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)
- "How To Run 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
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 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
Blessings of a Relationship With God
Psalm 73:23-24 says: “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. WIth Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.” “Nevertheless” refers back to the description earlier in the Psalm … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessings of salvation, counsel, glory, heaven, Psalm 73:23-24, Romans 10:13, salvation, security
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The Leadership We Deserve (2)
In I Samuel 12:14 Samuel told Israel: “If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over … Continue reading
Faith vs. Sight
In I Samuel 13:11 King Saul explained that he did not wait on Samuel to offer the sacrifice before the battle with the Philistines “Because I saw that the people were scattering …”. One of Saul’s problems was that he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:6, I Samuel 13, II Corinthians 4:17, II Corinthians 5:7, King Saul
2 Comments
With Us At Our Worst
In Psalm 73 Asaph shares a very frank testimony. He had envied the prosperity of the wicked (:3), and had considered that he had kept his life pure in vain (:13). He admitted that “my heart was embittered” and he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doubt, God's presence, Psalm 73:23, security
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The Top Shelf: Books I’ve Read More Than Once
When it came time to sell our home in Louisiana and move to a condo less than half its size in Oklahoma, we had to do some dramatic downsizing! One of the most difficult items to tackle was our book … Continue reading
Defenseless?
In I Samuel 13, the Philistines sent groups of raiders against Saul and the people of Israel. But Israel was in an extremely weak position. Verses 19-23 tell us, “Now, no blacksmith could be found in all the land of … Continue reading
Choice and Consequences
In I Samuel 13:13-14, Samuel rebuked King Saul for not waiting to offer the sacrifice before the battle, as he had been instructed. He told him: “For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged choice, consequences, I Samuel 13:13-14, II Kings 13:17-19, otherwise choice
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part VII) Pray For Those Who Have Messed Up!
Maybe you are not the one who has messed up (THIS time — remember we all do!) What is your responsibility towards those who have sinned? We find one of the most important answers to that question in I Samuel … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged George Mueller, I Samuel 12:23, intercessory prayer, prayer
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part VI) Don’t Take Grace Lightly!
The message of I Samuel 12 to a people who had sinned is a hopeful one: if they will admit their sin, God will forgive, and they should not give up on their relationship with Him. But it ends with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged cheap grace, forgiveness, grace, I Samuel 12:24-25, John 8, repentance, sin
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part V) Remember the Faithfulness of God!
In I Samuel 12, the people of Israel had “messed up” by asking God for a king so that they could be like the other nations. God made it clear to them that they had indeed sinned against Him, which … Continue reading
