Tag Archives: devotions

“Coming Back To Worship ‘In The Spirit'” (Luke 2:27 sermon)

Posted on 2020/05/18 by Shawn Thomas

It’s good to see people starting to come back and participate in our worship services again — it’s been growing over the last 2-3 weeks, and hopefully that will continue. But many are suggesting that we won’t ever get back … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 1:8, baptism in the Holy Spirit, church, church attendance, church like an orchestra, cleanse yourselves, confession of sin, daily Bible reading, daily quiet time, devotions, don't mortgage your Sunday morning, Ephesians 1:13, expectation for worship, faith, full of the Spirit, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 11:6, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit and salvation, Holy Spirit in you, I Corinthians 11 Lord's Supper, II TImothy 2:21, indwelling Holy Spirit, Isaiah 1, Isaiah 1:18, John 15:5, Luke 2:27 sermon, Luke Holy Spirit, morning worship time, One God Three Persons, Person of the Holy Spirit, preparation for worship, prepare for worship, prepare worship, Puritans, rest Sunday, Romans 8:9, salvation, Saturday night, sealed in the Holy Spirit, sermon note taking, sermon notes, Simeon, sin, spirit, spiritual preparation for worship, Sunday morning worship attire, Trinity, wash yourselves, worship, worship expectancy, worship preparation | Leave a comment

“The People of Joy & Gladness” (Luke 1:14 sermon)

Posted on 2020/05/04 by Shawn Thomas

H.L. Mencken was an American writer and commentator in the mid-1900’s, and he is famous, among other things, for his quip that “Puritanism (is) the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” That’s the picture that many people have … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Adam & Eve, angel Gabriel, Bible Reading, church, coronavirus, COVID-19, daily quiet time, daily worship time, devotions, eternity, false gods, forbidden fruit, forgiveness, George Muller, gladness, God sun, H.L. Mencken Puritanism, Habakkuk 3:16-19, heaven, idols, J.I. Packer Puritans, Jesus, John Newton Amazing Grace, joy, joy and gladness, joy in circumstances, Luke 1 sermon, Luke 1:14, Luke 1:19, marriage, Paradise, people of God, presence of God, presence of the Lord, Psalm 118:24, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 31:7, Psalm 4:7, Psalm 84:11, rejoice and be glad, relationships, repentance, salvation, sin, sin and creation, sun, walk with God, walking with God, wife idol, worship, worship forever, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Zacharias sermon | Leave a comment

“The Refiner’s Fire” (Malachi 3:1-4 sermon)

Posted on 2020/04/20 by Shawn Thomas

Ruth Bell Graham was the wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham. Billy had of course garnered so much world-wide attention, having been seen on tv, and having written so many books, and so on — but after some years, … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Babylonian Captivity, Billy Graham, Bishop Moule no situation so chaotic, Brass Bell Milwaukee, busy-ness, C.S. Lewis, circumstances, coronavirus crisis, COVID-19, daily Bible reading, devotional time, devotions, Ephesians 1:11, finances, financial crisis, fuller's soap, Genesis Joseph, God, God's purpose, growing through trials, Hebrews 13:5, holiness, holy, II Corinthians 12 Apostle Paul, It's My Turn Graham, Italy doctor COVID-19 atheist, Malachi 3:1-4 sermon, money, normal, offerings in righteousness, pandemic, Peter Acts 2 sermon, predestined plan and purpose of God, purification, purpose, refiner's fire, relationships, rest, Romans 8:28, Ruth Bell Graham, sacrifice of praise, sanctification, schedule, sickness, Thanksgiving, thorn in the flesh, time, trials, worship | Leave a comment

“What Are You Living For?” (I Peter 4:1-6 sermon)

