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.
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Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, "Loyalty Tested"
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson "Mercy Extended" for 1/25/26
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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: Jesus
Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 12:1-11, 29-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Undivided Worship,” for 11/09/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for November 9, 2025 on Deuteronomy 12. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Asherah, Asherim, Bible, Bible worship, Biblical Archeology Society, compromise, David Foster Wallace quote, Deuteronomy 12, Deuteronomy 12:1-11, every man did what was right in his own eyes, everybody worships, Explore the Bible, feminism, First Amendment, giving, God, homosexuality in churches, idol worship, idolatry, illustration, Jesus, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, New Testament worship, Old Testament worship, Plains of Moab, prayer, priesthood of the believer, regulative principle of worship, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday School teacher, tithing, Undivided Worship, worship, worship commands, www.shawnethomas.com
10 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 22:22-35, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 10/12/25, “God’s Plans”
Includes a sample introduction to get the lesson started, 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: ??? Can … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Agatha Christie, Agatha Christie biogrraphy, Agatha Christie Come Tell Me How You Live, archeology, Balaam, Balak, Bible, Bible study, compromise, Euphrates River, Explore the Bible, false prophet, God, Grayson Miller OU, greed, Israel, Jesus, judgment, Lifeway, Marcus Crassus, money, Moses, Peor, Ponzi scheme, prophet, Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, the error of Balaam, The River, unusual messenger
8 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 20:2-13, “Lack of Trust,” Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 10/05/25.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Numbers 20 for Sunday Oct. 5, 2025, including a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Bible study, Bible study leader, contention, David McCullough, depravity, Explore the Bible, fall on your face, Francesco Guicciardini quote, generational curses, God, gospel, history matters, human nature, humility, impartiality, Israel, Jesus, judgment, Korah, Lack of Trust, leadership, Lifeway, Meribah, Moses, Moses disobedience, numbers, Numbers 20, Numbers 20:2-13, obedience, Promised Land, rod of Moses, self scouting, shawnethomas, sin, sin nature, sin tendencies, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher
10 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “Rebellion & Judgment” for 9/28/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Numbers 14:11-24, “Rebellion & Judgment,” for Sunday, September 28, 2025. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged attributes of God, Bible, Bible study, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, chesed, consequences of sin, Exodus 34:6-7, Explore the Bible, George Washington, God, grace, intercession, intercessor, intercessory prayer, Israel, Jesus, Jesus intercessor, Jesus only way, John 14:6, John Adams, Lifeway, lovingkindness, Moses, Promised Land, punishment, qualities of God, salvation, Shawn Thomas, sin, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, Yahweh, YHWH
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Numbers 13:17-31, “The Land,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson overview for 9/21/25
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: 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
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