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)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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
Music and the Spirit
We find an obscure but telling episode in II Kings 3, where Elisha is going to prophesy to the kings. In verse 15 he says: “‘But now bring me a minstrel.’ And it came about, when the minstrel played, that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5, II Kings 3:14, inspiration, music, singing, worship
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Evidence of Discipleship
In II Kings 3:14 the prophet Elisha addressed the king of Israel, and he began his sentence with the phrase: “As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand …”. This expression is significant for a couple of reasons, one … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accountability, disciple, discipleship, II Kings 3:14, mentor, mentoring, presence of God
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Menial Training For Ministry
In II Kings 3:11, when Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of Yahweh, someone responded: “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” This is a revealing statement, with some telling implications … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged apprenticeship, discipleship, II Kings 3:11, mentoring, ministry, ministry training
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A Word About Worship Songs
Colossians 3:16 opens by commanding: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …” — and then instructs us that one way that is to happen is through our music and worship: “… with psalms and hymns and spiritual … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 3:16, John 4:24, music, songs, worship, worship music, worship songs
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God’s Perfect Word
Psalm 12 contrasts the flattering words (:2-3) and boastful word-faith (:4) of men with the perfect words of God. Verse 6 says “The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, inerrancy, infallibility, Psalm 12:6, scripture, word of God, words of men
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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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