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
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 24:36-51, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Alert" for May 10, 2026
- “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)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- 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
A Doer’s Prayer
In Psalm 119:34 the writer prays: “Give me understanding, that I may KEEP Your Law”! The understanding of God’s word that we are to seek is not merely for intellectual enlightenment or academic achievement.
Grant Me Your Law
In Psalm 119:29 the Psalmist prays: “graciously grant me Your Law.” It should be challenging to many of us that when he makes his request to God, he asks for His Law. When many of us ask God to “graciously … Continue reading
A Day’s Portion Every Day
In Exodus 16:4, God instructed the people of Israel regarding the gathering of the manna that would feed them during their wilderness journey: “The people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, … Continue reading
Farewell to Our Church Family
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the past 12+ years of service with our church family at Moss Bluff. It would be almost physically impossible for me to write a personal note to everyone who has blessed my family … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged day by day, Exodus, farewell, First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, God's purpose, moving, pastor resignation, peace, POTS, providence, Shawn Thomas
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My POTS experience: Peaks and Valleys
Although POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) varies greatly from individual to individual in the type and severity of symptoms, one of the signature features of it in my own personal experience is the almost daily fluctuation of my symptoms. Journeying … Continue reading
The Fifteenth Day of the Second Month
Exodus 16 opens in :1 by saying that it was “the fifteenth day of the second month” – i.e., about 6 weeks into the journey of the people of Israel in the Exodus. It is notable that the chapter goes … Continue reading
His Rest
In Psalm 95:11, God said of the rebellious people of Israel in the wilderness: “they shall not enter My rest.” God’s “rest” is the goal for mankind. This is what we long for! But we need to realize that ultimate … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's rest, he is at rest, heaven, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 95:11, rest, rest in peace, vacation
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You Who Love The Lord
Psalm 97:10 speaks of “you who LOVE THE LORD”. In this verse, “you who love the Lord” is a synonym for the people of God, those who are what many of us would call “saved.” We see a similar appellation … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Great Commandment, loving God, Psalm 97:10, Romans 8:28, you who love the Lord
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Commitment to Praise
In Psalm 108:1, David says: “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises.” What David was expressing here was not a ritual, but rather a heartfelt commitment to praise, regardless of his circumstances.
Prayer Warriors
I Timothy 5:5 tells us that widows in the church are commanded to do two things: 1) “fix (their) hope on God” 2) “continue in entreaties and prayers night and day” This verse gives direction not only for widows, but … Continue reading
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