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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 19:16-30, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Eternal Life" for 4/12/26
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "I AM the Living One" (Revelation 1:17-18 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
Categories
- "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12)
- "The Disciplines of Disciples" series
- "This Is My Story" sermon series
- Beatitudes Series 2020 FBCA
- Book of James Sermons: What Real Faith Looks Like
- COVID-19 crisis assorted messages
- Current Events
- Devotions/Bible Studies
- Discipleship
- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
- Doctrine/Theology
- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
- Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
- Home & Family Life
- I Peter sermons
- India Mission Trip 2011
- Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series
- Luke 2 Christmas series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- missions
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- Psalms studies and messages
- Revelation sermon series
- Reviews
- Sermon Illustrations
- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Author Archives: Shawn Thomas
“Stars and Lampstands” (Revelation 1:12-20 sermon)
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
“The Glorious Vision” (Revelation 1:12-17 sermon)
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
“The Lord’s Day Message to John Your Brother” (Revelation 1:9-11 sermon)
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”
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
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, John 13:31-14:6, “I Will Come Again”
A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible Study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 13:31-14:6, with the title, “I Will Come Again,” scheduled for Sunday, March 19, 2023. A video version of this overview is … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Acts 4:12, C.S. Lewis heaven, disappointment, discouragement, Explore the Bible John 14 teacher help, Falls Creek story, glory, Hadrian Aristides quote, heaven, heavenly minded earthly good, I John 5:12, Jesus only way, John 13 Sunday school lesson, John 14 SS lesson, John 14:6, Joplin tornado testimony, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 13 and 14, love, Oliver Wendell Holmes heavenly minded, Psalm 16:11, Richard Feynman love, salvation, sin, stress, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher helps, they love one another quote
11 Comments
“Our Glorious King” (Revelation 1:6-7 sermon)
In 1941, Lyndon B. Johnson was running for U.S. Senate from Texas in a time when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was very popular. So in a deft political masterstroke, Johnson decided to totally align his campaign with the President. His … Continue reading
Posted in Revelation sermon series
Tagged a kingdom of priests, Asbury Revival, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Daniel 7 Son of Man, Ephesians 3:12, glory to Jesus, Hebrews 4:16, I Peter 2:5, I Peter 2:9, I Timothy 2:5, incense, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus glory, Jesus Jesus Jesus, Jesus second coming, John F. Kennedy death, Lyndon B. Johnson, Matthew 24, Matthew 24 Son of Man, no celebrities except Jesus, prayer, prayer as incense, priesthood of the believer, Psalm 5:3, return of Jesus, return of the King, Revelation 1 sermon, Revelation 1:6, Revelation 20:5, Revelation 5:10, Roosevelt Roosevelt Roosevelt, Son of Man, The King is Coming, worthy is the Lamb
2 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 12:20-33, “If It Dies”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:20-33, “If It Dies,” for Sunday, March 12, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "The Joel Osteen Sermon That Changed Oprah's Life", Blaise Pascal quote, born to die, chief end of man, commitment, evangelism, Explore the Bible, follow Jesus, glorify God, glory, God, God's Purpose, I Corinthians 10:31, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 12 teaching help, John 12:20-33 Sunday School lesson overview, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 12, missions, seeds, some said it thundered, Sunday school lesson help John 12, teacher's help John 12 Sunday school lesson, Tim Challies Joel Ostend sermon, we would see Jesus, Westminster Catechism, witness
9 Comments
shawnethomas 