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 Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "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
A Most Memorial Day
My Memorial Day did not unfold exactly the way I had envisioned it a week or so ago, but in the end it was the most poignant, and memorable, I have ever experienced …
Posted in Current Events, Ministry
5 Comments
Libby: What’s In A Name
When our kids tease each other about which one is the best, or best-loved, our daughter Libby will often play her trump card: she lays proud claim to being the only one of our children I specifically prayed and asked … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
Go ‘Cats!
(NOTE: recent events — February 2013 — have caused me to rescind my endorsement of the Presidency of Joe Aguillard. I still love Louisiana College, however, and pray that Louisiana Baptists will “right the ship” and make the College once … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Not So Among You
Tonight I saw some footage of the crowds at various venues in America Sunday evening, celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden. As I watched the videos, my brow furrowed, and I began to have the feeling that I had … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events
1 Comment
Power Outage!
I actually prayed for rain yesterday – really I did! It has been SO dry; our grass is just sitting there dying, and with a plethora of wedding bills, there is no way we are going to water the lawn … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Uncategorized
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“Paradise Lost”
Why did we need a Good Friday anyway? For what reason did Jesus undergo all that we celebrate this (Easter) weekend? Scripture of course gives us all the facts, but John Milton’s Paradise Lost attempts to “fill in some of … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Uncategorized
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29 Days and Counting!
It is really cute to watch: our daughter Libby counting down the days until she is married. Libby actually lives two hours from here, in Pineville, where she attends Louisiana (Baptist) College – but I get to keep up with her … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life
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“Memoirs of Robert E. Lee”
Everyone who has had a task they have put off feels a great sense of satisfaction when that long-neglected duty is finished. Completing a book which you have had on your shelf, and which you have always intended to read, … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Reviews
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“Seussical: The Musical”
Since “A Person’s A Person No Matter How Small” has been echoing in my mind all day, I think perhaps it was meant for me to do a review of the musical that planted that song in my thoughts last … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
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“Bless Those Who Curse You”
I’ll let this Union soldier who met Robert E. Lee in the worst of circumstances tell his own story of how Lee lived out Luke 6:28 . I think any further commentary from me might be considered to be vainly superfluous …
Posted in Discipleship, History
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