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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "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
When You’ve “Messed Up”: (Part IV) Don’t Give Up On Your Walk With God
I Samuel 12 describes how the people of Israel had “messed up” by seeking a king to reign over them, in order that they might be like all the other nations. Verses 17-19 make it clear that the people had … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, I Samuel 12:20, remorse, repentance, spiritual warfare, walk with God
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part III) Turn to the Intercessor
I Samuel 12 tells us that the people of Israel had “messed up” by asking for a king so that they could be like all the other peoples. God showed them clearly in :17 that this was a sin, and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews, I John 1:9, I Samuel 12:19, I Timothy 2:5, intercession, mediator
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part II) Admit Your Sin
We saw yesterday that Israel had “messed up” by asking God for a king to rule over them, so that they could be “like all the peoples.” Then in I Samuel 12, God showed the people of Israel clearly that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged admit blame, confess sin, confession, excuse, I Samuel 12:17-19, justify, messed up, minimize, sin
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When You’ve Messed Up (Part I: Introduction)
God has blessed Cheryl & I with some pretty good kids. People are always complimenting us on them, and saying what great parents we must be, but I can tell you for certain that we did not get the kind … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged confession, I Samuel 12, parenting, repentance, restoration, sin
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Praising God
At the end of Psalm 72, David blesses God. Notice 4 things about the praise he gave which instruct us:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged exclusivity of God, praise, Psalm 72:18-19, Revelation 4:8, worship, Yahweh
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Repentance From Dead Works
Hebrews 6:1 says: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God …”. The writer of Hebrews is addressing the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dead works, Ephesians 2:9, faith, good deeds, Hebrews 6:1, repentance, Romans 3:20, salvation, works
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Press On To Maturity
Hebrews 6:1 instructs us: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God …”. There seems to be, unfortunately, a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dumbing down preaching, Ephesians 4:13, Hebrews 6:1, spiritual maturity
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But As For Me …
Psalm 73:1-2a opens: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me …”. He (Asaph here) recognized God’s goodness to His people (“Israel”) in general, and to the “pure in heart” especially. … Continue reading
Righteous Anger
I Samuel 11:6 says: “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.” It is of note here that when the Spirit of God came upon Saul, the result was … Continue reading
God of Distress and Revival
In Psalm 71:20, David prayed: “You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.” Here near the end of Psalm 71, which was written during … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged deliverance, promise of revival, Psalm 71:20, trials
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