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.
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Top Posts & Pages
- Romans 7:4-6, 14-25 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Struggle," for 10/11/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Romans 6:1-14, Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Freedom," for October 4, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Romans 5:1-11, 18-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Restored Relationship, for 9/27/26.
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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
“The Church That Left Their First Love” (Revelation 2:1-7 sermon)
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”
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
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 17:13-26, “I Pray”
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
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“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
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