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 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Judgment Coming," for 2/22/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Rejecting Legalism," for 2/15/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- Lifeway "Explore the Bible" Jonah 1:15-2:10 "No Escape"
- “No Strange Fire: Honoring God in Worship” (Leviticus 10:1-3 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
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
Category Archives: Doctrine/Theology
A Gospel “Hallelujah”
Our son Michael shared his first public solo in church this morning, and Cheryl & I were extremely proud of how well he did. He taught himself to play the guitar this past year and has been developing both vocally … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Home & Family Life, Ministry, Music, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog), Uncategorized
Tagged Cohen Hallelujah, Hallelujah alternative lyrics, Hallelujah lyrics, Leonard Cohen Hallelujah alternate lyrics, Michael Thomas, North Greenville University, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church
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“Just Like Us”
When Cheryl & I brought our grand daughters Corley Jane and Lottie up to the hospital to meet their newly born sister, Josephine Grace, the girls were filled with excitement and wonder. And pondering her little sibling for the first … Continue reading
A Triune Comfort
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” (John 14:16) Jesus, knowing that His disciples were grieved by His impending departure from this world, comforts them with the promise … Continue reading
How Clear Can It Be?
“So that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” (John 5:23) How is Jesus to be regarded by us? As a … Continue reading
The Word Was God
“… and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Why there is any controversy among supposed Bible-believing people concerning the Deity of Jesus is puzzling. The scripture makes it so clear: “and the Word was God”! The first verses in the … Continue reading
“The Deceiver and the Antichrist”
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (II John 7) The Apostle John didn’t mess around with niceties. Those … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged Apostle John, Deity of Christ, doctrine, false teachers, heresy, heretics, humanity of Christ, II John 7, Orthodoxy, pastor, teacher
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“When I say ‘God’ …”
Jesus’ final command to His disciples in the Book of Matthew is well-known to many: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching … Continue reading
One Important Lesson About The End
“See to it that no one misleads you.” (Matthew 24:4) Jesus’ disciples had just asked Him in :3, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged discernment, doctrine, eschatology, false teachers, I John 4:1, Matthew 24:4
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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
On Heroes and Pedestals
Cam Newton and Peyton Manning, two of the sporting world’s biggest heroes, took some hits Sunday — and not just on the football field. Newton had a disappointing performance in the eyes of many of his team’s fans. His fumbles … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged alcohol, Budweiser, Cam Newton, example, football, frailty, hero, heroes, pedestals, Peyton Manning, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, sin, sin nature, sports, Super Bowl 50
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shawnethomas 