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)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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)
- "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 Ethiopian Treasurer” (Acts 8:25-38 sermon)
ACTS 8:25-38 “This Is My Story: The Ethiopian Treasurer” Cheryl & I love Stefan Berci (our Romanian pastor) and his family. They did a Facetime chat with us yesterday, and we had a great visit. One of the things I … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 8:25-38 sermon, Ethiopian eunuch, evangelism, Isaiah 53, Jesus, RSVP, salvation, story, testimony
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Why Not Rather Be Wronged?
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged I Corinthians 6:7, kingdom, Law, lawsuits, selfishness, sin, witness
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Would You Tell Jesus To Leave?
“And they began to implore Him to leave their region.” (Mark 5:17) Seriously? What kind of people would ask Jesus to leave their midst? Actually it might be much more common than we might first think!
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Jesus, Mark 5:17, religion, status quo, tradition
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“Prosperity Gospel”?
“To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless” (I Corinthians 4:11) Verses like this assure us that the Apostle Paul (as well as other New Testament writers) … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology
Tagged prosperity gospel, theology
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When You Must Judge
“For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.” (I Corinthians 5:3) It should be instructive to us that Paul says here … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, do not judge, I Corinthians 4:5, I Corinthians 5:3, immorality, judge not, judging, judgment, Matthew 7:1, sin
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“This Is My Story: Cornelius The Centurion” (Acts 10 Sermon)
When we were serving in Louisiana, our church sent a mission team to Suriname, South America, where one of our members was a missionary. The first team we sent went to teach Bible stories in a local school, and they … Continue reading
Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons
Tagged Acts10 sermon, Cornelius, evangelism, faith, gospel, salvation, story, testimony, works
7 Comments
Chosen To Die
“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” (I Corinthians 4:9) To be chosen by God is … Continue reading
Why We Can’t Judge Someone’s Ministry
I Corinthian 4:5 is a great reminder of why you & I are not to judge someone’s ministry too early. The verse reads: “Therefore do not go on judging before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged do not judge, heart, I Corinthians 4:5, Jeremiah 17:10, judging, judgment, mind, motives, Psalm 139:12, secret, service
1 Comment
What Kind Of Minister?
Many pastors and other ministers in churches today are noted for their “creativity”, or for their authoritarian nature. But how does this line up with scripture? In I Corinthians 4:1, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Let a man regard us in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged creativity, faithfulness, I Corinthians 4:1, I Peter 5:3, ministers, ministry, pastorate, pastors, servants, stewards, stewardship
1 Comment
Your Conscience Is Not Your Guide
“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the One who examines me is the Lord.” (I Corinthians 4:4) There is an old expression: “Let your conscience be your guide.” But Paul … Continue reading
