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.
Author Archives: Shawn Thomas
Are Good Christians Always “Happy”?
In Romans 9:2 the Apostle Paul made a statement which might surprise many people. He wrote: “I have great sorrow, and unceasing grief in my heart.” This is not a light or passing sentiment. Notice the two adjectives he employs: “great” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged grief, Isaiah 53, Jesus, lost, man of sorrows, mourning, Paul, Romans 9:2, salvation, sorrow
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Let’s Take The Long Way!
The trip home from the Southern Baptist Convention in Columbus to our “little cottage” in Morganton, North Carolina could be made in 6-7 hours, but Cheryl & I decided to “take the long way” back — almost no interstates, and … Continue reading
Be With Him
“And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14) When Jesus appointed His 12 Apostles in Mark 3, the Bible says He had two specific purposes in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christian life, eternal life, fellowship with God, John 17:3, Mark 3:14, salvation, walk with God
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The Discipline of Service (I Peter 4:10 sermon)
In 1910 Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Paris, France, on the kind of people that is needed to make a great society. A paragraph from that speech has become famous: “It is not the critic who counts, nor the … Continue reading
“Believing” Is Not Enough
“Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, ‘You are the Son of God.’” (Mark 3:11) It is striking to read here that the demons shouted that Jesus was the Son of God. Many … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, demons, faith, James 2:29, Mark 3:11, repentance, saving faith, trust
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From A Cottage in the Foothills … (June 2015)
The past couple of weeks have been busy at “the cottage”; with all of the kids and grandkids coming in. We had a lot to celebrate — and then to recover from! ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Adding to the typical … Continue reading
The Sacrifice Remembered (Matthew 26:26-29 Lord’s Supper Message)
One of the newer monuments in Washington D.C. is the one commemorating our men who fought and won the Second World War. Among other elements, the memorial contains panels with bronze engravings of scenes from the war: soldiers loading artillery … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged communion, Lord's Supper, Matthew 26:26-29 sermon, ordinance, WWII Memorial
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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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