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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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
The Little Condo on the Prairie (7-15-14)
I can’t share every conversation our family has, but when I can, it goes on “The Little Condo”… 🙂 A few stories from the past few weeks: A MOTHER’S PRIDE I called my mom in Tulsa on Mothers Day and … Continue reading
Character Leads To Conduct
Psalm 14:1 opens with its well-known words: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds.” This verse is revealing on several accounts:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Abigail, character, conduct, depravity, fool, fruit, I Samuel 25:25, Matthew 7:20, Nabal, Psalm 14:1, Romans 3:12, sin
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Your “Guard Duty” in Prayer (Colossians 4:2 Sermon)
(Preached at FBC Pauls Valley, OK, Sunday evening 7-13-14) On April 17th, 1862, private William Scott was pardoned by President Abraham Lincoln for sleeping on guard duty. That may not sound like a big deal, but the private had been … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged C.S. Lewis, Colossians 4:2, intercession, prayer, screwtape letters
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Not “lords” but THE Lord!
Colossians 3:22 admonishes, “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” It is interesting that the two words … Continue reading
The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life (Philippians 2:17 sermon update)
(This is the text of the sermon I preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley on Sunday, July 13th 2014. It is a revised and updated version of a previous message by this title I preached at FBC Moss Bluff, LA … Continue reading
Am I God?
In II Kings 5 the king of Aram, having heard of the prophet Elisha, sent his leprous general Naaman to the king of Israel so that he might be cured of his leprosy. We find the king’s response in verse … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dependence, humility, II Kings 5:7, Matthew 5:3, poor in spirit, salvation
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“Love Your Enemies” Lived Out
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of how Naaman the leper was healed. But we should make sure that we do not overlook a remarkable thing in verses 2-3, which says that there was “a little girl” who had … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, enemies, II Kings 5:2-3, love, love your enemies, Matthew 5:44, mercy
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A Hard Pill To Swallow
In Psalm 13:4 David wrote: “And my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.” One of the most difficult aspects of enduring hardship is that it gives one’s enemies an opportunity … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged enemies, Matthew 27:41-42, Psalm 13:4, trials, vindication
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Sovereignty & Responsibility
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of Naaman and Elisha — but the introduction is insightful as well. Verse 1, speaking of Naaman says that he was “highly respected, because by him, YHWH had given victory to Aram.” Here … Continue reading
What Do You Have?
In II Kings 4:2, the prophet Elisha asked a widow an important question: “What do you have in the house?” His question may hold the key to God’s solution for the situations some of us face today as well:
