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.

“Jesus’ Letters To His Churches” (Revelation 2 & 3 sermon)

Posted on 2023/04/17 by Shawn Thomas

Have you ever kept a letter someone sent to you, that means a lot to you? Maybe it was a love letter from your husband or wife while you were dating. Cheryl has a group of letters I sent her, … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series | Tagged "you've got mail", 7 Churches of Revelation, angel messenger, angel of the church, angelos, fog of battle, Francis Crick, General George Marshall, God knows, Greek nikao, He who has an ear, I know, Jesus I know, Jesus Letters to Churches, Jesus' message, letter to Ephesus, master key, Nike, overcomer, overcomers, pay attention to My words, Proverbs 4:20, revelation, Stephen Hawking God | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 17:13-26, “I Pray”

Posted on 2023/04/15 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 17:13-26 for Sunday, April 23, 2023. (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: Several years ago … Continue reading →

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“I AM the Living One” (Revelation 1:17-18 sermon)

Posted on 2023/04/10 by Shawn Thomas

It’s interesting to read the little “Twitter bios” people have on their Twitter home page, which give a brief introduction about themselves to those who read their tweets. Some of them are pretty straightforward, like: “I am a husband, father, … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series | Tagged anxiety, beautiful death, Bill Elliff, Bill Elliff Simply Prayer, do not be afraid Jesus, Elizabeth Barrett Browning death, famous last words, fear, First and Last, God fear, He can control all we fear, I am the Resurrection, Isaiah first and last, Jesus, Jesus alive, Jesus Christ Revelation, Jesus Deity, Jesus First and Last, Jesus God, Jesus I AM, Jesus keys, Jesus Living One, Jesus power over death, Jesus resurrection, Jim Bernhard Final Chapters, John 11:25-26, John Newton, John Newton Amazing Grace, keys of death, Mohammed, Mohammed relic, Revelation 1, Revelation 1 sermon, Romans 1:4, Ronnie Rogers pastor, Twitter bio, William Saroyan | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 15:26-16:16, “When the Spirit Comes”

Posted on 2023/04/08 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson on John 15:26-27, 16:7-16 for Sunday, April 16, 2023, “When The Spirit Comes.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Arab oil embargo, Baptist Faith & Message 2000, Baptist Faith and Message, Bible Study Holy Spirit, conviction of sin, Ephesians 1:13, Explore the Bible, God the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, hymn Come Thou Almighty King, I Corinthians 14:24, Jimmy Carter, John Newton, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 15-16, paraclete, parakaleo, Parakletos, sealed Holy Spirit, sin, sin righteousness judgment, Sunday school lesson help John 15, Sunday school lesson Holy Spirit, Sunday school lesson John 15 and 16, Trinity | 6 Comments

“Stars and Lampstands” (Revelation 1:12-20 sermon)

Posted on 2023/04/03 by Shawn Thomas

One thing you notice when you move from out of state, to Texas, is how popular the flag of the State of Texas is here. Texas flags are everywhere, flying from homes, schools, and businesses — and decorating ice chests … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series | Tagged Revelation 1 lampstands, Revelation 1 sermon, Revelation 1 stars, Revelation sermon, Revelation sermon series | Leave a comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 20:1-18 “I Have Seen”

Posted on 2023/04/01 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 20:1-18 for Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Frank … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Arnold Toynbee quote, C.S. Lewis The Resurrection, Easter Sunday Sunday School lesson, Frank Morrison Who Moved the Stone, Islam, Jesus prophecy resurrection, Joe Namath I guarantee it, John 20 Bible study lesson, John 20 Explore the Bible lesson, John 20 Sunday School lesson, John 20 Sunday School teacher help, John 20:1-18, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 20, Matthew 28 resurrection of Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus resurrection, personal relationship, prophecies of Jesus resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, Romans 1:4 resurrection | 8 Comments

“The Glorious Vision” (Revelation 1:12-17 sermon)

Posted on 2023/03/27 by Shawn Thomas

George Washington was not only “the father of our country” and one of the greatest men in American history, he also LOOKED the part. Historian Ron Chernow writes: “People were transfixed by Washington’s lean, virile presence. … Washington had … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons | Tagged awe, Daniel 7 Ancient of Days, Daniel 7 Son of Man, David McCullough Harry Truman, eyes a flame of fire, George Washington, George Washington uniform, glory, Harry Truman, heaven, humility, Jesus eternity, Jesus glory, Jesus holiness, Jesus majesty, Jesus purity, Jesus Revelation, Jesus right hand, Jesus sword, Jesus word, John MacArthur, John Revelation, Jonathan Alter Jimmy Carter, popcorn snow, Revelation 1 sermon, Revelation 1:12-17, reverence, right hand, Ron Chernow, salvation, shining like the sun, Son of Man, vision of Jesus, witness | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 15:1-17, “Remain In Me”

Posted on 2023/03/25 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 15:1-7 for Sunday, April 2, 2023, with the title, “Remain In Me.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading →

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“The Lord’s Day Message to John Your Brother” (Revelation 1:9-11 sermon)

Posted on 2023/03/20 by Shawn Thomas

About a month ago, February 8, an assistant soccer coach at a small Christian college got up to speak in chapel, gave his message and the invitation, and left the chapel. As he left he sent his wife a text: … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons | Tagged 7th Day Adventists, 7th Day Baptists, Alan Jacobs, Asbury revival preacher, Civil War stor, Civil War Story, Harry Potter, Hebrews 10:24-25, I Corinthians 16:2, In the Spirit, John Revelation, kingdom, kingdom work, Lord's servant, Nathaniel Philbrick Mayflower, perseverance, pilgrims, plan of salvation, Revelation 1, Revelation 1 sermon, Sabbath, salvation, Samuel Rutherford, Simply Prayer Bill Elliff, Sunday worship, the Lord's Day, The Pleasures of Reading | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 14:16-29 “Peace I Leave”

Posted on 2023/03/18 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 14: 16-29 for Sunday, March 26, 2023, with the title, “Peace I Leave.” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged anxiety, disciples questions, Doctrine of the Trinity, Holy Spirit person, Jesus, John 14 Sunday school lesson help, John 14:16-29 Sunday school lesson help, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Nabeel Qureshi, paraclete, parakaleo, Paraklete, peace, Philippians 4 anxiety, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Sunday school teacher help John 14, Trinity, Trinity illustration, trinity mystery, Triune | 15 Comments