Posted on 2019/11/18 by Shawn Thomas

Sir Winston Churchill had an amazing career as an English politician, Prime Minister and world leader – he is consistently listed by historians as one of the top 2 or 3 most important people of the 20th century. But reading … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged ark of salvation, Bible, Biblical values, Christian suffering, decisions, devotions, drink, dysautonomia, eat drink and be merry, feel like doing, feelings, food, gospel, heaven, holiness, homosexuality, I Corinthians 6:9-11, I John 2:16, I Peter 4:1-6 sermon, I Peter suffering, idolatry, Israel Babylonian Captivity, Jesus Christ, Jesus does not leave you as you are, John 5:14, John 8 woman, John 9 bling man, judgment, just as we are, lust, lusts of men, lusts of the world, morality, morning quiet time, motivation, POTS, Psalm 119:67, purification of suffering, purificaton, purpose, repent, repentance, salvation, Same sex marriage, sanctification, scripture, sin, sin and suffering, suffer, suffering, suffering purifies, time, will of God, Winston Churchill, wrong side of eternity, wrong side of history | 2 Comments

“Your Daily Time With God” (Mark 1:35 sermon)

Posted on 2019/03/18 by Shawn Thomas

Back in the 1950’s, A.W. Tozer decried many of the weaknesses he saw developing in American Christianity. One thing he preached about was the desire of American Christians for “shortcuts” to spiritual growth: “In my creature impatience I am often … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged A.W. Tozer, appointment with God, Bible Reading, daily quiet time, devotional time, devotions, Ephesians 6, God the Son, I Peter 2:24, In the morning O LORD You will hear my voice, Jesus, Jesus example, love, Mark 1:35, MasterLife, Model Prayer outline, morning devotions, morning prayer, persistence, Person of God, place, praise, pray without ceasing, prayer, prayer time, preschool mom, procedure, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 119:64, Psalm 5:3, relationship, shut the door, social media, spiritual armor, Stephen King On Writing, Suzanna Wesley prayer apron, time, time with God, Trinity, Triune God | 1 Comment

“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

Keep The Fire Going!

Posted on 2018/04/09 by Shawn Thomas

“Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.” (Leviticus 6:13) The Old Testament tabernacle worship was full of symbolism. It taught God’s people the “A-B-C’s” of what it takes to have and keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged daily Bible reading, devotions, fire, relationship with God, walk with God | Leave a comment

The Search For Delight (Psalm 37:4 sermon)

Posted on 2018/02/26 by Shawn Thomas

“Hedonism” is the belief that pleasure is the most important thing in the world, and that you should live your life, for pleasure. Most Christians would say that hedonism is wrong — but a few years ago pastor John Piper … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged Alexander Von Humboldt, Amazon jungle, Bible Reading, Brave Companions David McCullough, C.S. Lewis, Christian hedonism, commitment, daily quiet time, delight, delight yourself, Delight yourself in the Lord, desires, devotion time, devotions, Divine Country, Ecclesiastes, effort, family, football, fulfillment, garden of Eden, heaven, hedonism, Hop on Pop, Job, John Piper, joy, Made To Crave, marriage, occupation, personal worship, pleasure, prayer, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 17:17, Psalm 37:4, Psalm 42, Psalm 4:7, quiet time, reading, river of delights, scripture memory, sin, Song This Blood, soul mate, vocation, worship | Leave a comment

Do You Really Want To Know God’s Way?

Posted on 2018/02/08 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 25:4-5 David prays, “Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me …”. Many Christians might identify with these words. Upon reading them they might say, “Amen! … Continue reading →

Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like, Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship | Tagged devotions, discipleship, God's will, humility, leadership, prayer, pride, Psalm 25, purity, quiet time, sanctification, sin, wait on the Lord | Leave a comment

The Most Romantic Verse In The Bible?

Posted on 2018/01/31 by Shawn Thomas

“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.” (Genesis 29:20) Surely this is at least one of the most romantic verses in all of the word … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship | Tagged church attendance, devotions, Genesis 29:20, love, romance, worship | 1 Comment