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
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25, "Love" for Sunday 11/02/25
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 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
Will Your Righteousness Get You To Heaven?
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) This is one of those sayings of Jesus that must have astounded His hearers. … Continue reading
Do You Have The Right Enemies?
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12) When one of the presidential candidates was harassed at a campaign stop this week, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, enemies, evangelism, joy, Matthew 5:12, ministry, persecution, witness
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Are You Really Following?
“Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:22) When Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4, He gave them an unambiguous command: “Follow Me.” And we see in the succeeding verses that this is exactly … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged caring, discipleship, evangelism, following Jesus, Matthew 4, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 4:22, ministry, teaching, worship
2 Comments
A Ministry to PEOPLE
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) From the very beginning, Jesus indicated to those who would follow Him, that our ministry was to focus on people: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged John 3:16, love, Matthew 4:19, ministry, motivation, people
2 Comments
“How To Seek The Lord” (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
In 1622, a Spanish ship, “Our Lady of Atocha”, sailed from the Spanish colonies in the New World back towards Spain. The Atocha was laden down with so much gold from the mines in the Americas that it had taken … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Isaiah 55:6-7, Mel Fisher Atocha, prayer, repentance, salvation, Seek the Lord, seeking, seeking God, treasure
30 Comments
The Motivation of Love
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son …”. (John 3:16) Among the rich truths this well-loved verse gives us, is the Lord’s motivation for saving us. Jesus said, “For God so LOVED the world.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged evangelism, John 3:16, love, ministry, motivation, motive, witness
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The Provision After The Test
“Then the devil left Him, and behold angels came, and began to minister to Him.” (Matthew 4:11) It is not accident that these words follow the series of temptations that Jesus experienced. The first of the temptations had to do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Matthew 4:11, provision, temptation, testing
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Well-Pleasing To God!
“This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) What amazing thing to hear from God the Father! Everything Jesus had done: in thought, word, deed, and attitude, from His birth, to the time of His baptism … Continue reading
His Winnowing Work
“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:12) Here John the Baptist … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, John 14:6, judgment, Matthew 3:12, obedience, salvation, test, winnowing
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“The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life” (Phil. 2:17 sermon)
Some time ago, as I was getting out of my car, I noticed that I had a can of Coke in the cup holder. I can’t stand to leave anything in my car, so I picked up the can to take it … Continue reading
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