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 Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "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 “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, “I Am The Light”
A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, for Sunday February 5, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: There’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged accuser of the brethren, adultery forgiveness, Bruce Catton Civil War, D.A. Carson John, Dan Sickles forgiveness, devil, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible teacher help John 8, Feast of Tabernacles, follow Jesus, forgive 70 x 7, forgiveness, gospel, I am the light of the world, Jesus, Jesus light, John 8 BIble study, John 8 Sunday school lesson, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 8, salvation, Satan, Sir Isaac Newton, Sunday school lesson help John 8, teacher helps John 8, think before you speak, writing in the dirt
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 7:14-29
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 7:14-29 for Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, “He Sent Me.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged A.W. Tozer theological training, Bill Elliff Simply Prayer, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles, God's way, God's will, gospel, II Kings 5 Naaman, Isaiah 55:8-9, Jesus, John 7 Bible study, John 7 lesson teacher helps, John 7 Sunday School lesson, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 7, Lifeway Explore the Bible teacher help John 7, Martin Luther Diet of Worms, Martin Luther here I stand, Messiah, prejudice, salvation, Savior, show me scripture, tithe, tithing
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson John 6:26-40, “I Am The Bread”
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 6:26-40, for Sunday, January 22, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: MAKE/BUY BREAD FOR … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged 7 I Am statements of Jesus, baptism, bread, Explore the Bible lesson John 6, I am the bread, John 6:26-40 bible study, John 6:26-40 Sunday School lesson teacher help, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 6, motivation, motives, Outline of Book of John, overview of John 6 Sunday school lesson, prosperity gospel, what is hardtack?
8 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 5:5-16, “Pick Up Your Mat”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, over Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 5:5-16 for Sunday, January 15, 2023, with the title, “Pick Up Your Mat.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Explore the Bible lesson helps, John 5:5-16 Sunday school lesson, John Lloyd Stevens Holy Land, legalism, Lifeway Explore the Bible help John 5, obedience, pool of Bethesda, repentance, Sabbath controversy, salvation, Sunday school teacher help for John 5:5-16
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Teacher’s overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible”: John 4:11-26 “But Whoever Drinks”
A brief overview for Sunday School teacher and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 4:11-26, for Sunday, January 8, 2023, with the title, “But Whoever Drinks.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged evangelism Bible study John 4, Explore the Bible lesson John 4, Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, Jesus and the Woman at the Well, Jesus as evangelist John 4, John 4, John 4 Bible study ideas, John 4 Bible study teacher help, John 4 Sunday school lesson, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help John 4, New year Bible study, Shawn Thomas lesson overview, SS teacher help John 4, Sunday school lesson ideas John 4, Sunday School teacher help John 4, witness training lesson
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 3:4-18 “Everyone Who Believes”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 3:4-18 for Sunday, January 1, 2023, with the title, “Everyone Who Believes.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible study helps John 3, born again, C.S. Lewis, change, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol, John 3 Bible Study, John 3:14, John 3:16, John 3:16 Bible study, John 3:16 lesson help, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 3, Lifeway Sunday school lesson January 1, screwtape letters, serpent in the wilderness, Sunday school teacher help John 3, teacher's help Explore the Bible John 3, you must be born again
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Teacher’s overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible”: Luke 2:1-15 “You Will Find”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Luke 2:1-15, “You Will Find,” for Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022. A video version of this overview is available at: A lot of … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas story lesson helps, Christmas story Luke 2, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Lifeway Explore the Bible Luke 2:1-15, Lifeway Explore the Bible teacher help, Luke 2 Bible study helps, Luke 2:1-15 Sunday School lesson teacher help, Martin Luther's Christmas sermon, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of John 2:11-23.
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 2:11-23, for Sunday, December 18, 2022, with the title: “I Will Raise.” A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible Study John 2, Jesus, Jesus Deity, Jesus in the Temple, Jesus resurrection, Jesus temple cleansing, Jesus was a vegetarian, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 2:11-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible teacher helps, prophecies of Jesus resurrection, Shawn Thomas Sunday School lesson John 2, Sunday school illustrations, Sunday school lesson help John 2, Sunday school teacher help John 2
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Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 1:40-51, “Come and See.”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 1:40-51, for Sunday, December 11, 2022 with the title, “Come and See.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Acts 1:8, Acts 1:8 church, Acts 1:8 Sunday school class, Charles Dickens Mrs Jellyby, discipleship, Dr. Francis Collins testimony, evangelism, evangelistic testimony, Explore the Bible lesson John 1, follow Me, Jesus is the ladder, John 1 Sunday School lesson, John 1:40-51, John 1:40-51 Sunday School lesson teacher help, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Matthew 4:19, Oscar Thompson Concentric Circles, Reflections on the Existence of God, Richard E. Simmons III book, salvation testimonies, Shawn Thomas Sunday School lesson help, Sunday school lesson help, teacher's helps for Sunday School, testimony, witnessing
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Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 1:1-14, “In The Beginning.”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore The Bible lesson of John 1:1-14, “In the Beginning,” for Sun, Dec. 4, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Christ of Christmas, Christology, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Deity, Jesus humanity, John 1:1-14 Sunday school lesson helpl, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 1:1-14, Paul Harvey The Man and the Birds, person and work of Christ, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas.com, teacher helps John 1:1-14
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