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)
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
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
It Will End Better
Headlines in Oklahoma today shared the bad news: Whitney Hand, starting guard for the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball team, had torn her left ACL during the game against North Texas the night before. Whitney had previously worked hard to … Continue reading
The Last Word
In Psalm 89 the author feels cast off and rejected by God (:38) as well as reproached by men (:41). He asks God in :49, “Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord?” He feels totally deserted. And yet with all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessed be the Lord, commitment, faith, Job, Psalm 89:52, trials
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Working With Delight
Proverbs 31:13 says that the excellent wife “works with her hands IN DELIGHT”. This is one of the many qualities in that chapter which apply to more than just a virtuous woman. Each of us — male or female — … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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Family Christmas Newsletter 2012
— One weekend in September while Libby and Josh came home for her birthday, she gave US perhaps the biggest present of the year: they are expecting our first grandchild in May! Josh is finishing his ministry degree at Louisiana … Continue reading
A Prayer For Us Double-Minded
Psalm 86:11 contains a great prayer for the many of us who would cry, “I believe, help my unbelief”: “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” The truth is that for many of us, our best moments notwithstanding, our hearts … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged double-minded, fear of men, prayer, Psalm 86:11, trust God, unite my heart
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POTS Update Nov/Dec 2012
It has been some time since I last gave an update on my bout with POTS, and for good reason: for the past couple of months, I have been so sick that I was unable to type an article at … Continue reading
Well Done, Bro. Ray!
(This commendation for our Administrative Pastor, Ray Swift, was read by my son Michael at the conclusion of our worship services on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, on the occasion of Ray’s final Sunday at FBC Moss Bluff) Proverbs 20:6 says … Continue reading
Well Done, Bro. Ray!
(This commendation for our Administrative Pastor, Ray Swift, was read by my son Michael at the conclusion of our worship services on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, on the occasion of Ray’s final Sunday at FBC Moss Bluff) Proverbs 20:6 says … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Oct. 1
This week in the earthly “paradise” otherwise known as the pastor’s home, I threw … Caution to the Wind Monday night I was standing at the kitchen counter, halving some of my prescription pills with the pill splitter, and placing … Continue reading
“What Real Faith Looks Like: The Blame Game” (James 1:13-16)
I have noticed that during this election season there have been a lot of references to former President Ronald Reagan. Many are wishing for a candidate like him, and for a return to his kind of conservative vision. I remember … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged A.T. Robertson, accepting responsibility, Adam, apeirastos, bait, blaming others, born this way, C.S. Lewis, Calvinism, enticed, evading responsibility, free will, Genesis 3:12, God author of sin, holiness of God, homosexuality, I have sinned against The Lord, II Samuel 12:13, James 1:13-16 sermon, John 6:6, King David, Landry Jones, lure, lust, origin of evil, peirazo, personal responsibility, Proverbs 17:3, Satan, sin nature, tempter, The Blame Game, theological gymnastics, trials vs. temptations, Westminster Confession
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