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 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 19:16-30, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Eternal Life" for 4/12/26
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 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
“Herald of His Advent” (Micah 5:2 sermon)
When Mark Twain visited the Holy Land in the 1860’s, he did not find Bethlehem to be very impressive. In fact, he wrote later of its “mouldy domes and turrets” and disparaged its “noisy mob” and “leprous beggars.” He said … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Bethlehem, Bethlehem birthplace of Christ, Christmas sermon, daily Bible reading, God keeps promises, Hebrews 2:17, Jesus Deity, Jesus humanity, Jesus I AM, Jesus peace, Jesus ruler, Jesus shepherd, Jesus sovereignty, Mark Twain Bethlehem visit, Micah 5:2-5 sermon, Phillips Brooks O Little Town of Bethlehem, prophecy of Jesus birth, return of Christ, Triune God
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“In The Word 2022” (Ezra 7:10 message)
A few years ago they came out with an interesting list, of the books that people most frequently lie about reading, in order to appear well-read! The top four were George Orwell’s 1984, (42%), Tolstoy’s War and Peace (31%), James … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged apply scripture, beat a path to the word of God, Bible, Bible life change, Bible Reading, Bible reading plan, Bill Tolar testimony, books people lie about reading, Christian commitments, commitment to God's word, daily Bible reading, daily devotions, darash, doing the word, Ezra, Ezra 7:10, fellowship, God speaks to YOU, Hudson Taylor testimony, In The Word 2022, Luke 6:46, practice God's word, quiet time, salvation commitment, sharing, social media, teach God's word, teach the Bible, testimonies, time place procedure, waste, wasted time, word of God
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“Confidence On That Day” (II Timothy 1:12 sermon)
Author Dane Ortlund wrote: “When my two-year-old Benjamin begins to wade into the gentle slope of the zero-entry swimming pool near our home, he instinctively grabs hold of my hand. He holds on tight as the water gradually gets deeper. … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged assurance, assurance in death, Colonel Edmund Starling, confidence in death, confidence in God., Confidence in Harry Truman, daily Bible reading, Dane Ortlund, David McCullough, eternal life, every eye shall see Him, every eye will see Him, facing death, faith, Harry Truman, heavenly 401k, I know whom I have believed, I Peter 2:2, II Thessalonians 1:7-10, II Timothy 1:12 sermon, John 10:27-28, John 8:31, John F. Kennedy funeral media coverage, knowing God, Matthew 7:22, on that day, paratheke, peace in death, return of Christ, Revelation 1:7, Robert Caro, safe investment, that day, trust, trusting God, Woodrow Wilson, Years of Lyndon Johnson
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“Those Who Are Rich” (I Timothy 6:17 sermon)
When our son David was little, we were teaching him and his brother Paul some of the “good old kids songs,” like, “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me!” And so one day we had them sing for the … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged "eternal 401k", America standard of living, Christian giving, Christianity and wealth, enjoy riches, eternal 401k in heaven, eternal investment, eternal life, Ezekiel 7:19, generosity, George H.W. Bush "have half", giving, gold, I Chronicles 29:14, I Corinthians 1:26, I Timothy 6:17 sermon, invest riches, Joe Biden rich 400000, Luke 16 Unrighteous Steward, Luke 8:3, Lyndon Johnson Robert Caro, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad Pompeii, money, ready to share, riches, riches in heaven, salvation, song B-I=B-L-E, stewardship, take hold of eternal llife, tithe, tithing, Washington Post Gautam Nair Americans rich, wealth, who are the rich
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“Justification by Faith” (Romans 1:17 sermon; Reformation Day 2021)
There are some days on the calendar that everyone knows are important: — December 25th everyone knows is … Christmas.— January 1st … New Year’s Day.— December 31st? Cheryl’s birthday! And today, October 31st, is a memorable date as well. … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, History, Sermons
