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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "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
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
The False Witness of a “Straw Man”
In Exodus 20:16 we are given the 9th Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This verse entails numerous applications, but one of them includes purposefully misrepresenting the position of another. It is not uncommon for opponents … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
2 Comments
For the Sake of Your Servant: Substitionary Grace
In Psalm 132:10 the Psalmist prays: “For the sake of Your servant David, do not turn away the face of Your anointed one” The salient principle here is that for the sake of ANOTHER who has gone before and who … Continue reading
Fairest Lord Jesus
The hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” has an uncertain origin. It was first published in a German Roman Catholic publication in 1677, without attribution to an author. It is interesting that Samuel Rutherford, the Scottish Puritan pastor who was exiled in … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Sermon Illustrations
Tagged fairest, Fairest Lord Jesus, glorious Lord Jesus Christ, hymn story, James 2:1, music, Samuel Rutherford, worship
4 Comments
When You Don’t Have A Word
In Psalm 130 the Psalmist, in “the depths,” cries out to God. Then in :5 he says: “in His word do I hope”. In “the depths” of our own particular situations, we should do the same thing: put our hope … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged a word from God, depths, faith, I Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 130:5, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:29, trials, trust
4 Comments
A Call To Worship (Psalm 132)
Psalm 132 is one of the Songs of Ascent, which were sung by pilgrims on their way to worship at Jerusalem. Verses 7-9 still present a great call to worship for us today: “Let us go into His dwelling place; … Continue reading
Remember His Name in the Night
Psalm 119:55 says: “I remember Your name in the NIGHT O Lord, and I keep Your Law” What is significant about remembering God’s name “in the “night”?
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Psalm 119:55, remember His name in the night
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Love Your Enemies: The Prequel
Exodus 23:4-5 says: “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless, you shall surely release it with him.” … Continue reading
A Stress Reliever
Psalm 127:2 almost seems fatalistic: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Some may wrongly think that this … Continue reading
Don’t Take The Bait!
II Timothy 2:23 admonishes: “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.” Then :24 begins “The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome …”. This verse commands God’s servants not to even get into “foolish” and “ignorant” discussions … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged II Timothy 2:23, maturity, Proverbs 17:14, quarrels, self-control, strife
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