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
- Romans 8:14-27 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, "Indwelt," for October 18, 2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 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
“Goodness Shall Follow Me”?
The words of Psalm 23:6 are familiar to most of us: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life …” — but they may bring something different to us than many of us might anticipate:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged good, goodness, prosperity gospel, Psalm 119:71, Psalm 23:6
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When It’s Good To Be “In A Rut”
We often speak of “being in a rut” as a bad thing — and it can be, for sure. But there are also some good “ruts” to be in. Psalm 23:3 speaks of some of them, when it says: “He … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged habits, Psalm 23:3, ruts, ruts of righteousness
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Salvation Through The Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-6 sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 1-11-14) Some New Year’s commitments are better than others! A year ago, I resolved to do something which I had long neglected: I decided to read a verse a day in both the … Continue reading
If I Were In Your Place
One of the striking statements of the book of Job is found in 16:4, where Job tells his “friends”: “I too could speak like you, if I were in your place.” It should cause each of us to ponder the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, discrimination, Job 16:4, judgment, suffering
2 Comments
Are You Wearing A Path To God?
While I was running on the grass beside the road the other day, I noticed that a path had been worn down where many of us have walked and run. It would bring to life one of the most important … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrew darash, prayer, Psalm 22:26, quiet time, seeking, seeking God
1 Comment
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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