Tagged 5 Solas, Acts 10 Cornelius, assurance of salvation, Bertrand Russell searching, Dwight Eisenhower and Billy Graham, eternal life, eternal security, faith, Habakkuk 2:4, heaven, In Christ Alone, John 17:3, justification by faith, life, Luke 10:25-28, Martin Luther, Martin Luther Reformation, Martin Luther Romans 1:17, Martin Luther testimony, October 31 Reformation Day, Reformation, Romans 1:17 sermon, Romans 5:1, salvation by faith, Santa Scala, Sola Fide
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The Lord’s Supper: The Sacrifice Remembered (Matthew 26:26-29 sermon)
One of the newer monuments in Washington D.C. is one commemorating our soldiers who fought and won the Second World War. Among other elements, the memorial contains panels with bronze engravings of scenes from the war: soldiers loading artillery pieces, … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons
Tagged Acts 3:19, Christian children rebel, communion, food choice, forgiveness, God compassion, God judge, hoi polloi, I John 2:2, I Timothy 2:6, Isaiah 53:12, James Dobson, judge paid for crime, Lord's Supper symbol, many, Matthew 26:26-29 sermon, personal response, polloi, Romans 10:13, salvation, World War II monument
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“The Lord Our Provider” (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
I’ll never forget the time, just after Cheryl & I had graduated from seminary; I only had a part-time job, and we didn’t have any prospects of finding a full-time church yet; we had just had our first child, and … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Angleton Christian School, building fund, Christian School provision, church building provision, condition of Philippians 4:19, First Baptist Church Angleton Texas, Genesis 22, George Muller orphanage proviision, givers, giving, God our provider, God's providence, good stewards, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor testimony, in Christ Jesus, investing in eternity, investing in the Kingdom, Jehovah Jireh, kingdom giving, Kingdom investing, Lottie Moon offering, missions, missions giving, needs vs. wants, pastor Shawn Thomas, Philippians 4 sermon, Philippians 4:19 sermon, provision, relationship with God, retirement savings, salvation, Shawn Thomas, stewardship, supply, tithe, tithe ten percent, tithing
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“Christian Contentment” (Philippians 4:10-14 sermon)
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Miserables, one of the early heroes in the story, whom the Lord uses to help turn around the life of the convict Jean Valjean, is Bishop Myriel. Unlike many churchmen in France at that time … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Bible Reading, Bishop Myriel, buy, C.S. Lewis contentment, C.S. Lewis letter Mary Shelburne, C.S. Lewis old folks home, Christ will be with you, Christian contentment, church health, circumstances, circumstances and happiness, contentment, contentment in circumstances, context of Philippians 4:13, dangers of contentment, evangelism, God's will vs. my will, holiness, I can do all things through Christ meaning, I'm satisfied with just a cottage, Jesus, Jesus and contentment, Jesus makes the difference, Les Miserables, Madison Avenue, Nick Saban satisfaction, NOT your best life now, Philippians 4:10-14, Philippians 4:13, Philippians sermon, prayer, prosperity gospel, retail therapy, Romania hospital, secret to contentment, shopper's high, spending, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester, Victor Hugo, walk with God, what Philippians 4:13 does NOT mean
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“Dealing With Worry” (Philippians 4:4-9 sermon)
In Amor Towles’ book, A Gentleman in Moscow, the central figure is a Russian count who has been exiled by the Soviet authorities to live within the confines of a single hotel; he cannot leave it at the risk of … Continue reading
“Standing Firm in Difficult Days” (Philippians 4:1-3)
So: this year we’ve had COVID, and a devastating winter storm, and now the eye of a hurricane pass right over us. Add to that all of the personal and family trials we’ve each had, and I know some of … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged be on the team, Christian fellowship, Christian service, Christian unity, church, church attendance, church divisions, COVID, COVID and church attendance, do not grow weary, Euodia and Syntyche, fellow workers, Galatians 6:9 do not grow weary, gifts, Jesus John 17 unity, ministry, Olympic rowing, perseverance, Philippians 4:1-3 sermon, service, stand firm, Standing Frim, storm, sunathelo, sunergoi, trials, unity in service, unity in worship, video services vs. in person, you can't get a hug on tv
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shawnethomas 