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
A Most Memorial Day
Originally posted on shawnethomas:
My Memorial Day did not unfold exactly the way I had envisioned it a week or so ago, but in the end it was the most poignant, and memorable, I have ever experienced … I had taken the…
Posted in Uncategorized
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Suffering For Others’ Salvation
On this Memorial Day, many are commemorating those who lost their lives defending our country and preserving our liberties. They suffered in order to ensure our freedom. In II Timothy 2:10 we find a similar concept. The Apostle Paul writes: … Continue reading
Fellowship at the Mercy Seat
In Exodus 25:22 God spoke to Moses regarding the mercy set of the Ark of the Covenant: “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of … Continue reading
Better the Little of the Righteous
Psalm 37:16 says: “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.” Psalm 37 presents several contrasts of the righteous and the wicked, and enjoins God’s people not to envy the wicked. Verse 16 is a … Continue reading
Your Testimony & Your Family
In Exodus 18:1-12, Moses’ father-in-law Jethro came to meet him during the Exodus in the wilderness. Moses told him about all that God had done (:8). Jethro rejoiced (:9) and blessed God (:10) and offered God a sacrifice as a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 18:1-12, family, religion starts a home, testimony
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A Key To Spiritual Growth
In Philemon :6 Paul writes to Philemon with the prayer “that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake”. Paul wrote that Philemon’s faith would be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged knowledge, Philemon 6, Philippians 1:9, spiritual growth
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The Missing Distinctive
Exodus 33:16 is a signature verse. Moses said: “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Exodus 33:16, power of God, presence of God
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A Surprising Sign of Wickedness
Psalm 10 speaks of “The wicked” in :3. But when many of us think of “the wicked” we often picture some REALLY bad people, not anyone like US! But some might be surprised at what :4 says about the wicked: … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Great Commandment, Psalm 10:3-4, seeking God, sin, wickedness
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Little Condo on the Prairie (May 20)
The “Little Condo on the Prairie” dodged some tornadoes this week, and shared a lot of laughs in our families’ proximity while we await Libby’s baby — due this Friday! TORNADO ALLEY Oklahoma is not known as “Tornado Alley” for … Continue reading
The Change of a Moment
Psalm 6:10 says: “All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed; they shall turn back, be put to shame IN A MOMENT.” This verse reminds us that SO much can happen, in God’s plan, “in a moment” of time.
