Tag Archives: church

“The People of God” (I Peter 2:9-10 sermon)

Posted on 2019/08/05 by Shawn Thomas

I noticed from our very first days in Angleton that there is a palpable state pride here in Texas that exceeds what I have felt from the people of any other state – and I love it! The people of … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Abraham Lincoln pardon doll Jack, access to God, Andy Stanley unhitch, be holy for I am holy, boldness, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, chosen race, church, corporate worship, Deuteronomy 12:30, devotional time, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2 mercy, Ephesians 3:12, eternity, Exodus 19:6, Galatians 3, God's possession, heaven, Hebrews 4:16, holiness, holy, holy nation, Hosea 1 not my people, I Peter 2:9-10, I Peter sermon, II Timothy 3:16, John 5:39, kingdom of priests, Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 18, Lo-ami, mercy, Old Testament, people, people of God, priesthood of the believer, prophecies, purpose, quiet time, received mercy, Revelation 5:12, Robert E. Lee justice, royal priesthood, sealed Holy Spirit, security of believer, separation, so that, T.R. Fehrenback Lone Star, Texas, unhitch from Old Testament, witness, world, worldliness, worship | Leave a comment

“The Firm Foundation” (I Peter 1:23-25 sermon)

Posted on 2019/07/01 by Shawn Thomas

Years ago, John Wesley wrote: “I want to know one thing: the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine/Theology, I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged all flesh is like grass, assurance, Bible, born again, church, confidence, discipleship, duct tape, eternal life, fad, firm foundation, foundation, gimmick, gospel, Hebrews 4:12, How Firm A Foundation, Hussein Bolt, I Corinthians 2:1, I Peter, I Peter 1:23-25 sermon, I Peter sermon, II Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 40:6-8, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 55:10-11, James 4:14, John 3:16, John Wesley quote, Matthew 24:35, Matthew 5:17, ministry, Muslim conversion, not perish, once saved always saved, Ozymandias Shelley, perish, perseverance of the saints, Psalm 103, Psalm 90, Rameses II, Romans 10:17, salvation, salvation testimony, scripture, the word of the Lord, Wilbur Wright, word of God | Leave a comment

“The Blood-Bought Life” (I Peter 1:17-21 sermon)

Posted on 2019/06/09 by Shawn Thomas

There is a man in Australia, James Harrison, whose blood is precious. Harrison has an antibody in his blood which is given to mothers whose systems would attack their unborn babies. When they discovered the antibody in his system, about … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged American Caesar, Bataan, blood, blood bought life, blood of Christ, blood of Jesus, Calvin Fairbank, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, Christians aren't perfect just forgiven, church, conduct yourselves in fear, Douglas MacArthur, George Pickett, Gettysburg, gold, good works, I Peter, I Peter 1:17-21, in an hour you'll be in hell or glory, James Harrison Australia blood, John 8:34, John Piper Don't Waste Your Life, live differently, precious blood, price of slave, Psalm 49:7-8, ransom, redeemed, redemption, religion, religious, salvation, saved, seashells, set free, silver, sin, slave bought to set free, slavery, slaves of sin, sober, submarine, take life seriously, What can wash away my sin?, William Manchester, worth its weight in gold, worth their weight in gold | Leave a comment

“The Prophets and Your Salvation” (I Peter 1:10-12 sermon)

Posted on 2019/05/19 by Shawn Thomas

Back when I was a young preacher at my first church in Oklahoma City, I got a little book in the mail one day, from Edgar Whisenant: “88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be In 1988.” Whisenant was a NASA … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Music, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged "me" generation, Acts 2:39, Bethlehem, blood moons, building, church, contemporary music, contemporary service, Daniel, Edgar Whisenant 88 Reasons Why, end times, eschatology, family, generations, God's plan, hymns, I Peter 1:10-12, I Peter message, imitate, invitation, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 7:14, It's not about you, Jesus, knowing vs. doing, love, marriage, Martin Luther, Message, Messiah, Micah 5:2, Old Testament prophecies, Old Testament prophets, personal application, prophecies, prophets, Psalm 16, Psalm 22:1, rapture, respond, response, sacrifice, salvation, saving faith, second coming, self-centered, self-centeredness, selfishness, selflessness, Suffering Servant, traditional service, witness, witness of the prophets, worship, Zechariah 9:9 | Leave a comment

“A Living Hope” (I Peter 1:3 sermon)

Posted on 2019/04/22 by Shawn Thomas

(Preached at First Baptist Church, Angleton, TX Easter 2019) One of my privileges as a pastor over the last 35 years of ministry, has been to be able to hear the last words and testimonies of my church members who … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Abraham Lincoln pardon, birth, But God, choice, church, David Koresh, David Koresh burial, Easter sermon, Edward Jenner, Ephesians 2:1, eternal life, faith, Gamaliel, God's mercy, hope, I Peter, I Peter 1:3, I Peter sermon, immunization, James Phipps, Jesus, Jesus Christ resurrection, John 3, just God, living hope, merciful God, mercy, new birth, pastor, Resurrection Day sermon, resurrection life, Romans 3:26, smallpox, smallpox vaccine, vaccine, you must be born again | Leave a comment

“Reaching, Teaching, Caring” (Matthew 4:23 sermon)

Posted on 2019/03/03 by Shawn Thomas

I came home from work last Monday night and Cheryl was sitting on the couch wrapped up in a blanket, and she said, “You remember that thing you said in the sermon yesterday about how ‘If you worshiped God first … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged "reaching, Abraham Lincoln, Acts 2:42-47, care, caring, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, church, church calendar, Church Council, church leaders, discipleship, evangelism, gospel, I Peter 2:21, in His steps, Jesus cares, love, Luke 9:56, Mark 1:15, Mark 6:34, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 4:23, Matthew 4:23 sermon, Matthew 8:14-16, Matthew 9:35, megachurches, mercy, ministry, ministry priorities, ministry team, mission, priorities, purpose, R.H. Dana, Reaching Teaching Caring, repentance, repentance and faith, salvation, see feel compassion do, service, spiritual growth, Sunday School, teaching, Two Years Before The Mast, What Would Jesus Do?, worship, WWJD | 1 Comment

“Our Greatest Priority” (Matthew 22:34-38 sermon)

Posted on 2019/02/25 by Shawn Thomas

I have to admit: I was kind of disappointed last Sunday after we came home from church and eating out, that there wasn’t a football game on tv that I could fall asleep to. Can’t wait till next September — … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized, worship | Tagged Acts 2, busyness, calendar, church, church calendar, church priorities, corporate worship, daily quiet time, devotional time, distractions, ecclesiology, evangelism, fill up the calendar, first business of the church, fundamentals, Great Commandment, greatest commandment, Isaiah 59:2, John 17:17, knowing God, left your first love, letters to the churches, life purpose, loving God, Luke 10:38-42, Mark 1:35, Matthew 22:34-38, missions, morning prayer, morning worship, personal worship, prayer, priorities, purpose, revelation, Revelation 2 & 3, Romans 3:23, running, salvation, salvation purpose, schedule, sin, Sunday, tithe, tithing, Vince Lombardi gentlemen this is a football, worship, worshiping God | 2 Comments

“On The Banks Of The Promised Land” (Joshua 1:1-9 sermon)

Posted on 2019/02/20 by Shawn Thomas

I am so excited to share God’s word with our new church family this morning. As I thought and prayed about what to preach, SO many things came to mind. I found myself wishing I could share dozens of different … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged anchor, application, Bible, boldness, church, church transition, conditional promise, evangelism, faith, family transition, foundation, foundations, God's promise, God's word, Great Commission, James doer of the word, Joshua 1 sermon, Joshua 1:1-9, Joshua 1:9, materialism, missions, pastor transition, possessions, priorities, running, salvation, scripture, transition, transitions, trust | 4 Comments

“A Pastor’s Farewell” (Acts 20 sermon)

Posted on 2019/01/28 by Shawn Thomas

Cheryl & I want to thank you for the last 4 years we have been allowed to serve at Pleasant Ridge. It is very difficult to say farewell to people with whom we’ve ministered and loved and been loved — … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged A Pastor's Farewell, Acts 20, Acts 20:21, Amy Grant Faith Walking People, asking Jesus into your heart, assurance, Baptist Faith & Message 2000, church, church family, church membership class, confidence, daily Bible reading, devotional time, devotions, doctrine, faith, false teachers, farewell, father, feelings, goodbye, gospel, II TImothy 1:12, intercessory prayer, legalism, ministry, Nominating Committee, Now I commend you to God, pastor, pastor elder overseer, pastor search committee, people, prayer, praying for children, praying for loved ones, quiet time, repentance, repentance and faith, salvation, service, sin, soul, trust, works salvation | 4 Comments

“The Household of God” (I Timothy sermon)

Posted on 2018/10/22 by Shawn Thomas

In our “Discovering The Ridge” class for those who are joining our church, I often tell the story of the group in our home town which was starting a new church, and for some time they met in the home … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 2, Acts 20:28, Acts 6, Apostle Paul testimony, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis Athanasius quote, Christian bookstores, Christian music, church, church buildings, church handbook, church leadership, deacon, deacon qualifications, deacon servants, deacons, doctrine, doctrines of demons, ecclesiology, elder, evangelism, false teachers, gospel, grace, he did not move with the times, heaven, I Timothy, I Timothy 4, leadership, mercy, morning prayer, offices of the church, overseer, overseer pastor elder, pastor, pastor qualifications, salvation, test the spirits, the church, the gospel, witness | Leave a comment