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)
- Teacher's Overview of Ruth 3:8-13, 4:13-17, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Redemption," for 8/30/26.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "Finishing Well" (Psalm 92:12-15 message)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 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
Is He Finding Fruit?
Jesus’ visit to the Temple in Mark 11 was followed by His cursing of a fig tree outside of town in :12-14. But the two episodes are not unrelated. He looked at the fig tree to see if He could discover any … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fig tree, fruit, Israel, judgment, Mark 11:12-14, Temple
1 Comment
Wisdom in Trials (James 1:5)
Sometimes when a pastor preaches verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible, he comes to a passage which he is not sure will apply to anyone in the congregation that day. I can assure you that the verse we are studying this … Continue reading
Posted in Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
Tagged Cheryl thomas testimony, definition of wisdom, friends, Genesis 25:22, Henry Blackaby, James 1:5 sermon, James sermons, Job 28, Psalm 147:3, Rebekah, seeking wisdom, Shawn Thomas seminary testimony, trials, wisdom, wisdom deficit, wisdom in trials, wise counsel
4 Comments
Jesus is Looking All Around!
A little phrase in Mark 11:11 is a curious one, and one which I had I never really pondered before. After Jesus came to Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry, it says He came to the temple, “and after looking all … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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An Ounce of Prevention
It is easy to miss the timing involved in Proverbs 17:14, where it says “abandon the quarrel BEFORE it breaks out”. “BEFORE” — THAT is the time to stop a quarrel. Not “shortly after”, and certainly not “after it has … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged avoiding controversy, discretion, foresight, ounce of prevention, peacemaking, Proverbs 17:14, quarrel, words
1 Comment
Love in a Besieged City
In Psalm 31, David was in the midst of some pretty bad days, but surrounded by trouble, he could write in :21, “Blessed be the Lord, for He has wondrously shown His steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, God's love, love in a besieged city, lovingkindness, Psalm 31:21
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A POTS Analogy: My Life in Miniature
Some moments in time can serve as a picture of your life in miniature, as a kind of analogy. Today (Thursday, August 30th 2012) was one of those days. Like most other residents of Louisiana, we spent yesterday at home, … Continue reading
The God Who Sees
Psalm 33:13 says: “He sees ALL the sons of men.” That is a pretty inclusive statement! There is no one who flies “under His radar”. God sees us all. This is true for better and for worse:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Genesis 16:13, Hagar, Isaiah 40:27, Jehovah Roi, Psalm 139, Psalm 33:13, The God Who sees, Yahweh Roi
1 Comment
Our Limited Plans
Psalm 33:7-8 speaks of how it is God who gathers the waters in a heap, before whom all the peoples should stand in awe. That same Psalm then immediately goes on to point out the limited nature of the plans … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged future, Hurricane Isaac, plans, Presumption, Psalm 33:10, Psalm 33:12, trust
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What God Tests
A race tests your speed. Weight lifting tests your strength. Achievement exams test your mind. Elections test your popularity. But none of these things is what God tests.
shawnethomas 