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 12:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Sacrifice," for Nov. 8, 2026.
- Romans 13:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Represent," for Nov. 15, 2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Romans 11:11-24 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Kindness," for November 1, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- “Little By Little” (Deuteronomy 7:22 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
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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Out of Her Poverty
In Mark 12:44 Jesus said the poor widow gave “out of her poverty”. This is surely a landmark teaching, for if Jesus had not spoken this, we might all still believe that those who gave the largest amounts were the … Continue reading
Religion or Love?
I am often apologized to by spouses of people who are suffering from an illness, and who have not been to church for some time because they have been caring for their husband or wife. I always assure them that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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An Ugly Picture
Proverbs 19:24 gives us a grotesque picture: “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, but will not even bring it back to his mouth.” It is a disgusting thought indeed — but it may hit closer to home than … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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Let Him Bear The Penalty (Tough Love)
There is a lesson in Proverbs 19:19 which can be hard to apply. It says: “A man of great anger will bear the penalty; for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.” This passage is … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 24
Big news in “Paradise” this week, with the much-anticipated announcement that pretty much overshadowed everything else: our first grandchild is on the way! (I’ll still give you everything else anyway. Well, almost everything! 😉 So That’s News? Monday I was … Continue reading
Does Praise Look Good On You?
Someone has said that a good interpretation of Psalm 33:2 might be: “praise ‘looks good’ on the upright.” The righteous are commanded to praise God, and it is fitting and comely when they do. But we may also infer a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged hypocrisy, praise, praise looks good on you, Psalm 33:2, worship
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