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 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority Acknowledged," for 1/11/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
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
Tag Archives: Bible
Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Authority Acknowledged,” for 1/11/26.
For teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 7, for Sunday, January 11, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Authority Acknowledged, Bible, Bible study, Carl F.H.Henry sermon, doers of the word, Explore the Bible, false prophets, false teachers, foundation, fruit, fruit trees, God, God's word, gospel, Grima Wormtongue, Hillel vs Shammai, house on the rock, I never knew you, I say to you, Jesus, Jesus is Lord, Kenneth Copeland, LDS, lifestyle, Lifeway, Lord Lord, Lord of the Rings, Matthew, Matthew 5, Matthew 5 6 7, Matthew 7:, Matthew 7:15-29, morality, Mormonism, N.T. Wright Jacob Neusner, neopaganism, profession of faith, Ralph Nader, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teaching, works salvation, you will know them by their fruit
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Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “True Righteousness,” for 12/28/25.
For Sunday School teacher and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life application. A video … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Baptist, Beatitudes, Bible, Dewey defeats Truman, don't disgrace that uniform, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, falling short, God, gospel, II Corinthians 5:21, inerrant, infallible, iota, Jesus, Jesus character, John Piper, jot and tittle, keriah, Law, Lifeway, light, Lillian Parks Leighton, love your enemy, Matthew 5:1-12, not the smallest letter or stroke, Pharisee and the publican, Pharisees, poor in spirit, poverty in spirit, prophets, righteousness, salt, salt and light, salvation, scripture, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas, sin, Southern Baptist, standards, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, True Righteousness, trust, Urban Meyer Above the Line, witness, word of God, yod, you shall be perfect
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Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “God’s Power,” for 11/30/25.
Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, teaching outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION QUESTION???“What is your … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Here I raise my Ebenezer", "there's no god like Jehovah", At Calvary, Bible, blessings, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, Christian songs, Days of Elijah, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 33, Deuteronomy 33:1-5, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, ezer as help, God, God as King, God help, gospel, illustrations, Islam, Jebel Musa, Jehovah, Jeshurun meaning, Jesus, Jesus King, king, Lifeway, love of God, Mohammed, Moses, Moses blessing of Israel, Paran, salvation, shawnethomas, Simeon, Sinai, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday School teacher, teaching outline, Yahweh, YHWH
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Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Fully Committed,” for 11/23/25.
Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, outline and highlights from the text, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION QUESTION??? … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Fully Committed", ABC salvation, ABCs of salvation, application, Bible, Bible lesson, Bible study, choices, choose life, decisions, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 30, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, discussion questions, Eusebius, Eusebius Church History, Explore the Bible, Glass Wax commercial, gospel, Great Commandment, illustrations for Sunday School, Jesus, Lifeway, love God, Marinus the centurion, Moses, Nathan Finn Jonathan Edwards, Romans 10, salvation, scripture, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas.com, so easy a child can do it, Sunday School, Sunday school class, Sunday School teacher, the word is near you, word of God
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Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 12:1-11, 29-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Undivided Worship,” for 11/09/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for November 9, 2025 on Deuteronomy 12. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Asherah, Asherim, Bible, Bible worship, Biblical Archeology Society, compromise, David Foster Wallace quote, Deuteronomy 12, Deuteronomy 12:1-11, every man did what was right in his own eyes, everybody worships, Explore the Bible, feminism, First Amendment, giving, God, homosexuality in churches, idol worship, idolatry, illustration, Jesus, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, New Testament worship, Old Testament worship, Plains of Moab, prayer, priesthood of the believer, regulative principle of worship, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday School teacher, tithing, Undivided Worship, worship, worship commands, www.shawnethomas.com
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Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 22:22-35, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 10/12/25, “God’s Plans”
Includes a sample introduction to get the lesson started, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ??? Can … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie biogrraphy, Agatha Christie Come Tell Me How You Live, archeology, Balaam, Balak, Bible, Bible study, compromise, Euphrates River, Explore the Bible, false prophet, God, Grayson Miller OU, greed, Israel, Jesus, judgment, Lifeway, Marcus Crassus, money, Moses, Peor, Ponzi scheme, prophet, Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, the error of Balaam, The River, unusual messenger
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Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 20:2-13, “Lack of Trust,” Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 10/05/25.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Numbers 20 for Sunday Oct. 5, 2025, including a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Bible study, Bible study leader, contention, David McCullough, depravity, Explore the Bible, fall on your face, Francesco Guicciardini quote, generational curses, God, gospel, history matters, human nature, humility, impartiality, Israel, Jesus, judgment, Korah, Lack of Trust, leadership, Lifeway, Meribah, Moses, Moses disobedience, numbers, Numbers 20, Numbers 20:2-13, obedience, Promised Land, rod of Moses, self scouting, shawnethomas, sin, sin nature, sin tendencies, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher
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Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Rebellion & Judgment” for 9/28/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Numbers 14:11-24, “Rebellion & Judgment,” for Sunday, September 28, 2025. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged attributes of God, Bible, Bible study, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, chesed, consequences of sin, Exodus 34:6-7, Explore the Bible, George Washington, God, grace, intercession, intercessor, intercessory prayer, Israel, Jesus, Jesus intercessor, Jesus only way, John 14:6, John Adams, Lifeway, lovingkindness, Moses, Promised Land, punishment, qualities of God, salvation, Shawn Thomas, sin, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, Yahweh, YHWH
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