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.
Author Archives: Shawn Thomas
Romans 12:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: “Sacrifice,” for Nov. 8, 2026.
For teachers and students of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Romans 12 for Nov. 8, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Baptist, Bible, Book of Romans, discipleship, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible Sunday school lesson, God, Help for Sunday School teachers Lifeway Explore the Bible, Jesus, Lifeway,, prayer, Romans 12, Romans 12:1-13, salvation, sin, Southern Baptist, spiritual sacrifices
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Romans 11:11-24 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: “Kindness,” for November 1, 2026.
For teachers and group members studying Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Romans 11 for Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, “Kindness.” Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life … Continue reading
Romans 9:30-10:17 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Believe” for October 25, 2026.
An overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Romans 9:30-10:3, 9-17, “Believe,” for Sunday, October 25, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications. A … Continue reading
Romans 8:14-27 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, “Indwelt,” for October 18, 2026
For teachers and group members studying Lifeway’s lesson on Romans 8:14-27. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations, group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading
Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: “Struggle,” for 10/11/26
An overview for teachers and group members, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Romans 7, for October 11, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Struggle", Apostle Paul, Baptist, battle with sin, Bible study, body of death, evidence of grace, Explore the Bible, F.F. Bruce, grace, heaven, hope, John MacArthur, Joni Earickson Tada, King Mezentius, Law, lesson help, lesson outline, Lifeway, Romans, Romans 7, Shawn E. Thomas, sin, sin nature, sin struggle, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, the Law, Thomas Watson
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Teacher’s Overview of Romans 5:1-11, 18-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Restored Relationship, for 9/27/26.
(Sorry for the glitch in the original version of this post! Please let me know if you have any further difficulties with it!) An overview for teachers, including a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to … Continue reading
Romans 3:21-4:5, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: “Saving Faith,” for 9/20/26.
An overview for teachers, members, and group leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Romans 3:21-4:5, “Saving Faith,” for September 20, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, discussion questions, and … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Do not bring a god on to the stage", 5 pillars of Islam, Abraham, all have sinned, believe, boasting, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon Niagara Falls, deus ex machina, example of Abraham, Explore the Bible, faith is not a work, faith vs. works, Finback submarine rescue, for all have sinned, General Revelation, George H.W. Bush rescue, George Washington, gospel, Horace, humility, I am a great sinner Christ is a great Savior, II Corinthians 5:21, illustration, illustration of sin, Islam, John 3:16, John Newton, Jonathan Aitken, Just and the Justifier, justified, Lifeway, Martin Luther King, meaning of faith, Paradise, propitiation, R.C. Sproul content of His character, religious pride, righteousness, righteousness of God, Romans, Romans 10:13, Romans 3, Romans 3:21-4:5, salvation, salvation for all, salvation gift, saving faith, sin, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teaching outline, trust, works
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Teacher’s Overview of Romans 2:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Coming Judgment,” for 9/13/26.
Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: “How many of you have heard of … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged apologize to Sodom, Apostle Paul, Bible, Book of Romans, Charles DIckens, Coming Judgment, doers of the law, Explore the Bible, FDR Churchill Mrs Ogden Reid hypocrisy, Genghis Khan, God, gospel, grace, guilt, hypocrisy, inexcusable, Jesus, John MacArthur, judge not, judging, judgment, kindness of God leads to repentance, Lifeway, none who does good, orge, Paul, perish, revelation, Revelation wrath of God, Robinson Crusoe, Robinson Crusoe Christian theme, Robinson Crusoe summary, Romans, Romans 2, Romans 2:1-13, Ruth Graham Sodom, salvation, salvation by grace, salvation by works, sin, The Last Lion Reid & Manchester, thumos, unrepentance, wrath, wrath of God
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Teacher’s Overview of Romans 1:13-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “True Power,” for 9/06/26
Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, discussion questions for your group, illustrations you can share, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO:???DISCUSSION QUESTION???Several years ago, a … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "True Power", Anthony Flew There is a God, Apostle Paul, Baptist, Bible, Blaise Pascal, Carl Trueman Strange New World, Christianity, DNA, evangelism, evidence for God, Explore the Bible, expressive individualism, faith, Fall 2026, galaxy, General Revelation, giving thanks, God, gospel, gratitude, herpetarium, Hinduism, idolatry, idols, India idols, Jesus, John Calvin factory of idols, Lifeway, materialism, natural revelation, neopaganism, Owen Strachan, Paul, power of the gospel, Psalm 19, Reenchanting Humanity, Romans, Romans 1:13-25, Rome, salvation, sex, Southern Baptist, Southern Baptist Sunday School, Special Revelation, Sunday School, thankfulness, thanks, the gospel, Tim Keller, universe, witness
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