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 Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "The Church That Left Their First Love" (Revelation 2:1-7 sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 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
Is There No God In Israel?
In II Kings 1, King Ahaziah, who had fallen and become ill, sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he would recover. In :3, Elijah confronts the messengers and proclaims: “Is it because there is no … Continue reading
The Missing Ingredient
There is a vital missing ingredient in the lives of many American Christians today. Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another …”. Those words “one another” are … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accountability, Bible, church, Colossians 3:16, fellowship, God's word, individualism, scripture, teaching
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What God Says I Shall Speak
I Kings 22:14 should be the commitment of every Christian preacher and teacher: “But Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.’” He spoke these words in the specific context of :13, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compromise, I Kings 22:14, ministry, preaching, teaching
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“Putting Up” With Each Other
You might not think that just “putting up” with someone was a very godly thing to do — but it is actually the literal translation of a Bible word in Colossians 3:13. The New American Standard translates it “bearing with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christian life, church life, Colossians 3:13, family life, home life, relationships
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Become Thankful
Colossians 3:15 commands: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.” Those last two words are very instructive: “Be thankful.” In Greek the word “be” is “ginesthe” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, Colossians 3:15, envy, ginomai, gratitude, process, relationships, thankfulness
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Enemies Within & Without
The prophets of Baal were not the only false prophets in Israel in the days of Elijah, as we see in I Kings 22. As Ahab and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were seeking guidance before a potential battle, :11 says … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Acts 20:29-30, doctrine, false prophets, false teachers, heresy, I Kings 22
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Getting The Right Advice
We all have times when we need advice. But almost as important as the decision you are making is that you get your advice from the right sources. In I Kings 22, Jehoshaphat and Ahab were about to go to … Continue reading
Even Ahab; Even Me!
The Bible describes Ahab, the King of Israel during the time of Elijah the prophet, as one of the most wicked kings ever. I Kings 21:25 summarizes his life by saying that he “sold himself to do evil in the … Continue reading
Your Heart’s Inclination
“Have you murdered and also taken possession?” This is the question Elijah asked King Ahab in I Kings 21:19, after Ahab had killed Naboth and stolen his vineyard. The prophet also foretold the disaster that was come upon Ahab because … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ahab, David, heart, I Kings 21:19, punishment, repentance, sin
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