Tag Archives: ecclesiology

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson “Invitation,” for 12/14/25

Posted on 2025/12/06 by Shawn Thomas

For Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, lesson outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Andrew, Baptist, call of the disciples, call to mission, Capernaum, church mission, church purpose, church purpose statement, December 14 2025 lesson, discipleship, ecclesiology, evangelism, Explore the Bible, fishermen, following Jesus, fulfill, instant obedience, invitation, James, John, lesson outline, Lifeway, Making of the President 1960, Mark Twain, Matthew, Matthew 4:12-25, ministry, ministry evaluation, ministry metric, ministry motto, missions, obedience, Old Testament prophecy, Old Testament quotes in Matthew, Reaching Teaching Caring, Ron Chernow, shawnethomas, Southern Baptist, Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson, Sunday School, Sunday school discussion questions, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson applications, Sunday school lesson illustrations, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School training, Sunday School University, Theodore White John Kennedy | 14 Comments

“Jesus Directs His Church” (Acts 1:1-8 sermon)

Posted on 2022/02/21 by Shawn Thomas

Steve Jobs was one of the most unique CEO’s in history. He had a lot of quirks, but he led Apple computers to become what is now THE largest company in the world, worth over 300 BILLION dollars. But among … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, missions, Sermons | Tagged "Acts 1:8 Christian", "Acts 1:8 missions church", Acts 1:1-8 sermon, Acts 1:8, Bible Reading, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, church, conviction of sin, ecclesiology, end times, eschatology, Holy Spirit, I Samuel 13 Saul, Isaiah 40:31, John 16:8, mission, missions, NASA rocket Chris Kraft, Psalm 130:5-6, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37, sin, theological speculation, wait on the Lord, waiting | Leave a comment

“We Are The Temple” (II Corinthians 6:16 message)

Posted on 2020/03/24 by Shawn Thomas

II Corinthians 6:16 “We Are The Temple” The White House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the United States. It was finished in the year 1800, when Thomas Jefferson moved in, and every U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, church, church buildings, church giving, coronavirus crisis sermon, COVID-19, crisis ministry, daily Bible reading, doctrine of church, ecclesiology, Ephesians 2, evangelism, First Baptist Church Angleton Texas, first church buildings, God's word, holy, Holy of Holies, holy place, II Corinthians 6:16 message, II Corinthians 7:1, internet, internet worship, Luke 21, ministry, outreach, salvation, television, Temple, temple naos, War of 1812 White House, we are the temple, White House, widow's mite, worship | Leave a 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

“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

“Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)

Posted on 2017/12/18 by Shawn Thomas

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas program last weekend was when B.J. and Amy and Greg sang that beautiful song of the annunciation, which is right out of Luke 1:28, where the angel appeared to Mary and said: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons | Tagged "Sovereignty of God", assurance of salvation, Christ, Christmas, church, Colossians 2:9, Current Events, deity of Jesus, depravity of man, ecclesiology, Ephesians 1:13, Every Day With Jesus, faith, Genesis 6:5, God with us, God's plan, Hebrews 1:3, Holy Spirit, Hymn In The Garden, I Corinthians 6:19, II Corinthians 13:9, illustrations, Immanuel, Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14, Jesus, Jesus and marriage, John 14:8-9, John 1:12, King Ahaz, man, Martin Luther, Mary, Matthew 1:23, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Elf production, Romans 8:15, salvation, sealed in the Holy Spirit, smallpox vaccine, The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, trust | Leave a comment

“Prayer & The Church We Want To Be” (Acts 1 & 2 sermon)

Posted on 2015/02/02 by Shawn Thomas

(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 2-01-15 a.m.) The pastor at our home church, Trinity Baptist in Norman, Bro. Ronnie Rogers, has just published a new book; one which I would highly recommend to anyone who is interested in … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged 10 Questions For Leaders To Ask Each Week, Acts 1 sermon, Acts 2 sermon, Bible, Chuck Lawless, church, contemporary, devoted, ecclesiology, fellowship, one mind, prayer, proskarterountes, Ronnie Rogers, scripture, The Equipping Church, The Equipping Church by Ronnie Rogers, traditional, unity, word of God | Leave a comment

A “Sure-Fire Church Growth Method”

Posted on 2014/12/29 by Shawn Thomas

For the last generation, “church growth” has been a primary emphasis in American religion. Methods and process which appeal to the population at large have been employed by many religious practitioners in the hopes of reaching the unreached in our … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry | Tagged church, church growth, compromise, ecclesiology, entertainment, I John 4:5, worldliness | Leave a comment