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
- Teacher's Overview of Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 20-25, "Love" for Sunday 11/02/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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
Christians & The Super Bowl
Tens of millions of people are excited today, because it is “Super Bowl Sunday”. They will gather to watch the biggest football game of the year. Multiplied millions of dollars have been spent — while out I saw a pickup … Continue reading
Day By Day
In II Corinthians 4:16, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day.” We looked previously at how a Christian does not become … Continue reading
The Process
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) The first part of this verse describes how a believer need not lose heart … Continue reading
We Do Not Lose Heart
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man in decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) It is a sobering reality to many when they observe the gradual decline of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aging, body, faith, heaven, hope, II Corinthians 4:16, physical body, senior adults
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Our Ultimate Aim
“… that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (II Corinthians 4:15) This verse reveals something very important when it tells us what happens … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aim, glory, goal, God, II Corinthians 4:15, man's chief end, purpose, Westminster Shorter Catechism
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“The Disciple’s Character: Mourning Over Sin” (Matthew 5:4 sermon)
Many times over the years, people have come to my office, feeling very troubled over a sin or a habit in their life. And sometimes they will say something like: “I feel so bad about that sin; I am not … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, blessed are those who mourn, character, character of Christ, conviction, discipleship, Donald Whitney Ten Questions To Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, Fireproof movie, I Corinthians 5:2, intercession, Isaiah 6, Isaiah 66:1-2, James 4:9, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jonathan Edwards, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Matthew 23:37, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:4 sermon, Monica, mourning, prayer, Psalm 119:136, Psalm 126:5, Romans 7, Romans 8:28-29, sin, St. Augustine
8 Comments
It’s Not The Place, But The Heart
God opens the majestic concluding chapter of the Book of Isaiah by proclaiming: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me?” In other words, we human beings cannot … Continue reading
His Terrifying Fury
“Then He will speak to them in His anger, and terrify them in His fury.” (Psalm 2:5) Many people today have a woefully inadequate view of God. Some consider Him to be soft and lenient, like a doting grandfather who … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged judgment, Psalm 2, rebellion, salvation, sin, wrath
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“Perplexed, But Not Despairing”
In verses 8-9 of II Corinthians 4, Paul lists a series of contrasts. He said that he and his ministry partners were: “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, aporumenoi, despair, faith, II Corinthians 4:8, trials
2 Comments
From A Little Cottage In The Foothills
Well we are just about dug out of “Snow-mageddon 2016” here in our “Little Cottage In The Foothills.” I haven’t heard the official total on how many inches of snow we received, but the rain gauge at the “Little Cottage” … Continue reading
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