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)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 19:16-30, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Eternal Life" for 4/12/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 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 Greatest Verse in the Bible?” (John 3:16 sermon)
People often enjoy discussing who or what “the greatest” is in different areas of life. A new acronym has arisen in light of that: “GOAT,” which stands for “Greatest of All Time.” The first time I saw that, it was … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged airplane trust, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, eternal life, eternal life definition, eternal life meaning, everlasting life, faith, for God so loved, Galatians 2:20, GOAT, greatest travel destination, greatest verse in the Bible, heaven, how to be saved, how to go to heaven, invitation, John 17:3, John 3:16, John 3:16 sermon, Jonathan Edwards, love, sacrifice Jesus, saving faith, this is eternal life, Tom Brady GOAT, trust in Jesus, Whoever will call, whosoever surely meaneth me, whosoever will may come, Winston Churchill son Randolph
4 Comments
Lifeway Explore the Bible: Hosea 14:1-9 “The Restoration Promised”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Sunday, November 6, 2022, “The Restoration Promised, from Hosea 14:1-9. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible study, Billy Graham Peace With God, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, cedar of Lebanon, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible teacher helps Hosea 14:1-9, false gods, false hope, false trust, Hosea 14 lesson outline, Hosea 14:1-9, how to be saved, India gods, iniquity definition, iniquity meaning, Israel, Jesus, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson Hosea 14:1-9, lily, olive tree, prayer of faith, prayer of salvation, repent, repentance and faith, repentance meaning, salvation, Samaria, sinners prayer, Sunday school teacher help, The Restoration Promised Sunday school lesson, witness, witnessing
9 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Hosea 10:5-15 “The Sin Harvested”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Sunday, October 30, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: ??? You might ask your class … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Alexander the Great Theban revolt, Beth aven, Bethel, E.W. Starling George Anderson, Explore the Bible Hosea 10:5-15, Explore the Bible lesson help, Galatians 6 reap what you sow, gospel, how to be saved, Israel idolatry, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, Rod Masteller, salvation, sin, sow and reap, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school lesson outline Hosea 10:5-15, Sunday school teacher help Hosea 10:5-15, wisteria
12 Comments
“How To Run The Christian Race” (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
For most of my adult like I ran for exercise, although I was never very fast. When we lived in Tulsa back in the 1990’s (when I was in my 30’s) I was probably in the best shape of my … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged Amy Grant Faith Walking People, Bible Reading, bitterness, Box Hill, Cherry Street Mile Tulsa, Christian life, Christian life not a sprint, Christian race, daily devotions, discipleship, endurance, England trip, entanglements, faith, feelings, fix your eyes on Jesus, forgiveness, friends, George Washington Delaware, Hebrews 12:1-2, holiness, ministry, not a sprint a marathon, one foot in front of the other, PE run, Peter what about this man, running, salvation, sanctification, say goodbye to the feelings, sin, two masters, your race
2 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway Explore The Bible: Hosea 6:1-7:2 “The Hollow Promises”
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Hosea 6 & 7 for Sunday, October 23, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: (Following … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Alexander the Great, Explore the Bible lesson help, Explore the Bible lesson Hosea 6 & 7, George Washington, Hollow Promises, Hosea 6:1-7:2 Explore the Bible teacher help, Hosea Bible Study, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, repentance, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help, Sunday school teacher help Hosea 6 & 7
10 Comments
“The Incomparable Christ” (Hebrews 1:1-4 sermon)
The name of John Hay is not very well known today, but in the 1800s he was one of the most influential men in America. He was Secretary of State under Theodore Roosevelt, but he began his career as a … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts 4:12, angel Gabriel, angel Michael, angels, Colossians 1:15, false prophets, forgiveness of sins, glory of God, Hebrews 1 sermon, Hebrews 1:1-4 sermon, Islam, Jesus, Jesus angels, Jesus Christ, Jesus cross, Jesus glory, Jesus God's fairest reflection, Jesus God's final revelation, Jesus name above all names, Jesus redeemer, Jesus sat down, Jesus son of God, Joseph Smith, Matthew 24:24, radiance of His glory, the Bab, The Incomparable Christ
1 Comment
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” Sunday School lesson: Jonah 4
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of a potential lesson plan for teaching Jonah Chapter 4:1-11 from the Lifeway “Explore the Bible” material for Sunday October 9, 2022. A video version of this overview is … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Book of Jonah, Carroll Keach LBJ chauffeur, Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities, Christian life, comfort, criticism church, evangelism, gospel, Jonah 4, Jonah 4 Sunday School lesson help, Jonah 4 Sunday School lesson overview, Jonah 4 Sunday School teacher help, Lyndon Johnson Robert Caro, misplaced passion, spectator Christianity
7 Comments
“Your Spiritual Armor” (Ephesians 6:10-20 sermon)
One of the things I have appreciated about living here in Angleton is the cooperation between the local police and the pastors of the town. We have regular lunches with the police and first responders and talk about various issues … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Angleton police, armor of God, Bible, Billy Graham Peace With God, Charles Wesley testimony, Christian armor, demons, devil, dream, Ephesians 6 armor of God, Ephesians 6 sermon, Ephesians 6 spiritual armor, Ephesians 6 spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6:10-20 sermon, Ernest Hemingway life is a combat, flaming missiles of the enemy, girded loins, God's plan, God's provision, gospel, gospel in a nutshell, gospel presentation, gospel tract, helmet of salvation, I Corinthians 15 gospel, II Corinthians 10:3-4, II Corinthians 5:21, Jesus Matthew 4 temptation, man's need, man's response, prayer, preparation of the gospel, righteousness, righteousness of Christ, Satan's darts, shield of faith, spiritual armor, spiritual warfare, sword of the Spirit, truth, word of God
5 Comments
shawnethomas 