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.
- "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)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Ambassadors For Christ" (II Corinthians 5:20 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
Maintenance Required
“Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.” (Ecclesiastes 10:18) What the Preacher observed here is certainly true of a literal house: if you neglect needed maintenance and repairs, then over time the rafters of your home … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church discipline, discipline, Ecclesiastes 10:18, maintenance, neglect, relationships
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Unless They Are Sent
Often there is in the Christian church an emphasis on “going” on evangelistic and missions endeavors, and this is certainly appropriate. But Romans 10:15 challenges us in a different way: “How will they preach unless they are sent?” It is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Acts 1:8, going, missions, Romans 10:14, Romans 10:15, sending, sending church
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Where Religion Goes Wrong
There are two fundamental problems with the religious outlook of most people in the world, and Romans 10:3 reveals both of them: “For not knowing about the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged justification, righteousness, Romans 10:3, Romans 3:22, salvation, self-righteousness
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“The Discipline of Fasting” (Ezra 8:21 sermon)
A Christian disciple from India came to the United States a few years ago, and made the tour of a number of our Baptist churches, both observing and speaking. After a few weeks, he asked a question of his host. … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciplines of Disciples" series, Sermons
Tagged Christian disciplines, Daniel, discipleship, Ezra, Ezra 8:21, fasting, humility, intercession, Jesus, Moses, prayer, sermon, spiritual disciplines
3 Comments
Sincerely Wrong!
Won’t a person go to heaven no matter what they believe, just as long as they are sincere? The Apostle Paul wrote otherwise: “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, John 14:6, Romans 10:2, salvation, sincerity, works, zeal
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Divided Kingdoms Can’t Stand
In Mark 3:24 Jesus responded to the Jewish leaders who accused Him of casting out demons through Satan’s power by saying “if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom is not able to stand.” His word made sense in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, divided kingdom, divisions, factions, kingdom, Mark 3:24, unity
4 Comments
Don’t Live Like An Animal
Although animals have many good qualities, and many of us have been blessed by their faithfulness and labor, there are some ways in which we are not to be like them. Psalm 32:9 admonishes: “Do not be as the horse … Continue reading
“The Discipline of Giving” (Genesis 28:20-22 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist, Morganton, NC 6-28-15) It has been a very disappointing week for Bible-believing Christians, the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage at the top of the list. But we have much to be thankful for … Continue reading
The Ultimate “Wrong Side of History”: A Psalm For Our Times,
Christians in America have been dismayed by many recent events in our country, the Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage prominent among them. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by what seems to be an unrelenting tide of ungodliness, and … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged eternity, God, hope, Jesus Christ, judgment, Psalm 113, Psalm 2, same-sex marriage SCOTUS, sovereignty, wrath, wrong side of history
4 Comments
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