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.
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)
- "The Church That Left Their First Love" (Revelation 2:1-7 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
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway Explore the Bible: Amos 4:1-13, “Turn to God
(A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Amos 4:1-13, for Sunday, September 11, 2022, with the title, “Turn To God.” A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged 2013 Norman tornado, Amos 4:1-13, Bible, Book of Amos, chastisements, child discipline, cows of Bashan, Explore the Bible lesson Amos 4:1-13, forgiveness, Jesus, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Prepare to meet your God, punishment, redemptive punishment, return to Me, sin, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher helps, teacher help for Amos 4:1-13, warning signs
2 Comments
“What God Wants From Us” (Micah 6:8 sermon)
Both the public schools, and our Angleton Christian School have resumed classes now. And I’m sure as classes began, most teachers shared with their students their expectations, right from the beginning: here’s how we need you to act, in your … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged Battle Abbey, business ethics, court packing, discipleship, do justice love mercy walk humbly, ephah, George Norris FDR court packing, grace, help from God, humility, I need help, Julius Caesar mercy, justice, Lady Justice, mercy, Micah 6:8 sermon, Percy Bysshe Shelley death, Pharisee and publican, pride vs humility, rich young ruler, salvation, William the Conqueror
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Teachers Overview of Explore the Bible Amos 2:4-16, “Listen To God”
(A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible Study leaders of the Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson of Amos 2:4-16, for Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, “Listen to God.” The video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Amos, Amos 2:4-16, bible study help, daily Bible reading, Explore the Bible Amos 2:4-16, Israel, Judah, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Minor Prophets, scripture application, Shepherd, Sunday school lesson overview Amos 2:4-16, Sunday school teacher help
4 Comments
“The Spirit In Us” (Romans 8:9-17sermon)
In Acts Chapter 19, the Apostle Paul is on his way to Ephesus, and he comes across some disciples. He asked them: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him: “No, we have not even … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged Abba Father, Acts 8 Philip and Ethiopian, assurance, assurance of salvation, Bill Gaither I'm not what I was, Charles Wesley, Charles Wesley and Moravians, Charlie Chaplin, DNA, doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Doctrine of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, holiness, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit and salvation, Holy Spirit and sanctification, Holy Spirit conviction, Isaiah 30:21, John Newton I am not what I used to be, John Wesley, leadership of Holy Spirit, plan of salvation, Romans 8, Romans 8 Holy Spirit, Romans 8:9-17, salvation, sanctification, spirit, test of salvation, Trinity, Wesley salvation
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Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson: II Kings 22:8-20
A brief overview of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of II Kings 22:8-20 for Sun., Aug. 28, 2022 “God Moves.” A video version of the overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Have you ever been cleaning up, or digging … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews, Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
Tagged August 28 2022 Lifeway lesson help, Bible, Bible application, church, daily Bible reading, Explore the Bible II Kings 22:8-20, Explore the Bible lesson help, Explore the Bible teacher help, I Timothy 4:12, II Kings 22:8-20, Josianic Revival, King Josiah, Lifeway lesson for 8/28/22, Lifeway lesson help, pastors, Prophetess Huldah, public reading of scripture, word of God
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“Gratitude: Your First Step Towards God” (Romans 1:21 sermon)
When John F. Kennedy was president, he was at a dinner one evening when an assistant defense secretary’s wife told him that every night when her husband comes home, she says to him: “How can they say those things about … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Adam and Eve ingratitude, church, Colossians 3:17, creation, daily devotions, Dallek Camelot's Court, Einstein and God, family, forgiveness, giving thanks, gratefulness, gratitude, how to pray, I Corinthians 6:9-11, I Thessalonians 5:18, ingratitude, John F. Kennedy, leper Count Your Many Blessings, marriage, negativity, practicing thanksgiving, prayer, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 95:2, quiet time, relationships, Romans 1:21, salvation, sin, steps to God, thanking God, thanks, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving prayers
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“Explore the Bible” Lesson Overview: II Kings 19:10-19, 32-34, “God Hears”
(A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of II Kings 19, for Sunday, August 21, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Ask your … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 911 history, answered prayers, God is our 911, Hezekiah's prayer, how to pray, II Kings 19, II Kings 19 "God Hears" lesson help, II Kings 19 King Hezekiah, intercession, King Hezekiah, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Lifeway Explore the Bible II Kings 19, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, model prayer, prayer
9 Comments
“For All Of Us” (Isaiah 53:6 sermon)
I remember when I was a boy, growing up at the First Baptist Church of Harrah, Oklahoma, our pastor (Hoyt Aduddell) had just preached one of those messages that sticks with you for some reason. The reason this particular message … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged all have sinned, all we like sheep, atonement, BP oil spill, Exxon Valdez, I Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 53:6, It is well with my soul, Jesus cross, Messiah, my sin o the bliss, respond to the gospel, response, Romans 10:13, RSVP, Ruthanna Metzger RSVP, salvation, sheep, sin, substitute, substitutionary atonement, Suffering Servant
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Lifeway “Explore the Bible” II Kings 17:7-20 teachers’ overview: “God Judges”
A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Sunday, August 14, 2022, “God Judges.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: You could ask your … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
Tagged Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson August 14 2022, Explore the Bible lesson II Kings 17:7-20, God, God as Judge, God Judges, idolatry, lesson overview, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Lifeway Sunday school lesson help, President Andrew Jackson, Samaritans origin, Sunday school lesson help, teacher helps, worship
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