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 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)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- "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)
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
A New Testament “Outreach Plan”
“A great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came …”. (Mark 3:8) This is a good reminder of how “a great crowd” comes in the Lord’s work. We do not have to plan some … Continue reading
The Spirit Intercedes
We should take pains to make our prayers as scriptural and effective as we can — but thankfully, God’s word tells us that their efficacy does not rest with us. Romans 8:26 says: “We do not know how to pray … Continue reading
Tests of Salvation
Are you really saved? Several passages of scripture offer us tests of salvation; indicators of whether one has genuinely been converted. One of those texts is Romans Chapter 8. Multiple verses in the chapter describe the person for whom “There … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged assurance, II Corinthians 13:5, Romans 8, salvation, test of salvation
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The Discipline of Fellowship (Hebrews 10:23-25 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 6-07-15) Cheryl & I are fond of assigning “chapter titles” to different episodes of our life together, like “The Dark Year”, “Just Then It Began to Snow” or “The Girl in the Purple Bikini” … Continue reading
Shall We Sin?
It’s an old question: If “once saved always saved” is true, wouldn’t people use it as an excuse to sin? Romans 6:15 addresses that issue: “What then, shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under grace?” The … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged libertinism, obedience, once saved always saved, Romans 6, sin
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Not What You Are Here For
“If you have been foolish in exalting yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth …” (Proverbs 30:32) It is surely interesting that in this verse, “if you have been foolish in exalting yourself” is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chief end of man, fame, glorify God, pride, Proverbs 30:32, purpose, purpose of life, Westminster Catechism
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A Godly Prayer Request
“Two things I have asked of You; do not refuse me before I die. Keep deception and lies far from me; give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be … Continue reading
A Sobering Self-Deception
“There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12) This is a good reminder that just because a person “thinks” something is so, or “feels” that something is so, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, II Corinthians 13:5, Proverbs 30:12, salvation, self-deceit
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The Model Prayer: Spiritual Protection (Matthew 6:13 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, May 27, 2015) Much of America cheered some months ago when a Texas mother fought off three masked home invaders who came into the house where she and her little son were. With a … Continue reading
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