Breaking the Chain: The Sons of Korah

Posted on 2014/02/12 by Shawn Thomas

Some people feel as if they are “doomed to failure” due to a sin their parents committed, or because of something unsavory in their family background. The story of the sons of Korah reminds us that we are not consigned to failure because of our family heritage.

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But You …

Posted on 2014/02/11 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 3, David is almost overwhelmed by the increase of his enemies, and the hopelessness of his situation. And this was not only his own perception. Verse 2 says “MANY are saying of my soul, ‘there is no deliverance for him in God.'” It looked very bleak, and the “Selah” probably indicates a pause to meditate on the situation, which at that time looked hopeless. But the next words would change everything:

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Are YOU Sure of a Good Conscience?

Posted on 2014/02/10 by Shawn Thomas

In Hebrews 13:18 the author writes: “Pray for us, we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.” That is quite a statement to make: “we are sure that we have a good conscience.” I wonder how many of us could honestly write the same thing? And yet it should be the goal for each of us!

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The Model Prayer and Your Request

Posted on 2014/02/07 by Shawn Thomas

We saw here how what is often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer” of Matthew 6:9-13 is really a model for our daily prayers. But it can also serve as a guide for the way that we pray for specific issues or requests.

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The Model Prayer

Posted on 2014/02/06 by Shawn Thomas

The Model Prayer of Matthew 6:9-13 (often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer”) is probably the single most familiar prayer in history, yet it is often misunderstood. It was never meant to be used as a “rote” prayer, word-for-word. Jesus didn’t say “pray this”, but rather “pray IN THIS WAY” — in other words, it was a MODEL for the way that we are to address God.

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Psalm 3:3 “My Shield”

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

The following is a message from Psalm 3:3, preached at Trinity Baptist, Norman on August 11, 2013. It shares the testimony of my illness and resignation from FBC Moss Bluff, and of God’s purposes for our trials. This verse has been an anchor for my soul the past two years. The Lord is indeed “my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head.”

This link will take you to the Trinity, Norman podcast site. If you will scroll down the page to the August 11, p.m. service, you will find my message, entitled, Psalm 3:3, “My Shield”:

http://trinitynorman.podbean.com/page/5/

(While at the website, you may also want to listen to some of the sermons by Pastor Ronnie Rogers, and Associate Pastor Ryan Polk, two of the finest men, and best preachers I know.)

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Psalm 3:3 “My Shield” (preached Aug. 11, 2013 at Trinity, Norman)

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

I wrote the much of the following message during the summer of 2012, when I was on medical leave as pastor of FBC Moss Bluff, LA with dyautonomia (POTS). I would later resign the church in February of 2013, selling our home and many of our possessions, facing what was humanly speaking an uncertain future. Little did we know that the Lord would completely restore my health that summer, and that He would indeed be “the lifter of my head.” But throughout the past 18 months, this message — and most importantly, the promise of the Lord behind it — has been an anchor for my soul. I have had the opportunity to share it in several churches in Oklahoma, including our current home church, Trinity Baptist of Norman, where this message was recorded. I hope that the Lord will use it to minister to you, and to others you may know who are walking through difficult days.

http://media61.podbean.com/pb/2934aeb0a0440420e74b27e571bead2c/52ed8ce6/data2/blogs49/471138/uploads/2013-08-11pm.mp3

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The Root Issue of Sin

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

II Samuel 12 relates how Nathan the prophet boldly confronted King David after his adultery with Bathsheba. In :10 he tells the king: “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” The words here, “because you have despised Me” are key, for here we discover the real issue involved in David’s sin.

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God’s Part and Ours: Balancing Sovereignty & Responsibility

Posted on 2014/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

In II Samuel 10 David had sent his armies to fight a coalition of the Ammonites and the Arameans. Just before the battle, David’s general Joab told his brother Abishai, whom he had given charge of an important part of the battle: “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” (:12)
Joab demonstrated an important balance in his outlook here, a balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility:

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The Little Condo (2-04-14)

Posted on 2014/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

If you were a fly on the wall of the “Little Condo”, you would have heard some of the following quips and shenanigans around here the past couple of weeks:

MESSY READER?
Cheryl, reading Danny Akin’s theology for the Academy class at Trinity: “Do you mind if I eat some Cheetos while I read this book?”
Me: “Just don’t get any orange all over it!”

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