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
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 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
Guard My Mouth
In Psalm 141:3 David prays: “Set a guard, O LORD over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” We often think of prayers as being for God to protect US: “set a guard over me; protect me”, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged evening prayer, guard my mouth, Psalm 141:3, regret, watch my mouth, words
2 Comments
Not “As You Wish,” but “Just So”!
In Exodus 25:8-9 God said: “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its … Continue reading
The Problem With “Promise Keeping”
After God had given Moses the 10 Commandments and various other commands, Exodus 24 records the response of the people: “All the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 24:3, Exodus 24:7, holiness, promise keeping, sanctification
1 Comment
A Step of Faith
In Exodus 25 God gave His people instructions regarding the construction of the ark of the covenant, and in :16 He commanded: “You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” This was an act of … Continue reading
Giving and Worship
Although Christians are not under obligation to keep the Law, Exodus 23:19 shares a principle which surely applies to those of us under the New Covenant as well: “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Exodus 23:19, first fruits, giving, grace giving, tenth, tithe, worship
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He Who Loves Pleasure
Proverbs 21:17 says: “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man, and he who loves oil and wine will not become rich.” There is an obvious meaning in this proverb: that the person who spends a lot on luxuries … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipline, pleasure, poverty, Proverbs 21:17, riches
4 Comments
The Blessing of Affliction
In Psalm 119:71 the Psalmist declares: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” It is a striking proclamation, and one which many experienced saints will heartily “amen.” Though we would never CHOOSE … Continue reading
On Political Discourse
Exodus 22:28 commands: “You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” It should be instructive to us that God puts the prohibition against cursing our rulers in the same verse as the prohibition against cursing God … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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Deliverance, Not Escape
In II Timothy 3:11 Paul writes: “What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me.” Following Christ did not exempt Paul from persecutions. In fact, the next verse famously proclaims: “indeed, all who desire to live … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged deliverance, deliverance vs. escape, II Timothy 3:11, persecution
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Don’t Follow The Crowd
Exodus 23:2 commanded the people of God: “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil …” That is like the old admonition many of our parents gave us: “Don’t follow the crowd”! That was Biblical!
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged don't follow the crowd, Exodus 23:2, peer pressure
1 Comment
shawnethomas 