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 Romans 1:13-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "True Power," for 9/06/26
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Ruth 3:8-13, 4:13-17, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Redemption," for 8/30/26.
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "Finishing Well" (Psalm 92:12-15 message)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 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
Darkest Before Dawn
In Exodus 7:3 God told Moses: “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.” This verse tells us that there are at least some occasions when God allows … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged darkest before dawn, Exodus 7:3, God's glory, situation gets worse
2 Comments
Christmas in “Paradise”
One day this Christmas season, I was supervising Michael while he put the silver garland around our tree. He exclaimed, as he came across a previously undiscovered and unopened box of tinsel as well. I hollered into the kitchen, where … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
Tagged Adeste Fidelis, cat at Christmas, Christmas candy, Christmas Eve family celebration, Christmas Eve services, Christmas foods, Christmas in Paradise, Christmas traditions, family, family gingerbread house competition, games, Handel's Messiah, Latin, pastor's home Christmas traditions, walks
2 Comments
Where Is Your Glory?
In Mark13:1, as Jesus came out of the Temple, one of His disciples said to Him: “What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings”. But Jesus answered him in :2, “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone will … Continue reading
The Business of Heaven
Psalm 84:4 says: “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You.” — Here we see that Psalmist’s envy of those who get to take care of the temple of God. He imagines how blessed … Continue reading
Erring in Heart
God said of ancient Israel in Psalm 95:10 “They are a people who err in their heart”. It is one thing to err in your mind. It is quite another to err in your heart.
A Worrier’s Mantra
Psalm 94:19 is a word for the worriers among us: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” Many of us can identify with the Psalmist, who said that his anxious thoughts “multiplied” within him. Isn’t … Continue reading
No Minor Flaw
I Timothy 3:6 gives an important warning to all us when it speaks to one of the qualifications for pastor. Verse 6 says he is to be “not a new convert.” Many people would nod their heads in agreement with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged flattery, I Timothy 3:6, overseer, pride, qualifications
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