We Are Aliens

Posted on 2016/11/14 by Shawn Thomas

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who are chosen” (I Peter 1:1)

Peter wrote to the Christians who were scattered throughout what is now the nation of Turkey, and told them that they were “aliens.” This Greek Bible word means “one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives; hence, stranger; sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner” (Thayers Greek Lexicon).  The contemporary term “illegal aliens” refers to people who are not citizens of the country in which they are currently living.  Peter said that Christians are to view themselves this way: as strangers living in a foreign land.

This word applies to Christians living today as well. Continue reading →

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“You Are With Me”

Posted on 2016/11/08 by Shawn Thomas

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Those words, “YOU are with me” are everything to the follower of the Lord. The word “YOU” is actually emphasized in Hebrew (“atah” is an emphatic “YOU”!) It reassures the Lord’s sheep that if we know that God is with us, we can face anything — even death’s shadow.

The most important thing in all the world is to have the presence of God with you, to know that He is “with us.” Because there’s nothing we can’t face if He is with us.

Moses knew this. Continue reading →

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“Eternal Life” (John 3:16 sermon)

Posted on 2016/11/07 by Shawn Thomas

Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of the Chinese Qin Dynasty — and he wanted to be the last. He wanted to live forever. In Imperial China at that time, they believed in certain “elixirs of life” which might give a person eternal life. One of these elixirs was the element mercury, which Qin Shi Huang took in hopes of becoming immortal. But as you might guess, it actually hastened his death, and he died at the young age of 39, probably from mercury poisoning.

Ever since man’s choice of sin marred our world and brought death into it, mankind has sought to somehow conquer death and gain eternal life. Unfortunately, because we don’t turn to God’s word for guidance, we go about it in the wrong way. Without the leadership of God’s word, we will continue to fall short of genuine eternal life. But as we close our study of this great verse this morning, we find that God promises us “eternal life.” What IS this “eternal life” that Jesus talks about here, and how can you know that you have it? Continue reading →

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“When I say ‘God’ …”

Posted on 2016/11/07 by Shawn Thomas

Jesus’ final command to His disciples in the Book of Matthew is well-known to many:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

While many rightly focus on the activity involved in the main verb of the command, “make disciples”, there is also a vital doctrine contained in these verses which must not be missed.  Continue reading →

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Do You Take The Money?

Posted on 2016/11/01 by Shawn Thomas

“And they took the money, and did as they had been instructed …” (Matthew 28:15 NASB)

What an interesting sentence: “and they took the money.” The guards in this story knew the truth; they had been at the tomb and felt the earthquake, and were terrified by the angel. They knew that something miraculous had happened — but they were offered “a large sum of money” (:12) to say otherwise, that “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.” They compromised what they knew to be the truth, and “they took the money” instead.

None of us have ever been in the very position these guards were in, of denying the resurrection of Jesus, but the fact is that we face choices that are very similar to that all the time: Continue reading →

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“Shall Not Perish” (John 3:16 sermon)

Posted on 2016/10/31 by Shawn Thomas

Several years ago, some students at Southwestern Baptist Seminary were talking before the start of class, one of them started telling a joke that involved a story about hell. Just then, the professor walked in, and he said, “Men, I never joke about hell. People are going there.”

This morning we are studying a very sobering topic. We have worked our way, word by word and phrase by phrase, through John 3:16, until now we come to the last two phrases: “should not perish” and “but have everlasting life.” Next Sunday morning we are going to conclude our “John 3:16” series with a look at the glorious nature of “eternal life.” But before you can be healed by the gospel, first you must be wounded by it. So this morning we will study the phrase, “shall not perish.” God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we might not “perish.” What is this talking about? What is this “perishing”, and why are we doing it? Continue reading →

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Don’t Harden Your Heart

Posted on 2016/10/31 by Shawn Thomas

“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.” (Matthew 28:11 NASB)

You have to ask yourself: just how depraved were these chief priests? The guard reported to them “all that had happened” — i.e., that the angel had appeared, etc. — didn’t they fear that this might really be a work of God? If Jesus could do this, was there any way that they could stop Him? And yet they schemed together (:12) and spread a lie about His body being stolen (:13-15) instead of repenting and believing in the Lord themselves.

There is an important lesson here: Continue reading →

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The Proper Response To Jesus

Posted on 2016/10/27 by Shawn Thomas

“And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9 NASB)

What would it be like to encounter the resurrected Jesus? If you are a Christian, it is not a theoretical question; you will do it one day! What WILL it be like? How will you respond to Him? We get a clue to that here in :9 of Matthew 28, when His followers met Him after His resurrection. Continue reading →

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Jesus Met Them

Posted on 2016/10/26 by Shawn Thomas

“And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9 NASB)

They were not even expecting it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were on their way to report Jesus’ resurrection to His disciples. They weren’t anticipating that they would have this encounter — but “Jesus met them.” It led to worship (“they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him”) and His subsequent direction for their lives (“take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee”). But the key was: He met them.

This is what we need as well. Continue reading →

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Behold I Have Told You

Posted on 2016/10/25 by Shawn Thomas

“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7 NASB)

When the angel had given the women who were looking for Jesus the message of His resurrection, he then added: “Behold, I have told you.” It was as though he was saying, “OK; now I have done my part. I have told you. I have done what I have been instructed. The rest is up to you.” That is something like OUR job too! Continue reading →

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