Tag Archives: faith

“Finishing Well” (Psalm 92:12-15 message)

Posted on 2026/07/06 by Shawn Thomas

(Preached at Trinity Baptist Church, Norman, OK, Father’s Day, June 21, 2026) Just a few years ago, an elderly university president in South Carolina wrote: “It’s sundown, Lord … I fear not death … But I do fear that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged aging, bearing fruit, Bible, bitterness, Brooklyn Bridge, Cherry Street Mile, daily devotions, daily quiet time, David McCullough, devotional time, discipleship, evangelism, faith, finishing well, foundation, fruit, God, gospel, I Peter 2:2, Jesus, John Roebling, Mark Twain, Max Barnett, missions, prayer warrior, Psalm 92, Psalms, salvation, senior adults, Shawn E. Thomas, spiritual disciplines, spiritual foundation, spiritual growth, theodicy, Trinity Baptist Norman OK, witness, word of God | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Winning Strategy,” for June 28, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/20 by Shawn Thomas

Inclues a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this preview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Winning Strategy", apologetics, application, archeology, ban, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Biblical Archeology, Book of Joshua, Canaanites killing, Christianity, commandments, discussion question, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God is just, grace, Holy Spirit, Jericho, Jericho map, Jesus, Joshua, Joshua 6:12-25, justice, lesson outline, Lifeway, obedience, salvation, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, theodicy, under the ban, walls of Jericho | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson “Remembering God’s Works” for June 21, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/13 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged answered prayers, Baptist, Bible study, Book of Joshua, church, deliverance, discussion questions, do this in remembrance of Me, Ebenezer, Explore the Bible, faith, forgetting God, God, gospel, illustrations, Jesus, Jordan River, Jordan River crossing, Jordan River flood, Joshua, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, memorial, Passover, salvation, scripture, scripture memory, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, University of Oklahoma 2000 National Championship, World War II memorial | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Amazing Grace,” for June 14, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/06 by Shawn Thomas

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "the scarlet thread", Amazing Grace, Bible, Charles Ellet, confession of faith, David McCullough The Great Bridge, deeds, ethics, Explore the Bible, faith, faith and works, for God so loved, God, gospel, grace, is it wrong to lie to an enemy?, James 2, John Newton, Joshua, Joshua 2, Lifeway, lying, public profession, Rehab the prostitute, Rosaria Butterfield, salvation, Sunday School, tetragrammaton, The Letters of John Newton, W.A. Criswell, works of faith, Yahweh | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: “Strong & Courageous” for 6/07/26

Posted on 2026/05/30 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged anxiety, Bible study, big talk, Book of Joshua, church, church staff, courage, discipleship, do not be afraid, do not fear, do the word, doers of the world, Dwight Eisenhower, Explore the Bible, faith, fear, fear not, God's promise, Israel, Jesus, John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage, John Quincy Adams, Joshua, Joshua the son of Nun, Lifeway, meditation, ministry, Moses, pastors, Promised Land, promises, Rick Atkinson An Army at Dawn, scripture, scripture meditation, scripture memorization, servant leadership, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, strength, strong and courageous, success, Sunday school lesson, the new Joshua, timidity, word faith, youth ministry | 11 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 26:17-30, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Our Atonement,” for 5/24/26

Posted on 2026/05/16 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can use, discussion questions you can share, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION/ILLUSTRATION “Caesar … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Aldrich Ames, application, Baptist, Baptist Faith & Message, Benedict Arnold, betrayal, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Caesar, communion, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God's sovereignty vs Man's responsibility, introduction, Jesus, John R.W. Stott The Cross of Christ, Judas, Julius Caesar betrayal, Larry Helyer The Life and Witness of Peter, Last Supper, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, Lord's Supper table, Matthew, Matthew 26, Matthew 27:17-30, meaning of the Lord's Supper, obedience, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' betrayal, ordinance, Phillip Barlag The History of Rome in 12 Buildings, Roman Catholics, sacrament, salvation, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Southern Baptist, sovereignty vs responsibility, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, triclinium | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Preview of Matthew 14:22-33, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Courage,” for March 1, 2026.

Posted on 2026/02/21 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 14:22-33 for March 1, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Baptist, Bible study, do not be afraid, Explore the Bible, faith, fear, fear not, God, Hebrews 12 fixing eyes on Jesus, Hurricane Rita, Jesus, Jesus and fear, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 14, Matthew 14:22-33, Olivier Messiaen, Psalm 107, Rich Mullins, Shawn Thomas, Southern Baptist, still the storm, storm on the sea, storm stories, storms, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, test of faith, tests, trials, www.shawnethomas.com | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “True Righteousness,” for 12/28/25.

Posted on 2025/12/20 by Shawn Thomas

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 | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 13:17-31, “The Land,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson overview for 9/21/25

Posted on 2025/09/13 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Numbers 13:17-31, with the title “The Land, for Sunday, September 21, 2025. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "The Land", Anakim, answered prayer, anxiety, Bible, Bible study, Biblical faith, Caleb, church, doubt, Explore the Bible, faith, germ theory, Giant Despair, giants, giants in the land, God, Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11:, Ignaz Semmelweis, Jesus, John Bunyan, Joshua and Caleb, lesson outline, lesson overview, Lifeway, Moses, numbers, Numbers 13:17-31, Pilgrim's Progress, prayer, shawnethomas, spies in Canaan, Sunday School, Sunday school teacher help, the twelve spies, Valley of Eshcol, word faith | 1 Comment

Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 5:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “God’s Righteousness,” for 8/24/25

Posted on 2025/08/16 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 5:1-12, with the title, “God’s Righteousness,” for Sunday, August 24, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Coke Stevenson, commitment, deliver us from evil, devotions, discipline, don't leave home without it, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson, faith, God, God holiness, grace, Hebrew, holiness, how to pray, integrity, Jesus, lead us not into temptation, Lifeway, Lord's Prayer, Make Your Bed, Martin Luther, model prayer, morning prayer, prayer, praying, Psalm 5, Psalm 5:1-12, Psalms, quiet time, salvation, sin, Southern Baptist Sunday school lesson, spiritual disciplines, spiritual protection, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, William McRaven | 5 Comments