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
The Weakest, Best Prayer
In Psalm 12:1, David begins his prayer with a very simple, basic request: “Help, Lord …” but it may have actually been the best prayer he ever prayed!
Consecration Today For Wonders Tomorrow (Joshua 3:5 sermon)
After months of waiting, this week it is finally here! Starting this Friday Pleasant Ridge will be presenting our Christmas musical “The Grinch” downtown at the CoMMA. It is a major production, and preparations have been made for months in … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged consecration, fasting, holiness, Joshua 3:5, Joshua 3:5 sermon, prayer, preparation
4 Comments
Can You Say: “Imitate Me”?
“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1) Can you tell people in your church: “See what I am doing? Do that.”? If it sounds daunting, that is exactly what the Apostle Paul was … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged discipleship, example, I Corinthians 1:11, imitation
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Illustrations From Walt Disney: An American Original
I picked up a copy of Walt Disney: An American Original in a bookstore at (of all places!) Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was not a “puff piece” but an interesting look into the life of a man … Continue reading
“If Everyone In The Church Were Just More Like Me …”
“If they were all one member, where would the body be?” (I Corinthians 12:19) The Apostle Paul makes a great point in this verse, as he addresses church members who wanted others in the church to function like them in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged body, church, diversity, gifts, I Corinthians 12:19, service
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For The Common Good
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (I Corinthians 12:7) The Bible teaches us here that every believer in Jesus Christ has been given a gift by the Holy Spirit: “But to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:7, pneumatica, service
1 Comment
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
