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
- “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 Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "It's What's Inside That Counts" (Matthew 5:8 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
“Learning Obedience” Psalm 119:57-64
George MacDonald was a Scottish poet and theologian who lived and wrote in the 1800’s. His poignant writings were a great influence on J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and many others. MacDonald wrote the following on the importance of obedience: “Simply … Continue reading
“Our Holy God” (Isaiah 6:1-5 sermon)
In Here I Stand, Roland Bainton’s biography of Martin Luther, he tells of how Luther, as a young monk, was to lead in his first Communion. Luther was terrified. He said: “At these words I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken. … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
3 Comments
Sermon Review: “A View of God’s Glory”, by Charles Spurgeon
“And he said, ‘I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.’” Exodus 33:18 Known as “The Prince of Preachers”, and deservedly so, yet even Charles Spurgeon exhausts his vocabulary attempting to convey an adequate picture of the glory of God. At one … Continue reading
“Some Marks of a Biblical Ministry”
Mark Chapters 1-2 “Some Marks of a Biblical Ministry” One of the things that should differentiate a Christian church from other kinds of groups and religious organizations is that it should be marked by a ministry that is Biblical. As Christians, … Continue reading
“Our Sovereign God”
Psalm 103:19 “Our Sovereign God” Centuries ago, King Canute was one of the most powerful kings of England ever – but he also knew his limits. Canute reigned over what is now England, Denmark, and much of Europe, and as … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", A.W. Tozer, II Peter 3:9, J.I. Packer, Luke 7:30, Psalm 103:19, sovereignty vs. free will
3 Comments
“Trusting the Potter’s Hands”
Genesis 2:7-8 Trusting the Potter’s Hands Sometimes we hear people speak of someone as being a “self-made man.” I know what they mean when they say that: that the person they are talking about did not begin life with … Continue reading
“Our Triune God”
Matthew 3:16-17 “Our Triune God” Some years ago, my sister served as an English teacher in a Chinese college with our SBC Journeyman program. She could not initiate any “evangelism” per se, but she was allowed to respond to any … Continue reading
A Reprehensible Scam
I was really looking forward to my Friday off: after a pretty hectic start to the new year, I had a stress-free day with nothing planned! Unfortunately someone marred the middle of it with a really despicable act.
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged accident, church, highway patrol, pastor, scam, spiritual warfare, test
8 Comments
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Our Great God” Series Introduction
Years ago, in his book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer wrote: “What you think about when you think about God is the most important thing about you.” What DO you think about when you think about God? … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
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Day Trip To Natchitoches
Our family has lived in Lake Charles for over 11 years now, but we had never spent much time in one of Louisiana’s premier destinations, the venerable Natchitoches, which lays claim to being the oldest city in the state. Oh, … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Reviews, Uncategorized
Tagged day trip, Front Street shops, Lasyone's, meat pies, Natchitoches, Sam's used bookstore
2 Comments
shawnethomas 