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 Preview of Joshua 24:14-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “Vital Decision,” for July 19, 2026.

Posted on 2026/07/11 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, sample group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications to make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ??? DISCUSSION QUESTION??? “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "two sides of the same coin", A Severe Mercy, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord, Bible, Bible study, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis and free will, choices, choose you this day, Clemente plane crash, Death, decisions, Explore the Bible, false gods, going through the motions, gospel, graduation speech, how to serve God, idols, Jehovah, Joshua, life choices, life fragile, Lifeway, prayer wheel, Promised Land, repentance, repentance and faith, Roberto Clemente, salvation, serve God, Shawn E. Thomas, Sheldon Vanauken, spirit and truth, sudden death, truth, Yahweh, YHWH | 1 Comment

“Finishing Well” (Psalm 92:12-15 message)

Posted on 2026/07/06 by Shawn Thomas

(Preached at Trinity Baptist Church, Norman, OK, Father’s Day, June 21, 2026) Just a few years ago, an elderly university president in South Carolina wrote: “It’s sundown, Lord … I fear not death … But I do fear that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged aging, bearing fruit, Bible, bitterness, Brooklyn Bridge, Cherry Street Mile, daily devotions, daily quiet time, David McCullough, devotional time, discipleship, evangelism, faith, finishing well, foundation, fruit, God, gospel, I Peter 2:2, Jesus, John Roebling, Mark Twain, Max Barnett, missions, prayer warrior, Psalm 92, Psalms, salvation, senior adults, Shawn E. Thomas, spiritual disciplines, spiritual foundation, spiritual growth, theodicy, Trinity Baptist Norman OK, witness, word of God | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 14:1-15, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Unwavering Determination” for 7/12/26

Posted on 2026/07/04 by Shawn Thomas

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: You … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "give me this hill country", "Unwavering Determination", aging, Anak, Anakim, application, Baptist, Book of Joshua, Caleb, Explore the Bible, finishing well, giants, illustrations, inheritance, Joshua, Joshua 14, Joshua 14:1-15, Joshua and Caleb, lesson outline, lesson overview, life application, Lifeway, Max Barnett, old age, Promised Land, Shawn E. Thomas, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teacher help, tribes of Israel | 3 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 7:10-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Sin Revealed,” for July 5, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/27 by Shawn Thomas

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Achan, Ache's sin, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Book of Joshua, consecrate yourself, consequences of sin, deterrence, discussion questions, disobedience, example, Explore the Bible, God, holiness, holy, illustrations, Jesus, Joshua, Joshua 7, lesson outline, lesson overview, lesson preview, Lifeway, sanctification, Shawn E. Thomas, sin, Southern Baptist, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Winning Strategy,” for June 28, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/20 by Shawn Thomas

Inclues 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Winning Strategy", apologetics, application, archeology, ban, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Biblical Archeology, Book of Joshua, Canaanites killing, Christianity, commandments, discussion question, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God is just, grace, Holy Spirit, Jericho, Jericho map, Jesus, Joshua, Joshua 6:12-25, justice, lesson outline, Lifeway, obedience, salvation, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, theodicy, under the ban, walls of Jericho | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson “Remembering God’s Works” for June 21, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/13 by Shawn Thomas

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged answered prayers, Baptist, Bible study, Book of Joshua, church, deliverance, discussion questions, do this in remembrance of Me, Ebenezer, Explore the Bible, faith, forgetting God, God, gospel, illustrations, Jesus, Jordan River, Jordan River crossing, Jordan River flood, Joshua, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, memorial, Passover, salvation, scripture, scripture memory, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, University of Oklahoma 2000 National Championship, World War II memorial | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Amazing Grace,” for June 14, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/06 by Shawn Thomas

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "the scarlet thread", Amazing Grace, Bible, Charles Ellet, confession of faith, David McCullough The Great Bridge, deeds, ethics, Explore the Bible, faith, faith and works, for God so loved, God, gospel, grace, is it wrong to lie to an enemy?, James 2, John Newton, Joshua, Joshua 2, Lifeway, lying, public profession, Rehab the prostitute, Rosaria Butterfield, salvation, Sunday School, tetragrammaton, The Letters of John Newton, W.A. Criswell, works of faith, Yahweh | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: “Strong & Courageous” for 6/07/26

Posted on 2026/05/30 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, 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: ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged anxiety, Bible study, big talk, Book of Joshua, church, church staff, courage, discipleship, do not be afraid, do not fear, do the word, doers of the world, Dwight Eisenhower, Explore the Bible, faith, fear, fear not, God's promise, Israel, Jesus, John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage, John Quincy Adams, Joshua, Joshua the son of Nun, Lifeway, meditation, ministry, Moses, pastors, Promised Land, promises, Rick Atkinson An Army at Dawn, scripture, scripture meditation, scripture memorization, servant leadership, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, strength, strong and courageous, success, Sunday school lesson, the new Joshua, timidity, word faith, youth ministry | 11 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 27:27-31, 45-54, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Our Savior,” for 5/31/26

Posted on 2026/05/23 by Shawn Thomas

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Our Savior", At Calvary, At The Cross song, atonement, Baptist Sunday School, Bible, Bible study, Biblical Archeology Society crucifixion, Corrie Ten Boom naked, crucifixion, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, illustrations, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 53 and the cross, Jesus, Jesus death, Jesus on the cross, Laurene Powell father death, lesson helps, lesson outline, life applications, Lifeway, My God My God WHy, Praetorium, propitiation, Psalm 22 and the cross, Psalm 2:2, Roman cohort, sacrificial death, Southern Baptist, spat on, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, the cross, The Roman Centurion, truly this was the son of God, veil of the Temple | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 26:17-30, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Our Atonement,” for 5/24/26

Posted on 2026/05/16 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can use, discussion questions you can share, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION/ILLUSTRATION “Caesar … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Aldrich Ames, application, Baptist, Baptist Faith & Message, Benedict Arnold, betrayal, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Caesar, communion, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God's sovereignty vs Man's responsibility, introduction, Jesus, John R.W. Stott The Cross of Christ, Judas, Julius Caesar betrayal, Larry Helyer The Life and Witness of Peter, Last Supper, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, Lord's Supper table, Matthew, Matthew 26, Matthew 27:17-30, meaning of the Lord's Supper, obedience, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' betrayal, ordinance, Phillip Barlag The History of Rome in 12 Buildings, Roman Catholics, sacrament, salvation, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Southern Baptist, sovereignty vs responsibility, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, triclinium | 2 Comments