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 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
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- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
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- worship
Tag Archives: salvation
Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “God’s Power,” for 11/30/25.
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 Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Fully Committed,” for 11/23/25.
Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, outline and highlights from the text, 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: ???DISCUSSION QUESTION??? … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Fully Committed", ABC salvation, ABCs of salvation, application, Bible, Bible lesson, Bible study, choices, choose life, decisions, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 30, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, discussion questions, Eusebius, Eusebius Church History, Explore the Bible, Glass Wax commercial, gospel, Great Commandment, illustrations for Sunday School, Jesus, Lifeway, love God, Marinus the centurion, Moses, Nathan Finn Jonathan Edwards, Romans 10, salvation, scripture, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas.com, so easy a child can do it, Sunday School, Sunday school class, Sunday School teacher, the word is near you, word of God
11 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Deuteronomy 28:1-6, 15-19, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Covenant Relationship,” for 11/16/25.
Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible study, blessing, consequences, cornucupia, Covenant Blessings, curse, curse of the Law, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy 18:15, Deuteronomy 28:1-6, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, God, gospel, grace, heaven, Jesus, Jesus only way, Kendall's Noble, Law, Lifeway, Lindbergh's Character Factors, Messiah, Moses, Romans 3:23, salvation, Scott Berg Lindbergh, sin, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, works, works salvation
4 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 Psalm 23, “God’s Care,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for August 10, 2025
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 23, for Sunday, August 10, 2025, with the title, “God’s Care.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged anoint my head with oil, Bible study, Explore the Bible, for You are with me, God with us, God's Care, good ruts, Jehovah, Jesus, John 14:6, lesson overview, Lifeway, Psalm 23, Psalms, relationship with God, ruts of righteousness, salvation, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, The Lord is my Shepherd, Yahweh, YHWH
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 38:1-8, 18-22, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson “God’s Conviction,” for 7/27/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 38:1-8, 18-22, “God’s Conviction,” scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: (If … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Candice Millard, Chester Arthur, Chuck Colson, confession, David, Destiny of the Republic, discussion question, Explore the Bible, God, God's Conviction, gospel, Heavenly Father, Hebrew, Jesus, Julia Sands, Lifeway, Lord, Nathan Hale, parenthood, Penitential Psalm, Psalm 38:1-8 18-22, Psalm 3:8, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, salvation, sin, Yahweh, YHWH
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 18:16-29, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Deliverance” for 7/13/25.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 18;16-29, “God’s Deliverance,” scheduled for Sunday, July 13, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "God's Deliverance", blameless, China plane crash 1990, deliverance, Explore the Bible, false accusation, God, gospel, help, Huguenots, innocence, Jesus, John Calvin, John Ker, Karen King, King David, King Saul, Lifeway, praise, prayer, Psalm 18, Psalm 18:16-29, Psalms in History and Biography, salvation, Saul, sin, Sunday school lesson, thanks, Thanksgiving, Yahweh, YHWH
10 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 1:1-6, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Wisdom,” for June 1, 2025.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 1:1-6, “God’s Wisdom,” for Sunday, June 1, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ??? Does … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged abundant life, Alister McGrath C.S. Lewis, ashere, Augustine, Augustine and Psalms, Augustine Confessions, Bible, Biblical meditation, Blessed, Blessed life, C.S. Lewis, Confessions, David McCullough, eternal life, Excellence is a habit, Explore the Bible, God, God knows, God's wisdom, God's word, gospel, Hebrew, J. Frank Dobie, J.I. Packer Knowing God, Jesus, John 10:10, John Adams, John the Baptist, judgment, know God, knowing God, Lifeway, meditate on scripture, meditation, Psalm 1, Psalm 1:1-6, Psalm tunes, Psalms, Psalms as songs, Psalms testimony, Reflections on the Psalms, salvation, scripture memory, sin, Sir Walter Scott, Tales of Old Time Texas, Tim Keller Psalms, water, We are what we repeatedly do, wheat and chaff, wicked vs righteous, Will Durant, winnowing, wisdom
7 Comments
shawnethomas 