Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Forgiveness,” for 3/29/26

Posted on 2026/03/21 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

OPENING QUOTE: (and/or you may choose to close with it)  C.S. Lewis wrote:

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable (in others), because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”   

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

Can anyone share a time when you or someone you know, forgave someone when it was very difficult to do so?

(For example, I think of how Erika Kirk, how at her husband Charlie’s memorial service, she said of the young man who shot her husband, “I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did. . . . The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

Whatever example of forgiveness you use, you might then say that as difficult as it can be sometimes to forgive, it is what the Lord has called us to — and if we don’t forgive, it may demonstrate that we really don’t understand what Jesus did for us — as we see in our passage for today from Matthew 18. 

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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Glory,” for 3/22/26

Posted on 2026/03/14 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION: You could begin with this illustration/quote and then a followup discussion question — or one or the other: 

ILLUSTRATION

One of the highlights of Mark Twain’s trip to Europe and the Holy Land in 1867 was seeing the Cathedral in Milan, Italy. He wrote, “We were dying to see the renowned Cathedral.” He was not disappointed:

“It was a vision! —a miracle! — an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble! Howsoever you look at the great Cathedral, it is noble, it is beautiful. Wherever you stand in Milan, or within seven miles of Milan, it is visible—and when it is visible, no other object can chain your attention. Leave your eyes unfettered by your will but a single instant, and they will surely turn to seek it. It is the first thing you look for when you rise in the morning, and the last your lingering gaze rests upon at night.  Surely, it must be the princeliest creation that ever brain of man conceived.”

(Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, pp. 144-147)

So Mark Twain was absolutely smitten by the glory of the Cathedral of Milan. 

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“What would you say is the most ‘glorious’ thing you have personally seen in your lifetime?”

(For me it’s probably the Grand Canyon. We stopped there on way the back from the SBC in Phoenix a few years ago, and it was just magnificent! No picture I could take could convey the view you have when you’re standing there just off the rim of that canyon. It is absolutely glorious!)

All these things we can mention are glorious — but there is a greater glory than any of these! As the hymn says: “Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast”! In our lesson for today three of Jesus’ disciples get a glimpse of His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, reminding us that our ultimate destination, through the gospel, is to experience that glory forever!

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Teacher’s Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “Following Jesus” for 3/15/26

Posted on 2026/03/07 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers, including a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???
“Can you share a time when you talked with someone who had a strange/different idea about who Jesus is?”

(For example: when I was in India on mission I talked to a Hindu man who believed that Jesus was “one of the gods” and only one of many, many ways to God — but not the only way.

Some of your class members may have talked to Mormons, who believe that Jesus is the brother of Satan! Or to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who believe that Jesus is “a god”— and so on.

(You may also opt to use this question in Point I below instead, in relation to :13)

Then you can share how in today’s lesson from Matthew 16, we’ll see how Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was, and how confessing Who He really will lead us to follow Him — and how much that discipleship cost both Him and us.

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Teacher’s Preview of Matthew 15:1-11+, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for March 8, 2026, “Real Devotion”

Posted on 2026/02/28 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

ILLUSTRATION:

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote a very introspective book called Meditations, in which he reveals many of his inward thoughts as he tried to live a good life as a ruler, and not be corrupted by the evil that often surrounds leaders. In Meditations he wrote: “It is the king’s part to do good and be ill spoke of.” 

That’s almost always true, isn’t it? Leaders are in for criticism; that’s often just part of the position.

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Can you share something that you have heard a pastor, or church, or ministry, criticized for?”

(Like this is going to be hard to come up with, right? Pastors and churches and ministries get criticism all the time!  You and your group can likely think of many.)

When your group has shared some, then ask: are the criticisms we have talked about today, based on scripture? Or tradition or personal preference?

Then point out: it’s one thing to go against someone’s opinion or tradition — we all have our subjective opinions and traditions — but it’s another thing altogether to actually break the word of God; that’s ultimately more serious. 

In today’s lesson from Matthew 15, we see where Jesus was criticized — but it was because His disciples broke a TRADITION, not God’s word itself — and as He points out, the criticism came from hearts that were not really inclined towards the Lord.

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Teacher’s Preview of Matthew 14:22-33, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Courage,” for March 1, 2026.

Posted on 2026/02/21 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 14:22-33 for March 1, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this preview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

???DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Can you share a time when you were in storm — either at home, on a boat, or maybe in an airplane — and it made you very uncomfortable or even fearful?”

(I was on a long flight on a mission trip one time, and we had the worst turbulence that I had ever experienced. It was so violent I didn’t see how the plane held up through it with no problems. I was glad I was prayed up and ready to go!)

You/your group can share your own experiences like that, and then you can transition to the lesson: Today we are going to see how Jesus’ disciples had an experience like that, and what that experience teaches us about faith and our walk with the Lord.

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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Judgment Coming,” for 2/22/26.

