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 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
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- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: Thanksgiving
A “Little” Sin?
You might not think it’s much of a sin — but it may be bigger than you imagine! Romans 1:21, speaking of those upon whom the wrath of God rightly falls, says: “For even though they knew God, they did … Continue reading
“The Discipline of the Model Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 5-10-15) I attended a men’s retreat last year and I had the opportunity to talk to a man who shared with me that when he was a young Christian, he was challenged to spend … Continue reading
Overflowing With Thanksgiving
In Colossians 2:7 Paul writes that we are to walk in Christ, “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and strengthened in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.” It is of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, Christ, Colossians 2:7, gratitude, salvation, Thanksgiving
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Holy Gratitude
In Psalm 6:8 David says: “Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, for Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.” It is interesting (and instructive for us) that David’s response to the fact that God heard his prayer … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged gratitude, holiness, Psalm 6:8, Romans 12:1, Thanksgiving
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A Word of Thanksgiving
Psalm 111:1 says: “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly.” Here we find several truths about thanksgiving: — “I will give thanks …” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged giving thanks, praise, Psalm 111:1, thanks, Thanksgiving
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Thanksgiving: “The Freewill Offerings of My Mouth”
In Psalm 119:108 the Psalmist prays: “O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances.” In Old Testament times, the people of Israel were commanded to offer a number of different offerings: the lamb … Continue reading
“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (11-26-13)
The holidays are upon us, and so Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping — and of course football! — are the focus of “The Little Condo” this week. Cheryl & I began our Christmas shopping one day last week, and we made a … Continue reading
Grace For Those Who Fall Short
Psalm 106:3 says: “How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times.” If only we did! Unfortunately this rules out every one of us: NONE of us practices righteousness at ALL times! “There is NONE righteous; … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, grace, lovingkindness, praise, Psalm 106:3, Romans 3:10, salvation, Thanksgiving
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The “Thanksgiving Gift”
It is not that unusual for a tale to become twisted in its transmission, often to someone’s detriment – but the slightly misunderstood story of “the Thanksgiving Gift” may just end up being to the benefit of all!
shawnethomas 