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.
-
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)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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
- 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: salvation
Teacher’s Overview of I Peter 4:1-11, “Our Faith,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for 4/13/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 4:1-22, with the title “Our Faith,” for Sunday, April 13, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged above all love, Bible, Bible study, Bible study lesson, David McCullough 1776, end of the world, eschatlogy, Explore the Bible, George Washington, God, good for love, gospel, holiness, Hope Thomas, I Peter, I Peter 4, I Peter 4:1-11, I Peter 4:10, I Timothy 1:5, Jesus, Lifeway, love, love covers, Martin Luther, plant an apple tree, priority of love, return of Christ, salvation, sanctification, second coming, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual gifts, steward, stewardship, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, surprise attack
10 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 3:1-12, “Relationships” for 3/3025
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 3:1-12, for Sunday March 30, 2025, with the title, “Relationships.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged authority, Bible commands for husbands, Bible commands for wives, Bible principles of marriage, Bible study, C.S. Lewis Christian relationships, Christian relationships, CS Lewis The Weight of Glory, Explore the Bible, fellow heir, gospel, Harry Lee Poe The Completion of CS Lewis, hupotasso, husband, husbands, husbands and wives, I Peter, I Peter 3, inner beauty, Jimmy Carter, lesson outline, lesson overview, Lifeway, marriage, relationships, salvation, Shawn Thomas, submission, Sunday School, Sunday school discussion questions, Sunday school illustrations, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the things that matter most Jimmy Carter, The Transformed Wife, understanding way, wife, wives
1 Comment
Teacher’s Overview of I Peter 1:13-25, “Our Mandate,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for 3/09/25
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 1:13-25, for Sunday, March 9, 2025, with the title, “Our Mandate.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Our Mandate", "therefore living", accountability to God, agape love, agape vs philadelphia love, Andrew Jackson judgment, Bible, Bible application, blood of Jesus, brotherly love, Christian life, church, Explore the Bible, Francis Schaeffer, George Muller prayer, gird up your loins, gird your minds for action, gospel, grow in love, holy, How Should We Then Live?, I Corinthians 6:19-20, I Peter, I Peter 1, I Peter 1:13-25, II Corinthians 5:10, Jesus blood, Jon Meacham Andrew Jackson, judgment, judgment seat of Christ, Leviticus holy, Lifeway, love, love based living, love in church, Romans 12:1, salvation, sanctification, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teacher help, therefore, Tim Keller prayer, word of God, word-based living, you shall be holy
12 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 1:3-12, “Our Inheritance” for 3/02/25
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson” for March 2, 2025, “Our Inheritance,” with the text of I Peter 13-12. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Our Inheritance", Bible, Bible study, born again, Charles Dickens Great Expectations, Christianity, Daniel, eternal security, Explore the Bible, faith, George Washington, George Washington inheritance, glory, God, gospel, heaven, heaven reward, How Firm A Foundation, I know whom I have believed, I Peter, I Peter 1, imperishable, inheritance, it's not all about you, Jesus, John 3:3, John 3:7, kept in heaven, lesson help, lesson outline, Lifeway, Old Testament prophecies of Jesus, Peter, Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bithynia, power of God, prophets, reward, Romans 8:18, Ron Chernow, salvation, saving faith, selflessness, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, term Great Expectations, the soul that on Jesus, we're not home yet, you must be born again
13 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Leviticus 26:1-13, “Holy Living,” for Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Leviticus 26:1-13, with the title, “Holy Living,” for Sunday, February 23, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Holy Living", Agatha Christie autobiography, blessings, blessings of holiness, commandments, commands, David McCullough Harry Truman, day of atonement, dwelling, Eden Regained, Explore the Bible, glory, God, God glory, gospel, Hebrews 12:14, holiness, Jesus, John 15:10 If you love Me keep My commandments, John Milton Paradise Lost, John Newton, keep My commandments, lesson outline, Leviticus, Leviticus 26:1-13, Lifeway, Lord, nearness of God, obedience, obedience is the best test, Paradise Restored, Psalm 73:28, salvation, sanctification, Shebani, spiritual blessings, spirituality, Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, tabernacle, teacher help, Truman himself, ultimate blessing, Yahweh, YHWH, you shall be holy for I am holy
1 Comment
“A Biblical Farewell” (Acts 20:18-32)
(On the occasion of my retirement from First Baptist Church, Angleton, TX, Sunday, January 26, 2025) So what do you say to someone when you’re seeing them for the last time? It’s very difficult. Quite honestly, a lot of times … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts, Acts 20, Acts 20 sermon, Apostle Paul, Bible, children, Christianity, daily Bible reading, elders, Ephesian elders, faith, farewell, Father's hands, God, God the Father, good bye sermon, gospel, Henry V, I commit you to God, I know whom I have believed, In Christ Alone, intercessory prayer, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the answer, Mark Dever, nothing in my hand I bring, pastor, pastor retirement, Paul, prayer, Prodigal Son, read the directions, repent, repentance, repentance and faith, retirement, salvation, saving faith, scripture, Shakespeare, Shawn E. Thomas, Shawn Thomas retirement, sin, We're in God's hands brother, why should I let you into my heaven, word of God
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Exodus 40:16-21 and 34-38, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for 2/02/25.
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders who are teaching Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38, “Inhabited,” for Sunday February 2, 2025. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible, Blaise Pascal, Exodus 40, Exodus 40:16-21, Explore the Bible, glory, glory of God, God, gospel, guidance, Jehovah, Jesus, John Newton, just as the Lord commanded Moses, Lifeway, Moses, Moses obedience, obedience, obedience is the best test, Providential guidance, salvation, shekinah glory, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday school teacher help, tabernacle, teaching outline, wait on the Lord, whatever He says to you do it, Yahweh, YHWH
7 Comments
“How To Seek The Lord” (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
In 1622, the ship, “Our Lady of Atocha,” sailed from the Spanish colonies in the New World back towards Spain. The Atocha was laden down with so much gold from the mines in the Americas that it had taken two … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged Atocha, Bible, Bonhoeffer, Book of Isaiah, call on the name of the Lord, cheap grace, daily prayer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, faith, God, gospel, grace, Isaiah, Isaiah 55, Isaiah 55:6-7, Jesus, Matthew 6:33, Mel Fisher, Our Lady of Atocha, prayer, repentance, revival, salvation, seek God, seek the Lord while He may be found, seek ye first, seeking, sermon, sin, The Cost of Discipleship, treasure
2 Comments