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 of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Honor” for 5/03/26

Posted on 2026/04/25 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 22 for May 3, 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged application, Bible study, California COVID crisis 2020, California worship restrictions 2020 COVID, church and state, commandments, denarius, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, flattery, God, government overreach, Great Commandment, greatest commandment, Herodians, I'm good for love, illustrations, Jesus, lesson preview, Lifeway, love, love the LORD your God, love your neighbor, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Passion Week, Pharisees, render to Caesar, Romans 13 submission to government, Ronald Reagan age an issue, Shawn E. Thomas, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, Tiberius Caesar, trap of flattery, What is the greatest commandment? | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Authority,” for 4/26/26.

Posted on 2026/04/18 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 21 for April 26, 2026. 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged authority, authority figure, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Carl Trueman, elders, evangelism, Explore the Bible, fear, fear of man, Franklin Graham testimony, fruit, God, gospel, Jesus, John G. West Stockholm syndrome Christianity, John Newton, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 21, Matthew 21:23-32, metamello, once saved always saved, parable, peer pressure, presbuteros, regret, repentance, revelation, salvation, Sanhedrin, Shawn E. Thomas, social imaginary, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, tale of two sons, witnessing, you will know them by their fruit | 3 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Grace,” for 4/19, 2026

Posted on 2026/04/11 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 overview is available on YouTube at: (Let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Bible context, C.S. Lewis Great Divorce, Christian service, context, Dave Ramsey better than I deserve, day laborers, discipleship, Ephesians 2, Explore the Bible, God, gospel, grace, grace giving, Jesus, judgment, Kingdom of Heaven, lesson outline, Lifeway, Mary and Martha, Matthew 20, Matthew 20:1-16, parable, Parable of the Landowner, rewards, rewards in heaven, salvation, Sarah Smith from Golders Green, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher | 16 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 19:16-30, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Eternal Life” for 4/12/26

Posted on 2026/04/04 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/ILLUSTRATION: “In … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Baptist, Benjamin Franklin moral perfection, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, C.S. Lewis The Great Divorce, Dwight Eisenhower and Billy Graham, eternal life, eternal salvation, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, George Barna survey, God, good works, gospel, gospel in a nutshell, heaven, how can I know that I am going to heaven, how can I know that I have eternal life, James 2:1, Jesus, John 17:3, Juan Ponce de Leon, keep the commandments, Law, lesson help, lesson outline, Lifeway, marshmallow test, Matthew, Matthew 19, Matthew 5:3, New heaven and new earth, New Jerusalem, partiality, partiality to rich, poor in spirit, poverty in spirit, regeneration, rewards, rich, rich young ruler, salvation, salvation in a nutshell, Samuel Rutherford, Shawn E. Thomas, sin, Southern Baptist, spiritual pride, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, with God all things are possible, with men this is impossible, www.shawnethomas.com | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, “Our Task,” Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26

Posted on 2026/03/28 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 28 for April 5, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, discussion questions for your group, illustrations you can share, and spiritual life applications you … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "call your shot" meaning, "Our Task", Abraham Lincoln death, Acts 1:8, Adoniran Judson, applying scripture, baptism, baptizo, Bible, Book of Matthew, C.S. Lewis grave, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, discipleship, do not be afraid, Easter, Easter Sunday lesson, evangelism, Explore the Bible, famous graves, fear, God, good news, gospel, grave, Great Commission, Harry Truman David McCullough, imperative make disciples, Islam, Jesus, Jesus is alive, Joe McKeever story, Laurence Bergreen Over the Edge of the World, life application, Lifeway, Lo I am with you, Magellan, Matthew, Matthew 28:1-10 16-20, Matthew 2:8, missions, obedience, Old Testament prophecy of Jesus resurrection, proskenesis, proskuneo, resurrection of Jesus, scripture, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday School teacher, teaching, word of God, worship, Yoiunghoom Kim | 2 Comments

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged 70 x 7, as we forgive, Baptist, Biblical talent, Bill Elliff, Book of Matthew, C.S. Lewis forgiveness, Craig Blomberg, denarius, Erika Kirk forgiveness, Explore the Bible, forgive the inexcusable, forgive us our debts, forgiveness, forgiving debts, forgiving others, George Wetmore Colles, God's Forgiveness, gospel, grace, Jerome Kerviel, lesson overview, Lifeway, Marie Beth Jones, Matthew, Matthew 18, Matthew 18:21-35, model prayer, poor in spirit, redemption, salvation, Simon Peter, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school illustrations, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday School teacher, unforgiveness | 3 Comments

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, awe, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, C.S. Lewis Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis The Weight of Glory, definition of glory, discipleship, discussion questiions, Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rivals, doxa, Elijah, eternity, Explore the Bible, glorified, glory, glory of God, Glory of Jesus, God, gospel, heaven, Holy Spirit, illustrations, Jesus, Jesus Himself alone, lesson preview, Lifeway, Lindy Boggs, Martin Luther terror, Matthew, Matthew 17, Matthew 17:1-13, Moses, Mount of Transfiguration, Mt. Hermon, Mt. Tabor, Peter, reverence, saints glory, Shawn E. Thomas, shekinah glory, Simon Peter, Southern Baptist, spiritual life, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, tabernacle, This is My Beloved Son, time, timing is everything | 3 Comments

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged atonement, baptism, Baptist, Baptist Sunday school lesson, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Caesarea Philippi, Carl Trueman, cheap grace, Christ the Son of the Living God, Christos Kurios, confession of faith, cost of discipleship, cross, deny your self, discipleship, Explore the Bible, expressive individualism, follow Me, following Jesus, gates of hell, God, gospel, Holy Spirit, Jack Phillips baker, Jesus, Jesus death, Jesus is Lord, Jesus Messiah, Kaisar Kurios, Lifeway, lose your soul, Louis Slotkin, Matthew, Matthew 16:13-26, Matthew 1:6, on this rock, persecution, Peter, Peter pope, profession of faith, resisting temptation, sacrifice, salvation, self, Shawn Thomas, Simon Peter, soul, Southern Baptist, substitutionary atonement, Sunday School, take up your cross, temptation, The Glory and the Dream, Who is Jesus, William Manchester, Winston Churchill, www.shawnethomas.com | 8 Comments

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

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged A.B. Bruce, Alfred Edersheim, Baptist, Baptist Faith & Message 2000, Bible, Bible and tradition, Bible study, Book of Matthew, born again, Catholic Church authority, Christianity and food, churches, commandment, Corban, criticism, critics, elders, Explore the Bible, God, gospel, hand washing, heart, heart disease, heart of the problem, heart transplant, Jack Tillery, Jesus, Jews, Life group, Lifeway, Marcus Aurelius, Martin Luther, Matthew, Matthew 15, Matthew 15:1-11, Matthew 23, Meditations, new heart, New Testament and food, pastors, Rabbi Akiba, scribes and Pharisees, scripture, Shawn Thomas, show me scripture, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday School teacher, Talmud, tradition, tradition of the elders, tradition vs commandment, www.shawnethomas.com | 3 Comments

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Baptist, Bible study, do not be afraid, Explore the Bible, faith, fear, fear not, God, Hebrews 12 fixing eyes on Jesus, Hurricane Rita, Jesus, Jesus and fear, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 14, Matthew 14:22-33, Olivier Messiaen, Psalm 107, Rich Mullins, Shawn Thomas, Southern Baptist, still the storm, storm on the sea, storm stories, storms, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, test of faith, tests, trials, www.shawnethomas.com | 2 Comments