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
Sing to the Lord
Exodus 15:1 says that after the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea and the Egyptians were drowned: “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord …”. Notice that the RECIPIENT of their song … Continue reading
Our God Does Whatever He Pleases!
Psalm 115:2-3 says: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where now is their God?’ But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Just like in Israel’s day, there WILL be times in ours when those who do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", doubt, faith, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 115:2-3, questions, where is their god?
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“Paradise”: The House Showing
Following my resignation at First Baptist, Moss Bluff, last Sunday, our house went on the market this week. We will not be able to live at 954 Mission Lane with me being unable to work full-time (or at all, presently) … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
Tagged cats, family, God's purpose for the family, moving, pastor, POTS, refining furnace, selling home
4 Comments
Letter To My Church Family (2-03-13)
We are fast approaching one year since I first went home sick from prayer meeting on a Wednesday night with what came be to diagnosed as dysautonomia, or POTS. We have employed a wide array of medications and exercises, and … Continue reading
Not The Easiest Route
In Exodus 13:17 it says that when the people of Israel came out of Egypt, “God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near …”. God does not always take … Continue reading
Redeemed
Just before the Exodus of His people from Egypt, God commanded in Exodus 13 that when they came to the land of promise, they were to devote every first born thing to the Lord as a sacrifice. There was one … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 13:15, firstborn, gratitude, redeemed, salvation
1 Comment
Forget None of His Benefits
Psalm 103:2 says: “forget none of His benefits.” Forgetting is one of our biggest spiritual problems. Israel was constantly cited for forgetting God, forgetting His blessings, etc. We do the same thing, of course.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgetting, God's benefits, Psalm 103:2, remembering
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What to Pray
Instead of praying the same things over and over for those we care about, it is good for us to use scripture to guide our intercessions. I Timothy 4:12 is one of those verses we can use profitably in our … Continue reading
Your Spiritual Diet
Many of us make resolutions about our physical diet as a new year begins, but what about your spiritual diet? I Timothy 4:6-7 contains quite a contrast: :6 adjures us to be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith … Continue reading
New Year Disciplines
I Timothy 4:7-8 says: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged I Timothy 4:7, New Year, spiritual disciplines
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