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 Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
“The Gift of Justification”
:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives (literally “heart”)”. People are very good at justifying whatever they do. Take some of the worst things that are done in … Continue reading
Presuming in Prosperity
Psalm 30:6 says: “Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I will never be moved.’” David confesses here a previous sin in his life, which was an expression of the essence of human pride and presumption. During prosperous … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” Aug. 6
Comfort Food One day last week, Cheryl decided to take Michael to the Popeye’s, to comfort him as she told him that our church’s youth minister was going to be moving to Ohio. Michael is tender-hearted, and she felt that he needed … Continue reading
Reproof: A Hurt That Helps
Although most Proverbs seem to stand on their own as isolated wisdom lessons, Proverbs 15:31-33 seem to be related, all dealing with one’s response to “reproof”, or the personal correction which is offered to you by one who cares. No one likes to be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged antiseptic, honor, humility, hurt, Proverbs 15:31-33, reproof
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Psalm 3:3 “Thou O Lord” Part III: “The Lifter of My Head”
The recent shootings in Aurora, Colorado are reminiscent of a similar tragedy over a year ago in Tuscon, Arizona. Former Philadelphia Phillies baseball manager Dallas Green lost his granddaughter in that Tucson shooting rampage, and afterwards, in a media interview, Green was asked how he … Continue reading
The Heart of Worship
So many churches are looking for the “key” to a more vibrant worship service. What will get people singing and participating more effectively? They look for the solution in the choice of songs, or style of music, or the personality of … Continue reading
POTS Update August 2012 Recovery and Heat Intolerance
In the midst of regulating medications and working my way back to the office after my diagnosis of dysautonomia/POTS, I realized that it was probably time for an “official” update. Some of my friends have gotten “bits and pieces” of … Continue reading
A Basic Reminder
Proverbs 15:29 teaches a fundamental principle which, unfortunately, many people seem to have forgotten : “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” So many appear to think that God looks favorably upon their prayers, no matter … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged holiness of God, prayer, Proverbs 15:29, righteousness
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The “Problem” of Unanswered Prayer?
In Mark 10, James and John had made quite an ambitious request. Jesus responded to them in :38 and said: “You do not know what you are asking for.” James & John had asked to be seated on Christ’s left and … Continue reading
The Joy of an Apt Answer
Proverbs 15:23 “A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word.” There is delight in a “timely word” — both for the one receiving it, AND for the one who gives it. There is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged apt answer, discretion, Proverbs 15:23, timely word, wisdom
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