Sermons on Doubting Thomas:

Extravagant Love

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

What this woman does stands in stark contrast to all of the other players. When we read of her deed side by side with Jesus’ hate-filled adversaries, the treacherous Judas, and the confused and misguided disciples, we can’t help but ask ourselves, where

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Extravagant Love Matthew 26:6-13 According to businesses, Valentine’s Day is the third biggest day of the year for buying gifts. Christmas is first. Mother’s Day is second. I am not sure Father’s Day made the list. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why So Many Translations

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

We have lots of bible translations to choose from. That’s good and bad. It is good that the Bible is available. But so many translations creates lots of confusion. Let’s try to make sense out of this.

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Why So Many Bible Translations? Scripture Reading: Neh 8:1-11 Introduction: 1. The Problem So many choices: At least twenty-five different English translations of the entire Bible and approximately ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love From The Heart

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

The majority of biblical references to the heart refers to the seat of the emotions, our inner self, or even the center of the will. We can learn much from a survey of the Bible’s call to love God with our whole heart.

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO From the Heart Jeremiah 29:13 Romance lives even in the retirement home. Did you hear about the 90 year-old bachelor. One day this man gathered his four nephews and announced that he was planning to be married. His ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Here We Raise Our Ebeneezer Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

Today we could use a memorial like Samuel’s. It wasn’t a memorial of their hard times or of their more recent victories. It was a memorial to God’s faithfulness. Here we raise our Ebenezer because “Thus far has the Lord helped us.” That’s a reminder w

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Here We Raise Our Ebenezer 1 Samuel 7:12 Introduction: I recently saw a production of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” The play reminded me how much of an impression the classic Christmas tale has had on all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Precious Is The Death Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

This verse is at once both beautiful and startling. It provides a measure of comfort and assurance. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” That’s good to hear at times like this.

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Precious Is the Death Psalm 116:15 Introduction: This verse is at once both beautiful and startling. It provides a measure of comfort and assurance. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Is The Death Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

Moments like this make us, like it or not, think about life and death, the future, our loved ones and our own. We ponder whether life is really worth all of the struggles and hardships that can come our way. This verse is God’s Word about all that. I t

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO The Blessing--Revelation 14:13 I offer you one single verse of Scripture to think about today. “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Valley Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 17, 2007

This passage is unquestionably one of the most favorite sections of the entire Bible. For one-reason: it speaks to the heart. It’s marvelous poetic word pictures connect with us where we live, and hurt, whether we know anything about sheep and shepherds

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO The Valley Psalm 23 This passage is unquestionably one of the most favorite sections of the entire Bible. For one-reason: it speaks to the heart. It’s marvelous poetic word pictures connect with us where we live, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revelation: Who Owns This Church?

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Feb 21, 2007

Who owns this church is a spiritual question not a legal or financial one. Revelation offers God’s answer.

Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Who Owns This Church? Revelation 2-3 Introduction: Struggles of major denominations right now—Episcopal, Presbyterian and others---about who owns the church property if the congregations wants to leave the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Independance - Dependance

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Jul 4, 2007

When we think we are independant we actually only change what we are dependant on.

Americans love to celebrate Independence Day. The supermarkets stock up with extra ribs, hamburger and hotdogs along with anything else the goes with grilling out. It seems like the 4th is a big deal to more people than other holidays. As Americans we tend to flaunt our freedom before the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-25

Denomination: Congregational

Pruned If You Do And Pruned If You Don't

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Jul 9, 2007

Successful Christians produce fruit by staying connected...abiding in Jesus.

I don’t know a lot about vines and grapes. I once had a neighbor that had some. He was planning to make wine in his garage. That was pretty aggressive for a guy in Birmingham Alabama. The first couple of years he had lots of vines and he spent lots of time arranging them on his trestles and ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Congregational

The Only Means Of Revival

Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 4, 2006

Are you weary from the daily struggles of life? Do you long for a brighter more spiritually uplifting life? There has been and currently is a lot of effort being placed on “Revival”, but the problem is in our methodology; “Revival” cannot be structured by

Quote: Lord, revive the church—beginning with me. SAMUEL M. SHOEMAKER First things first, Revival is not an evangelistic campaign, neither is it about what I can receive from Jehovah. It can be stated this way by an old statement from Teddy Roosevelt: “Ask not what my country can do for me ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Necessity Of Revival

Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 5, 2006

What necessitates revival? Sin, willful disobedience to the will of God; many have become cold, indifferent, compromising, sick and spiritually weak churches as a result of sin. Why the letters to the seven churches and what have they to teach us, that

Quote: If you ever moved to a new community and had to select a new church home, you know how difficult it is to examine and evaluate a church and its ministry. Imposing buildings may house dying or dead congregations, while modest structures might belong to virile assemblies on the march for the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Providence In The Deliverance

Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 8, 2006

The word “providence” holds a certain amount of mystery for many; while with others it’s a term denoting the sovereignty of God. With the children of Israel providence wasn’t just a term it was their life, God was working in them and through them to show

I. God’s preparation for deliverance Exodus 2:1-10 speaks of the birth of Moses and how God protected him from the evil powers at work in the land of Egypt at that time. Now, Thermuthis the daughter of Pharaoh was moved with compassion upon hearing the babe cry, knowing him to be a Hebrew she ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Churches Journey Towards Revival

Contributed by Thomas Lanthrip on Nov 9, 2006

As this passage unfolds it speaks of Solomon’s temple that was erected for the purpose of worshiping Jehovah God, and then dedicated by prayer, sacrifice and finally it was consummated by the presence of God being made manifested by fire. Now, at the clo

Illustration: A few years back the Lord called my wife and I to Pastor a small community church that had two active deacons; one of which I became very close to during our 2 ½ year tenure. We had noticed the Sunday School record books held a sad truth, the church had been on a gradual decline for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

His Love Endures Forever!

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Nov 18, 2006

Understanding the Psalms use in worship

His Love Endures Forever! Psalm 136 I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we are taking our break from Acts a little early. Chapter 15 offers a natural break point in the story. So we will take a breather, incase you find the focus being a little stressful. So for a few weeks we will be looking at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 136:1-26

Denomination: Congregational