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.

“The Church That Was Tested” (Revelation 2:8-11 sermon)

Posted on 2023/05/08 by Shawn Thomas

Some of you know that in 2012 I went through an illness that put me out of the ministry for two years. I lost my job, my income, we had to sell our home, and many of our possessions. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series | Tagged abortion, be faithful, Bible, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Churches of Revelation 2-3, doctrine, don't give up, faithful, faithfulness, false religion, hate crimes, homosexuality, it was good for me that I was afflicted, Jesus only way, Jesus Satan brothers, Jonathan Edwards, Letter to Smyrna, Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain, Mormon Church, Nik Ripken, perseverance, POTS, poverty, Psalm 119, Reproductive Freedom Church, revelation, Revelation 2:8-11, Revelation sermon, Revelation Smyrna, RFC, Rich Man and Lazarus, ten days, testing, testing limits, tests, The African Queen, tribulation | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 19:17-30, “It Is Finished”

Posted on 2023/05/06 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of John 19:17-30, “It Is Finished,” for Sunday, May 14, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Bible prophecy, cast lots for clothes, crucifixion, crucifixion Josephus, David McCullough The Pioneers, Explore the Bible John 19:17-30, fulfilled scripture, honor your father and mother, I am thirsty, I Peter 2:24, It is finished, Jesus knowing, John 19:17-30 Lifeway, Koine Greek, legalism, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Mel Gibson Passion of the Christ, paid in full, Psalm 22, Sunday school lesson help John 19:17-30, teacher help John 19, tetelestai | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 18:28-40, “I Find No Fault”

Posted on 2023/04/30 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 18:28-40 for Sunday, May 7, 2023 with the title: “I Find No Fault.” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Barabbas, Barabbas substitute, Christian militarism, church, church goals, evangelism, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson John 18, Henry Neil Mallon George H.W. Bush, hypocrisy, I Peter 1:19, Jesus on trial, John 18 Sunday school help, Jon Meachan Destiny and Power, Lifeway, male without blemish, Pilate, Pilate what is truth, Robert Caro Lyndon Johnson biography, sacrifice, substitutionary atonement, Sunday school teacher help John 18, truth, what is truth | 11 Comments

“The Church That Left Their First Love” (Revelation 2:1-7 sermon)

Posted on 2023/04/24 by Shawn Thomas

Cheryl & I are so grateful for the kids God blessed us with; but sometimes they can be a little bit stubborn. (I wonder where they got that …). Our boys ran track in high school, and one time one … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series | Tagged all your heart, Church at Ephesus sermon, Churches of Revelation, deeds, do, Ephesus first love, first love, God is love, going through the motions, He who has an ear, heart, I John 4:8, I used to, Jeremiah 2 love, Jesus, Jesus letter to Ephesus, letter to Ephesus, Lewis Allen, love, Luke 15, Luke 15 repentance, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Matthew 23:23, Prodigal Son, Psalm 42, Rare Encounters With Extraordinary Birds, remember, remember repent do, repent, repentance, Revelation 2 sermon, Revelation 2:1-7, tee ball, The Most Important Thing, The Preacher's Catechism | 3 Comments

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson John 18:1-11, “I Am He”

Posted on 2023/04/22 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 18:1-11 for Sunday, April 30, 2023, “I Am He.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Explore the Bible, favorite actors, gospel, Hernando Cortez, Islam and the sword, Jesus, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, Jesus I AM, John 18 lesson help, John 18 Sunday school lesson, John 18:1-11, Judas, Lifeway, Richard Bauckham, salvation, Simon Peter, slave Malchus, Sunday school teacher help | 4 Comments

“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 →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Christian unity, eternal life, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson help, glory, gospel of glory, how to pray, Jesus High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayer, Jesus prayer John 17, Jesus prays, John 17, John 17 Bible Study, John 17 Sunday School lesson, John 17 teacher help, John 17:13-26, Lifeway, Lifeway lesson John 17, Lifeway Sunday school lesson, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Matthew 6 Lord's Prayer, mission, model prayer, prayer, prayer outline, salvation, sanctification, service, spiritual protection, The Lord's Prayer, The Model Prayer, Trinity, Trinity love, unity, what is eternal life?, your word is truth | 4 Comments

“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 | 1 Comment