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 Romans 1:13-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "True Power," for 9/06/26
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Ruth 3:8-13, 4:13-17, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Redemption," for 8/30/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Ruth 1:11-18, 2:5-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Faithfulness," for 8/23/26
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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
Small Beginnings
“And He said, ‘How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged beginnings, kingdom of God, Mark 4:30-32, obedience, Welsh revival
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“Some People Are Saying”?
“For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.” (I Corinthians 1:11) How interesting here that Paul does not report to the church at Corinth that “SOMEONE told me” or “a … Continue reading
The Importance of Unity
“Now I urge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged divisions, I Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2, unity
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Called Into Fellowship
What is the point of the Christian life? What is it all about? Paul reminds here in I Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord”. He says here … Continue reading
Conspiracy Theories?
“Conspiracy theories” are popular with many people, and some of them gain traction among the Christian population as well. It should be instructive to us that scripture actually has a word that speaks to these, in Isaiah 8:12-13: “You are … Continue reading
When We Don’t Know
“The seed sprouts and grows — how, he himself does not know.” (Mark 4:27) Jesus relates a parable here in Mark 4, of how a man sows seed, and a plant comes up as a result, although the man himself … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Charge of the Light Brigade, Mark 4:27, Tennyson, trust
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It’s Not Always Good News
God’s men don’t always have “good news” to share. If they do, they are certainly not God’s men! We see an example of that in Isaiah 7. God has just told King Ahaz that he does not need to fear … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged America, bad news, faithfulness, false prophets, God's people, good news, Isaiah 7, judgment, preachers, prophets
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“This Is My Story” Series Introduction
Just this week, the pastor who married Cheryl & I, Bill Elliff, who is now pastoring in Arkansas, shared a testimony about a man who came to their church 4 & 1/2 years ago, looking for a handout. One of … Continue reading
Curing The Fear of Man
If you have been struggling with the fear of a person or persons, God has a word for you in Isaiah Chapter 7 which will give you a better perspective: Isaiah 7 begins by relating how how two kings, Rezin … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fear, fear of God, fear of man, Isaiah 7:4, Matthew 10:28
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“Strategically Planted At Your School” (I Peter 1:1 devotion for teachers)
One of the biggest decisions a person makes in life is whether they believe they are here by accident, or whether there is a God who has a plan for them. I think you are here today because you believe … Continue reading
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