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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 24:36-51, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Alert" for May 10, 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
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
Why Do YOU Applaud?
After Louisiana College graduation this morning, my mom, who had driven down from Oklahoma to see our daughter Libby and our daughter-in-law Ashley graduate, asked: “Who was that man who so enthusiastically led the opening hymn at graduation?” … Continue reading
This Week In Paradise (2nd Edition)
Last week I gave you an intimate look at quirky life inside the pastor’s home. It seemed to be well received (who doesn’t like the inside scoop?), so I decided to write a “second edition” of ordinary events at the preacher’s … Continue reading
Thursday Hospital Funnies
Every cloud has its silver lining — or its funny moments! Thursday I had to go back to Memorial Hospital for some more tests. First was a fasting blood test, earlier in the morning, which consisted of two parts, separated … Continue reading
Why Then Am I This Way?
My Bible reading this morning from Genesis 25 was very applicable to my own personal situation, and I wonder if it might be to yours as well. The chapter says that after Isaac prayed for Rebekah, who had been … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Genesis 25:22, God's purpose, meaning of trials, Rebekah, seeking God
2 Comments
This Week In Paradise …
I know that some church members think that everything must be “perfect” at the pastor’s home (you know, just like his kids!) — that it is some kind of terrestrial paradise. Others, I am sure, wonder “what really happens inside the … Continue reading
Bonhoeffer on Your Daily Bible Reading
Last Thursday I shared some insights from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, for the National Day of Prayer. The same book contain several helps for our daily time in God’s word. In Life Together he uses the term “meditation,” but he is … Continue reading
Whate’er My God Ordains Is Right
The words of this old hymn are very pertinent for me right now – in a number of ways – and perhaps they may minister to you, too. Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708), the son of a Lutheran minister in Germany, wrote this … Continue reading
Bonhoeffer on Prayer
As today is the National Day of Prayer, I wanted to share some observations on prayer from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. The book focuses on the importance of fellowship in the church, but includes some helpful observations on the practice … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, Ministry, Reviews, Sermon Illustrations, Uncategorized
Tagged Dietrich Bonhoeffer, formal vs. spontaneous prayer, intercessory prayer plan, Life Together, morning prayer, prayer, prayer request organization, Psalms and prayer
Leave a comment
“Orotund or Obfuscation?” How many of these 20 Dickens words do YOU Know?!
At 1083 pages, it took me more than a just few days to read Peter Ackroyd’s epic-length biography, Dickens. Actually I would have completed it much more quickly had I not stopped to look up so many words! Some I just wanted … Continue reading
Fleeting Laughter, Lasting Pain
Most of us have been guilty at some point of poking fun at someone without thinking of the pain it might be inflicting on them. In Peter Ackroyd’s Dickens, he tells the story of John Coleman, who lived opposite the … Continue reading
shawnethomas 