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)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 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
Are You Neglecting Your Mission To The Nations?
“And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:21) The present verse is actually a quote from Isaiah 42 about the coming Messiah, and how the Gentiles (the non-Israelite nations of the world) would put their trust in Him. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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An Outrageous Claim
“But I say to you that something greater than the Temple is here.” (Matthew 12:6) From time to time we hear the assertion that Jesus never claimed to be God. Anyone saying such things demonstrates gross Biblical illiteracy. Passages such … Continue reading
Compassion, Not Criticism
“But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’” (Matthew 12:2) “When (they) saw … they said …”. Seeing, and then being critical, was a mark … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, criticism, Hosea 6:6, judgmentalism, Matthew 12 devotion, Matthew 12:2, Pharisees
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Book Review: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, by Rosaria Butterfield
I’ll just say it up front: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is one of the most compelling books I have ever read. The title leads one to think that it will give the reader a peek into the … Continue reading
“Pressing On To Know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3 sermon)
Not long ago I read of a well-known actress who said that when she wasn’t acting, she really had no purpose in life. She said she just about went crazy because she nothing to do, and she said, “Thank God … Continue reading
Judgment For Those With No Excuse
“Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:24) Jesus’ words here are so strong. Speaking to the people of Capernaum, The Lord … Continue reading
Our Omniscient Lord
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ahses.” (Matthew 11:21) One of the poignant elements of … Continue reading
Don’t Live For Others’ Expectations
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” (Matthew 11:17) You’ll never please everybody. You can run yourself ragged and never live up to everyone’s expectations. Jesus realized … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged expectations, Matthew 11:16-19, people-pleasers, please god or men
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Your Two Key Relationships (Psalm 16:2-3 sermon)
One of the things that makes getting around relatively easy in Oklahoma is that the whole state is basically divided into 4 quadrants by I-35 which runs north & south, and I-40, which runs east & west. These 2 great … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged "The Weight of Glory", all lives matter, black lives matter, blue lives matter, C.S. Lewis quote, gospel, Mere Christianity, Psalm 16 sermon, Psalm 16:2-3, relationship with God, relationship with man, relationships, salvation, white lives matter
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Book Review: “What Does The Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality?” by Kevin DeYoung
I have finished reading a number of books in recent months, but perhaps none more pertinent to our times than this one. There is hardly a person these days whose life has not been touched in some way by the … Continue reading
