015/10/26 by Shawn Thomas

“Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (I Corinthians 10:24)

Having already stated in I Corinthians 9:23 that his first consideration in decision-making was the gospel (see post here), Paul here offers a second: consider the impact your decision will make on others. It is not merely what is good for YOU that ought to consider, but the impact it will have on OTHER people. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged decision making, decisions, God's will, I Corinthians 10:25, Philippians 2:4, selflessness | 1 Comment

A Gospel Decision-Making Grid (Decision-Making, Pt. I)

Posted on 2015/10/23 by Shawn Thomas

How do you determine if you are going to do something or not? By whether you “want” to do it? If it will make you appear good to others? Because it will make you money? How do you decide?

The Apostle Paul had a method for his decision-making that impacted everything he did. We find it in I Corinthians 9:23: Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged decision making, decision-making grid, decisions, God's will, gospel, I Corinthians 9:23 | 2 Comments

Your Body: Slave — or Master?

Posted on 2015/10/22 by Shawn Thomas

“But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (I Corinthians 9:27)

Paul wrote here that he “disciplined” his body. The New American Standard Bible indicates that the word “discipline” there is literaly “bruise.” The point is that Paul kept his body under control, so that it served him, and what he was seeking to accomplish on behalf of the gospel. In fact he said he made his body his “slave” for that purpose.

I wonder how many Christians in America today could say a similar thing about their bodies? Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged body, diet, discipline, eating, food, I Corinthians 9:27, master, physical body, slave | 2 Comments

The Stability of Your Times

Posted on 2015/10/21 by Shawn Thomas

“And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)

Significantly, this verse was written to God’s people in a time of impending distress and judgment. One invader was about to be destroyed, another was yet to come, the whole land was filled with uncertainty. What peace, what comfort was there to be found in such times? Isaiah gives the answer: Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged comfort, Isaiah 33:6, peace, Psalm 113, Psalm 16:11, stability, trial, tribulation | Leave a comment

We Exist For Him

Posted on 2015/10/20 by Shawn Thomas

Four little words found in Corinthians 8:6 would prove revolutionary if we would really understand and apply them. The words? “We exist for Him.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged abortion, glory of God, I Corinthians 8:6, philosophy, selfishness, we exist for Him | 2 Comments

A Prayer For Grace

Posted on 2015/10/19 by Shawn Thomas

In Isaiah Chapter 33 we find a marvelous prayer from the lips of the prophet:

:2 “O YHWH, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their (our) strength every morning.”

When we break this verse down into phrases we see several things that can help guide us to pray for a personal prayer request, or for someone we know who needs God’s grace in a particular situation: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged intercession, Isaiah 33:2, morning, prayer, strength | Leave a comment

He Longs To Be Gracious!

Posted on 2015/10/15 by Shawn Thomas

Isaiah 30:18 must be one of the most encouraging verses in all of the word of God:
“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.”

God had spent the first part of Isaiah 30 rebuking His people for ignoring Him, and seeking refuge in men. He told them of the discipline which was coming upon them for their sin. But then He immediately followed that up, in the same chapter, with this most encouraging word: that He “longed” to be gracious to them. What a picture this gives us of God’s nature: Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged compassion, God, grace, Isaiah 30:18, Prodigal Son, theology | 3 Comments

The Message You Don’t Want To Hear

Posted on 2015/10/14 by Shawn Thomas

“Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel …” (Isaiah 30:12)

In one of the most ironic interchanges in scripture, Isaiah had quoted the people of Israel in Isaiah 30:11 as saying, “Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” Evidently, Isaiah had used this term for God repeatedly in his messages to the sinful people of Israel, but they were tired of hearing it. It is not hard to imagine them groaning: “Not THAT term again!” They wanted no more of it. “Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”

And no wonder. They did not have much of a spiritual appetite. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged congregational surveys, Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 30:12, polls, popular opinion, preaching | 1 Comment