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 Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
Family Gingerbread House Contest Dec. 2014
For the last several years, our family (kids & spouses) has had a Gingerbread House contest during the Christmas season. This year’s is a bit late, since we didn’t get together with the kids until the week after Christmas, at … Continue reading
The Only One Who Matters
In Job 13:9 the oppressed saint asks his fickle friends a question: “Will it be well when He examines you?” That is a question that should search the hearts of us all.
Test Words!
Job 12:11 is a great example of some of the good advice this godly man has to offer us: “Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?” It SHOULD — but unfortunately that is not always … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discernment, discretion, I Thessalonians 5:21, Job 12:11, music, words
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A “Sure-Fire Church Growth Method”
For the last generation, “church growth” has been a primary emphasis in American religion. Methods and process which appeal to the population at large have been employed by many religious practitioners in the hopes of reaching the unreached in our … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged church, church growth, compromise, ecclesiology, entertainment, I John 4:5, worldliness
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Why the Incarnation: Paul Harvey’s “The Man & The Birds”
I have used Paul Harvey’s “The Man & The Birds” over the years as a favorite story to illustrate the meaning and necessity of the doctrine of the Incarnation, that God became Man in the Person of Jesus Christ. Following … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations
Tagged Christmas, Incarnation, Paul Harvey, The Man and the Birds
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“Yachidati”: God’s Great Christmas Gift!
We understand more about God’s gift to us at Christmas from a Hebrew word used in Psalm 22:20. There the Psalmist asks God to deliver “yachidati” from the power of the dog (the enemy). The Hebrew word “yachid” means “only … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged beloved, Christmas, Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, love, Psalm 22:20, sacrifice, yachid, yachidi
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His Humiliation — And Our Response
“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me …” the Christmas hymn says. Psalm 22:18 continues the idea of the humility — and even humiliation — that Jesus underwent for us: “They … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged devotion, humiliation, humility, Incarnation, Psalm 22:18, service
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The Mediator
Sometimes two estranged parties need a third person, sympathetic to both, who can bring them together. Job lamented in 9:33 of his relationship with God: “There is no umpire between us who may lay his hand upon us both.” In … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:16, I Timothy 2:5, intercessor, Jesus, Job 9:33, mediator, umpire
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“Your Response to Christmas” (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
(Preached at FBC Pauls Valley, OK 12-21-14) They asked some kindergarteners in Great Britain about the Christmas story of the visit of the Magi, and they had some interesting insights on it: one young boy said that the three wise … Continue reading
Job’s God And Ours
How big is your God? In Job 9:4-10 Job gives us an idea of his view of God. He says, among other things: — “It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how …” (:5) — “Who shakes … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doctrine of God, glory, God, Job 9:4-10, theology
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