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
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Winning Strategy," for June 28, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Remembering God's Works" for June 21, 2026.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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
The River of God’s Delights
“They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. (Psalm 36:8) Speaking of those who have been touched by the grace of God (:7), the present verse … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christian hedonism, delight, edenica, Hebrew word, pleasure, Psalm 36:8, salvation, worship
1 Comment
The Divine Delight
“Behold, My Servant, Whom I uphold; My Chosen One in Whom My soul delights.” (Isaiah 42:1) It is significant that God calls His Servant here “My chosen one IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS.” The “Servant” which is mentioned several times … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology
Tagged Christ, delight, eternal fellowship, father, fellowship, Holy Spirit, Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 53, Jesus, joy, Messiah, pleasure, servant, Son, Suffering Servant, Trinity
1 Comment
“This Is My Story: The Apostle Paul” (Philippians 3:3-9 sermon)
For the last 50 years of the 20th century, Anthony Flew, professor of philosophy at Reading University in England, had been one of the world’s most influential atheists. But in December of 2004, Flew made news by announcing that “it … Continue reading
Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons
Tagged Acts 22:1-16, Anthony Flew, Apostle Paul, baptism, communion, confirmation, heritage, imputed righteousness, justification, Philippians 3:3-9, righteousness, rites, rituals, salvation, salvation by works, testimony, wedding clothes, wedding feast parable, works
2 Comments
The Triune Example For Unity Amidst Diversity In The Church
In I Corinthians 12:4-6 Paul definitely spoke in purposeful Trinitarian terms in order to make his point about God’s desire for unity amidst a diversity of gifts in His church: — :4 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Ministry
Tagged church, diversity, gifts, I Corinthians 12:4-6, roles, Trinity, Triune God, unity
2 Comments
“With The Last”
“I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.” (Isaiah 41:4) God tells us two important things about Himself in this verse: — God was first. He was already in existence when nothing else was. He … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology
Tagged eternal life, eternity, eternity past, Isaiah 41:4, John 3:16, Psalm 90, salvation, theology
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The Immeasurable Goodness of our God
Psalm 36:5-6 describes four qualities of God in the following manner: — :5a “Your lovingkindness, O Lord, reaches to the heavens” — :5b “Your faithfulness to the skies” — :6a “Your righteousness is like the mountains of God” — :6b “Your … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, faithfulness, God, grace, judgment, lovingkindness, Martin Luther, Psalm 36:5-6, righteousness, theology
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“My Body, My Choice”?
“And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you …’.” (I Corinthians 11:24) These words the Lord Jesus spoke have become so familiar to many of us that it can … Continue reading
“This Is My Story: The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32 sermon)
A few years back, in a state prison in Hominy, Oklahoma, they had an area in the kitchen they called the “pig slop” pit, into which they would throw all kinds of animal renderings and other food wastes, which they … Continue reading
A Faithful Steward of the Word
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you …” (I Corinthians 11:23) In this passage Paul was writing to the Corinthian church about what he had passed on to them about the practice of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged Bible teaching, faithfulness, I Corinthians 11:23, preaching, steward, word of God
1 Comment
Faith Sees Past The Means, To God
King Hezekiah was dying in Isaiah chapter 38 — until God intervened. The Lord told him through the prophet Isaiah that he would not die, but live — another 15 years. And God did absolutely heal Hezekiah — no question … Continue reading
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