Simple Praise

Posted on 2012/08/13 by Shawn Thomas

Someone may ask: “How should I praise God?  What exactly should I do?”  One might think that there is some complicated, Biblical formula for praise, but the truth is there is a very simple one found in the Book of Psalms. Continue reading →

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Introduction to the Book of James: “What Real Faith Looks Like”

Posted on 2012/08/12 by Shawn Thomas

      A few weeks ago I had a phone conversation with a pastor in another town here in Southwest Louisiana, and he was talking about how there are well over 30 churches in their small community.  He said, “You know how it is down here; everyone says they are a Christian.”  I agreed with him; virtually everyone you run into in this area says they are a member of a church, and thinks they are going to heaven. But the problem is, they aren’t! 

     Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  In other words, there are going to be a lot of us who think we have saving faith, but don’t.  How do you know if your faith is genuine, Biblical, saving faith, or not? 

     The book we are going to begin to study today answers that question.  The Book of James shows us what REAL faith looks like.  Now I can tell you right off the top that there are some things that genuine, saving faith does NOT look like: Continue reading →

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Praying For Worship

Posted on 2012/08/12 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 29 is a great passage to pray for our Sunday worship services, as it addresses so many scriptural things that we should want to see happen in our churches: Continue reading →

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Not So Among You

Posted on 2012/08/11 by Shawn Thomas

In Mark 10:43 Jesus said: “But it is not so among you.”  He spoke these words to His disciples in response to James & John’s ambitious request to be seated at His left and right in His kingdom — and the indignation of the other 10 at the pair’s request.  He told them all that things were different in His kingdom than they are in the world.  His leaders would be servants.  As for worldly-type ambitions, He said to them: “It is not so among you.”  Continue reading →

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The Danger of Indignance

Posted on 2012/08/10 by Shawn Thomas

Mark 10:41 “And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant toward James and John.”

We need to be aware that sometimes our response to someone’s sin may be as great or greater than their sin which elicited our response!  In Mark 10, James & John sinned in ignorance (or in ambition) by asking to be seated at Jesus’ left and right.  They were adequately rebuked and dealt with by Jesus.  But now there was as great – or even GREATER — danger of sin by the other 10 disciples, that of becoming bitter about what James & John tried to do! Continue reading →

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The Times That Try Men’s Souls (Psalm 11)

Posted on 2012/08/09 by Shawn Thomas

Years ago, at the founding of our nation, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls.”  That was certainly true of those revolutionary days – but I believe it is also very true today.  Our souls are being tried, as this nation, which had a foundation on a belief in God and objective truth, is running madly away from God and His truth. Continue reading →

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“The Gift of Justification”

Posted on 2012/08/08 by Shawn Thomas

:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives (literally “heart”)”.

People are very good at justifying whatever they do.  Take some of the worst things that are done in the world: if you talk to the person who committed them, they will have “their side of the story” as to why it wasn’t really that bad, or how it was justified, etc.  Now, sometimes there is truth in “the other side” of a story,  – as Proverbs 18:17 says, “the first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”  We must always be ready to hear both sides before we make a judgment.  But no matter how “right” someone makes their case seem, their act is not necessarily vindicated by how THEY can justify it, but by what GOD says about it: “The Lord weighs the spirits.” Continue reading →

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Presuming in Prosperity

Posted on 2012/08/07 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 30:6 says: “Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I will never be moved.’”

David confesses here a previous sin in his life, which was an expression of the essence of human pride and presumption.  During prosperous times, it can be our tendency to think that things will continue to be just as good as they currently are: “in my prosperity .. I will never be moved”.  But this is arrogant presumption.    James 4:14 says “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow”.  Yet so often the case is that we DO presume that we will have the same health, the same income, the same blessings – yea, even the very existence of LIFE – that we do today – but we are NOT guaranteed that!  It is presumption!

Continue reading →

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This Week in “Paradise” Aug. 6

Posted on 2012/08/06 by Shawn Thomas

Comfort Food

One day last week, Cheryl decided to take Michael to the Popeye’s, to comfort him as she told him that our church’s youth minister was going to be moving to Ohio. Michael is tender-hearted, and she felt that he needed preparation for the announcement, and a little “comfort food.” I agreed, and off they went. On their way to the restaurant, she broke the news. Michael was tearfully quiet for a minute, after which he asked: “So is that why you’re taking me to Popeye’s?” Cheryl said it was.

Michael then responded: “Is that all I get? How about that plasma big screen I wanted?” Cheryl was glad to see that he quickly recovered his sense of humor!

Continue reading →

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Reproof: A Hurt That Helps

Posted on 2012/08/06 by Shawn Thomas

Although most Proverbs seem to stand on their own as isolated wisdom lessons, Proverbs 15:31-33 seem to be related, all dealing with one’s response to “reproof”, or the personal correction which is offered to you by one who cares.  No one likes to be reproved, in fact sometimes it “stings”, but scripture tells us here that like an antiseptic, it is a hurt helps heal, and is best for you in the long run — IF you will respond to it humbly. Continue reading →

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