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.

Teacher’s Overview of I Peter 2:1-10, “Our Identity,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for 3/16/25

Posted on 2025/03/08 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday school teacher and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of I Peter 2:1-10, with the title of “Our Identity,” for Sunday March 16, 2025. A video version of this overview is available at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Explore the Bible lesson, I Peter 2:1-10, Lifeway, Our Identity | 10 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of I Peter 1:13-25, “Our Mandate,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for 3/09/25

Posted on 2025/03/01 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 1:13-25, for Sunday, March 9, 2025, with the title, “Our Mandate.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Our Mandate", "therefore living", accountability to God, agape love, agape vs philadelphia love, Andrew Jackson judgment, Bible, Bible application, blood of Jesus, brotherly love, Christian life, church, Explore the Bible, Francis Schaeffer, George Muller prayer, gird up your loins, gird your minds for action, gospel, grow in love, holy, How Should We Then Live?, I Corinthians 6:19-20, I Peter, I Peter 1, I Peter 1:13-25, II Corinthians 5:10, Jesus blood, Jon Meacham Andrew Jackson, judgment, judgment seat of Christ, Leviticus holy, Lifeway, love, love based living, love in church, Romans 12:1, salvation, sanctification, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teacher help, therefore, Tim Keller prayer, word of God, word-based living, you shall be holy | 12 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 1:3-12, “Our Inheritance” for 3/02/25

Posted on 2025/02/22 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson” for March 2, 2025, “Our Inheritance,” with the text of I Peter 13-12. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Our Inheritance", Bible, Bible study, born again, Charles Dickens Great Expectations, Christianity, Daniel, eternal security, Explore the Bible, faith, George Washington, George Washington inheritance, glory, God, gospel, heaven, heaven reward, How Firm A Foundation, I know whom I have believed, I Peter, I Peter 1, imperishable, inheritance, it's not all about you, Jesus, John 3:3, John 3:7, kept in heaven, lesson help, lesson outline, Lifeway, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus, Peter, Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bithynia, power of God, prophets, reward, Romans 8:18, Ron Chernow, salvation, saving faith, selflessness, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, term Great Expectations, the soul that on Jesus, we're not home yet, you must be born again | 13 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Leviticus 26:1-13, “Holy Living,” for Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025

Posted on 2025/02/15 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Leviticus 26:1-13, with the title, “Holy Living,” for Sunday, February 23, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Holy Living", Agatha Christie autobiography, blessings, blessings of holiness, commandments, commands, David McCullough Harry Truman, day of atonement, dwelling, Eden Regained, Explore the Bible, glory, God, God glory, gospel, Hebrews 12:14, holiness, Jesus, John 15:10 If you love Me keep My commandments, John Milton Paradise Lost, John Newton, keep My commandments, lesson outline, Leviticus, Leviticus 26:1-13, Lifeway, Lord, nearness of God, obedience, obedience is the best test, Paradise Restored, Psalm 73:28, salvation, sanctification, Shebani, spiritual blessings, spirituality, Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, tabernacle, teacher help, Truman himself, ultimate blessing, Yahweh, YHWH, you shall be holy for I am holy | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview of Leviticus 16:1-10, 29-30, “Atonement” Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for 2/16/25

Posted on 2025/02/08 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Leviticus 16, for Sunday, February 16, 2025, with the title, “Atonement.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Aaron, Alfred Dreyfus, atonement, Azazel, Baptist, Barabbas substitute, books of Moses, clean, covered, day of atonement, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson, forgiveness, glory of God, God, God's glory, gospel, Hebrews 7, holy holy holy, Holy of Holies, hymn holy holy holy, I Peter 2:24, Jesus, Law, Law of Moses, Leviticus, Leviticus 16, Leviticus 16:1-10, Lifeway, man, mercy seat, Moses, Mrs. O'Leary's cow, My Savior's Love, Pentateuch, Psalm 3:2, Reflections on the Existence of God, repentance, Richard E. Simmons III, Romans 3:23, sacrifice, salvation, scapegoat, sin, sin nature, sin offering, Southern Baptist Sunday School, substitutionary atonement, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, tabernacle, teacher help, thank You for the cross Lord, though the darkness hide Thee, yom, Yom Kippur | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Leviticus 9:15-10:3, “Separation,” Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Feb. 9, 2025

