Author: J. Thomas
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When Is New Year’s Day?
J. Thomas Johnson January 6, 2023 As we enter into another year on the Western Calendar, I have found myself puzzling over dates. As Christians we are offered no less than four options for the celebration of the beginning of the new year. When God first delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt,…
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An Advent Prayer (2022)
I didn’t grow up with an appreciation for the season of Advent. For me the day after Thanksgiving was the first day of the Christmas season. I certainly had heard the word ‘Advent,’ but in my young mind ‘Advent’ and ‘Christmas’ were synonyms. It was only in my adult life that I was introduced to…
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John Wesley Sermons – The More Excellent Way (1 Corinthians 12:31)
The original sermon can be found in: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 7 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996), 26-37. Language edited and updated by J. Thomas Johnson – Sunday, June 26, 2022 [Why revisit the sermons of John Wesley? What could a preacher from 1700s England have to say that is worth hearing…
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John Wesley Sermons – On Obedience to Parents (Colossians 3:20)
The original sermon can be found in: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 7 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996), 98-108. Language edited and updated by J. Thomas Johnson – Sunday, June 19, 2022 [Given that today is Father’s Day on the secular calendar, I wanted to choose a sermon to revisit in which Wesley…
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Some Clarifications – Friday, June 17, 2022
Friday, June 17, 2022 On January 17, 2021, I experienced the word of the Lord coming to me and asking me to resign from the vocation of pastoral ministry. At that time, I had been a credentialed pastor in the Church of the Nazarene for sixteen years. My last day as a credentialed minister was…