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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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 (4-28-14)
I’ve been busy preaching every Sunday and leading Bible Study on Wednesday nights — basically working a full-time schedule — for which I am very grateful! But one “side effect” is that I have not kept up my “Little Condo” … Continue reading
Trusting God’s Judgment
Psalm 9:8 says: “And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.” This is a needed reminder for many of us. It can be difficult to watch wicked people — or those … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged equity, fairness, James 2:13, judgment, justice, mercy, Psalm 9:8, righteousness
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The Face of God
Psalm 9:3 says “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before You.” In Hebrew the words “before You” are literally, “from Your face.” It is interesting to see in scripture the differing effects that the face of God … Continue reading
Overflowing With Thanksgiving
In Colossians 2:7 Paul writes that we are to walk in Christ, “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and strengthened in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.” It is of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, Christ, Colossians 2:7, gratitude, salvation, Thanksgiving
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Wholly Devoted?
In I Kings 8:61 Solomon challenged the people of Israel: “Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as this day.” Solomon’s admonition to them was … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged devotion, I Kings 8:61, John 14:15, obedience
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When They Sin
In I Kings 9 Solomon spoke a prayer of dedication for the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem. In :46 he prayed regarding his people: “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) …”. This … Continue reading
Promise Breakers
In I Kings 8:25 Solomon prayed: “Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of … Continue reading
Sermon: Romans 1:4 “The Meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus” for FBC Paul’s Valley, 4-20-14
When we were serving in Louisiana one of our church members was coaching a kids baseball practice just before Easter one year, and he announced that they weren’t going to have practice or a game that weekend because it was … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Chuck Colson, commitment, David Koresh, decision, Easter sermon, Ganges River, Hinduism, John 14:6, life change, power, resurrection of Jesus, Romans 1:4, salvation, Watergate
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Because …
In Psalm 9:4 David prays: “For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.” The word “for” here is an important one. Just as in English, the Hebrew word “qi” is a small word, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", because, for, Hebrew word qi, Psalm 9:4, trust
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In You
In Psalm 9:2 David writes: “I will be glad and exult in You.” It is significant that he does not just say, “I will be glad and rejoice” — but, “I will be glad and rejoice IN YOU.” Those last … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Acts 16, circumstances, David, joy, joy of the Lord, Paul & Silas, Psalm 9:2
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