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.
-
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 9:30-10:17 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Believe" for October 25, 2026.
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "America's Verse" -- "Judge Not" (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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 Righteous Will Live By His Faith
Habakkuk 2:1-4 “The Righteous Will Live By His Faith” 7-31-11 a.m. In the early 1500’s, young Martin Luther had felt the burden and weight of his sin before a God whom he knew was holy; he knew that he … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged faith, Habakkuk 2:4, Martin Luther, perseverance, salvation by faith, Sola Fide
Leave a comment
Notes on Repentance and Forgiveness from Psalm 51
Psalm 51 “Notes on Repentance & Forgiveness” Sun PM 7-31-11 Over the past months, we have spoken often of the crisis that our nation is facing, and the need for us to turn to the Lord in a fresh way. … Continue reading
Samuel Rutherford’s Five Lessons From the Furnace
In 1636 Samuel Rutherford, pastor of the Scottish church of Anwoth, was removed from his pulpit during a time of religious persecution. Sent into exile into Aberdeen, Rutherford, at first despondent, found grace that gave him a seldom-equaled walk with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, History, Reviews
Tagged furnace, Samuel Rutherford, spiritual growth, temptations, trials
2 Comments
“The Root of All Evil”
Habakkuk 2:4a “The Root of All Evil” July 24, 2011 There is a verse of scripture that is often misquoted; virtually everyone here has heard it: “Money is the root of all evil.” But I Timothy 6:10 actually does NOT say “money … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged Habakkuk sermon, Job 38, Paradise Lost, pride, pride and salvation, pride in church, root of all evil, sin of pride
9 Comments
Am I An Old Dog?
You know the old saying: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Sometimes I wonder if I’m becoming an “old dog” and don’t know it. I don’t “feel” old (usually!). In fact, a few weeks back, Cheryl & I … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
2 Comments
The Great Mouse Hunt
One of our church members began a Facebook post today with the words: “There is a mouse in my house …”. I wrote that I thought that sentence would make a good opening for a children’s book! It also reminded me of … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
Leave a comment
The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days
Habakkuk 2:1-3 “The Word that Sustains in Difficult days” July 17, 2011 In the midst of the Branch Davidian crisis a few years back, when David Koresh’s compound outside of Waco, Texas, was stormed by Federal officers, there was a somewhat humorous … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Sermons
Tagged Bible Reading, Habakkuk 2:1-3, Habakkuk sermon
Leave a comment
Our Triune God
Ephesians 2:18 Our Triune God Sun. p.m. July 10, 2011 Several weeks ago, in my report from the SBC, I mentioned how one of the speakers talked about the importance of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and yet how … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Leave a comment
“The God Who Reigns In Evil Days”
Habakkuk 1:12-13 “The God Who Reigns In Evil Days” Years ago I knew someone who had lost a loved one in a tragedy. Friends of theirs wondered that they kept their faith in God. One of them said, “How do you … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Leave a comment
