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)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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’s presence
Teacher’s Overview: Numbers 9:15-23 “The Journey” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for 9/07/25
An overview for Sunday School teacher and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Numbers 9:15-23, with the title, “The Journey,” for Sunday, September 7th, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Bible study, cloud by day, endurance, Explore the Bible, God, God is with us, God's leadership, God's presence, God's will, I Samuel 10, Immanuel, Jesus, learning exercises, Lifeway, Magellan, Moses, numbers, Numbers 9, Numbers 9:15-23, patience, pillar of fire, prayer, presence of God, providence, Shawn E. Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson overview, tabernacle, The Journey, Thy will be done, wait on the Lord, waiting
12 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 42:1-11, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Presence,” for 8/31/25.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 4:1-11, with the title “God’s Presence,” for Sunday, August 31, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Augustine of Hippo, Bible, Bible study, Book II of Psalms, desert thirst, despair, discouragement, Explore the Bible, God, God's presence, help of my countenance, I used to, Jesus, John Lloyd Stevens, Lifeway, Mt. Mizar, my God, Pascal, prayer, preach the gospel to yourself, preaching to yourself, Psalm 42, Psalm 42:1-11, Psalms, singing, Song in the Night, sons of Korah, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, thirst for God, thirst story, vacuum, what are you thirsty for, worship
7 Comments
Jesus At Our Side
“The Lord stood at his side.” (Acts 23:11) Why isn’t this one of the best-loved and most quoted verses in the Book of Acts? It is amazing and wonderful, that the living Lord Jesus would appear to Paul in his … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 23:11, Ephesians 1:13, God with us, God's presence, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Spirit of God, Spirit of Jesus
Leave a comment
“The Lord Was With Him”
One little expression in the story of Joseph in Genesis tells us all we need to know about him — and the one thing we need most in our lives today too:
The Light in My Darkness
In Psalm 18:28 David says, “For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness.” That God would “illumine (his) darkness” could mean something different than we might initially think.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged comfort, darkness, God's presence, Hebrews 13:5, light, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 18:28, Psalm 23:4
Leave a comment
The Key To Contentment
Hebrews 13:5 commands us: “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’.” It is … Continue reading
With Us At Our Worst
In Psalm 73 Asaph shares a very frank testimony. He had envied the prosperity of the wicked (:3), and had considered that he had kept his life pure in vain (:13). He admitted that “my heart was embittered” and he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doubt, God's presence, Psalm 73:23, security
Leave a comment
The Greatest Blessing
In Exodus 29:45 God said: “I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.” The great blessing of Israel was not invincible military might, unequalled prosperity, or unique religious rituals – but that GOD HIMSELF would … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 1:27, Exodus 29:45, God's presence, the greatest blessing
1 Comment
The Priority of His Presence
Psalm 140 ends: “the upright will dwell in Your presence.” (:13) THIS is what is really important. Psalm 140 speaks repeatedly of the “evil men” (:1) who “stir up wars” (:2) and “sharpen their tongues”, etc. But the Psalm ends … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Exodus 33:15, God's presence, Psalm 140:13, the presence of God
1 Comment
shawnethomas 