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 24:36-51, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Alert" for May 10, 2026
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
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
Rule Thyself
This verse caught my attention, since I have not always been my same “sweet-natured self” since I have been dealing with POTS in recent days. Proverbs 16:32 says: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged anger, Proverbs 16:32, self-control, temper
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I Didn’t Roll “Snake Eyes”!
Proverbs 16:33 concludes: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This Proverb isn’t just about “dice”. It is really about two very different, very competing world views: do things in our world happen … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dice, dysautonomia/POTS, lot, luck, Proverbs 16:33, providence, snake eyes, theocentric worldview, trust
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A Measure of Your Devotions
Proverbs 16:20 “He who gives attention to the word shall find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” This verse challenges us in several ways regarding our daily devotional time in God’s word: — First of all, … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” August 20
Many naive church members consider the pastor’s home to be a “paradise” on earth. We prove otherwise every week! 🙂 Pop Goes The Weasel! When Libby and Josh came home for the weekend, they were entertained byhow Eponine, our baby … Continue reading
“What James’ Faith Looked Like” (James 1:1)
David Boudia just won the gold medal in the 10 meter diving competition in the London Olympics. In 2008 he also participated in the Olympics, and afterwards he went to college at Purdue. He immediately immersed himself in the … Continue reading
Sing and Don’t Be Silent!
As many of us head off to our church worship services today, we would do well to remember the way that Psalm 30 ends: “That my soul may sing praise to Thee and not be silent. O Lord my God, I … Continue reading
The Meaning of Forgiveness
David Boudia almost did not make it to the Olympic finals. He had a poor preliminary round in the 10 meter diving competition, and just barely qualified to go to the final round. But fortunately, under the Olympic diving rules, … Continue reading
The Blessing of Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1 opens: “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” The world has an entirely different idea of what it means to be blessed. They would put it (whether stated or not) “How blessed is the RICH … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, Charles Spurgeon, forgiveness, Psalm 32:1, the blessed life
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When The Moral Compass Is Broken
Genesis 34 is an ugly chapter in the history of the Patriarchs. In it, Shechem, a young Canaanite, takes Jacob’s daughter Dinah and “lay with her by force.” Dinah’s brothers then deceive Shechem and his whole town, telling them that they will consent … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged consequences, Genesis 34, justification, morality, remorse, repentance, sin
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