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.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
What’s Choking Your Spiritual Life?
“… the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19) As Jesus explained The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fruitfulness, hindrances, Mark 4:19, spiritual growth
1 Comment
“Branching Out”: My Night With Tony & Ivy
“Hey, Brother Shawn, would you like to go to a Carolina Panthers practice with some of us next week?” Thus began one of the most interesting, and entertaining, odysseys of my life: an evening out with Tony Branch and friends. … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
Tagged Carolina Panthers, restaurants, The Beacon Drive-in, Tony Branch, travel
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Heroes In The Wrong Things
“Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink.” (Isaiah 5:22) In Isaiah 5, the prophet details many of the sins of God’s people for which He is calling a foreign nation to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged devotion, eternity, Isaiah 5:22, priorities
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“The Goodness of God in the Midst of Affliction” (Psalm 119:65-72 sermon)
In February 2012, I stood to lead prayer meeting at the church I had been pastoring for 12 years in Louisiana, and the longer I stood the more nauseated I became. I had to leave during prayer and have my … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged affliction, doctrine of God, God, God is good, Psalm 119:68 sermon, purposes for trials, theology, trial
3 Comments
When God Whistles They Come!
“He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; and behold, it will come with speed swiftly.” (Isaiah 5:26) This verse give us one of the most … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", countries, God, history, Isaiah 6:26, nations, theology
1 Comment
Overcome By Evil?
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Coming on the heels of the admonition not to take your own revenge, but to leave room for God’s wrath, this verse reminds us that there is … Continue reading
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel for Leadership
Isaiah 3:6 must be one of the most pathetic verses in scripture. It describes the desperation of a people seeking for anyone to lead them: “You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler.” It is surely a sign of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church leadership, deacon selection, Isaiah 2:6, leadership, Sunday School teachers
2 Comments
Does “Owe Nothing To Anyone” Mean What You Think It Does?
One of the stock verses that Christian financial gurus often quote is the first part of Romans 13:8, “Owe nothing to anyone …”. But it is always best to take a verse in context. When you do that with this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged borrowing money, finances, owe nothing, Romans 13:8
5 Comments
Praying Through Romans 12
Handel’s “Messiah” is one of the great “musicals” if you will of all time, but most people know it for ONE song: the “Hallelujah” chorus. But there is other great music in it, notably the song “Worthy Is The Lamb”, … Continue reading
Sow The Word
Mark 4:14 contains simply 5 words: “The sower sows the word.” But it is a clear reminder of our most important task as Christian ministers: we are to be sowing the word of God into the hearts and minds of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged Bible, Mark 4:14, ministry, preaching, sowing, teaching, the word of God
3 Comments
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