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
- 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
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
Speak Lord
I Samuel 3:9 contains one of the great prayers in scripture: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Eli taught Samuel to say it to God the next time He called him in the tabernacle. It is a simple but … Continue reading
From Tumult To Peace
There is quite a segue in Psalm 46, from :3, where it says the “waters roar and foam” to :4, which contains the peaceful, “there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” The waters are described … Continue reading
Little Condo on the Prairie (7-16-13)
Last week, among other things, the family in the “Little Condo on the Prairie” took another “trip on a tankful”, and had one of our first dealings with our 14-year-old son Michael and … GIRLS! A CHIP OFF … WELL, … Continue reading
The Priest: Merciful & Faithful
Hebrews 2:17 says that Jesus became like us in every way, “so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” Here we find 2 essential qualities of our perfect High Priest: He is “merciful” and “faithful.” BOTH of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faithful, Hebrews 2:17, I Peter 2:9, merciful, priest
Leave a comment
“Before the Lord”
I Samuel 2:18 says: “Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.” Then :21 adds: “the boy Samuel grew before the Lord.” Both of these verses contain that expression “before the Lord”. They tell … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged before the Lord, I Samuel 2, ministry, practicing the presence, Samuel, sons of Eli
Leave a comment
My Tongue Is A Pen
In Psalm 45, the writer says in :1, “My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” This is how it is when one is in love; they gush about the object of their love. This is why love is … Continue reading
That Missing Something
Psalm 45:7 says: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God has anointed You with the oil of joy above Your fellows.” Hebrews 1:9 quotes this verse as referring to Jesus, and it certainly does. He loved … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged anointing, consecration, holiness, II TImothy 2:21, ministry, Psalm 45:7
2 Comments
We Do Not Yet See
Hebrews 2:8 says: “But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him.” This verse follows a whole section of the first part of the book, which proclaims the superiority of Christ, and how God has “put all … Continue reading
Year After Year?
I Samuel 1 tells how Elkanah’s wife Hannah was tormented by her in-home rival, Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah, because Hannah had not borne a son. Verse 7 says: “It happened year after year, as often as she went up to … Continue reading
Think About It!
Verses 5 and 11 of Psalm 39 both end with the exact same assertion: “surely every man is a mere breath.” It is also of note that following each of these verses is the Hebrew word, “Selah.” While the exact … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged brevity of life, Psalm 39, Psalm 39:11, Psalm 39:5, selah, transience of man
Leave a comment
