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
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 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
What Should I Preach On This Sunday?
If this sounds like an odd title for a blog post, let me explain its origin: WordPress blog statistics show you what internet searches have brought people to your blog. For example, on a given day, my stats might indicate … Continue reading
Scripture’s Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
In Exodus 19:21 Jethro told Moses: “You shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, Exodus 19:21, leadership, qualifications
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Little Condo on the Prairie
GRANDPARENTING BLISS One afternoon while rocking Corley, Cheryl looked down at her and said softly: “It IS fun having a baby — one that you can just hand back over!”
Psalm 119:57-64 On Obedience
Several of the sections of Psalm 119 (which is an acrostic in Hebrew) seem to have a unifying theme. Psalm 119:57-64 is the “Heth” section, which means that each of the 8 verses in this grouping begins with the Hebrew … Continue reading
Make an Altar in Bethel
Genesis 35:1 says: “Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.’” God commanded Jacob to move, and … Continue reading
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
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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
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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
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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
