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 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Honor" for 5/03/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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”: 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
7 Comments
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
7 Comments
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
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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
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