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
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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
Your Perspective & The Way You Treat Others
There were two totally different perspectives evident in the characters in I Samuel 30:22-23, which made all the difference both in their attitudes, and in the way they treated other people. Following the battle against the Amelekites, in which David … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged attitude, humility, I Samuel 30:22-23, perspective, self-centeredness, selfish
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Bad News Gets Around
In the final chapter of I Samuel, Saul is killed in battle by the Philistines, and 31:9 says: “They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged defeat, dishonor, glory of God, I Samuel 30:9
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Unfolding His Word
In Psalm 119:130 the writer proclaims: “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Barnes writes of this word, “unfolding”: “The Hebrew word – פתח pethach – means an “opening” or “entrance” – as of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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It Does Come Around!
I Samuel 30:11-15 describes how someone who was totally helpless was treated by two very different men — and how God brought their treatment of this helpless person back upon each of them!
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Galatians 6:6-7, I Samuel 30:11-15, justice, Karma, mercy, reward
1 Comment
It’s “Snow” Walk in the Park!
Sunday evening, our family had been “snowed in” for the better part of four days, other than morning worship at Trinity Baptist, and a brief trip to the grocery store. With a bad case of “cabin fever”, I decided we … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Every Encumbrance
Hebrews 12:1 exhorts us: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, encumbrance, Hebrews 12:1, priorities
2 Comments
Strengthen Yourself In Your God
In I Samuel 30 we find a little-known episode, but one of the greatest crises David ever faced. It was before he ever became king, and could have derailed everything. While he and his men were off on a mission, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged armor of God, crisis, Ephesians 6, help, I Samuel 30:6, inner strength, strength
2 Comments
“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (12-04-13)
It’s about the holidays this week — Thanksgiving, Christmas, as well as some of our typical family fare! SNOWBOUND Michael was “bummed” about having to miss church services due to an early (late November) snow here in Oklahoma. He bemoaned: … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Popular Praise: Blessing or Bane?
SO many people would give almost anything to have the kind of renown and fame that David received from the people of Israel after he killed Goliath, but as we see in I Samuel 29:5, it is not always such … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged flattery, I Samuel 29:5, John 2:24, popularity, praise, Proverbs 29:5, public opinion
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