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 8 & 9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Every Life Valued" for 1/18/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
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 Thomas
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 3:20-30, “Questioned”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 3:20-30, for Sunday, September 17, 2023, with the title, “Questioned.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged a house divided, Abraham Lincoln a house divided, all sin may be forgiven, bind Satan, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, church, Civil War, criticism, division, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Franklin Graham, George Whitefield, High Priestly Prayer, I Corinthians 6:9, In Jesus' name, Jesus, John 10 thief, John 17, John R Tyson Assist Me To Proclaim, John Wesley, Lifeway, Mark 3:20-30, prayer, presidents criticism, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual warfare, strong man, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the unforgivable sin, unity, Woodrow Wilson
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Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 1:35-45, “Proclaimed”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 1:35-45, “Proclaimed,” for Sunday, September 10, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: When British … Continue reading
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 1:1-13, “Introduced”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 1:1-13, for Sunday, September 3, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: Read some famous … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Book of Mark, books, church, Explore the Bible, first line of books, Gregory Nazianzen, Harold Lindsell, Harry Potter, humility, II TImothy 2:21, Jesus, Jesus prophecy, John the Baptist, Joshua 3:5, Lifeway, Mark 1:1-13, Mark Bible study, Messiah, modalism, Nabeel Qureshi, obedience, Old Testament prophecy of Jesus, preparation for ministry, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, Shawn Thomas, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school lesson help, Sunday school teacher help, Trinity
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” Lamentations 3:19-33 “Good”
A brief overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Lamentations 3:19-33 for Sunday, August 27, 2023, with the title, “Good.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: A few months into the American Revolution in … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Augustine of Hippo, chesed, child of such tears, compassion, David McCullough, depression, Explore the Bible, faithfulness, God, God judge, God's love, grace, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, hope, II Corinthians 10:5, II Timothy 2:13, inheritance, Jehovah, Jeremiah, Jerusalem, Lamentations 3:19-33, Lifeway, Lord, love, lovingkindness, Martin Luther, Monica Augustine, portion, priests, Psalm 103, Psalm 16, Psalm 2:2, Psalm 42, seek God, seeking God, Shawn Thomas, SS teacher help, St. Augustine, Sunday school lesson, taking thoughts captive, The Lord is my portion, tob, trials, Yahweh
16 Comments
Teachers’ Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 1:1-14, “In The Beginning.”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible Study leaders, of Lifeway’s Explore The Bible lesson of John 1:1-14, “In the Beginning,” for Sun, Dec. 4, 2022. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Christ of Christmas, Christology, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Deity, Jesus humanity, John 1:1-14 Sunday school lesson helpl, Lifeway Explore the Bible, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 1:1-14, Paul Harvey The Man and the Birds, person and work of Christ, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas.com, teacher helps John 1:1-14
11 Comments
“The Lord Our Provider” (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
I’ll never forget the time, just after Cheryl & I had graduated from seminary; I only had a part-time job, and we didn’t have any prospects of finding a full-time church yet; we had just had our first child, and … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Angleton Christian School, building fund, Christian School provision, church building provision, condition of Philippians 4:19, First Baptist Church Angleton Texas, Genesis 22, George Muller orphanage proviision, givers, giving, God our provider, God's providence, good stewards, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor testimony, in Christ Jesus, investing in eternity, investing in the Kingdom, Jehovah Jireh, kingdom giving, Kingdom investing, Lottie Moon offering, missions, missions giving, needs vs. wants, pastor Shawn Thomas, Philippians 4 sermon, Philippians 4:19 sermon, provision, relationship with God, retirement savings, salvation, Shawn Thomas, stewardship, supply, tithe, tithe ten percent, tithing
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“Rejoice In The Lord” (Philippians 3:1 sermon)
John Newton, the former slave ship captain who later became a Christian, is best-known for writing the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” But he was also a pastor for about 20 years after his conversion, and he had an extensive counseling ministry … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged "happy game", fellowship, Fred Tubb and Jo, golf, happy in a pirson, John Newton, joy, joy in Philippians, Lifeway Through the Bible series overview, meaning of rejoice, more than when their grain and new wine abound, Philippians 3:1, Pollyanna attitude, Psalm 4:7, rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, salvation, Shawn Thomas, unhappy in a palace, www.shawnethomas.com
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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (Oct. 22, 2013)
Homeschool, household chores, and a preaching trip to Beggs, America mark this week’s installment of the “Little Condo”: OVERHEARD DURING MATH Cheryl & Michael’s math lessons could probably fuel their own comedy show. I get a lot of chuckles out … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
Tagged "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", algebra, dishwasher loading chart, Facebook, fast food, Frank Sinatra, homeschool, kitten Eponine, Lesley Jackson Gore, math, Mrs. Gore's Diary, Oklahoma, pastor's family life, pastor's home, Shawn Thomas, Star Wars, walking weather
2 Comments
Farewell to Our Church Family
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the past 12+ years of service with our church family at Moss Bluff. It would be almost physically impossible for me to write a personal note to everyone who has blessed my family … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life, Ministry
Tagged day by day, Exodus, farewell, First Baptist Church Moss Bluff, God's purpose, moving, pastor resignation, peace, POTS, providence, Shawn Thomas
10 Comments
Letter To My Church Family (2-03-13)
We are fast approaching one year since I first went home sick from prayer meeting on a Wednesday night with what came be to diagnosed as dysautonomia, or POTS. We have employed a wide array of medications and exercises, and … Continue reading
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