I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
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Top Posts & Pages
- Romans 8:14-27 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, "Indwelt," for October 18, 2026
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "Confidence On That Day" (II Timothy 1:12 sermon)
Categories
- "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12)
- "The Disciplines of Disciples" series
- "This Is My Story" sermon series
- Beatitudes Series 2020 FBCA
- Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
- COVID-19 crisis assorted messages
- Current Events
- Devotions/Bible Studies
- Discipleship
- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
- Doctrine/Theology
- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
- Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
- Home & Family Life
- I Peter sermons
- India Mission Trip 2011
- Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series
- Luke 2 Christmas series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- missions
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- Psalms studies and messages
- Revelation sermon series
- Reviews
- Sermon Illustrations
- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Author Archives: Shawn Thomas
What You’re Really Thirsty For
Isaiah 55 describes the spiritual thirst that characterizes every person, and points us to what we are really looking for: :1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters …” In this verse, God is calling out to all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Isaiah 55:1-3, joy, Psalm 16:11, satisfaction, thirst
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God Of Eternity — and 2016!
“For thus says the high and exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is Holy …” (Isaiah 57:15) This is one of a number of verses in Isaiah in which God reveals something of His glory to His people Israel … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged eternity, God, Isaiah 57:15, New Year, time, time and eternity
1 Comment
A Simple Verse For A New Year
As the song says: “Fast away the old year passes” and we sit on the doorstep of a brand new year. It is typically — and should be — a time of reflection, and recommitment. But what kind of commitments … Continue reading
The Higher Purpose of Sharing Prayer Requests
Why should we share our prayer requests with other people? The answer may not be what you think. It is not just because “the more who pray, the more powerful the prayers.” As James teaches us, “the effective prayer of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged glory of God, I Samuel 14:6, II Corinthians 1:11, intercession, prayer
1 Comment
Sharing Our Comfort
“Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (II Corinthians 1:4) Two of the key words … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged affliction, comfort, II Corinthians 1:4, Psalm 67, purpose in trials
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Family Gingerbread House Contest 2015
It’s that time of year again! Yes, Christmas, of course, but along with that comes our annual family gingerbread house contest. If you’d like to participate, then peruse the pictures of the entries below, and you can vote via the … Continue reading
He Did Not Open His Mouth
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth … So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) The fact that Jesus did not open His mouth during His sufferings is a rarity among men, and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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“The Christ of Christmas: His Gifts” (John 1:1-14)
Whenever we think of Jesus, and gifts, and Christmas time, most of us probably think of the gifts that the Magi brought Jesus in Matthew 2: “gold, frankincense and myrrh.” In imitation of that, as many of you know, we … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Christ, eternal family, eternal life, family, family of God, gifts, grace, John 1:1-14 sermon, Law, salvation, truth
1 Comment
Don’t “Fit In”!
“Depart, depart, go out from there, touch nothing unclean; go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.” (Isaiah 52:11) Speaking of the return of the His people from captivity in Babylon, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aliens, compromise, culture, I Peter 1:1, Isaiah 52:11, separation, strangers
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“Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals”
Evidently, someone had been teaching people in the church at Corinth that there was no resurrection from the dead, and most of I Corinthians 15 is a rebuttal of that false teaching. Interestingly, right in the middle of the chapter, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged company, fellowship, I Corinthians 15:33
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