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)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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
When The Preacher Can’t Preach
Once again, I find myself uniquely qualified to write about this topic, because it doesn’t look like I am going to be preaching tomorrow morning. I have had a cold since Wednesday, went home from the office with it Thursday, … Continue reading
Posted in Ministry
4 Comments
The Secret of Contentment
I feel like I am particularly suited to write this post, among other reasons because I have been basically limited to my recliner for the past 48 hours with a cold and a bad sore throat! This morning I read … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
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A General’s Grace
Robert E. Lee was impressive in many different ways. General Wilcox, having met Lee for the very first time, wrote: “I was much impressed with his fine appearance, either on horse or on foot … the handsomest man in the army.” … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, History
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The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life
(There is a revised and expanded version of this message available here, preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 7-13-14) The other day, as I was getting out of my car, I saw that I had a can of Coke in the … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
48 Comments
Grandpa Is Smiling
A few days ago, someone gave us another king size bed – for which we were very grateful! – but it became an occasion for some re-arranging at our house. We ended up putting our old king-sized mattress in Michael’s garage bedroom – along … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
3 Comments
“Which Side Are You On?”
Although I haven’t heard the song since my college years, I can still “hear” the group enthusiastically singing the chorus: “Which side are you on, boys, which side are you on? Which side are you on, boys, which side are … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Doctrine/Theology
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The Meaning of the Earthquake
A week ago Friday, I had been sleeping in, since it was my day off, when Cheryl came in and said to me, “There has been an earthquake in Japan.” From the other room, I could hear the news, reporting … Continue reading
So Many Needs …
I had not intended to write a blog this evening, or about this evening, but I felt compelled to do so. Tonight at 6:30 we had the Missions Banquet at our church, First Baptist Moss Bluff. Matching our conference theme, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
3 Comments
“Your Best Life Later”
It’s not an assignment any of us would have wanted from God – but it’s the one He gave Hosea: “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry, for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
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What Do You Call It?
The other day, my wife Cheryl was going to meet some ladies at church to “scope out” some things for Libby & Josh’s upcoming wedding. She stopped by my office (and took my last cold Dr. Pepper!) and as she … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
shawnethomas 