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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "America's Verse" -- "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "Finishing Well" (Psalm 92:12-15 message)
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
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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The Duty of a Man
A few days ago, as I read about how Jacob had sent his wives and children and all he had across the Jabbok to meet Esau, I had a lingering question in my mind. I knew that Jacob was being “left alone” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Home & Family Life
Tagged duty of a man, family, father, Genesis 33:3, husband, Jacob, lead, protect
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“Seek My FACE”
In Psalm 27:8, God commands David: “Seek My face.” What does it mean to seek God’s face? We get a hint earlier in the Psalm, where in verse 4 David says that the one thing he desires more than anything … Continue reading
This Week in “Paradise” July 30
Pow … Bam … Zap! I omitted a story from last week’s “Paradise” that Cheryl thought was too good to pass over. It comes from my last doctor’s appointment. I have had some random, but pretty sharp pains in my … Continue reading
Psalm 3:3 “Thou, O Lord” Part II: “My Glory”
One of my favorite stories from the Civil War happened in a battle when a New York regiment was coming under heavy fire from the Confederate line. The colonel of an adjoining regiment came over to tell the leader of … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, POTS (dysautonomia) articles, Sermons
Tagged "More Love To Thee", "Thou O Lord", Charles Spurgeon, Elizabeth Payson Prentiss, encore, Exodus 33:18, Genesis 15:1, glory, Isaiah 60:19, kabod, let it wave high, Matthew 4:8-9, my glory, POTS/dysautonomia, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 3:3 sermon, Psalm 7:5, the dearest idol I have known, The Glorious Habitation, trophy wife, William Cowper
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Left Alone With God
Genesis 32:24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone.” Verse 23 says that he had just sent his wives and children and flocks and everything else that he had, across the Jabbok River into the Promised Land, where he was awaiting … Continue reading
Mind or Mouth?
In reading Proverbs 15:14 I noticed a most interesting parallel. If you are familiar with Proverbs, you know that most of the book is composed of verses of wisdom which are presented in the form of parallelism: comparing or contrasting … Continue reading
