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 Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: Acts 19:11-20, “Motives” for 10/27/24

Posted on 2024/10/19 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 19:11-20, with the title “Motives,” for Sunday, October 27, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts, Acts 19, Acts 19:11-20, addictions, Apostle Paul, Asia, awe, book burning, Book of Acts, confession, convictions, demons, Ephesus, Explore the Bible, fruit, God's genuine work, healing, Hinduism, I John 4:4, James 2:19, knowing Jesus, large city, lesson help, lesson outline, Leviticus 19:31, Lifeway, motives, NSRK Ravi, occult, Paul's third missionary journey, repentance, reverence for God, sons of Sceva, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, Temple of Artemis, Thom Rainer The Unexpected Journey, witchcraft | 1 Comment

“Stories From The Stroke: The Lighter Side”

Posted on 2024/10/17 by Shawn Thomas

On Saturday, August 31, my wife Cheryl suffered a massive stroke that crippled her left side, leaving her at least temporarily unable to use her left arm or leg. This was totally unexpected, and was devastating to us. As with … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & Family Life | Tagged Bible, bruise, Cheryl Thomas, church, doctor, Encompass Pearland, faith and family, First Baptist Angleton, for better or worse, God, humor, marriage, pastor's wife, rehab, romance, Servando Gonzalez, Shawn Thomas, short-stories, stroke, stroke recovery, therapist, trials | 8 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Acts 18:1-11, 18-21, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson “Together” for Oct. 20, 2024

Posted on 2024/10/12 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 for Sunday, October 20, 2024, with the title, “Together.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts, Acts 18:1-11, Acts 1:8, Aquila and Priscilla, assurance, Betty Rogers, bi-vocational pastor, Bible study, bivocational ministry, Cheryl Thomas, Corinth, couples ministry, discipleship, Explore the Bible, Ezekiel 3:17-19, Greece, if the Lord wills, illustrations, lesson help, lesson outline, lesson overview, Lifeway, Lord willing, map, Matthew 7:6, Michael Thomas, ministry, mission, music, part-time ministry, Paul and Silas, Paul's Second Missionary Journey, Priscilla and Aquila, rehab, sin city, stroke, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, teaching outline, tentmaker, Unreal City, Unreal City song cycle, Will Rogers | 4 Comments

“When Tragedy Strikes”

Posted on 2024/10/06 by Shawn Thomas

About five weeks ago, tragedy struck in our home. My wife of 42 years, Cheryl, suffered a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side. Leaving the ER in Angleton, she was sent to Jenny Sealy Hospital in … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life | Tagged Baptist, Bible, Cheryl Thomas, Christian life, Christianity, church, church membership, discipleship, First Baptist Church Angleton, First Baptist Church Harrah, God, God's word lamp, gospel, hope, Isaiah 58:11, Jesus, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 118, Psalm 23, Psalms, salvation, scripture memory, Shawn Thomas, stroke, stroke victim, tragedy, trials | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Acts 17:22-34, “Believe” for Sunday Oct. 13, 2024

Posted on 2024/10/05 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 17:22-34, with the title of “Believe,” for Sunday, October 13, 2024. A video version of this lesson is available on YouTube at … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts 17, Acts 17:22-34, Apostle Paul, application, Areopagus, believe, Bible, Bible study, Bulgaria, C.S. Lewis, Christ, Christianity, creation, culture, discussion questions, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, Gary Habermas, Genesis 1, God, God sovereignty, gospel, I Corinthians 15, idols, J.D. Vance, Jesus, Jesus only way, Jesus resurrection, John F Kennedy, John Quincy Adams creation, Kamala Harria, Lifeway, literature, Mars Hill, Matthew 13, ministry, missionary, missions, Nabeel Qureshi, Parable of the Sower, Paul and Silas, Psalm 50, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, response to the gospel, resurrection, Romans 1:4, salvation, SBC Disaster Relief, second missionary journey, seek God, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, sermon, Silas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, Tim Walz, Westminster Catechism | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Acts 16:11-15, 29-40 “Every Opportunity,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for Oct. 6 2024

