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 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "True Righteousness," for 12/28/25.
- "The Incomparable Christ" (Hebrews 1:1-4 sermon)
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
Category Archives: Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 15:24-39, “Sacrificed”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 15:24-38 for Sunday, November 19, 2023, “Sacrificed.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: One … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged A.D. 70, Alexamenos worships God, At The Cross, Bible prophecy, casting lots, centurion, characters at the cross, Christ crucified, cross of Christ, donkey cross, Ephesians 3:12, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible Mark 15, fulfilled scripture, gospel, Hebrews 10:19-22, hymn At The Cross, I Corinthians 1:18, Isaiah 53, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Old Testament prophecy, John Lloyd Stephens Incidents of Travel, Lifeway, Mark 15 Sunday school lesson, Mark 15 teacher help, Mark 15:24-39, Mark 4, Muslims and the cross, Nabeel Qureshi, Old Testament prophecies, Parable of the Sower, Rob Plummer, salvation, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Shawn Thomas, Something awry in the Temple, Sunday School teachers, tabernacle, Temple, the cross, truly this man was the son of God, veil of the Temple, why have you forsaken Me
3 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 14:32-42, “Willing”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 14:32-42 for Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: ??? Ask your … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Abba Father, Alexander Whyte, an ounce of prevention, battle, Christ, disciples, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Garden of Gethsemane, God's will, help my unbelief, I Peter 2:24, Jesus, John Jellico, lead us not into temmptation, Lifeway, Mark 14:32-42, Mark 7:25, Mark Sunday school lesson, model prayer, Mount of Olives, olive oil, olive press, prayer, Romans 3:19, salvation, sin, spiritual warfare, Sun Tzu, the cross, three strikes and you're out, Thy will be done, trials, William Manchester Last Lion, Winston Churchill
3 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 11:15-25 “Clears”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson of Mark 11:15-25, “Clears,” for Sunday, October 29, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO ??? You … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged anger, bitterness, cleansing the temple, court of the Gentiles, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, fig tree, forgiveness, Gentiles, Gentle Jesus, gospel, grudge, house of prayer, IMB, Jesus, Jesus art, Jesus picture, John Bunyan, Jonah, lesson outline, lessons of the fig tree, Lifeway, Mark 11:15-25, missions, model prayer, outreach, Pilgrim's Progress, prayer, purpose church, resentment poison, righteous anger, salvation, Southern Baptist missions, Sunday school lesson, teacher help, temper, Texas Port Ministry, The Angry Christian Bert Ghezzi, unanswered prayer, unforgiveness
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 10:32-45, “Serves”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 10:32-45, for Sunday, October 22, 2023, with the title, “Serves.“ A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged ambition, church, church members, church nursery, David McCullough John Adams, deacons, Explore the Bible, gospel, great in the Kingdom, International Mission Board President, John Adams service, Katherine Graham's Washington, LBJ, Lifeway, Mark 10:32-45, mission trip service, missions, older brother syndrome, pastors, Paul Tsongas, pride, Prodigal Son, ransom for many, Robert Caro Lyndon Johnson, salvation, servant, servant of all, service, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help
6 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 9:17-29, “Strengthens”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Mark 9:17-29 “Strengthens” for Sunday, October 15, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: share a … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Charles Wesley prayer, demonic, demons, dipsuchos, double minded man, drugs, Explore the Bible, fasting, from the mountain to the valley, homosexuality, I do believe help my unbelief, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus power, John 10:10, Lifeway, Mark 9:17-29, Matthew 5:3, mountain top experience, occult, perversions, poor in spirit, poverty in spirit, prayer, prayer and fasting, Raphael painter, Raphael Transfirguration, Ruth Graham prayer, salvation, Satan, Strengthens, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, teacher overview, Tim Keller prayer, transgender
6 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 8:31-9:1, “Followed”
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Mark 8:31-9:1, “Followed,” for Sunday, October 8, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Just after Calvin … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews, Uncategorized
Tagged baptism, begone Satan, Bible study, Bible study teacher help, Bourges, Caesarea Philippi, Calvin Coolidge, confession of faith, Daniel 7 Son of Man, deny self, discipleship, Edmund Starling, eternal life, eternity, Explore the Bible, follow Me, Jesus, Julius Caesar, kingdom of God, Lifeway, Mark 8 Bible Study, Mark 8 Sunday School, Mark 8:31-9:1, Messiah, Peter, Roman soliders branded, Simon Peter, Son of Man, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help, take up cross, teacher overview, tract Not I But Christ, transfiguration, Vercingetorix
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 7:24-37, “Includes”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 7:24-37 with the title “Includes,” for Sunday, October 1, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 3:20-30, “Questioned”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 3:20-30, for Sunday, September 17, 2023, with the title, “Questioned.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged a house divided, Abraham Lincoln a house divided, all sin may be forgiven, bind Satan, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, church, Civil War, criticism, division, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Franklin Graham, George Whitefield, High Priestly Prayer, I Corinthians 6:9, In Jesus' name, Jesus, John 10 thief, John 17, John R Tyson Assist Me To Proclaim, John Wesley, Lifeway, Mark 3:20-30, prayer, presidents criticism, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual warfare, strong man, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the unforgivable sin, unity, Woodrow Wilson
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 1:35-45, “Proclaimed”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 1:35-45, “Proclaimed,” for Sunday, September 10, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: When British … Continue reading
shawnethomas 