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 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 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 Gospel in a Nutshell
“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians … Continue reading
“The Way of Pain”
“See if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:24) “Hurtful way” here is literally, “way of pain.” Our sinful, or ungodly ways, are “hurtful”, “painful” to ourselves and to others. They … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, anxiety, business, cost of sin, ethics, hurtful way, pain, Psalm 139:24, sin, the way of pain, theology, trust, way of pain
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Only Remember The Poor
“They only asked us to remember the poor — the very thing I also was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:10) This statement is so significant. When Paul appeared before Peter, James, and John in Jerusalem and presented his gospel to … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
“Happy Reformation Day”: The 5 “Solas”
There are some days on the calendar that everyone knows are important. January 1st is New Year’s Day. December 25th everyone knows is Christmas. (December 8-10 everyone here better know is our “ELF” production, right?!) And of course this Tuesday, … Continue reading
No “Second Class Christians”
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) Contrary to the claims of some, this verse does NOT mean … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged economic status, Ephesians 5, Galatians 3:28, gender, gender roles, I Timothy 3, marriage, race
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Shut Up By The Scriptures
“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22) Paul teaches us here that one of the purposes of scripture is to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged conviction, Galatians 3:22, Golden Rule, Holy Spirit, love your neighbor, Romans 11:32, salvation, scriptures, shut up
1 Comment
Perfected In The Flesh?
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) Writing to the legalistic Galatians, Paul was reminding them that they were not saved by works of “the flesh” — good … Continue reading
Jesus Christ Crucified
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” (Galatians 3:1) In his rebuke to the Galatians, Paul references the central theme of the Gospel that he had shared with them, which … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christ crucified, cross, evangelism, Galatians 3:1, witness
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God’s Understanding Towards Us
Psalm 103 is well-loved for its opening words “bless the Lord, O my soul,” and is a great Psalm of praise to God for His blessings towards us. Among the emphases of the Psalm is the blessing of God’s UNDERSTANDING … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged bless the Lord, empathy, fairness, God, God's patience, God’s grace, God’s sympathy, grace, Hebrews 4:15, judgment, patience, praise, Psalm 103, sympathy, theology, understanding
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