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)
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "America's Verse" -- "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 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)
- "Ambassadors For Christ" (II Corinthians 5:20 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
“The Real Thing: Love Triumphant”
I Corinthians 13:7-8 Archeologists in Italy have unearthed what some are calling the ultimate picture of love: an ancient farmer and his wife who were buried together, holding hands. The wife’s head is turned, as if looking upon her husband. … Continue reading
“A Christmas Carol”
“The movie was not as good as the book” is a cliché for a reason: they rarely ever are! I have enjoyed several versions of “A Christmas Carol” in movie form, but none of them can capture the vivid descriptions, … Continue reading
The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” So A.W. Tozer opens his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy. Tozer, who pastored in the middle of the 20th century, spoke prophetically … Continue reading
The “Thanksgiving Gift”
It is not that unusual for a tale to become twisted in its transmission, often to someone’s detriment – but the slightly misunderstood story of “the Thanksgiving Gift” may just end up being to the benefit of all!
“The Real Thing: The Purity of Love”
I Corinthians 13:6 A few weeks ago as we talked about the definition of love, we referred to C.S. Lewis’ quote, that “Divine Gift-love … desires what is simply best for the beloved.” But what IS best for the … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged agape love, I Corinthians 13:6, love has boundaries, love is pure, sermon on love
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“The Real Thing: Love Does Not Hold A Grudge”
I Corinthians 13:5b A generation ago in Communist Romania, a pastor was beaten almost to death, and was then thrown into prison. A fellow prisoner, also a Christian, slowly made his way over to him and, knowing how bitterness … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged "little red book", bitterness, C.S. Lewis, Florence Harding, forgiveness, I Corinthians 13:5 sermon, love
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An Odyssey in Homer
I just finished reading Homer’s The Odyssey for the first time! It was “fun” – for want of a better word – to read first-hand about the Cyclops; those twin pillars of doom named Scylla & Charybdis; and the exploits … Continue reading
What Love Does NOT
I Corinthians 13:5 Have you ever taken a look in the mirror and exclaimed, “Oh, my! I didn’t think I looked that bad!”? Sometimes we feel like we look one way – when the truth is far different. And as … Continue reading
The Real Thing: Love is Kind
I Corinthians 13:4 Several years ago, in the weeks leading up to Valentines Day, 2nd graders in the Lake Charles area were asked, “What is love?” One wrote: “Love is when you are in love. When you are in it, somebody … Continue reading
God’s Help In Wicked Days
Psalm 94 The other day, Michael said, “Dad, Sunday morning is kind of your ‘main sermon’, isn’t it?” I said, “Yeah, it really is; I think it is the most important thing I do each week.” He said, “So … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
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