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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 24:36-51, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Alert" for May 10, 2026
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
The Word of God is Not Imprisoned
In II Timothy 2:9 Paul wrote to Timothy: “I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.” Paul evidenced an important outlook here which unfortunately many of us seem to miss: the Kingdom of God is … Continue reading
The Servant and the Word
In Psalm 119:125, the Psalmist prays: “I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.” There is an interesting relationship here between the servant of God and the word of God:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged prayer for understanding, Psalm 119:125, servant of God, service, word of God
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Consecration Before Revelation
In Exodus 19:10, the Lord told Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow … and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged consecration, Exodus 19:10, God's will, holiness, word from God
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POTS Update: A Change of Geography Helps?
Due to my bout with dysautonomia/POTS, I had to step down as pastor of First Baptist Moss Bluff, Louisiana, at the end of February 2013, and my family & I moved to Norman, Oklahoma. While we are still very much in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged altitude, dysautonomia, geography, Louisiana, Oklahoma, POTS, POTS and change of location
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While You Are Waiting
If you are in a difficult, “in between” situation, Psalm 119:114 may have a word for you. In it, the Psalmist declares: “You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.” These are great directions for those of us who are … Continue reading
No Excuse
In Psalm 119:110 the Psalmist declared: “The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I have not gone astray from Your precepts.” His commitment to follow God’s word even while others were trying to entrap him is an important … Continue reading
Memories (For My Mother’s 75th Birthday)
Mom, your grandson Paul went down in our family history for the prayer he prayed one night after going to your house in Moore: “God, I thank you that I got to go to Grandma’s house today, and that I … Continue reading
Unashamed to Care
In II Timothy 1:16, the Apostle Paul wrote that Onesiphorus “was not ashamed of my chains.” Onesiphorus was a true friend and minister — he was not ashamed of Paul’s situation, but loved and cared for him just the same.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged a true friend, II Timothy 1:16, ministry, Onesiphorus
1 Comment
Listen and DO!
Exodus 18:24 says that after Jethro advised Moses to share his ministry with others among the people, that Moses not only had the humility to have “listened to his father-in-law” but that he also “DID all that he had said.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged do the word, doers of the word, Exodus 18:24
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A Wineskin In The Smoke
In Psalm 119:83 the Psalmist declares: “Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.” What a picture of a total commitment to the Lord and His word: even if he dies, even … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged commitment, Job 13:15, Psalm 119:83, total commitment, wineskin in the smoke
2 Comments
shawnethomas 