Posted on 2026/02/14 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 13 for February 22, 2026, “Judgment Coming. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

??? How many of you enjoy gardening??? If you do, share what is your favorite part about gardening, and what is your least favorite/most challenging part about it.

(My wife Cheryl loves to garden, and it’s been a comfort to her after her stroke to be able to continue to garden a little bit. She currently has a whole row of seeds popping up in little pots on our big bedroom window sill. I asked her this question, and she said her favorite part about gardening is seeing the plants pop out of the ground — or the pot! — and the hope of future growth that it brings. When I asked her what’s most challenging, immediately she said the hardest part to her is weeding! If you have some gardeners in your class, I imagine several of them might mention that weeding is one of the most difficult problems they face. 

Which ties right in with our lesson for this week, which comes from what is often called “The Parable of the Weeds,” in Matthew 13! 

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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Rejecting Legalism,” for 2/15/26.

Posted on 2026/02/07 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 12 for February 15, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

In his book Mr. Kipling’s Army, author Byron Farwell writes about some of the shortcomings of the British Army in the 1800’s. He says that “‘antiquated and useless forms of drill, blind obedience to orders, ramrod-like rigidity on parade, and similar time-honoured practices were the chief qualifications by which a regiment was judged.” And he gave a specific example: “The posting of unneeded sentries was all too common. In 1886 General Evelyn Wood found a sentry stationed at the door to a ward at the Colchester Hospital that had been set aside for military prisoners. The ward was empty — and had been for the previous three months.” (p. 87)  So they had a guard at the door, even though there were no prisoners in the hospital! Just legalistically “following rules” when it didn’t make sense.

This kind of legalistic practice is common in many organizations, and unfortunately, sometimes even the church.  In today’s scripture from Matthew 12, we’ll see how Jesus is confronted by the legalists of His day — and He shows us that loving Him, and loving people, is far more important than merely adhering to legalistic tradition and laws.

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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26

Posted on 2026/01/31 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Matthew 11 for Sunday, February 8, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

In Henry Adam’s autobiography, The Education of Henry Adams, he tells how when he was working in England, his sister was involved in a carriage accident in Italy. He rushed to her side, but tetanus had already set in, and he had to watch his sister, who had always been so full of life and personality, suffer an agonizing death. Although he was brought up in at least a nominally Christian home, he questioned God: why would He stand by and allow this kind of thing to happen? This difficult experience caused him to doubt God.

???INTRO/DISCUSSION QUESTION???
Can you share a time when you/someone you know experienced through a time of doubts?

You might share that most people have had times of doubt at some point in their lives (near the end of Point I I’ll share a quote from John Newton about that …) And say that in today’s lesson we’ll see how perhaps the greatest mere man who ever lived, John the Baptist, had doubts about Jesus at one point himself!

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Teacher’s Preview of Matthew 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, “Loyalty Tested”

Posted on 2026/01/24 by Shawn Thomas

A preview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 10 for February 1, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

“In a primary debate (for the 2000 Presidential election), an answer of George W. Bush’s underscored the generational and cultural distinctions between father and son. Asked to name his favorite philosopher, George W. replied: “Christ, because He changed my heart.” Calling his son afterward, Bush senior said, “Don’t worry son, I don’t think the Jesus answer will hurt you very much.” George W was struck by the remark; it had never occurred to him that what he thought of as honesty about his faith could hurt him.” (Jon Meacham, Destiny and Power, p. 553)

AND/OR ALTERNATE ??? DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Can anyone share a time when you were in a situation where it was difficult to confess Christ — or have you known someone who was in a situation like that?”

Then transition by saying that in today’s lesson in Matthew 10, Jesus calls His followers to confess Him publicly, even when it costs us something to do so.

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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson “Mercy Extended” for 1/25/26

Posted on 2026/01/17 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 9, for January 25, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications that you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION:

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was asked by Senator John B. Henderson of Missouri to pardon a list of men from his state. Lincoln, who loved to sign pardons, and who always looked for the least ‘excuse’ to pardon anyone, told Henderson: “You know I am charged with making too many mistakes on the side of mercy.” Henderson said he was sure he was right — and said the President ought to sign out the whole batch.” And he did!  (Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years, p. 670)

Jesus might be “accused” like Lincoln of showing “too much mercy,” where it was not “due.” But repeatedly in scripture we see how gracious and merciful He is to all.

You might add this question (or use it as an alternate intro.):

??? DISCUSSION QUESTION???

“Can you think of a time in scripture when The Lord/Jesus/God was merciful to someone who didn’t deserve it?”

(Of course there are many: Jesus’ mercy to the Adulterous Woman is a prominent example; His mercy to the thief on the cross; saying “Father forgive them” to those who were crucifying Him! 

You/your group can think of many.)

 Then transition to the lesson by saying: In today’s scripture from Matthew 9, we see how Jesus extended His mercy to a variety of people — often to people and in ways that we might not expect. The way Jesus showed mercy might surprise some of our “religious” expectations, but His example challenges us to show mercy today, just like He did.

 

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