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
- 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)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
One of Satan’s Biggest Schemes
“… so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (II Corinthians 2:11) Although many are reluctant to talk about “the devil” in our “modern” days, The Bible tells us … Continue reading
“The Disciple’s Character: God’s Goal For Your Life in 2016” (Matthew 5:3-12 sermon)
Francis Chan wrote in his book, Crazy Love: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” That quote is worth pondering as we begin this new year. Many of … Continue reading
“Who Is Adequate For These Things?”
“and who is adequate for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:16) Anyone who has ever taken their Christian ministry seriously can identify with the words of the Apostle Paul in this verse. Here Paul just exclaims about the gravity of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged dependence, humility, II Corinthians 2:16, James 4:6, ministry, poor in spirit
1 Comment
The “Scent” You Leave Behind
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14) Scientists tells us that just as each person has … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aroma, evangelism, II Corinthians 2:14, ministry, scent, witness
1 Comment
“First” (2016 New Years message)
A friend of mine in Louisiana who is a runner sent me a hilarious video some time ago. It was about a guy whose life was all about running. It just dominated his day. He would get up early in … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible Reading, decision making, decisions, devotions, giving, God first, Matthew 6:33, New Year, priorities, priority, running, Sabbath, Sunday worship, worship
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What You’re Really Thirsty For
Isaiah 55 describes the spiritual thirst that characterizes every person, and points us to what we are really looking for: :1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters …” In this verse, God is calling out to all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Isaiah 55:1-3, joy, Psalm 16:11, satisfaction, thirst
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God Of Eternity — and 2016!
“For thus says the high and exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is Holy …” (Isaiah 57:15) This is one of a number of verses in Isaiah in which God reveals something of His glory to His people Israel … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged eternity, God, Isaiah 57:15, New Year, time, time and eternity
1 Comment
A Simple Verse For A New Year
As the song says: “Fast away the old year passes” and we sit on the doorstep of a brand new year. It is typically — and should be — a time of reflection, and recommitment. But what kind of commitments … Continue reading
The Higher Purpose of Sharing Prayer Requests
Why should we share our prayer requests with other people? The answer may not be what you think. It is not just because “the more who pray, the more powerful the prayers.” As James teaches us, “the effective prayer of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged glory of God, I Samuel 14:6, II Corinthians 1:11, intercession, prayer
1 Comment
Sharing Our Comfort
“Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (II Corinthians 1:4) Two of the key words … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged affliction, comfort, II Corinthians 1:4, Psalm 67, purpose in trials
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