Year After Year?

Posted on 2013/07/08 by Shawn Thomas

I Samuel 1 tells how Elkanah’s wife Hannah was tormented by her in-home rival, Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah, because Hannah had not borne a son. Verse 7 says: “It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her.” That phrase, “year after year,” is a touching one. It must have seemed to Hannah like this provocation would never end – but as we see in the rest of the chapter, it DID! When Hannah called out to the Lord in humility and despair, God heard her cry, and :20 tells us that she gave birth to a son.
This is a good reminder to us. Continue reading →

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Think About It!

Posted on 2013/07/03 by Shawn Thomas

Verses 5 and 11 of Psalm 39 both end with the exact same assertion: “surely every man is a mere breath.” It is also of note that following each of these verses is the Hebrew word, “Selah.” While the exact translation of this word is uncertain, many believe it to mean a contemplative pause — an opportunity to think about what has just been said. Continue reading →

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What Should I Preach On This Sunday?

Posted on 2013/07/02 by Shawn Thomas

If this sounds like an odd title for a blog post, let me explain its origin: WordPress blog statistics show you what internet searches have brought people to your blog. For example, on a given day, my stats might indicate that people have searched for “what does it mean to delight in the Lord” or “What is the meaning of the drink offering” (which access two of my most-read sermons on my blog). But from time to time, I have also had “hits” from those searching for: “What should I preach on this Sunday?” I am not sure which of my posts or messages have been accessed with this search question, but since I have seen this question hit my blog repeatedly, I thought it might be beneficial to write an article that directly addressed the topic.

This is indeed a crucial issue, as the selection of the text or message for Sunday’s sermon is one of the most important responsibilities a pastor has, and it should not be taken lightly. I pray that the following will be helpful:

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Scripture’s Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

Posted on 2013/07/02 by Shawn Thomas

In Exodus 19:21 Jethro told Moses: “You shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.” From the very beginning of what may be considered one of the Bible’s first emphases on discipleship, the character of the leader was regarded as vital. Continue reading →

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Little Condo on the Prairie

Posted on 2013/07/01 by Shawn Thomas

GRANDPARENTING BLISS
One afternoon while rocking Corley, Cheryl looked down at her and said softly: “It IS fun having a baby — one that you can just hand back over!”

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Psalm 119:57-64 On Obedience

Posted on 2013/07/01 by Shawn Thomas

Several of the sections of Psalm 119 (which is an acrostic in Hebrew) seem to have a unifying theme. Psalm 119:57-64 is the “Heth” section, which means that each of the 8 verses in this grouping begins with the Hebrew letter Heth (roughly equivalent to the English letter “H.”) This section is also one of those in Psalm 119 in which one can identify a unifying theme. In this case, it makes several points concerning our obedience to God: Continue reading →

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Make an Altar in Bethel

Posted on 2013/06/30 by Shawn Thomas

Genesis 35:1 says: “Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.'” God commanded Jacob to move, and when he moved, he was to build an altar to God in his new location. Although we are not today under the Old Testament Law, and do not build literal “altars”, there is yet an application for us here:

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As Much As In Riches?

Posted on 2013/06/28 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 119:14 the Psalmist proclaims: “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.” That is quite a statement about his commitment to the word of God. I wonder how many of us can truly say that? Continue reading →

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What Real Faith Looks Like: Trusting A Benevolent God

Posted on 2013/06/27 by Shawn Thomas

One of my favorite scenes from the movie world is from the Christmas classic: “A Christmas Story”, when little Ralphie discovers the BB gun which his father had bought him for Christmas. The dad watches with delight as Ralphie opens the box, and follows his son’s every move as he pours the bb’s into the gun. It is a touching picture of a father who delights in giving to his child.

The Bible says that our Heavenly Father is like that. Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him?” The God of the Bible is a GOOD God, who loves to give His children what is good. Psalm 119:68 says of God: “You ARE good, and DO good.” His giving nature is preeminently seen in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ to purchase our salvation: “For God so loved the world that He GAVE …”. People have a lot of different ideas about the kind of God that He is, but in James 1:17-18, the Bible teaches us that “Real Faith” puts its trust in a good, giving God. Continue reading →

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Commitment and Assurance

Posted on 2013/06/27 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 31:14-15, David says: “I say You are my God, my times are in Your hand.” Here David exhibits a trust in the Lord despite the enemies which the earlier part of the Psalm referred to. Verse 15 exhibits a calm assurance: “My times are in Your hand.” But notice what the SOURCE of that assurance was.

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