Author Archives: Shawn Thomas

About Shawn Thomas

My blog, shawnethomas.com, features the text of my sermons, book reviews, family life experiences -- as well as a brief overview of the Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for Southern Baptist Sunday School teachers.

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 9:24-38, “You Have Seen Him”

Posted on 2023/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 9:24-38, for Sunday, February 12, 2023, with the title: “You Have Seen Him.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

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“Discovering First Baptist Angleton”: Session #4 The Nuts & Bolts”

Posted on 2023/01/30 by Shawn Thomas

My car’s Owner’s Manual is not my favorite book ever to read — in fact I can’t say I have ever read it all the way through. But I am also really glad that I have it when I need … Continue reading →

Posted in Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons | Tagged Acts 1:8 Offering, baptism, Baptist General Convention of Texas, building program church, car owner's manual, church budget and finances, Church Constitution and by-laws, Church Council, church discipline, church financial statement, church membership, church membership class, Church membership commitment, church officers, church polity, Discovering First Baptist Church, God's Vision In Action, Gulf Coast Baptist Association, nuts and bolts of church, Romania mission, salvation, southern baptist cooperative program | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, “I Am The Light”

Posted on 2023/01/28 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, for Sunday February 5, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: There’s a … Continue reading →

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“Discovering FBCA” Session #3 “Discovering Ministry”

Posted on 2023/01/22 by Shawn Thomas

A generation ago, a group of people in the town Cheryl & I grew up in decided to start a new church. Their first service was held in the home of one of the members. The adult worship service met … Continue reading →

Posted in Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons | Tagged church membership class, Discovering First Baptist Church membership class, Discovering Ministry membership class, gifts survey, I Peter 4:10-11, service survey | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 7:14-29

Posted on 2023/01/21 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 7:14-29 for Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, “He Sent Me.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

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Discovering FBCA Class, Session #2: “Discovering What We Believe” (a “jet tour” of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000)

Posted on 2023/01/16 by Shawn Thomas

INTRO: — Not long ago, the news reported about a child who had an illness that could have been easily treated with medication, but he died because his parents did not believe in calling doctors or using medication. — During … Continue reading →

Posted in Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons, Sermons | Tagged abortion, Al Mohler Theological Triage, baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit, Baptist doctrine, BFM article on the family, C.S. Lewis Lord Liar Lunatic, church membership prerequisite class, Discovering church membership, Discovering what we believe, doctrine of Christ, doctrine of God, doctrine of Jesus, doctrine of last things, doctrine of man, doctrine of salvation, doctrine of the Bible, doctrine of the church, doctrine of the Holy Spirit, eschatology, eternal security, fully God fully man, God the Holy Spirit, God triune, Gregory Nazianzen when I say God, I Corinthians 12:13, John 14:6, justification sanctification glorification, Lord's Supper, marriage one man one woman, Mere Christianity, once saved always saved, pastors and deacons, racial prejudice church, racism, regeneration, Sabbath, sin nature, Southern Baptist church membership class, Southern Baptist doctrine, The Baptist Faith & Message 2000, The Bible, the Lord's Day, Thomas Jefferson Bible, Trinity, two ordinances of the church, when I say God I mean Father Son Holy Spirit | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson John 6:26-40, “I Am The Bread”

Posted on 2023/01/15 by Shawn Thomas

(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 6:26-40, for Sunday, January 22, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: MAKE/BUY BREAD FOR … Continue reading →

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“Discovering FBCA” (Membership class) Session #1: “Discovering the Basics”

Posted on 2023/01/09 by Shawn Thomas

About 300 A.D., a man named Marius Victorinus told a friend of his by the name of Simplicianus that he was now a Christian. He said he wasn’t going to church, and wasn’t going to tell anyone about it, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons, Doctrine/Theology, Sermons | Tagged Augustine Confessions, baptism by immersion, baptism in the Triune Name, baptism sprinkling, baptism symbolic, church membership class, church membership covenant, church mission statement, Discovering First Baptist Church membership class, Discovering the Basics, First Baptist Church Angleton, History of First Baptist Church Angleton, infant baptism, Marius Victorinus, membership class, new member class, Pastor John Shepard First Baptist Church Angleton, Peter Brown Augustine, Rodney Bowman First Baptist Church Angleton God's Vision in Actiion, scriptural baptism, Shawn Thomas pastor First Baptist Church Angleton, Simplicianus, the gospel, why a new church member class | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 5:5-16, “Pick Up Your Mat”

Posted on 2023/01/07 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, over Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 5:5-16 for Sunday, January 15, 2023, with the title, “Pick Up Your Mat.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Explore the Bible lesson helps, John 5:5-16 Sunday school lesson, John Lloyd Stevens Holy Land, legalism, Lifeway Explore the Bible help John 5, obedience, pool of Bethesda, repentance, Sabbath controversy, salvation, Sunday school teacher help for John 5:5-16 | 11 Comments

“Three Resolutions for 2023” (I Peter 4:7-11 sermon)

Posted on 2023/01/02 by Shawn Thomas

A couple of years ago they conducted a survey of Americans which asked what they would do, if they knew the world was coming to an end soon. Two of the very top responses given were: 1) to go out … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Sermons | Tagged 2023 New Year message, accountability, answered prayer, Bill Elliff Simply Prayer, Discovering First Baptist Church, I Peter 4:7-11 sermon, love, love covers a multitude, love in church, new member class church, New Year sermon, prayer, return of Christ, service, spiritual gifts | Leave a comment