Tag Archives: missions

“The Greatest Mission Trip” (Philippians 2:5-13 sermon)

Posted on 2017/12/04 by Shawn Thomas

After our morning service today, we have the opportunity to stay for soup and sandwiches, sponsored by our student ministry, to support the Hamburg, Germany mission trip that they will be going on this summer. I’m excited that a dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Sermons | Tagged Bill Borden, Borden of Yale, Burke United Christian Ministries, Christology, church on mission, deity of Jesus, Dr. Jim Smith, Elf at the CoMMA, Everyone wants a revolution no one wants to do the dishes, glory, God the Son, greatest mission trip, humility, Incarnation, India missions, Isaiah 6, Jesus, John 17:5, Lesslie Newbigin, lifeguard, little things, local mission, Lottie Moon offering, Luke 19:10, Matthew 20:28, mission trip, missionaries, missions, Philippians 2:5-13, ransom, sacrifice, salvation, service, Son of God, The Greatest Mission Trip, Thou didst leave Thy throne song, Tish Warren The Liturgy of the Ordinary, Trinity | 1 Comment

“The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)

Posted on 2017/10/23 by Shawn Thomas

A few years ago Cheryl & I were going to a big public event, and we were looking for the line to get in. We saw this one big crowded line, so we figured: That must be the one we … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons | Tagged Acts 4:12, Bible, Christology, Cornelius Acts 10, doctrine, Eric Metaxas, eternal life, evangelism, giving, God's word, heaven, hell, Here I stand, hypothetical situations, I John 5:12, Jesus Christ, Jesus deity and humanity, Jesus only way, John 10:9, John 14:6, Martin Luther, Matthew 7:13-14 sermon, missions, missions giving, narrow way, narrow-minded, Noah, objective truth, offerings, one way, Oskar Schindler, Reformation, salvation, scripture, sola scriptura, the cross, truth, truth is narrow | 5 Comments

“Asking & Discerning” (Matthew 7:6-11 sermon)

Posted on 2017/10/02 by Shawn Thomas

I loved our Children’s Ministry Bible presentation last week, and I especially appreciated how Dr. Amanda mentioned that she is teaching our kids the importance of CONTEXT in scripture. It’s hard to overstate the importance of that in Bible interpretation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 13:45, asking, church fundraisers, compromise, discerning, discernment, donations, evangelism, Ezra, fundraising, giving, government, Holy Spirit, III John, Johann Tetzel, Luke 23:8, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Martin Luther, Matthew 7:6, Matthew 7:6-11, missions, missions giving, missions support, Pandering, pearls before swine, prayer, Reformation Day, salvation, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, spiritual abuse, wisdom, witnessing | Leave a comment

Distractions From Devotions

Posted on 2017/07/21 by Shawn Thomas

Our church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, North Carolina, is sending three adult members out to different mission fields this weekend: one to Wales, one to Haiti, and one to Romania. I sent them this quote from China Inland Mission … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Ministry, Sermon Illustrations, Uncategorized | Tagged Bible study, daily mission, devotions, home mission, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, John 15:5, missionary work, missions, prayer, quiet time, service | Leave a comment

“The King & The Disciples” (Matthew 5:1-2 sermon)

Posted on 2017/06/19 by Shawn Thomas

I have never in my lifetime seen the kind of vindictiveness expressed towards a president as we have seen evidenced towards President Trump: the hatred, lack of submission, people saying “He’s not my President”, etc. I was not a big … Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged 30 minute church service, Beatitudes, Bible, Bible Reading, Bible study, Chuck Quarles, Cliff Jenkins, commitment, consumer church, consumer mentality, convenience, crowds, daily bread, daily walk, Deuteronomy 8:3, devotional time, disciples, discipleship, entertainment, family, follow Me, following Jesus, God's will, God's word as food, Golden Calf, honey, Isaiah 53:6, Jesus, king, King Saul, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 5:1-2, meat, milk, ministry, mission partnership, missions, Moses, Mount of the Beatitudes, Mt. Sinai, Pandering, persecution, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh mission churches, popularity, prayer, priorities, Psalm 119:103, quiet time, salvation, scripture, SEBTS, Sermon on the Mount, service, solid food, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, success, truth, walk with God | Leave a comment

“The News About Jesus” (Matthew 4:24-25 sermon)

Posted on 2017/06/12 by Shawn Thomas

Last Wednesday I got an email from one of our members: “Did you hear the news about Bob Stoops?” The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners — my favorite college football team — had suddenly and surprisingly announced his retirement … Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 1:8, authority, Bob Stoops, college acceptance, Eric Metaxas, evangelism, fake news, good news, gospel, Gospels, Great Commission, heaven, idols, India, Isaiah 64:6, ISIS, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Joe McKeever, John 20:21, John 3:16, John 6:37, Kim Jong Un, king, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, love, Luke 24:47, Mark 16:15, Matthew 11, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 4:24-25 sermon, Matthew 8:2, Metaxas podcast, missions, Mr. Goodlett, news, Philippians 2, power, Psalm 2, return of Christ, Revelation 19, Romans 10:13, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:23, salvation, works | Leave a comment

Missions In A Nutshell

Posted on 2017/02/24 by Shawn Thomas

“For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.” (III John 7) Here in an often overlooked letter, we find a little verse which succinctly defines and prescribes the work of the missionary and … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 4:12, evangelism, gospel, Great Commission, III John 7, mission fundraisers, mission support, missionaries, missions, missions offerings, Philippians 2:9, the Name, the name which is above all names, witness | Leave a comment

“The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life” (Phil. 2:17 sermon)

Posted on 2016/04/04 by Shawn Thomas

Some time ago, as I was getting out of my car, I noticed that I had a can of Coke in the cup holder. I can’t stand to leave anything in my car, so I picked up the can to take it … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged "only one life 'twill soon be past, Bill Borden, C.T. Studd, drink offering, eternity, II Timothy 4:6, life purpose, ministry, missions, Nate Saint, only what's done for Christ will last, Philippians 2:17, reward, rewards | Leave a comment

“The Purpose of God’s Blessings” (Psalm 67 sermon)

Posted on 2015/11/23 by Shawn Thomas

This Thanksgiving week, many of us will sit down around a table and thank God for the blessings that He has given us this year — and we should. The Bible repeatedly commands us to give thanks to God for … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged attitude, baraka, better than I deserve, blessed to be a blessing, blessing, blessings, Charity Navigator, Cooperative Program, David Platt, deserve, giving, grace, gratitude, International Mission Board, missions, Psalm 67, Psalm 67 sermon, purpose, purpose of blessings, Roy Disney, salvation, SBC IMB, SBC missions, service, stewardship, Thanksgiving, Walt Disney | 6 Comments

“This Is My Story: The Gerasene Demoniac” (Mark 5:1-20 sermon)

Posted on 2015/10/26 by Shawn Thomas

During the Second World War, when Hitler conquered France, he immediately shut down the borders to keep the people from leaving the country. But one small border town saw its population diminish rapidly, so the Germans searched for the answer. … Continue reading →

Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons | Tagged Acts 1:8, All Hail The Power of Jesus' Name, cemetery, demon-possession, demons, evangelism, Jerusalem, local missions, Mark 5:1-20, mission, missions, salvation, Satan, spiritual warfare, story, testimony, witness | 1 Comment