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)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "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
He IS The Resurrection!
“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) These words of Jesus are … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged eternal life, eternal security, faith, John 11:25-26, salvation
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Even Now!
“Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give You.” (John 11:22) The situation Martha faced with Lazarus was as bad as it gets, humanly speaking. Her brother was dead. Who could do anything about that? … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged crises, faith, John 11:22, prayer
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“With Him”
“Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.’” (John 11:16) Thomas’ words here were very courageous. They also remind us of the heart of discipleship, and … Continue reading
“Doubting Thomas”?
“Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.’” (John 11:16) The disciple Thomas is almost universally known for one thing: not believing, without having seen, that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged apostle Thomas, commitment, courage, disciple Thomas, doubt, doubting Thomas, faith, John 11:16, labeling people, reputation, Thomas
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“The Mary Who Anointed The Lord”
“It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.” (John 11:2) What is it that are you known for? Sometimes we are known by others for being … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged commitment, discipleship, John 1:12, Matthew 26:6-13, worship
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“Reaching, Teaching, Caring: Following the Footsteps of Jesus” (Matthew 4:23 sermon)
The yellow footprints you see are scattered all over our Marine Corps Recruit Depots in San Diego and in Parris Island. In the early stages of a Marine recruit’s time at the training base, these footprints show the young Recruits … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged "reaching, caring, Church ministry, CT Stuff, discipleship, evangelism, Jesus example, Matthew 4:23 sermon, ministry, ministry model, mission statement, Only one life, Reaching Teaching Caring, Sunday School, teaching, vision statement, worship
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A Model of Intercession
“So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’” (John 11:3) The words of Mary & Martha to Jesus in 11:3 are not merely the record of a message between friends; but they … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged intercession, John 11:3, prayer, prayer requests
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Sickness For The Glory Of God?
“This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (John 11:4) The Bible repeatedly teaches us that God is to be glorified in everything … Continue reading
The One Jesus Loves
“So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” (John 11:3) What an amazing little sentence the sisters’ call for help was: “Behold, he whom You love is sick.” One of the striking … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Galatians 2:20, God's love, he whom You love, Jesus, Jesus' love, John 11:3, John 3:16, Lazarus, love, the one Jesus loves
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