Tag Archives: C.S. Lewis

“Deepening Your Spiritual Life Through the Psalms”

Posted on 2025/07/07 by Shawn Thomas

(Shared at Trinity Baptist Church, Norman, Sunday night, July 6, 2025) Many of you know that while I was serving at the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas, last August, my wife Cheryl experienced a devastating stroke which left her … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Psalms studies and messages, Sermons | Tagged Bible, C.S. Lewis, cathedral of Milan, Christian meditatiion, discipleship, Donald Whitney, God, God designed the human machine to run on Himself, God's glory, God's word, how to praise, how to pray, Jesus, Mark Twain, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, meditation and Psalms, Mere Christianity, model prayer, praise Psalms, prayer, Psalms, Psalms and God, Psalms and prayer, Psalms and singing, Psalms overview, scripture memory, Shawn Thomas, spiritual growth, Tim Keller on Psalms, types of Psalms | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 1:1-6, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Wisdom,” for June 1, 2025.

Posted on 2025/05/24 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 1:1-6, “God’s Wisdom,” for Sunday, June 1, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ??? Does … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged abundant life, Alister McGrath C.S. Lewis, ashere, Augustine, Augustine and Psalms, Augustine Confessions, Bible, Biblical meditation, Blessed, Blessed life, C.S. Lewis, Confessions, David McCullough, eternal life, Excellence is a habit, Explore the Bible, God, God knows, God's wisdom, God's word, gospel, Hebrew, J. Frank Dobie, J.I. Packer Knowing God, Jesus, John 10:10, John Adams, John the Baptist, judgment, know God, knowing God, Lifeway, meditate on scripture, meditation, Psalm 1, Psalm 1:1-6, Psalm tunes, Psalms, Psalms as songs, Psalms testimony, Reflections on the Psalms, salvation, scripture memory, sin, Sir Walter Scott, Tales of Old Time Texas, Tim Keller Psalms, water, We are what we repeatedly do, wheat and chaff, wicked vs righteous, Will Durant, winnowing, wisdom | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of II Peter 3:8-18, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for May 25, 2025, “Be Encouraged”

Posted on 2025/05/17 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of II Peter 3:8-18, with the title, “Be Encouraged,” for Sunday, May 25, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged A.W. Tozer, Apostle Paul, Be Encouraged, Bible, Bible study, C.S. Lewis, Christian life, Christian living, David McCullough Johnstown Flood, day Lord 1000 years, discussion questions, doctrine of scripture, eternity, Explore the Bible, fire, from everlasting to everlasting, God, holiness, holy, I Thessalonians 5:1-3, II Peter, II Peter 3:8-18, II Peter 3:9, illustrations, Jesus, Jesus return, Joe McKeever, Knowledge of the Holy, Lesley Gore Beggs OK, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Luke 23:37, Matthew 24, P.T. Barnum fire, Psalm 90, sanctification, second coming, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school illusrations, Sunday School teacher, time like a line on a chalkboard, waiting, word of God | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of I Peter 5:1-11, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Be Humble, for May 4, 2025

Posted on 2025/04/26 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 5:1-11, for Sunday, May 4, 2025, with the title, “Be Humble.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Be Prepared, armor of God, Baptist Faith & Message, Beatitudes, Bible study, C.S. Lewis, church leaders, devil, discipleship, elder, Ephesians 6, example, Explore the Bible, Franz Joseph Hayden humility, gospel, Hayden, Herschel Hobbs, humility, I Peter, I Peter 5:1-11, Jesus, John 15:5, John Chrysostom, Lifeway, overseer, pastor, pastor example, pastors, Peter, poor in spirit, prayer, prayer for pastor, pride, readiness, salvation, Satan, Shawn E. Thomas, spiritual armor, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday school teacher help | 5 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Leviticus 9:15-10:3, “Separation,” Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Feb. 9, 2025

Posted on 2025/02/01 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson of Leviticus 9:15-10:3, with the title of “Separation,” for Sunday, February 9, 2025. A video version of this lesson is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "course he isn't safe. But he's good", A Leopard Tamed, Aaron, Aslan, balance, balance in worship, Bible, books of Moses, C.S. Lewis, day of atonement, Eleanor Vandevort, Explore the Bible, family first, for You are with me, glory, glory of God, God, gospel, Hebrews 12:29, I am the way, Jesus, John 14:6, John MacArthur, John Newton, L. Michael Morales, lesson outline, Letters of John Newton, Leviticus, Leviticus 9:15-10:3, Lifeway, Lion Witch Wardrobe, Moses, Nadab and Abihu, ox sacrifice, Psalm 23, sacrifice, separation, Southern Baptist Sunday school lesson, strange fire, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the Law, the Torah, Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord, worship, worship practices, worship services | 15 Comments

