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
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Disciple's Character: Purity of Heart" (Matthew 5:8 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 27:27-31, 45-54, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Our Savior," for 5/31/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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 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
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 1:1-13, “Introduced”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 1:1-13, for Sunday, September 3, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Read some famous … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Book of Mark, books, church, Explore the Bible, first line of books, Gregory Nazianzen, Harold Lindsell, Harry Potter, humility, II TImothy 2:21, Jesus, Jesus prophecy, John the Baptist, Joshua 3:5, Lifeway, Mark 1:1-13, Mark Bible study, Messiah, modalism, Nabeel Qureshi, obedience, Old Testament prophecy of Jesus, preparation for ministry, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Shawn Thomas, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help, Trinity
18 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” Lamentations 3:19-33 “Good”
A brief overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Lamentations 3:19-33 for Sunday, August 27, 2023, with the title, “Good.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: A few months into the American Revolution in … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Augustine of Hippo, chesed, child of such tears, compassion, David McCullough, depression, Explore the Bible, faithfulness, God, God judge, God's love, grace, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, hope, II Corinthians 10:5, II Timothy 2:13, inheritance, Jehovah, Jeremiah, Jerusalem, Lamentations 3:19-33, Lifeway, Lord, love, lovingkindness, Martin Luther, Monica Augustine, portion, priests, Psalm 103, Psalm 16, Psalm 2:2, Psalm 42, seek God, seeking God, Shawn Thomas, SS teacher help, St. Augustine, Sunday school lesson, taking thoughts captive, The Lord is my portion, tob, trials, Yahweh
16 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Jeremiah 50:11-20, 33-34, “Just”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson of Jeremiah 50, for Sunday, August 20, 2023, with the title, “Just.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Jeremiah 42:7-22, “Trustworthy”
A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Jeremiah 42:71-22 for Sunday, August 13, 2023, with the title, “Trustworthy.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged arrogance, direction, Explore the Bible, Ferdinand Magellan death, God's will, Jeremiah 42, Jeremiah 42 Sunday school lesson, Jeremiah 42:7-22, John 4 whatever He says to you do it, Lifeway, obedience, prayer, pride, Proverbs 14:12, rich young ruler, seeking God, Sunday school lesson help Jeremiah 42, Sunday school teacher help, time to seek God, tithe, tithing
7 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Jeremiah 35:5-19, “Worthy”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Jeremiah 35:5-19, with the title “Worthy,” for Sunday, July 30th, 2023. (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at; … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged children obedience, Donna Reed show, Explore the Bible, General MacArthur obedience, George H.W. Bush, I Samuel 15, if we obey God we must disobey ourselves, Jeremiah 35, Jeremiah 35 "Worthy", Jeremiah 35 lesson help, Jeremiah 35 Sunday school lesson, Jon Meacham Destiny and Power, Jonadab, Keith Green to obey, Lifeway, Luke 6:46, Melville Moby Dick, obedience, President Ford, Rechab, Rechabites obedience, to obey is better than sacrifice, why do you call Me Lord Lord, William Manchester American Caesar
3 Comments
shawnethomas 