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)
- 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)
- "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)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "Where's Your Glory?" (Jeremiah 9:23-24 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
It Will All Be Torn Down
“Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged eschatology, last days, materialism, Matthew 24, Matthew 24:1-2
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“You Were Unwilling”
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” (Matthew 23:37) These … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Calvinism, free will, Matthew 23:37, responsibility, sovereignty, will
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Before You Give Up Praying For Your Loved One, Try This
Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) was considered by many of his contemporaries to be the greatest preacher in Scotland of his day. His book, Lord Teach Us To Pray, consists of a number of sermons on prayer from a variety of scripture … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Ministry, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Alexander Whyte, family, holiness, intercessory prayer, John 17:19, prayer, sanctification
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“Straining Gnats & Swallowing Camels”
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, justice, Matthew 23:23-24, mercy, obedience, priorities, scripture, tithing, word of God
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Are You A Stumbling Block?
“You shut off the Kingdom of Heaven from people.” (Matthew 23:12) The harshest words Jesus spoke here on earth were not directed to the immoral or to heretics, but were for the religious hypocrites He condemned in Matthew 23. He … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged curses, evangelism, heaven, hell, hypocrisy, hypocrites, Kingdom of Heaven, lifestyle, Matthew 18, Matthew 23:12, Matthew 5:9, peacemaker, salvation, scribes and Pharisees, stumbling block, woes, wrath
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Who’s Your “PR Agent”?
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) Have you ever seen someone boast (or maybe “humble brag” — if there is really such a thing! — on Facebook or Twitter) in order … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged boasting, exalt, humble, humility, I Peter 5:6, Matthew 23:12, Matthew 5:5, meekness, PR agent, pride, Proverbs 27:2, Psalm 37
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“For God” (John 3:16 sermon)
In London, England there is a 70-foot high red granite obelisk called “Cleopatra’s Needle” that stands beside the Thames River. In the 1870’s it was given to Britain by Egypt. When they moved it to England and set it up, they put a … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Uncategorized
Tagged "For God", Bible, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, China Middle Kingdom, Cleopatra's Needle, egocentrism, Ephesians 2, ethnocentrism, grace, humility, John 3:16, Luke 18, mercy, prosperity gospel, Redemption Plan song, religion, Ron & Pat Owens, salvation, Sarah Michelle Geller, scripture, selfishness, spirituality, theology, worship
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A Misplaced Love
“They love … being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbi …” (Matthew 23:6-8) Jesus’ harshest words in scripture were reserved for the scribes and Pharisees, whom He condemned in this chapter. Here He tells us one … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged love, Matthew 23:6-8, misplaced love, pride
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Don’t Be A Hypocrite
“… but do not do according to their deeds, for they say things and do not do them.” (Matthew 23:3) In Matthew 23 Jesus reserves His harshest words anywhere in scripture for the scribes and Pharisees. He repeatedly calls them … Continue reading
