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.
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "Ministering to the Multitude" (Mark 6:34-44)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 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: Shawn E. Thomas
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
3 Comments
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: 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 105, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Faithfulness” for July 20, 2025.
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 105:1-11, 42-45 for Sunday, July 20, 2025, with the title, “God’s Faithfulness.” A video overview of this overview is available on YouTube … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged A Tramp Abroad, antinomianism, Charles Wesley, Christian liberty, Explore the Bible, faith, faithfulness, God, God remembered, God's Faithfulness, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Heidelberg Castle, Jesus, liberty to obey, Lifeway, Lord, Mark Twain, praise, praise the Lord, prayer, promise, Psalm 105, Psalm 105:1-11, seed of Abraham, Shawn E. Thomas, sing, singing, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday School lesson outline, Sunday school overview, trust, ways to praise God, We're Marching to Zion, Yahweh, YHWH
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 110:1-7, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: “God’s Messiah,” for 7/06/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 110:1-7, “God’s Messiah,” for Sunday, July 6, 2025. A video version of this lesson is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: One way … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "God's Messiah, beauty of holiness, Bible, Explore the Bible, footstool for your feet, God, Hebrews 7, Jesus, John Milton Paradise Lost, Lifeway, Matthew Henry, Melchizedek, Messiah, Mystery of the Messiah, order of Melchizedek, prophet priest and king, Psalm 110, Psalm 110:1-7, Psalms, Shawn E. Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson overview, Sunday school outline, Sunday School teacher, The Lord said to My Lord, Yahweh, YHWH
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 132:1-14, 17-18, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Promise” for 6/29/25
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 132, for Sunday June 29, 2025, with the title, “God’s Promises.” A video version of this overview is available at: INTRODUCTION: ??? … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged A holy life is a Christian's best act of worship, Abraham Lincoln promise, ark of the covenant, David, Explore the Bible, God, God's glory, God's promise, gospel, He will dwell among them, heaven, Jesus, John 14:6, joy, Lifeway, Nicholas Nicholy, priests, promise, promises, Psalm 132, Psalms, Psalms of Ascent, Revelation 21, Shawn E. Thomas, singing, What kind of advertisement am I?, worship, you are my home
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 96:1-13, “God’s Reign,” Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson for June 22, 2025
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 96:1-13, for Sunday, June 22, 2025, with the title ‘God’s Reign.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged beauty of holiness, Cheryl Thomas, Constantine, evangelism, Explore the Bible, Gentiles, glory of God, God, God change, God never changed, God's Reign, holiness, How Great Thou Art, idolatry, idols, International Mission Board, Jimmy Carter, judgment, Lifeway, Lord, missions, nations, peoples, praise the Lord, Psalm 96, Psalm 96:1-13, Psalms, reasons to praise the Lord, return of the Lord, SBC IMB, Shawn E. Thomas, sing, sing sing sing, sing to the Lord a new song, strength and beauty, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Unreached People Groups, UPGs, why sing a new song, witness, Yahweh, YHWH
11 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Psalm 119:1-16, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson, “God’s Truth, for June 8, 2025
An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Psalm 119:1-8, “God’s Truth,” schedule for Sunday, June 8, 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, Bible meditation, Explore the Bible, God's Truth, God's word, Law of the Lord, lesson overview, Lifeway, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:1-16, scripture, scripture memory, Shawn E. Thomas, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help
5 Comments
“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