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
- 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)
- 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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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.
- "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
Jesus Met Them
“And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:9 NASB) They were not even expecting it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were on their way … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible study, devotions, Matthew 28:9, meeting Jesus, prayer, worship
Leave a comment
Behold I Have Told You
“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7 NASB) When the angel had … Continue reading
“Whoever Believes In Him” (John 3:16 sermon)
We all want to go to heaven — but what do you have to do to go there? I once read a survey of multi-millionaires, in which they were asked, “How much would you be willing to pay for a … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Uncategorized
Tagged baptism, belief, believing, Billy Graham, commitment to Christ, David Koresh messiah, evangelism, faith, faith getting on the plane, if I be lifted up, Jesus, John 3:16, John 3:16 sermon, justification by faith, Kraft macaroni and cheese, Lord's Supper, misplaced faith, Numbers 21, object of faith, ordinances, receiving Christ, sacraments, salvation, salvation by faith, saving faith, serpent on a pole, the sinners prayer, trusting Christ, walking the aisle, whoever believes, whosoever believeth in Him
1 Comment
Watcher or Doer?
When Jesus cried “Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani” in Matthew 27:46, it was a heart-rending moment. The scriptures were being fulfilled as He quoted Psalm 22:1 and died on the cross. It is also challenging to note the two kinds of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged action, deeds, doer of the word, Matthew 27:46-49, words vs. actions, words vs. deeds, works
1 Comment
Don’t Let The Crowd Be Your Guide
“If You are the Son of God come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:40) Jesus had heard this very same phrase three years earlier, in His temptation in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. Now He hears it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged direction, God's will, Matthew 27:40, peer pressure, purpose
1 Comment
“The Way You Talk Gives You Away”
“A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.’” (Matthew 26:73) This verse describes what happened as Simon Peter denied Jesus for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged heart, Matthew 12:34, Matthew 26:73, speech, talk, words
2 Comments
“His Only Begotten Son” (John 3:16 sermon)
In Matthew 26, the Bible describes how just before He went to the cross, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 4:12, atonement, Deity of Christ, eternal generation, fully God fully man, Garden of Gethsemane, Genesis 22:2, God the Son, Hebrews 2:17, humanity of Christ, incarnate, Incarnation, Islam God has no son, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus only way, John 14:6, John 17:24, John 1:1, John 3:16, John 3:16 sermon, Jonathan Edwards, Kenneth Copeland, Mormon doctrine Jesus, only begotten Son, Son of God, Tony Dungy prayer breakfast testimony, Tony Dungy testimony death of son, Trinity, Triune God, yachid, yachid darling
Leave a comment
When A Change of Scenery Isn’t The Answer
“When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him, and said to those who were there, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ And again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged change, heart, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 26:71-21, salvation, sanctification
Leave a comment
Defective Discipleship
“But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.” (Matthew 26:58) Jesus calls us as His disciples to follow … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, Lordship, Matthew 26:58, salvation
Leave a comment
