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.
-
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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- 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
As Much As In Riches?
In Psalm 119:14 the Psalmist proclaims: “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.” That is quite a statement about his commitment to the word of God. I wonder how many of us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's word, money, priorities, Psalm 119:14
Leave a comment
What Real Faith Looks Like: Trusting A Benevolent God
One of my favorite scenes from the movie world is from the Christmas classic: “A Christmas Story”, when little Ralphie discovers the BB gun which his father had bought him for Christmas. The dad watches with delight as Ralphie opens … Continue reading
Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
Tagged Daniel 4:29-30, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 2:9, faith, God is good, Greek word thelema, Habakkuk 3:17-18, I Timothy 2:4, II Peter 3:9, James 1:17-18, Jimmy Stewart, Job 1:21, John 3, John 3:27, Joshua Breland testimony, King Nebuchadnezzer, Mark 10:18, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 119:68, Romans 6:23, salvation as a gift, self-made man, Shenandoah, the goodness of God, trust, you must be born again
Leave a comment
Commitment and Assurance
In Psalm 31:14-15, David says: “I say You are my God, my times are in Your hand.” Here David exhibits a trust in the Lord despite the enemies which the earlier part of the Psalm referred to. Verse 15 exhibits … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Leave a comment
Leadership and Accountability
Exodus 39:43 says: “And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the Lord had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.” There are several applications here regarding leadership and accountability, both in … Continue reading
Make It Personal
Psalm 31 opens in :1 with the words, “In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed.” One of the features of Psalm 31 is the repeated, personal nature of David’s cry for deliverance, and his … Continue reading
Quotes & Illustrations From Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables
Following are quotations and potential sermon illustrations from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. They are arranged in alphabetical order by topic. Page numbers are from Charles Wilbour’s translation, A.L. Bert Publishers. With this most recent update (7-14-13) selections cover the entire … Continue reading
Just As The Lord Commanded
Exodus 39 may seem at first glance to be one of those “boring” chapters which give a lot of seemingly insignificant information. Earlier in the book, God had commanded Moses and the children of Israel to make garments for the … Continue reading
The Heart of Worship
Psalm 28:7 says: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” If one asks, “How does one ‘exult’ in … Continue reading
The Commitment of the Redeemed
The First Commandment (Exodus 20:2-3) is based on the redemptive work of God: “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage …”. He reminds them first of all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, Exodus 20:2-3, first commandment, Lordship salvation, redeemed
Leave a comment
An Unusual Mark of Revival
In Exodus 35, God had asked the people of Israel to voluntarily bring items for the construction of the tabernacle. Verse 21 says: “Everyone whose heart moved him” gave. But in Exodus 36:5, the skillful men in charge of construction … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 35:21, Exodus 36:5-6, giving, offerings, revival
Leave a comment
shawnethomas 