Tag Archives: relationship

“What To Do If The End Is Near” (I Peter 4:7-11 sermon)

Posted on 2019/11/25 by Shawn Thomas

Last Sunday morning I mentioned that there had been a survey in which the American people were asked what they would do if they knew the world would end in a week. Two of the top responses, sadly, were that … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Crossway Publishers survey, daily quiet time, devotional time, Elizabeth Leyton, end of world, Ephesians 1:13, evangelism, faithfulness, family in the ark, football, greatest of these is love, horizontal bar, I Corinthians 12:7, I Corinthians 13, I Peter 4:10, I Peter 4:7-11, I Peter 4:7-11 sermon, I Thessalonians 5:17, intercession, love, love covers a multitude of sins, love for others, love in church, love one another, MasterLife, morning prayer, pastors prayer, perseverance, pray without ceasing, prayer, prayer time, praying for family, praying for salvation, praying for the lost, Proverbs 10:12, relationship, relationship with God, relationships, relationships in church, salvation, service, spiritual gifts, spontaneous prayer, survey, time in prayer survey, time spent in prayer, use your gift, Winston Churchill, you've played your part | Leave a comment

“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 Picture of Discipleship

Posted on 2017/11/08 by Shawn Thomas

“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19) Here in his impassioned message to the church he had planted at Galatia, Paul shows us some important things about the nature of … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged costs of discipleship, disciplers, disciples, discipleship, discipling relationships, Galatians 4:19, goal of discipleship, relationship | Leave a comment

“Principles of Effective Praying” (Matthew 6:6-8 sermon)

Posted on 2017/08/07 by Shawn Thomas

The great British preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote: “Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and highest when, upon his knees, he comes face to face with God.” (SOTM, p. 45) … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Bill Elliff, Catholicism, commitment, conversation with god, discipleship, George Muller, God vending machine, Hail Mary prayer, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, hypocrisy, Jesus, Kathmandu, Lord's Prayer, Mark 1:35, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, MasterLife, Matthew 6:6-8, meaningless repetition, mechanical repetition, model prayer, Our Father prayer, prayer, prayer wheel, praying, principles of prayer, priority, relationship, relationship with God, repetitious prayer, rote prayer, rut in prayer, salvation, Susanna Wesley, Temple, The 18 Benedictions, tip of the iceberg, vain repetition | 2 Comments

Pour Out Your Heart To Him!

Posted on 2017/08/07 by Shawn Thomas

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. SELAH.” (Psalm 62:8 NASB) Psalm 62 opens with a contrast between the wickedness and deceitfulness of men, and the faithful … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged God, heart, Hebrews 4:16, pour out your heart, prayer, Psalm 62:8, relationship | Leave a comment

The “Next” Verse …

Posted on 2017/07/26 by Shawn Thomas

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) Much attention is focused on Jesus’ promise in John 14:14, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it”, and rightly so. And yet it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged commandments, discipleship, I John 2:3, John 14:15, Lordship, love, love relationship, obedience, relationship | 1 Comment

“The Worst Trade Ever” (Matthew 4:10 sermon)

Posted on 2017/04/10 by Shawn Thomas

With baseball season starting this week, I was reading an article on the worst trades in baseball history. There were a number of contenders, but I have to agree with the one they identified as the worst: On December 26, … Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged Babe Ruth trade, Boehmians, Deuteronomy 6:13, Dikkon Eberhart, discipleship, free love, God is your soul mate, immorality, John 17:24, John Calvin idol factory, love, Matthew 4:10 sermon, Psalm 147:1, Psalm 149, relationship, reward, Shawn Johnson, soul mate, suicide, temptation, The Time Mom Met Hitler Frost Came To Dinner and I Heard The Greatest Story Ever Told, worship | Leave a comment

The Love Relationship

Posted on 2017/04/04 by Shawn Thomas

“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.” (John 3:35) Mahatma Gandhi, typical of the Eastern religious perspective, described God as a “force.” But we see no such impersonal description of God in scripture. Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged eternal life, force, John 17:26, John 17:3, John 3:35, love, Mahatma Gandhi, relationship, salvation, Trinity, Triune God | Leave a comment

Relationship, Not “Transaction” In Prayer

Posted on 2016/04/25 by Shawn Thomas

“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8) Here Jesus tells His disciples that their prayers are to be different than those of the pagan Gentiles. He had just … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship | Tagged Matthew 6:8, model prayer, prayer, relationship | Leave a comment

What We’re Made For

Posted on 2015/12/02 by Shawn Thomas

“The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” (Isaiah 42:21) This little verse is packed with insight that should inform and direct each of our lives as God’s people:

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged Isaiah 42:21, praise, Psalm 149:2, Psalm 149:4, purpose, relationship, witness | 3 Comments