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 Overview of Matthew 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority Acknowledged," for 1/11/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "Jesus' Example of Baptism" (Matthew 3:13-17 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: Matthew 6
Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Treasure,” for 1/04/2026
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
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“Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough” (Matthew 4:2 sermon)
On May of 1776, in the throes of the conflict of the birth of our country, General George Washington sent this order to his army: “The Continental Congress having ordered, Friday the 17th. Instant to be observed as a day … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged apostles, Apostolic Constitutions, discipleship, Early Church, Esther, evangelism, fasting, fasting challenge, George Washington, intercession, intercessory prayer, Jesus, John 4, Matthew 4:2 sermon, Matthew 6, Moses, Nehemiah, prayer, prayer and fasting, rules for fasting, salvation, Samaritan woman, Shepherd of Hermas, Tertullian
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The Christian’s Inheritance
“To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (I Peter 1:4) When I was a boy, someone gave me a silver dollar, which I treasured. Not trusting myself with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged afterlife, faith, heaven, I Peter 1:4, inheritance, Matthew 6, rewards
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Which World Are You Living For?
Why do hypocrites do what they do? In His Matthew 6 admonition to His disciples to avoid hypocrisy, Jesus gave several examples which reveal a basic motivation that each person takes into consideration when they make their choice of action: … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged heaven, Hebrews 11:24-26, hypocrisy, Matthew 6, Moses, rewards
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Speak Lord
I Samuel 3:9 contains one of the great prayers in scripture: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Eli taught Samuel to say it to God the next time He called him in the tabernacle. It is a simple but … Continue reading
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