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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "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
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
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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
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Seeking God
Psalm 24:6 says: “Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob”. What is the “such” that is referred to here? HOW do you “seek the face of the God of … Continue reading
Who May Ascend?
Psalm 24 opens by declaring that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is the God of ALL the earth (“the earth is the Lord’s”). The next verse (:3) asks a vital question: “Who may ascend into the hill of YHWH, and … Continue reading
The Earth is the Lord’s
Psalm 24 seems to be divided up into 3 distinct sections: — :1-2 The Lord’s creation and Lordship over all the world — :3-6 The holiness required of those who would seek the Lord — :7-10 The entrance of the … Continue reading
They Will Perish, But You Remain
Hebrews 1 quotes a number of Old Testament scriptures to prove the deity and superiority of Christ. Verse 11, quoting Psalm 102:26, says of the heavens and earth, which Christ created, “they will perish, but You remain.” It is always … Continue reading
Finding His Path
In Psalm 25:4 David prayed: “make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.” Many of us might echo his prayer. But how will this happen? Look later in the Psalm:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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