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.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
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
Not Worldly Wisdom
In I Samuel 23, David had inquired of the Lord as to whether he should go up and attack the Philistines, who were oppressing the town of Keilah. God told him to go. But when David told his men, :3 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged David, foolishness, God's wisdom, I Corinthians 2:14, I Corinthians 2:8, I Samuel 23:1-5, imprudent, Isaiah 55:8, reason, wisdom
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Inquire of the Lord First!
As I Samuel 23 opens, David is told that the Philistines are attacking and plundering Keilah. Verse 2 says, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?’” It is of note here that David … Continue reading
“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (Oct. 22, 2013)
Homeschool, household chores, and a preaching trip to Beggs, America mark this week’s installment of the “Little Condo”: OVERHEARD DURING MATH Cheryl & Michael’s math lessons could probably fuel their own comedy show. I get a lot of chuckles out … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
Tagged "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", algebra, dishwasher loading chart, Facebook, fast food, Frank Sinatra, homeschool, kitten Eponine, Lesley Jackson Gore, math, Mrs. Gore's Diary, Oklahoma, pastor's family life, pastor's home, Shawn Thomas, Star Wars, walking weather
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A Spiral of Compromise
Psalm 106:35-37 says: “But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons.” Much of Psalm 106 describes the sin … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged associations, compromise, disobedience, friends, holiness, obedience, Psalm 106:35-37, separation
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Grace For Those Who Fall Short
Psalm 106:3 says: “How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times.” If only we did! Unfortunately this rules out every one of us: NONE of us practices righteousness at ALL times! “There is NONE righteous; … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, grace, lovingkindness, praise, Psalm 106:3, Romans 3:10, salvation, Thanksgiving
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Sing Praises to Him
Psalm 105:2 instructs us: “Sing to Him; sing praises to Him.” Notice some things about this verse which instruct us regarding our worship of God:
By Faith He Lived
Hebrews 11:9 says of Abraham: “by faith he LIVED as an alien in the land of promise.” It is one thing to step out initially in faith (as it says in :8 that Abraham did); it is another to LIVE … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Abraham, faith, faithful, Hebrews 11:9, living by faith
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Saved “So that …”
Psalm 105:43-45 describes God’s deliverance of the people of Israel from Egypt, and gives us some insight regarding it: 43 And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful ashout. 44 He gave them also … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged consecration, holiness, libertinism, obedience, Psalm 105:43-45, salvation
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The Obedience of Faith
Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a land which he was to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” A key word here is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:8, James 2:14, obedience, salvation, works
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The Revealing Nature of Mourning
Psalm 79:1 begins with a mournful prayer: “O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance …”. The writer of Psalm 79 is a mourner, and it is important to understand the cause of his grief. It is obvious to the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessed are those who mourn, Matthew 5:4, mourning, Psalm 79, sin
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