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
Outlasting Old Habits
Nehemiah learned that if you want to bring about change, you have to stay on top of it. Having led the people of Israel to re-establish many of the practices of the Law, including supporting the Levites with their tithes, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged change, church, eccelesiology, habits, Nehemiah, Nehemiah 13:10-11, perseverance, persistence, polity, reform
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Gladness & Sincerity — Or Not!
A wiseacre once observed that in politics, sincerity is the most important thing; once you can fake that, you have it made! But the truth is, people can usually tell the difference. It is striking to read in Acts 2:46 … Continue reading
In His Sight
It’s not what everyone else thinks about you that matters. People may believe you to be a person of integrity, or never, ever hear you say anything bad – but they are not your judge, because they don’t know all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged heart, integrity, Psalm 19:14, righteousness, thoughts, words
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Help From The God of Jacob
Many of us know what it feels like to be in a time of distress. Maybe you would say you are in a time like that now. Psalm 20 reminds us that it matters who you look to for your … Continue reading
A Source of Joy
Nehemiah 8:17 tells us that when Israel celebrated The Feast of Booths, “there was great rejoicing.” There was a good reason for that which many of us could learn from.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, joy, Nehemiah 8:17, obedience, rejoicing
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Does Your Bible Study Change Your Life?
Nehemiah 8:13-18 gives us a great example of how we should apply our Bible studies. Meeting together with Ezra to study the scripture, :14 says that the people of Israel “found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded … Continue reading
“The Discipline of Discipling” (II Timothy 2:2 sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 11-02-14) The group picture of Hayden Fry’s 1983 University of Iowa football team has become famous, not necessarily because of the games the team won, but because of what became of its coaching … Continue reading
A Scriptural Guide For Including Children In Worship
The age at which small children should join their parents in worship can be a contentious issue. Is it merely a matter of preference, or can it be resolved scripturally? We may find a hint in Nehemiah 8:2 “Then Ezra … Continue reading
What You Should Covet
Psalm 19:10, culminating the chapter’s description of God’s word, says, “More to be desired are they than gold, yes than much fine gold.” The Hebrew word for “desired” is “hamad”, which means “desire, take pleasure in; covet” — in fact, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, covet, desire, God's word, Psalm 19:10, scripture
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His Judgments Are Right
Psalm 19:9 ends: “The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.” This verse should give us confidence both in the Word of God, and in the way that God deals with us personally:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged judgment, Psalm 19:19, scripture, sovereignty
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