Tag Archives: criticism

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Rejecting Legalism,” for 2/15/26.

Posted on 2026/02/07 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 12 for February 15, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Byron Farwell Mr Kipling's Army, C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity, care, church, church legalism, church tradition, criticism, David McCullough Johnstown Flood, Deity of Christ, Explore the Bible, God, Jesus, legalism, Lifeway, Lord of the Sabbath, love, Matthew, Matthew 12, mercy, Oral tradition, ox in a ditch, Pharisees, Rudyard Kipling, Sabbath, sabbath breaking, Sunday School, Talmud, the Law, tradition | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26

Posted on 2026/01/31 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Matthew 11 for Sunday, February 8, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Confronting Doubts", accountability to God, Anton Bruckner, Baptist, Benjamin Franklin mule story, Bethsaida, Bible, Book of Matthew, can't please the crowd, Capernaum, Christian doubts, criticism, doubting salvation, doubts, expectations, Explore the Bible, fruit, gift, gifts, God, gospel, Henry Adams, Jesus, John Newton, John the Baptist, judgment, Letters of John Newton, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 11, missions, opportunity, Shawn E. Thomas, shawnethomas.com, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teacher help, The Education of Henry Adams, theodicy, woe | 11 Comments

Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 3:20-30, “Questioned”

Posted on 2023/09/09 by Shawn Thomas

A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 3:20-30, for Sunday, September 17, 2023, with the title, “Questioned.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged a house divided, Abraham Lincoln a house divided, all sin may be forgiven, bind Satan, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, church, Civil War, criticism, division, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Franklin Graham, George Whitefield, High Priestly Prayer, I Corinthians 6:9, In Jesus' name, Jesus, John 10 thief, John 17, John R Tyson Assist Me To Proclaim, John Wesley, Lifeway, Mark 3:20-30, prayer, presidents criticism, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual warfare, strong man, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the unforgivable sin, unity, Woodrow Wilson | 5 Comments

Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, “Why Wasn’t This Sold?”

Posted on 2023/02/25 by Shawn Thomas

(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:1-11, for Sunday, March 5, 2023 with the title: “Why Wasn’t This Sold?” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged 5 Love Languages, Asbury Revival, Asbury Revival criticism, criticism, discipleship, doing vs talking, Explore the Bible lesson John 12, Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman Five Love Languages, gift, gift of service, God, heart, how to show love, John 12:1-11 Sunday school lesson, judge servant of another, judging, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, love, love God, loving God, loving others, Mary gift, motivation, motives, persecution, quality time, service, Sunday school lesson overview John 12, teacher help John 12, Teacher help John 12:1-11, Theodore Roosevelt Sr quote, time, touch, Why Wasn't This Sold, words of affirmation | 19 Comments

“America’s Verse” — “Judge Not” (Matthew 7:1-5 sermon)

Posted on 2017/09/25 by Shawn Thomas

If each of us in our church shared our favorite football teams this morning, I’d think the Carolina Panthers might be at the top of the list. We also have a few die hard Washington Redskins fans, like Josh Peterson … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Matthew sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged America's team, America's verse, appearance, Baptist Faith & Message, beliefs, church discipline, convictions, criticism, diet, discernment, don't judge, Dr. Jim Smith, forgiveness, Harry Potter books, hypocrisy, I Corinthians 15, I Corinthians 4:5, I Corinthians 5, I Peter 4:8, I Timothy 5:24-25, John 7:24, John 8 adulterous woman, judge not, judging, judgment, love, Matthew 18, Matthew 7:1, Matthew 7:1-5, minister of music, music, President Jimmy Carter, repentance, resurrection of Christ, return of Christ, righteousness, Romans 1:4, Romans 2:1-3, sin, sins, truth | Leave a comment

“Watch Yourselves”

Posted on 2017/02/09 by Shawn Thomas

“Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.” (II John 8) Despite just warning the church about the false doctrines that the antichrists are out propagating in the world, … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged criticism, focus, II John 8, log in your eye, Matthew 7: | Leave a comment

Don’t “Sit In the Seat Of Scoffers”

Posted on 2016/08/22 by Shawn Thomas

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1) Psalm 1 opens with a blessing for the person … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged attitude, criticism, discernment, faith, Psalm 1:1, scoffer | 2 Comments

Compassion, Not Criticism

Posted on 2016/07/19 by Shawn Thomas

“But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’” (Matthew 12:2) “When (they) saw … they said …”. Seeing, and then being critical, was a mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged compassion, criticism, Hosea 6:6, judgmentalism, Matthew 12 devotion, Matthew 12:2, Pharisees | Leave a comment

Responding To Correction

Posted on 2014/03/10 by Shawn Thomas

In II Samuel 19, King David is mourning the death of his rebellious son, Absalom, while his victorious army comes “by stealth” back into the city because of his grief. In :5-7 David’s general, Joab spoke a spoke difficult truth … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged constructive criticism, correction, criticism, grace, humility, II Samuel 19:1-7 | 3 Comments

The Blessed Wounds of Godly Criticism

Posted on 2014/01/08 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 141:5 David prays: “Let a righteous man strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” Psalm 141 is evidently an evening prayer … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged constructive criticism, criticism, pride, Proverbs 27:6, Psalm 141:5, rebuke | Leave a comment