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
“When The Cat’s Away …”?
“A king who sits on the throne of justice disperses evil with his eyes” (Proverbs 20:8) This scripture pictures a strong leader on the throne of the land, before whom the wicked scatter. But what often happens when a leader … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accountability, computer, ethics, pornography, Proverbs 20:8, work, work ethic
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How To Stay Poor
You probably don’t want a recipe for poverty, but the more pertinent question may be, are you unwittingly following it? Proverbs 21:17 says: “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged diet, discipline, exercise, poverty, Proverbs 21:17
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A Surprising Cause of Unanswered Prayer
Ever wondered why your prayer request goes unanswered? Scripturally, there are a number of possible answers you might be familiar with: — sometimes we ask with wrong motives (James 4:3) — or we do not keep persisting in prayer (Matthew … Continue reading
A Word To The Wise
One of the striking testimonies that came out of the Oklahoma City bombing a few years ago involved a man who was sitting in his Murrah Building office thinking, “I wonder what God is going to have to do to … Continue reading
“The Disciplines of Disciples” (I Timothy 4:7-10 sermon)
(Preahed at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 4-19-15) When I served as interim at First Baptist Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to go up to the high school during their summer band practice. I was impressed with the quality … Continue reading
A Prayer for God’s People
Another good scriptural intercessory prayer is found in Psalm 28:9, where David concludes the Psalm with these words: “Oh save Your people and bless Your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” It is a prayer which specifically targets … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, God's people, individuals, intercession, prayer, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 28:9, Shepherd
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Matthew 6:5-9 Introduction to the Model Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most familiar and beloved Christian scriptures – yet it may also be one of the most misunderstood. But it is a scripture that is VITAL for us as we would learn to pray. … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons, The Model Prayer Series
Tagged Chuck Quarles, how to pray, Lord's Prayer, model prayer, prayer, prayer outline, Sermon on the Mount
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God’s Work
When many of us think of “God’s work”, we think of missions and evangelism, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, and other “church”-type activities. And those things certainly ARE God’s work. But Proverbs 16:11 shows us another perspective on … Continue reading
No Such Thing As Luck
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:33) This is a very striking verse, and its truth should sink deeply into our hearts, permeate our outlook, and change our vocabulary. It … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chance, Hebrews 1:3, luck, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 16:33, providence, Providence of God
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Do You Really Believe This?
There are a number of verses in scripture which are easy to skim over quickly, and nod your head thoughtlessly in agreement — but if you stop and think about what they really mean, they may give you pause. Proverbs … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged humility, losing, pride, Proverbs 16:19, winning
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