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 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

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, John 13:31-14:6, “I Will Come Again”

Posted on 2023/03/11 by Shawn Thomas

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)

Posted on 2023/03/05 by Shawn Thomas

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”

Posted on 2023/03/04 by Shawn Thomas

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

“Jesus Christ: Who He Is, and What He Did” (Revelation 1:5 sermon)

Posted on 2023/02/27 by Shawn Thomas

In 1925, Bruce Barton wrote a book on Jesus Christ entitled, The Man Nobody Knows. He said he was tired of hearing Jesus portrayed as a wimpy, “milk toast” character, and he wanted to show America a Jesus for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons | Tagged authorities, Bill Elliff, Billy Graham, Billy Graham is dead, blood of Jesus, Bruce Barton The Man Nobody Knows, Chris Gore pastor, Christology, could we with ink the ocean fill, doctrine of Jesus, doctrine of trinity, faithful witness, firstborn of the dead, forgiveness, forgiveness of sin, funerals, Galatians 2:20, garment cleaner, God loves me, God's love, heaven, hell, I John 1:7, I love you to the end of the words, I Peter 1:18-19, Jeremiah 2:22, Jesus blood, Jesus Christ, Jesus loves me, kings, Lady Macbeth, Lady Macbeth spot, Lesley Gore Beggs OK, love, love description, Macbeth, marriage, objective truth, released us from our sins, resurrection, revelation, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 1:5 sermon, Revelation sermon, ruler of the kings, salvation, Simply Prayer, sin, sin stain, Spray and Wash, stain of iniquity, stained garment, The Love of God song, Trinity, truth, Who is Jesus | Leave a comment

Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, “Why Wasn’t This Sold?”

Posted on 2023/02/25 by Shawn Thomas

(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:1-11, for Sunday, March 5, 2023 with the title: “Why Wasn’t This Sold?” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged 5 Love Languages, Asbury Revival, Asbury Revival criticism, criticism, discipleship, doing vs talking, Explore the Bible lesson John 12, Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman Five Love Languages, gift, gift of service, God, heart, how to show love, John 12:1-11 Sunday school lesson, judge servant of another, judging, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, love, love God, loving God, loving others, Mary gift, motivation, motives, persecution, quality time, service, Sunday school lesson overview John 12, teacher help John 12, Teacher help John 12:1-11, Theodore Roosevelt Sr quote, time, touch, Why Wasn't This Sold, words of affirmation | 19 Comments

Revelation 1:3-5, “Comfort & Challenge”

Posted on 2023/02/20 by Shawn Thomas

Some of you can really relate to this thought: if you have a child who is in some ways both the greatest comfort and love in your life — but also in other very real ways, a great challenge to … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons | Tagged God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, Harry Lee Poe C.S. Lewis, human nature, Irenaeus trinity, Jesus Revelation, Magellan Laurence Bergreen, Magellan Trinity, Malcolm Yarnell trinity, man nature, Matthew 7 house on rock, Revelation 1 sermon, Revelation 7 churches, Revelation blessed who reads, Revelation read hear keep, Revelation sermon, seven churches in Asia, seven spirits, sin nature, Trinity, Trinity in Revelation, Triune God | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 11:32-46, “I AM The Resurrection”

Posted on 2023/02/18 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 11:32-46, for Sunday, February 26, 2023, wit the title, “I Am The Resurrection.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Do you believe this, Explore the Bible teacher help, faith, funeral story, he whom You love, Jesus Deity, Jesus humanity, Jesus I am the resurrection, Jesus love, Jesus power, Jesus wept, John 11 Sunday school lesson help, John 11 teaching outline, Lazarus Mary Martha, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 11, Lifeway John 11 teacher help, questioning God, questions for God, resurrection, salvation, the one Jesus loved, theodicy, trials, trust in God | 7 Comments

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1-2 sermon)

Posted on 2023/02/13 by Shawn Thomas

In 1957, Jack Warner’s movie “The Spirit of St. Louis,” about Charles Lindbergh’s first-ever flight across the Atlantic Ocean, came out at the theaters. Interestingly, the real Charles Lindbergh took his wife Anne and their three youngest children to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons | Tagged antichrist, blood moons prophecies, bondservant, bondservant of Jesus Christ, Charles DIckens, Charles Lindbergh, day Lord one thousand years, Dionysius Revelation quote, doulos slave, gospel, Hitler antichrist, II Peter 3:3-4, introduction to Revelation sermon, Jesus Christ, Jesus Master, March 2020 COVID, Mike you are my home, Napoleon antichrist, Nicholas Nicholby, Revelation book study Shawn Thomas, Revelation future, Revelation of Jesus Christ, Revelation prophecy, Revelation sermon, Revelation timing, salvation, slaves of Jesus Christ, The Spirit of St Louis Jack Warner | Leave a comment