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
- Romans 8:14-27 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, "Indwelt," for October 18, 2026
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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 Unseen Battle”
With three of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church’s adult members on mission in three different nations the next couple of weeks, our members need to realize the important responsibility we have to support our colleagues in prayer. In the biography, Hudson … Continue reading
Distractions From Devotions
Our church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, North Carolina, is sending three adult members out to different mission fields this weekend: one to Wales, one to Haiti, and one to Romania. I sent them this quote from China Inland Mission … Continue reading
“Show Us The Father”?
“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’” (John 14:8) If Jesus had responded to this request with a note of frustration in His voice, it would have been understandable:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Colossians 2:9, Deity of Christ, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 14:8, theology
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It’s All About Jesus
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (John 14:6) This isn’t “just” a verse about Jesus being the only way to heaven — although … Continue reading
Being With Him
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) No wonder these words are among the most beloved in scripture. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, fellowship, heaven, John 1:43, Mark 3:14
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The Purpose of Prophecy
“From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when does occur, you may believe that I am He.” (John 13:19) This is true not only regarding Jesus’s impending death and resurrection, but of ALL … Continue reading
“Getting To Heaven May Be Harder Than You Think” (Matthew 5:20-48 sermon)
I want to begin by congratulating Dewey Phipps, Josh Peterson, and Anthony Burdick for completing the Bear Run last week. If you aren’t familiar with that, it is a 5-mile run ALL UPHILL on Grandfather Mountain. I can’t imagine how … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, David Thomas, Devil's Island, divorce, Gethsemane, Hebrews 12:29, holiness, Jesus, Jesus only way, Mark Dever, Matthew 5:20-48 sermon, murder, On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand, poverty in spirit, righteousness, Romans 3:23, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, Ten Commandments, wrath of God
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Knowing Vs. Doing
Although it is a relatively unknown verse, John 13:17 should actually be one of the most important in the whole Bible, because it really all comes down to this: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged application, discipleship, doing, James 2:19-20, John 13:17, knowing, salvation
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Serving Each Other “In His Steps”
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14) Jesus is infinitely above us in rank. Therefore, if He condescends to do something for us lowly human beings, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, example, humility, in His steps, John 13:14, service
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Lead By Example
“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” (John 13:15) Here Jesus gave His disciples — and all us reading His word today — one of the most important lessons about leadership: … Continue reading
