Tag Archives: salvation

Teacher’s Overview of Ruth 3:8-13, 4:13-17, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Redemption,” for 8/30/26.

Posted on 2026/08/22 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life application. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION/ILLUSTRATION: Carl Sandburg wrote about a slave auction … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "Great Change", "Redemption", abortion, Baptist, Bible study, blood of Christ, Boaz, Book of Ruth, breath of life, Carl Sandburg Lincoln, Community Group, cost of redemption, Explore the Bible, faith, fruit of redemption, genealogy of Christ, George Wilson pardon refused, goel, gospel, Islam, kindman redeemer, life, Lifeway, Matthew genealogy, Matthew Henry, Messiah, Muslim testimony, Obed, Old Testament prophecy, promise of redemption, Ruth, Ruth and Boaz, Ruth and Naomi, salvation, saving faith, Shariq Khan testimony, slave redeemed, small group, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outlline, Sunday School teacher, William Wilberforce, witness | Leave a comment

Overview of Judges 16:16-31, Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson, “Compromise,” for August 16, 2026.

Posted on 2026/08/08 by Shawn Thomas

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

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Book of Judges, Community Group, compromise, Explore the Bible, flirtation, flirting, God, grace, group leader, humility, II Samuel 12:14, irreversible consequences of sin, Isaiah 59:2, Jesus, Judges, Judges 16:16-31, Lectures to My Students, Lifeway, little compromises, Mark Twain The Innocents Abroad, Philistines, PIel verb, prayer, relationship with God, salvation, Samson, Samson and Delilah, Satan, sin, slavery of sin, Southern Baptist, Spurgeon These are Thy Champions, Sunday School, teacher help, temptation, The Great Compromise of 1787, toying with sin, Valley of Sorek | 7 Comments

Teacher’s Preview of Joshua 24:14-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “Vital Decision,” for July 19, 2026.

Posted on 2026/07/11 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, sample group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications to make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ??? DISCUSSION QUESTION??? “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "two sides of the same coin", A Severe Mercy, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord, Bible, Bible study, C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis and free will, choices, choose you this day, Clemente plane crash, Death, decisions, Explore the Bible, false gods, going through the motions, gospel, graduation speech, how to serve God, idols, Jehovah, Joshua, life choices, life fragile, Lifeway, prayer wheel, Promised Land, repentance, repentance and faith, Roberto Clemente, salvation, serve God, Shawn E. Thomas, Sheldon Vanauken, spirit and truth, sudden death, truth, Yahweh, YHWH | 1 Comment

“Finishing Well” (Psalm 92:12-15 message)

Posted on 2026/07/06 by Shawn Thomas

(Preached at Trinity Baptist Church, Norman, OK, Father’s Day, June 21, 2026) Just a few years ago, an elderly university president in South Carolina wrote: “It’s sundown, Lord … I fear not death … But I do fear that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged aging, bearing fruit, Bible, bitterness, Brooklyn Bridge, Cherry Street Mile, daily devotions, daily quiet time, David McCullough, devotional time, discipleship, evangelism, faith, finishing well, foundation, fruit, God, gospel, I Peter 2:2, Jesus, John Roebling, Mark Twain, Max Barnett, missions, prayer warrior, Psalm 92, Psalms, salvation, senior adults, Shawn E. Thomas, spiritual disciplines, spiritual foundation, spiritual growth, theodicy, Trinity Baptist Norman OK, witness, word of God | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Winning Strategy,” for June 28, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/20 by Shawn Thomas

Inclues 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 "Winning Strategy", apologetics, application, archeology, ban, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Biblical Archeology, Book of Joshua, Canaanites killing, Christianity, commandments, discussion question, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God is just, grace, Holy Spirit, Jericho, Jericho map, Jesus, Joshua, Joshua 6:12-25, justice, lesson outline, Lifeway, obedience, salvation, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, theodicy, under the ban, walls of Jericho | 6 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson “Remembering God’s Works” for June 21, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/13 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 you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ???DISCUSSION … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged answered prayers, Baptist, Bible study, Book of Joshua, church, deliverance, discussion questions, do this in remembrance of Me, Ebenezer, Explore the Bible, faith, forgetting God, God, gospel, illustrations, Jesus, Jordan River, Jordan River crossing, Jordan River flood, Joshua, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, memorial, Passover, salvation, scripture, scripture memory, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, University of Oklahoma 2000 National Championship, World War II memorial | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Amazing Grace,” for June 14, 2026.

Posted on 2026/06/06 by Shawn Thomas

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged "the scarlet thread", Amazing Grace, Bible, Charles Ellet, confession of faith, David McCullough The Great Bridge, deeds, ethics, Explore the Bible, faith, faith and works, for God so loved, God, gospel, grace, is it wrong to lie to an enemy?, James 2, John Newton, Joshua, Joshua 2, Lifeway, lying, public profession, Rehab the prostitute, Rosaria Butterfield, salvation, Sunday School, tetragrammaton, The Letters of John Newton, W.A. Criswell, works of faith, Yahweh | 4 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 26:17-30, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Our Atonement,” for 5/24/26

Posted on 2026/05/16 by Shawn Thomas

Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can use, discussion questions you can share, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION/ILLUSTRATION “Caesar … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Aldrich Ames, application, Baptist, Baptist Faith & Message, Benedict Arnold, betrayal, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Caesar, communion, discussion questions, Explore the Bible, faith, God, God's sovereignty vs Man's responsibility, introduction, Jesus, John R.W. Stott The Cross of Christ, Judas, Julius Caesar betrayal, Larry Helyer The Life and Witness of Peter, Last Supper, Lifeway, Lord's Supper, Lord's Supper table, Matthew, Matthew 26, Matthew 27:17-30, meaning of the Lord's Supper, obedience, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' betrayal, ordinance, Phillip Barlag The History of Rome in 12 Buildings, Roman Catholics, sacrament, salvation, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Southern Baptist, sovereignty vs responsibility, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, triclinium | 2 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Authority,” for 4/26/26.

Posted on 2026/04/18 by Shawn Thomas

For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 21 for April 26, 2026. Includes a suggested 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 authority, authority figure, Bible, Bible study, Book of Matthew, Carl Trueman, elders, evangelism, Explore the Bible, fear, fear of man, Franklin Graham testimony, fruit, God, gospel, Jesus, John G. West Stockholm syndrome Christianity, John Newton, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 21, Matthew 21:23-32, metamello, once saved always saved, parable, peer pressure, presbuteros, regret, repentance, revelation, salvation, Sanhedrin, Shawn E. Thomas, social imaginary, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, tale of two sons, witnessing, you will know them by their fruit | 8 Comments

Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Grace,” for 4/19, 2026

Posted on 2026/04/11 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 overview is available on YouTube at: (Let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews | Tagged Bible context, C.S. Lewis Great Divorce, Christian service, context, Dave Ramsey better than I deserve, day laborers, discipleship, Ephesians 2, Explore the Bible, God, gospel, grace, grace giving, Jesus, judgment, Kingdom of Heaven, lesson outline, Lifeway, Mary and Martha, Matthew 20, Matthew 20:1-16, parable, Parable of the Landowner, rewards, rewards in heaven, salvation, Sarah Smith from Golders Green, service, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher | 16 Comments