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)
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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
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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The Authority of God’s Word
In Psalm 119:128 the Psalmist said: “Therefore I esteem right all Thy precepts concerning everything.” This was a strong statement about his commitment to the authority of God’s word in his life. In it he asserted that:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged application, authority of scripture, inerrancy, Psalm 119:128
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A Faithful Friend
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” The Bible describes a true friend as one who is constant and faithful. He does not merely love when it is popular, convenient, or … Continue reading
God of ALL!
Psalm 33:13 says: “He sees ALL the sons of men.” The God of the Bible is not just a provincial God, who is Lord over certain people or events; He is the Sovereign God of the entire world! In fact, … Continue reading
You Yourself Have Taught Me
Psalm 119:102 says: “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.” The Psalmist saw God’s word as personal instruction from God Himself. You can sense, in his expression, “You Yourself have taught me,” what … Continue reading
His Manner of Grace
The prayer of Psalm 119:132 is “Turn to me and be gracious to me – after Your manner with those who love Your name”. The Psalmist asks God to be gracious to him, and bases it on the “manner” of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 34:6, God, God's gracious manner, grace, His manner of grace, Psalm 119:132
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Soldiers of Christ
Paul encouraged Timothy in II Timothy 2:3 “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus”. One of the many failures of American Christianity is that we fail to see ourselves as “soldiers of Christ Jesus.”
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged hardship, II Timothy 2:3, II Timothy 3:12, soliders of Christ, suffering
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