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)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "America's Verse" -- "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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
Rescued From Darkness
Colossians 1:13 calls God the One “Who rescued us from the domain of darkness …” (NASB). This verse teaches us that when we were lost, we were under the “domain” — the Greek word is “exousia”: the authority, the jurisdiction, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged authority, Colossians 1:13, darkness, Ephesians 2:2, exousia, salvation, Satan
1 Comment
No Right To Complain!
In II Samuel 19:28, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth uttered these words: “What right do I have yet to complain anymore to the king?” He spoke them as a man who had suffered some loss of property and reputation, but kept his … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged attitude, complain, David, Ephesians 2:1, grace, II Samuel 19:28, Mephibosheth, perspective, salvation
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Fit For Heaven
Colossians 1:12 says that we are to be “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Here the Bible describes how each Christian — even the least worthy — … Continue reading
Evidence of God’s Power
In Colossians 1:11 Paul prays that the readers will be “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience”. Several words are used here to describe the abundance of God’s power that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 1:11, hupomene, makrothumia, patience, perseverance, power of God
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Responding To Correction
In II Samuel 19, King David is mourning the death of his rebellious son, Absalom, while his victorious army comes “by stealth” back into the city because of his grief. In :5-7 David’s general, Joab spoke a spoke difficult truth … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged constructive criticism, correction, criticism, grace, humility, II Samuel 19:1-7
3 Comments
It Starts On The Inside
In Psalm 5:9 David writes: “There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.” This teaches us an important truth about where our words … Continue reading
His Way, Not Ours!
In Psalm 5:8b David prays to the Lord, “Make Your way straight before me.” In Hebrew it is literally: “Make straight before my face Your path”! This is a significant prayer:
Entering By Grace
Psalm 5:7 says, “But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house …”. This little half-verse is packed with significance regarding our salvation:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, grace, heaven, house of the Lord, lovingkindness, mercy, Psalm 5:7, salvation
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And WATCH!
In Psalm 5:3 David says, “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning, I will order my prayer to You, and eagerly watch.” Those last words are important. David did not just say that he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 1:11, prayer, Psalm 5:3
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