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
“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
He Longs To Be Gracious!
Isaiah 30:18 must be one of the most encouraging verses in all of the word of God: “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.” God had spent … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, God, grace, Isaiah 30:18, Prodigal Son, theology
3 Comments
The Message You Don’t Want To Hear
“Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel …” (Isaiah 30:12) In one of the most ironic interchanges in scripture, Isaiah had quoted the people of Israel in Isaiah 30:11 as saying, “Let us hear no more about the Holy … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged congregational surveys, Holy One of Israel, Isaiah 30:12, polls, popular opinion, preaching
1 Comment
His Hand Is Lifted
“O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it …”. (Isaiah 26:11) The prophet Isaiah spoke a terrifying here to his generation. God was about to judge them for their sin. Verse 10 had just lamented … Continue reading
