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 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, "Loyalty Tested"
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- “The Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson "Mercy Extended" for 1/25/26
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 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”: 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
8 Comments
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
8 Comments
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
11 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible”: Micah 7:1-10, 18-20, “Hope Found”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Micah 7:1-10 and :18-20, for Sunday, November 27, 2022, with the title: “Hope Found.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Amazing Grace, chesed, Christian hope, Explore the Bible Micah 7, Explore the Bible Sunday school lesson help, faith, family persecution of Christians, God's grace, grace that is greater, His Grace is enough song, hope, Julius Caesar mercy, Lifeway Explore the Bible Micah 7 lesson help, lovingkindness, lovingkindness meaning, Mariana Trench, Matthew 10:35-36, Micah 7 Sunday school lesson help, Micah 7 teacher help, Micah 7:1-10, persecution, Psalm 5:3, switch hitter
13 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Micah 4:6-8, 5:1-9
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Micah 4 &5 for Sunday, November 20, 2022, with the title: “Humble Beginnings.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bethlehem Ephrathah, Bible prophecy, dark days, George Washington American Revoluiton, how to be saved, Jesus Bethlehem, Jesus birth, Jesus person and work, John 8 I AM, lesson helps Explore the Bible Micah 4, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help Micah 4 and 5, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson Micah 4 and 5, Messiah, Micah 5:2, poor in spirit, poverty in spirit, prophecies of Christ, prophecy of Christ birth, salvation, Sunday school teacher help, teacher help Lifeway Explore the Bible Micah 4
1 Comment
Lifeway Explore the Bible: Hosea 14:1-9 “The Restoration Promised”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Sunday, November 6, 2022, “The Restoration Promised, from Hosea 14:1-9. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible study, Billy Graham Peace With God, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, cedar of Lebanon, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible teacher helps Hosea 14:1-9, false gods, false hope, false trust, Hosea 14 lesson outline, Hosea 14:1-9, how to be saved, India gods, iniquity definition, iniquity meaning, Israel, Jesus, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson Hosea 14:1-9, lily, olive tree, prayer of faith, prayer of salvation, repent, repentance and faith, repentance meaning, salvation, Samaria, sinners prayer, Sunday school teacher help, The Restoration Promised Sunday school lesson, witness, witnessing
9 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Hosea 10:5-15 “The Sin Harvested”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Sunday, October 30, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: ??? You might ask your class … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Alexander the Great Theban revolt, Beth aven, Bethel, E.W. Starling George Anderson, Explore the Bible Hosea 10:5-15, Explore the Bible lesson help, Galatians 6 reap what you sow, gospel, how to be saved, Israel idolatry, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview, Rod Masteller, salvation, sin, sow and reap, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school lesson outline Hosea 10:5-15, Sunday school teacher help Hosea 10:5-15, wisteria
12 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway Explore The Bible: Hosea 6:1-7:2 “The Hollow Promises”
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Hosea 6 & 7 for Sunday, October 23, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: (Following … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Alexander the Great, Explore the Bible lesson help, Explore the Bible lesson Hosea 6 & 7, George Washington, Hollow Promises, Hosea 6:1-7:2 Explore the Bible teacher help, Hosea Bible Study, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, repentance, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help, Sunday school teacher help Hosea 6 & 7
10 Comments
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