Tag Archives: illustrations

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 27:27-31, 45-54, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Our Savior,” for 5/31/26

Posted on 2026/05/23 by Shawn Thomas

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 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 "Our Savior", At Calvary, At The Cross song, atonement, Baptist Sunday School, Bible, Bible study, Biblical Archeology Society crucifixion, Corrie Ten Boom naked, crucifixion, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, illustrations, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 53 and the cross, Jesus, Jesus death, Jesus on the cross, Laurene Powell father death, lesson helps, lesson outline, life applications, Lifeway, My God My God WHy, Praetorium, propitiation, Psalm 22 and the cross, Psalm 2:2, Roman cohort, sacrificial death, Southern Baptist, spat on, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, the cross, The Roman Centurion, truly this was the son of God, veil of the Temple | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 24:36-51, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Alert” for May 10, 2026

Posted on 2026/05/02 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 to make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION QUESTION???“Can … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Alert", "The Game of the Century", 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Bible study lesson, Explore the Bible, faithfulness, God, gospel, hell, illustrations, Jesus, Jesus return, John Newton, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 24, Matthew 24:36-51, Matthew 25, Mount Vesuvius, no one knows the hour, Olivet discourse, OU/Nebraska 1971, Parable of the VIrgins, patience, Pliny, preparation, preppers, rapture, readiness, return of Christ, return of the Lord, reward, second coming, Shawn E. Thomas, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teachers, teaching outline, time of Jesus return, waiting | 5 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 22:15-22, 34-40, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Honor” for 5/03/26

Posted on 2026/04/25 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 22 for May 3, 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 application, Bible study, California COVID crisis 2020, California worship restrictions 2020 COVID, church and state, commandments, denarius, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, flattery, God, government overreach, Great Commandment, greatest commandment, Herodians, I'm good for love, illustrations, Jesus, lesson preview, Lifeway, love, love the LORD your God, love your neighbor, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Passion Week, Pharisees, render to Caesar, Romans 13 submission to government, Ronald Reagan age an issue, Shawn E. Thomas, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, Tiberius Caesar, trap of flattery, What is the greatest commandment? | 5 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Glory,” for 3/22/26

Posted on 2026/03/14 by Shawn Thomas

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

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, awe, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, C.S. Lewis Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis The Weight of Glory, definition of glory, discipleship, discussion questiions, Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rivals, doxa, Elijah, eternity, Explore the Bible, glorified, glory, glory of God, Glory of Jesus, God, gospel, heaven, Holy Spirit, illustrations, Jesus, Jesus Himself alone, lesson preview, Lifeway, Lindy Boggs, Martin Luther terror, Matthew, Matthew 17, Matthew 17:1-13, Moses, Mount of Transfiguration, Mt. Hermon, Mt. Tabor, Peter, reverence, saints glory, Shawn E. Thomas, shekinah glory, Simon Peter, Southern Baptist, spiritual life, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, tabernacle, This is My Beloved Son, time, timing is everything | 3 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Treasure,” for 1/04/2026

Posted on 2025/12/27 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for teachers of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Matthew 6:19-34, for Sunday, January 4, 2026, with the title, “Treasure.” Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged anxiety, Billy Graham, Cheryl Thomas, choices, Christianity and materialism, Craig Blomberg Matthew, David McCullough Mornings on Horseback, discussion questions, Dwight Eisenhower, eternity, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson, giving, giving illustrations, God, gospel, Heavenly Father, illustrations, invest in eternity, Jesus, life application, Lifeway, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, mammon, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, materialism, Matthew, Matthew 6, missions, missions giving, pastor Shawn Thomas, Pompeii, provision, Psalm 37, salvation, seek first the kingdom, Sermon on the Mount, serve God or money, serve two masters, Shawn E. Thomas, shawnethomas, stewardship, Sunday school lesson overview, temporal values, tithing | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “God’s Power,” for 11/30/25.

Posted on 2025/11/22 by Shawn Thomas

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

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Here I raise my Ebenezer", "there's no god like Jehovah", At Calvary, Bible, blessings, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, Christian songs, Days of Elijah, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 33, Deuteronomy 33:1-5, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, ezer as help, God, God as King, God help, gospel, illustrations, Islam, Jebel Musa, Jehovah, Jeshurun meaning, Jesus, Jesus King, king, Lifeway, love of God, Mohammed, Moses, Moses blessing of Israel, Paran, salvation, shawnethomas, Simeon, Sinai, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday School teacher, teaching outline, Yahweh, YHWH | 4 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 4:12-19, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Be Prepared” for April 27, 2025.

Posted on 2025/04/19 by Shawn Thomas

An overview to help Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders prepare for this week’s lesson. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: A few years ago, Nik Ripken (pen name of a former Southern … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Be Prepared, accountability, Agatha Christie, application, Beatitudes, Bible, Bible study, blessed are the persecuted, Chaplain Bob Rogers, Christianity, Christie autobiography, Clio in U.S. House, discipleship, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, God, heaven, I Peter, I Peter 4:12-19, illustrations, inevitability of suffering, Jesus, Joe McKeever, John 15:20, John 16:33, judgment, Lifeway, Luke 9:33, Matthew 249, meekness, Nik Ripken, persecution, Peter, Psalm 37, Randy Alcorn, Richard Curtis Mississippi Baptist, suffering, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, sunrise, The Insanity of God, trust in the Lord and do good, types of suffering, why did God do this? | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Acts 18:1-11, 18-21, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson “Together” for Oct. 20, 2024

Posted on 2024/10/12 by Shawn Thomas

An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 for Sunday, October 20, 2024, with the title, “Together.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Acts, Acts 18:1-11, Acts 1:8, Aquila and Priscilla, assurance, Betty Rogers, bi-vocational pastor, Bible study, bivocational ministry, Cheryl Thomas, Corinth, couples ministry, discipleship, Explore the Bible, Ezekiel 3:17-19, Greece, if the Lord wills, illustrations, lesson help, lesson outline, lesson overview, Lifeway, Lord willing, map, Matthew 7:6, Michael Thomas, ministry, mission, music, part-time ministry, Paul and Silas, Paul's Second Missionary Journey, Priscilla and Aquila, rehab, sin city, stroke, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, teaching outline, tentmaker, Unreal City, Unreal City song cycle, Will Rogers | 4 Comments

“How Should We Then Live?” (I Peter 1:13 sermon)

Posted on 2019/05/28 by Shawn Thomas

Years ago when I was in seminary, we watched a video series based on a book by Francis Schaefer, a legendary Christian philosopher, called, “How Should We Then Live?” The point of the series was, that becoming a Christian isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged action, applying scripture, attitude, Bible, Bible Reading, C.S. Lewis, Cary Grant, Cary Grant LSD, cat, Christian life, Christian living, Elijah Mt. Carmel, enemy, entertainment, eternal life, flooding, forgiveness, Francis Shaefer, fulfillment, gird the loins of your mind, gird up the loins, gird up your loins, hope, hope in Jesus, How Should We Then Live?, I Peter 1:13, I Peter 4:7, I Peter 5:8, I Peter sermon, I Thessalonians 5:6, II Timothy 4:4, illustrations, Indians, life, life is not a game, life is not fun, materialism, Memorial Day, mind, mindset, morning devotions, Puritans, quiet time, real life, rest, roaring lion, salvation, Satan, satisfaction, scripture, serious, sermon, settlers, sober, squirrel, take life seriously, take people seriously, Tales of Old Time Texas J. Frank Dobie, temptation, time with God, vacation, war, Weight of Glory | 3 Comments