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)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
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
On Ministering While Being Homebound
I have not driven my car in 4 weeks. I have not been to my office at church in that same 4 weeks. Other than doctors’ appointments and my daughter’s graduation, I have not been “out” much in 4 weeks. I … Continue reading
Posted in Ministry
Tagged blogging ministry, homebound, II Corinthians 10:3-4, intercession, ministry from home
6 Comments
On the Reading of Classic Sermons
One of the most enjoyable and profitable activities I can recommend is the reading of older sermons – especially classic sermons by pastors from previous generations. Following are several reasons for it, and then a listing of a few of … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Ministry
Tagged J.I. Packer, market day of the soul, reading older sermons
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“This Week in Paradise” (Version 1.3)
This marks my third week sick at home, and not coincidentally my third “inside look” at life in the pastor’s home, believed by many in the general public to be “Paradise”. Math Much of the goings on in “Paradise” have to … Continue reading
Faith in the Face of Death (John Chrysostom sermon review)
While admittedly not sporting the kind of title we would find attached to many sermons today (“Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends”!) this message by John Chrysostom is a real gem. The text of his message is I Thessalonians 4:13, where … Continue reading
It’s NOT the Economy, Stupid!
Dwight McKissic is a black Southern Baptist pastor in Arlington, Texas, and I applaud his boldness and courage in speaking out against the first black President of the United States– who now also carries the sad distinction of being the first … Continue reading
Bonhoeffer on Some “Different” Church Ministries
If you’ve had trouble finding your ministry in the church, what about “The Ministry of Holding Your Tongue”?! In Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together, he lists some “ministries” in the church body that you may not have considered. Due to my current … Continue reading
“Most of them” are WRONG! (Mark 9:26)
“Most of them said, ‘He is dead.’” Only, he wasn’t! This came from my Bible reading today in Mark 9, when Jesus cast the demon out of the man’s son. It says after the demon went out that “the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fallacy of majority rule, Mark 9:26 devotion
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Overheard at Graduation
Walking through the buffet line at Ryans before our daughter Libby & our daughter-in-law Ashley’s graduation, I overheard the woman behind me speaking to her son: “Son stop touching the food … hey, get your face out of that salad … Continue reading
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
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