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.
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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
I Shall Not Want
Most everyone is familiar with the opening words of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Truly understanding and applying what this verse teaches is one of the keys to the Christian life. The Hebrew is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged I shall not want, lack, need, provision, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 16:5, Psalm 23:1, satisfaction, satisfaction in God, want
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There’s A Baby in the Condo on the Prairie!
Yes, there is a new addition to “The Little Condo on the Prairie”, one who has become the unwitting center of our household, commanding rapt attention at the slightest twitch of her face. Corley Jane Breland has come into our … Continue reading
Nursery Lessons About God
Psalm 22 is about trust in God, even under adverse circumstances which might lead one to doubt. In it, David said that his first lesson in trust came at an earlier age than many might think. He wrote in :9, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged breastfeeding, faith, first lesson about God, Hebrews 11:6, mother, nursing, Psalm 22:9, trust
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It’s Not “Karma”!
In Exodus 22:24 God warned His people that if they afflicted widows and orphans, then “your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.” The irony of what happens to those who oppress others and who then consequently see evil … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God, judgment, justice, Karma, Proverbs 24:12, repay
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Consider Your Ways
In Psalm 119:59 the writer says: “I considered my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.” This is exactly what we SHOULD do from time to time — step back and evaluate our lives, and adjust ourselves to the … Continue reading
You Live What You Believe
Psalm 14:1 says: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.” This Psalm goes on to describe how “they have all turned … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith and practice, practice, Psalm 14, Romans 3, theology
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Charge That To My Account
In Philemon:18 the Apostle Paul speaks of the debts that the runaway slave, Onesimus, owed to Philemon: “charge that to my account.” We see in the Apostle Paul an analogy of what Christ has done for us. We are like … Continue reading
Come Up In The Morning
In Exodus 34:2 God commanded Moses: “So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.” Here, just before God would show His glory … Continue reading
Little Condo on the Prairie (May 28)
The countdown to Josh & Libby’s baby continued in The Little Condo on the Prairie last week, and we huddled together while storms passed nearby … STORM CHASER?
Posted in Home & Family Life
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Our Compassionate God
In Exodus 34, God granted Moses’ request to see His glory. Verses 6-8 describe what happened: “Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, Exodus 34:6-8, forgiving God, God, love of God, mercy of God
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