“Fear Not, I Am With You” (Isaiah 41:10 sermon)

Posted on 2025/01/05 by Shawn Thomas

On the occasion of the announcement of my retirement from full-time ministry, Sunday January 5, 2025. I really wrestled and prayed about how to do this service today; and this is what I felt led to do:— First, I want … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged anxiety, Bible, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis old folks homes, Cheryl Thomas, Christianity, do not anxiously look about you, faith, fear not, First Baptist Angleton Texas, For I am with you, God, How Firm A Foundation, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 6, Jesus, King Uzziah, ministry, Mr. Rogers, pastor, pastor resignation, providence, Psalm 23, resignation, retirement, Shawn Thomas, stroke, trust | 15 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Acts 27:31-44 “Trust” Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for 11/24/24

Posted on 2024/11/16 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 27:31-44, for Sunday, November 24, 2024, with the title, “Trust.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts, Acts 27:31-44, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Book of Acts, C.S. Lewis, caring for others, Cheryl Thomas stroke, crisis, eternal soul, Euraquilo, evangelism, example, Explore the Bible, food, lead by example, Lifeway, Luke, Mediterranean Sea, mere mortal, ministry, missions, nap, people, practical, rest, Richard Foster, Rome, soul, spiritual thing take a nap, storm, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, trials, trust, U.S. Grant, U.S. Grant memoirs, Ulysses S. Grant, Weight of Glory | 7 Comments

Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Acts 26:19-29, “Respond” for 11/17/24

Posted on 2024/11/09 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 26:19-19, with the title, “Respond,” for Sunday, November 17, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts, Acts 26, Acts 26:19-29, Apostle Paul, appeal to Caesar, Bible study, Billy Graham, Book of Acts, C.S. Lewis, cheap grace, closing the deal, closing the sale, Dietrich Bonhoeffeer, Dr. Alan Bandy, evangelism, Evangelism Explosion questions, example of repentance, Explore the Bible, eyewitnessed, gospel, gospel basics, Harry Poe, II Corinthians 6:2, Illustrated Guide to the Apostle Paul, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, King Agrippa, lesson outline, Lifeway, metanoeo, Old Testament, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus, pastor to presidents, procrastination, prophecy, repent, repentance, Richard Bauckham, salvation, share the gospel, sharing the gospel, speaking truth to power, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, testimonies, this has not been done in a corner, Thom Rainer Unexpected Journey, witness, witnesses, witnessing outline | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Acts 22:6-21, “Witness,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for Nov. 10, 2024

Posted on 2024/11/02 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 22:6-21, with the title of “Witness” for Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Acts, Acts 22:6-21, Alan Bandy Apostle Paul, Alan Bandy book, Ananias, Antonia Fortress, Apostle Paul, Bible, Bible study, C.S. Lewis, Cheryl Thomas stroke testimony, Colossians 4, commitment, Don Sunshine, evangelism, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, God, gospel, gospel outline, How I met Christ, how to share a testimony, Illustrated Guide to the Apostle Paul Alan Bandy, Jesus, just as if I'd never sinned, Lifeway, Lord and Savior, Lord Liar Lunatic, Lordship, Mere Christianity, nothing happened here, obedience, Paul, Psalm 5:3, sharing a personal testimony, sharing the gospel, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, taking the opportunity, testimony, total commitment, total obedience, wash away sins, witness, witnessing | 3 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Acts 17:22-34, “Believe” for Sunday Oct. 13, 2024

Posted on 2024/10/05 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 17:22-34, with the title of “Believe,” for Sunday, October 13, 2024. A video version of this lesson is available on YouTube at … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts 17, Acts 17:22-34, Apostle Paul, application, Areopagus, believe, Bible, Bible study, Bulgaria, C.S. Lewis, Christ, Christianity, creation, culture, discussion questions, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, Gary Habermas, Genesis 1, God, God sovereignty, gospel, I Corinthians 15, idols, J.D. Vance, Jesus, Jesus only way, Jesus resurrection, John F Kennedy, John Quincy Adams creation, Kamala Harria, Lifeway, literature, Mars Hill, Matthew 13, ministry, missionary, missions, Nabeel Qureshi, Parable of the Sower, Paul and Silas, Psalm 50, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, response to the gospel, resurrection, Romans 1:4, salvation, SBC Disaster Relief, second missionary journey, seek God, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, sermon, Silas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, Tim Walz, Westminster Catechism | 2 Comments