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)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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
Have You Signed A Peace Treaty With The Enemy?
“‘Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compromise, faith, Isaiah 36, peace treaty, prosperity, security
1 Comment
When Tolerance Is No Virtue
“He plans wickedness upon his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.” (Psalm 36:4) The first verses of Psalm 36 describe the ungodly person. Verse 1 labels him the “ungodly”, and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compromise, evil, Psalm 36:4, tolerance, toleration, wicked
1 Comment
Paul on Decision-Making, Part III
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31) In the book of I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shares several “nuggets” of truth which can help us in our … Continue reading
“This Is My Story: The Gerasene Demoniac” (Mark 5:1-20 sermon)
During the Second World War, when Hitler conquered France, he immediately shut down the borders to keep the people from leaving the country. But one small border town saw its population diminish rapidly, so the Germans searched for the answer. … Continue reading
Decision-Making, Part II
“Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (I Corinthians 10:24) Having already stated in I Corinthians 9:23 that his first consideration in decision-making was the gospel (see post here), Paul here offers a second: consider … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged decision making, decisions, God's will, I Corinthians 10:25, Philippians 2:4, selflessness
1 Comment
A Gospel Decision-Making Grid (Decision-Making, Pt. I)
How do you determine if you are going to do something or not? By whether you “want” to do it? If it will make you appear good to others? Because it will make you money? How do you decide? The … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged decision making, decision-making grid, decisions, God's will, gospel, I Corinthians 9:23
2 Comments
Your Body: Slave — or Master?
“But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (I Corinthians 9:27) Paul wrote here that he “disciplined” his body. The New American Standard Bible … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged body, diet, discipline, eating, food, I Corinthians 9:27, master, physical body, slave
2 Comments
The Stability of Your Times
“And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6) Significantly, this verse was written to God’s people in a time of impending distress … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged comfort, Isaiah 33:6, peace, Psalm 113, Psalm 16:11, stability, trial, tribulation
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We Exist For Him
Four little words found in Corinthians 8:6 would prove revolutionary if we would really understand and apply them. The words? “We exist for Him.”
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged abortion, glory of God, I Corinthians 8:6, philosophy, selfishness, we exist for Him
2 Comments
A Prayer For Grace
In Isaiah Chapter 33 we find a marvelous prayer from the lips of the prophet: :2 “O YHWH, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their (our) strength every morning.” When we break this verse down into … Continue reading
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