Posted on 2025/02/01 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson of Leviticus 9:15-10:3, with the title of “Separation,” for Sunday, February 9, 2025. A video version of this lesson is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "course he isn't safe. But he's good", A Leopard Tamed, Aaron, Aslan, balance, balance in worship, Bible, books of Moses, C.S. Lewis, day of atonement, Eleanor Vandevort, Explore the Bible, family first, for You are with me, glory, glory of God, God, gospel, Hebrews 12:29, I am the way, Jesus, John 14:6, John MacArthur, John Newton, L. Michael Morales, lesson outline, Letters of John Newton, Leviticus, Leviticus 9:15-10:3, Lifeway, Lion Witch Wardrobe, Moses, Nadab and Abihu, ox sacrifice, Psalm 23, sacrifice, separation, Southern Baptist Sunday school lesson, strange fire, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the Law, the Torah, Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord, worship, worship practices, worship services | 15 Comments

“A Biblical Farewell” (Acts 20:18-32)

Posted on 2025/01/26 by Shawn Thomas

(On the occasion of my retirement from First Baptist Church, Angleton, TX, Sunday, January 26, 2025) So what do you say to someone when you’re seeing them for the last time? It’s very difficult. Quite honestly, a lot of times … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged Acts, Acts 20, Acts 20 sermon, Apostle Paul, Bible, children, Christianity, daily Bible reading, elders, Ephesian elders, faith, farewell, Father's hands, God, God the Father, good bye sermon, gospel, Henry V, I commit you to God, I know whom I have believed, In Christ Alone, intercessory prayer, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the answer, Mark Dever, nothing in my hand I bring, pastor, pastor retirement, Paul, prayer, Prodigal Son, read the directions, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, retirement, salvation, saving faith, scripture, Shakespeare, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas retirement, sin, We're in God's hands brother, why should I let you into my heaven, word of God | 5 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Exodus 40:16-21 and 34-38, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for 2/02/25.

Posted on 2025/01/25 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders who are teaching Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38, “Inhabited,” for Sunday February 2, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Bible, Blaise Pascal, Exodus 40, Exodus 40:16-21, Explore the Bible, glory, glory of God, God, gospel, guidance, Jehovah, Jesus, John Newton, just as the Lord commanded Moses, Lifeway, Moses, Moses obedience, obedience, obedience is the best test, Providential guidance, salvation, shekinah glory, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday school teacher help, tabernacle, teaching outline, wait on the Lord, whatever He says to you do it, Yahweh, YHWH | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 25:1-9, 31:1-6, “Instructions” for 1/26/25

Posted on 2025/01/18 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 25:1-9 and 31:1-6, with the title “Instructions,” for Sunday, January 26, 2025. A video version of this overview that you can watch … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Instructions", Bezalel, building fund, contribution, EW Starliing, Exodus, Exodus 25:1-9 31:1-6, Explore the Bible, gifts, giving, heart, heave offering, I Corinthians 12:7, Lifeway, Michael Thomas, sanctuary, service, serving, spiritual gifts, Starling of the White House, steward, stewardship, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school outline, tabernacle, talents, tithe, Woodrow Wilson | 9 Comments

“How To Seek The Lord” (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)

Posted on 2025/01/13 by Shawn Thomas

In 1622, the ship, “Our Lady of Atocha,” sailed from the Spanish colonies in the New World back towards Spain. The Atocha was laden down with so much gold from the mines in the Americas that it had taken two … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Sermons | Tagged Atocha, Bible, Bonhoeffer, Book of Isaiah, call on the name of the Lord, cheap grace, daily prayer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, faith, God, gospel, grace, Isaiah, Isaiah 55, Isaiah 55:6-7, Jesus, Matthew 6:33, Mel Fisher, Our Lady of Atocha, prayer, repentance, revival, salvation, seek God, seek the Lord while He may be found, seek ye first, seeking, sermon, sin, The Cost of Discipleship, treasure | 2 Comments