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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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
Tag Archives: God
Teacher’s Overview of Leviticus 9:15-10:3, “Separation,” Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for Feb. 9, 2025
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
“A Biblical Farewell” (Acts 20:18-32)
(On the occasion of my retirement from First Baptist Church, Angleton, TX, Sunday, January 26, 2025) So what do you say to someone when you’re seeing them for the last time? It’s very difficult. Quite honestly, a lot of times … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts, Acts 20, Acts 20 sermon, Apostle Paul, Bible, children, Christianity, daily Bible reading, elders, Ephesian elders, faith, farewell, Father's hands, God, God the Father, good bye sermon, gospel, Henry V, I commit you to God, I know whom I have believed, In Christ Alone, intercessory prayer, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the answer, Mark Dever, nothing in my hand I bring, pastor, pastor retirement, Paul, prayer, Prodigal Son, read the directions, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, retirement, salvation, saving faith, scripture, Shakespeare, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas retirement, sin, We're in God's hands brother, why should I let you into my heaven, word of God
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Exodus 40:16-21 and 34-38, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for 2/02/25.
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders who are teaching Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38, “Inhabited,” for Sunday February 2, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Blaise Pascal, Exodus 40, Exodus 40:16-21, Explore the Bible, glory, glory of God, God, gospel, guidance, Jehovah, Jesus, John Newton, just as the Lord commanded Moses, Lifeway, Moses, Moses obedience, obedience, obedience is the best test, Providential guidance, salvation, shekinah glory, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday school teacher help, tabernacle, teaching outline, wait on the Lord, whatever He says to you do it, Yahweh, YHWH
7 Comments
“How To Seek The Lord” (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
In 1622, the ship, “Our Lady of Atocha,” sailed from the Spanish colonies in the New World back towards Spain. The Atocha was laden down with so much gold from the mines in the Americas that it had taken two … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged Atocha, Bible, Bonhoeffer, Book of Isaiah, call on the name of the Lord, cheap grace, daily prayer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, faith, God, gospel, grace, Isaiah, Isaiah 55, Isaiah 55:6-7, Jesus, Matthew 6:33, Mel Fisher, Our Lady of Atocha, prayer, repentance, revival, salvation, seek God, seek the Lord while He may be found, seek ye first, seeking, sermon, sin, The Cost of Discipleship, treasure
2 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 22 & Leviticus 19, “Protection” for 1/19/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 22:21-27, and Leviticus 19:9-10, with the title of “Protection” for Sunday, January 19, 2025. A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged alien, Bible, caring, Exodus, Exodus 22, Explore the Bible, foster care, God, gospel, Jesus, Leviticus 19, Lifeway, orphan, Pearl Buck, Pearl Buck quote helpless members, poor, protection, stranger, Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, teacher help, teaching outline, vulnerable, widow
8 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Exodus 20:1-17 “God’s Commands,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible lesson for January 12, 2025.
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 20:1-17 for Sunday, January 12, 2025 with the title, “God’s Commands.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
“Fear Not, I Am With You” (Isaiah 41:10 sermon)
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
“Trusting Providence In A Fallen World” (“Trust & Obey”) Matthew 2:13-23 sermon
(Preached at First Baptist Church, Angleton, TX, December 29, 2024.) I hope that you are among those who had a Merry Christmas — but honestly I know that not everyone did. Our lives are often very difficult, and maybe you’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged A.W. Tozer, Bethlehem, Bible, Christianity, Christmas, creation, depravity, Egypt, faith, God, God's provision, God's providence, Holy family, importance of obedience, Jesus, Joseph, Joseph's obedience, King Herod, man's nature, massacre of innocents Bethlehem, Matthew, Matthew 2, miracle vs providence, nature, obedience, post-Christmas sermon, prophecy, providence, provision, Romans 8:19-22, Romans 8:22, sermon, sovereignty, sovereignty of God, The Knowledge of the Holy, tragedy, Trust & Obey
Leave a comment
Teacher’s Overview of Exodus 16 & 17, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for January 5, 2025
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 16:11-19, 17:1-6, “Provision Given,” for Sunday, January 5, 2025. A video version of this overview, that you can watch/listen to, is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Bible study, daily bread, do all things without grumbling, Exodus, Exodus 16 and 17, Exodus 16:11-19 17:1-6, Exodus from Egypt, Explore the Bible, financial provision, God, gospel, grumbling, Jehovah Jireh, Jesus, Lifeway, man hu, manna, my God shall supply all your needs, needs, Philippians 2:14-16, Philippians 4:19, provision, quail in the wilderness, salvation, Sunday School, testimony, water from the rock
4 Comments
shawnethomas 