Tag Archives: prayer

“God’s Purpose For Your Life” (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)

Posted on 2019/07/22 by Shawn Thomas

One of the most common questions people ask in life is, “What am I here for?” If you think we have just “evolved” from nothing, then there IS no good answer for that. A genuine atheist will tell you that … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Aslan, atheist meaning of life, C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, choir, church building, coral reef, Ephesians 2 dead in sin, evangelism, Exodus 30, gift of God eternal life, Hebrews 13:15, I Peter 2:4-5, I Peter 2:4-5 sermon, incense, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lion Witch Wardrobe, living stones, Matthew 1:6, Matthew 24, meaning of life, new building, Peter rock, prayer, prayer as incense, Psalm 141:2, Psalm 5:3, purpose, Queen Jada, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 8:3, Romans 6:23, salvation, sinners prayer, spiritual sacrifices, spiritual temple, stone statues, Temple, temple of God, the church, the church is not the building, Thomas Lord Fairfax, wages of sin is death, worship God at the lake, Writing by Stephen King | 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

“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

“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

“On The Road With Jesus” (John 4 sermon)

Posted on 2018/11/05 by Shawn Thomas

One of best ways to learn about someone is to spend some time on the road with them. I remember reading an article by the renowned actor, Charlton Heston (who played Moses in the classic 1956 movie “The Ten Commandments”). … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged "The Ten Commandments" movie, ask Jesus into your heart, Charlton Heston, cheap grace, confront sin, conviction, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, direction, discipleship, Don Sunshine, evangeism, gospel, Gospel Resurgence, help, hope, I AM, I Peter 2:21, Incarnation, Jesus Christ humanity, Jesus Deity, Jesus is the answer, John 14:6, John 4, John 4 sermon, Luke 13:3, Matthew 19, Matthew 24:30, ministry, peace, prayer, repent, repentance, repentance and salvation, rich young ruler, Ronald Reagan, salvation, sin, strength, The Cost of Discipleship, tiredness, weariness, witness, woman at the well, YHWH | Leave a comment

“Opportunities For The Gospel” (Colossians 4:2-6 sermon)

Posted on 2018/10/01 by Shawn Thomas

Well, most of the church has probably heard about it by now, but in case you haven’t: I had a missed opportunity at our church senior adult cookout last week. I showed up at 6:00 last Saturday night, which was … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged ambassadors for Christ, Christian conduct, Christian walk, Colossians 4:2-6, conduct, Don Sunshine Make A Difference evangelism, evangelism, evangelism and prayer, gospel, gospel and words, Hudson Taylor, I Corinthians 15:3, kairos, lifestyle, lifestyle evangelism, missed opportunities, opportunities, opportunity, OU, prayer, prayer bookmark, prayer for the lost, praying for opportunities, Romans 10:1, salvation, Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, sharing the gospel, St. Augustine words if necessary quote, the gospel, University of Oklahoma, witness | 4 Comments

“Your Most Important Prayer For Others” (Romans 10:1 sermon)

Posted on 2018/08/27 by Shawn Thomas

It’s usually a whole lot easier to pick on the sins of other people, instead of addressing our own. I remember years ago, when I was in seminary, watching an evangelist on television turn to the tv camera and say, … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Augustine of Hippo, Charles Peace, Corrie Ten Boom, evangelism, gospel, hell, intercession for the lost, intercessory prayer, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 9 paralytic, Monica prayer, prayer, prayer for salvation, prayer for the lost, Psalm 12:6, Romans 10:1 sermon, Romans 5:1, salvation, sin, sow in tears, witness | Leave a comment

“The People of God” (Joshua sermon)

Posted on 2018/07/02 by Shawn Thomas

This week we will be celebrating the 242nd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation. Most of us are very proud to be Americans, and are grateful to God for the blessings that He has … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged abortion, Alexandria plague, allegiance, Bishop Cyprian, church, compromise, Dionysius, direction, George Muller, Gibeonites, God's side, imitation, Joshua, Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 9:14, leadership, love, marriage, mercy, people of God, prayer, salvation, service, the world, VBS, worldliness | Leave a comment

“The Children of God” (Deut.33:3 sermon)

Posted on 2018/06/25 by Shawn Thomas

Not everyone pictures a relationship with a Heavenly Father as being good. I just finished reading a biography of Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. We aren’t as familiar with him today, but he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged affection, assurance, Bible, Bible Reading, Boompa, Charles Lindbergh, cherish, child, corporate worship, Deuteronomy 33:1-3, Deuteronomy 33:3, Ephesians 1:13, family of God, father, God, God is love, God the Father, good good Father, gospel, Great Commandment, He Will Hold Me Fast, held, Henry V, I John 4:8, Jeremiah 31:3, John 10:27-29, John 8:31, Keith & Krysten Getty, kept, love, love God, love letter, love of God, Luke 10 Mary and Martha, Luke 8:21, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, perseverance of the saints, prayer, Psalm 131:2, salvation, Shakespeare, singing, Son, we are in God's hands, weaned child, word of God, worship | 2 Comments

“Grace That Is Greater Than The Inexcusable” (Mark 14:32-42 sermon)

Posted on 2018/04/30 by Shawn Thomas

C.S. Lewis wrote “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” That is a great statement, and very convicting regarding our attitude and practice towards others — but the power of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Bible Reading, devotional time, excuses, failure, forgiveness, Garden of Gethsemane, grace, humiliation, I Timothy 1:15, Immeasurable grace, inexcusable, infinite grace, Jesus, Jesus answer, Jesus Christ, Job, love of God, lovingkindness, Mariana Trench, Mark 14:32-42, Mark 2:17, mercy, Mt. Everest, no excuses, ocean, prayer, Psalm 103, Psalm 103:11-14, Psalm 27, Psalm 5:3, quiet time, Romans 3:19, Romans 5:20, Ronnie Rogers, salvation, seeking His face, shame, sin | 1 Comment