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 Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
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
Kind To ALL
It is easy to read past II Timothy 2:24, “the Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all”, and not think much of it other than that it is a very general admonition, which everyone should know: “be … Continue reading
You Shall Be Gracious
Exodus 22:26-27 may read at first like a quirky, specific law for Israel, but it is in fact an admonition to grace: “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it before the sun … Continue reading
I Was Glad
Psalm 122 opens with a familiar and beloved verse for many: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of YHWH”. This Psalm is one of 15 Psalms called “Songs of Ascent” which were … Continue reading
My “Holy Saturday” Tradition
I attended a Good Friday service at Trinity Baptist, Norman last night and really enjoyed the service. It included some public worship singing, a series of scripture readings, and several choir anthems. I had not been in the habit, as … Continue reading
The Leadership We Deserve?
Psalm 125:3 says: “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.” Basically this verse indicates that God will not allow wicked … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged prayer, Psalm 125:3, repentance, the leadership we deserve, ungodly leadership
3 Comments
Learning to Hate Evil
Many Christians think we should not hate anything, but that is not true according to scripture. Psalm 97:10 says “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” In fact, one of the greatest problems modern Christians have is that they do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God's word, hate evil, Psalm 119:104
5 Comments
Packing Up Paradise
We have found that there is generally something to laugh about, even in the midst of some of our most difficult experiences as a family — and that laughter helps us keep whatever measure of sanity we still possess. Selling … Continue reading
Compassion, Not Condemnation
There is something touching about God’s command in Exodus 22:21, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Indeed I think it is intended to call out the empathy of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, condemnation, empathy, Exodus 22:21, Golden Rule, prejudice, sympathy
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Worse Than An Unbeliever?
In I Timothy 5:8 Paul writes: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” That last phrase really catches one’s … Continue reading
Avoid Such Talk
In II Timothy 2:16 scripture commands: “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness”. There are two kinds of language the Bible enjoins in this verse: — First, we are to avoid “worldly” talk. This … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ephesians 4:29, II Timothy 2:16, language, speech, talk
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