Posted on 2024/09/28 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 16:11-15, 29-40, for Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 with the title, “Every Opportunity.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged baptism, believe in the Lord Jesus, Bible, Cheryl Thomas stroke, Christianity, circumstances, Emma Soames Mary Churchill's War, evangelism, evangelistic prayer, Explore the Bible, faith, fruit, Gene Warr, gospel, Hinduism, Islam, Jesus, Letters of Samuel Rutherford, Lifeway, Lydia, Lydia baptism, Mary Churchill, Max Barnett, ministry, mission, mission trip, opportunities, Paul & Silas, Philippi, Philippian jailer, prayer, salvation, Samuel Rutherford, second missionary journey, sharing gospel, SS lesson, Sunday School, witness, witness opportunities | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Acts 15:39-16:10, “Kingdom Work” for 9/29/24

Posted on 2024/09/21 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 15:39-16:10, with the title of “Kingdom Work,” for Sunday, September 29, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts 15:39-16:10, Acts we passage, Bible, Bible study, circumcision, controversy, direction, disciples, discipleship, Explore the Bible, faith, Galatians, Galatians 6:1, God's will, going with, grace, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem Conference, Jesus, John Mark, John Piper, kingdom, kingdom work, Law, lesson, Lifeway, making disciples, mentor, ministry, mission, mission trip, Paul, Paul & Barnabas, Paul & Silas, Paul & Timothy, salvation, second missionary journey, St. Paul the Traveler, strengthening churches, Sunday School, teacher help, Titus, Titus circumcision, why was Timothy circumcised, William Mitchell Ramsey, with | 14 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 15:7-9, 22-31, “The Gospel” for 9/22/24

Posted on 2024/09/14 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 15:7-9, 22-31, for Sunday, September 22, 2024 with the title, “The Gospel.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged 9/22/24, Abraham Lincoln pardon, Acts, Acts 15, Acts 15:7-9, Barnabas, Bible, Bible study, church, cleansing heart, decisions, Explore the Bible, faith, First Missionary Journey, forgiveness, Galatians, good news, gospel inclusive, gospel of grace, grace, hearing and believing, I John 1:9, Jerusalem Conference, Jesus, John Kennedy, Lifeway, nature of the gospel, no distinction, Paul, Psalm 51:7, salvation, Sunday School, the gospel, wash away sin | 8 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Acts 14:11-23, “The Truth,” for 9/15/24

Posted on 2024/09/07 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 14:11-23, titled “The Truth, for Sunday September 15, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: You … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged 100 million gods, Acts, Acts 14:11-23, Barnabas, Bible study, Christianity, church, disciples, encouragement, Explore the Bible, George Washington, God, gospel, hero worship, Hinduism, human nature, idolatry, India, Jerry Bridges, Jesus, Jesus only way, Life group, Lifeway, ministtry, missions, nature of man, on a pedestal, parakaleo, Paul, persecution, preach the gospel to yourself, repentance, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, tear robe, the truth, worship | 21 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Acts 13:42-52, “The Task,” for Sept. 8 2024

Posted on 2024/08/31 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 13:42-52, for Sunday, September 8, 2024, with the title, “The Task.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: ??? … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts 13, Acts 13:42-52, Barnabas, Bible, Bible study, Book of Acts, church, David and Saul, envy, evangelism, Explore the Bible, fruit, Galatians 6:9, gospel, green-eyed monster, IMB, jealousy, Jews, Jews first, John 3:27, John 3:30, John the Baptist, Lifeway, ministry, mission, missions, Othello, outreach, Paul, persecution, perseverance, Pisidian Antioch, relationships, Romans 1:16, Shakespeare, Sodom story, Sunday school lesson, travel | 4 Comments