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 Romans 2:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Coming Judgment," for 9/13/26.
- Romans 3:21-4:5, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: "Saving Faith," for 9/20/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- Teacher's Overview of Romans 1:13-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "True Power," for 9/06/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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: sin
Romans 3:21-4:5, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview: “Saving Faith,” for 9/20/26.
An overview for teachers, members, and group leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Romans 3:21-4:5, “Saving Faith,” for September 20, 2026. Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, discussion questions, and … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Do not bring a god on to the stage", 5 pillars of Islam, Abraham, all have sinned, believe, boasting, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon Niagara Falls, deus ex machina, example of Abraham, Explore the Bible, faith is not a work, faith vs. works, Finback submarine rescue, for all have sinned, General Revelation, George H.W. Bush rescue, George Washington, gospel, Horace, humility, I am a great sinner Christ is a great Savior, II Corinthians 5:21, illustration, illustration of sin, Islam, John 3:16, John Newton, Jonathan Aitken, Just and the Justifier, justified, Lifeway, Martin Luther King, meaning of faith, Paradise, propitiation, R.C. Sproul content of His character, religious pride, righteousness, righteousness of God, Romans, Romans 10:13, Romans 3, Romans 3:21-4:5, salvation, salvation for all, salvation gift, saving faith, sin, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, teaching outline, trust, works
Leave a comment
Teacher’s Overview of Romans 2:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Coming Judgment,” for 9/13/26.
Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations to share, group discussion questions, and spiritual life applications. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: “How many of you have heard of … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged apologize to Sodom, Apostle Paul, Bible, Book of Romans, Charles DIckens, Coming Judgment, doers of the law, Explore the Bible, FDR Churchill Mrs Ogden Reid hypocrisy, Genghis Khan, God, gospel, grace, guilt, hypocrisy, inexcusable, Jesus, John MacArthur, judge not, judging, judgment, kindness of God leads to repentance, Lifeway, none who does good, orge, Paul, perish, revelation, Revelation wrath of God, Robinson Crusoe, Robinson Crusoe Christian theme, Robinson Crusoe summary, Romans, Romans 2, Romans 2:1-13, Ruth Graham Sodom, salvation, salvation by grace, salvation by works, sin, The Last Lion Reid & Manchester, thumos, unrepentance, wrath, wrath of God
6 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Judges 6:1-4, 7-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Called,” for August 2, 2026.
Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations to share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications to make. A video version of this preview is available on YouTube at: ???DISCUSSION/INTRODUCTION QUESTION??? “Can you … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "why has this happened?", angel of the Lord, application, Baptist, Bible, Book of Judges, call of Gideon, calling, Christian service, Christophany, discussion questions, excuses, Explore the Bible, Gideon, God, God's word, humility, illustrations, Jesus, John Knox, Judges, Judges 6, judgment, leader, leadership, lesson outline, Lifeway, Lord, meaning of Gideon, ministry, Ophrah, outline, poor in spirit, sin, Southern Baptist, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher, theodicy, wine press, Yahweh, YHWH
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Judges 2:11-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “Consequences,” for July 26, 2026.
Includes a suggested introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications you can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: ILLUSTRATION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged adversity test, alcohol consequence, anger of the Lord, Ashtoreth, Baal, Baptist, Book of Judges, consequences, consequences of sin, cycle in Judges, cycle of unfaithfulness, David McCullough Harry Truman, David McCullough Johnstown Flood, dealing with adversity, Explore the Bible, false gods, false repentance, George H.W. Bush adversity story, Gibbon Rise and Decline, God, John Newton, John Owen sin, Jon Meachan Destiny and Power, Jonathan Aitken, Judges, life tests, Lifeway, one True God, religion, repentance, Romans 6:23, Shaphat, sin, Southern Baptist, temporary repentance, tests, tight spot, Yahweh, YHWH
4 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Joshua 7:10-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Sin Revealed,” for July 5, 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 can make. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: You … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Achan, Ache's sin, Baptist, Bible, Bible study, Book of Joshua, consecrate yourself, consequences of sin, deterrence, discussion questions, disobedience, example, Explore the Bible, God, holiness, holy, illustrations, Jesus, Joshua, Joshua 7, lesson outline, lesson overview, lesson preview, Lifeway, sanctification, Shawn E. Thomas, sin, Southern Baptist, Sunday school lesson, Sunday School teacher
6 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson “Mercy Extended” for 1/25/26
For teachers of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Matthew 9, for January 25, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can share, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life applications that … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Mercy Extended", Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln pardons, Bible professional mourners, Book of Matthew, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, church, down and out, evangelism, Explore the Bible, fasting, gospel, grace, gracious, Jesus, Jesus and fasting, John Lloyd Stevens, legalism, Lifeway, Matthew, Matthew 9, mercy, mourning, New Testament fasting, outreach, Pharisees, reclining to eat, separate from sinners, shawnethomas, showing grace, sin, sinners, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school outline, Sunday School teacher, synagogue official, triclinium, wineskins
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 8 & 9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, “Every Life Valued” for 1/18/26
An overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Matthew 8:1-4, 14-17, and 9:1-8, Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson for January 18, 2026. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text highlights and outline, illustrations you can share, … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "Every Life Valued", A Christmas Carol, Bernard Ollivier Walking to Samarkand, Bible, Bible study, C.S. Lewis Weight of Glory, caring, caring for people, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, demons, Dickens, empty stomach, every person matters, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, God, gospel, healing, heaven, It Is Well, Jesus, Jesus authority, King Jesus, leper, leper colony, leprosy, Lifeway, love, mankind was my business, Matthew, Matthew 8, Matthew 8 & 9, Matthew 9, ministering to the sick, ministry, my sin o the bliss, outcasts, paralytic, paralyzed man, Peter mother in law, Psalm 32:1, salvation, Salvation Army, sick, sickness, sin, spiritual healing, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, William Booth, your sins are forgiven
6 Comments
Teacher’s Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: “True Righteousness,” for 12/28/25.
For Sunday School teacher and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson. Includes a sample introduction to the lesson, text outline and highlights, illustrations you can use, discussion questions for your group, and spiritual life application. A video … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Baptist, Beatitudes, Bible, Dewey defeats Truman, don't disgrace that uniform, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, falling short, God, gospel, II Corinthians 5:21, inerrant, infallible, iota, Jesus, Jesus character, John Piper, jot and tittle, keriah, Law, Lifeway, light, Lillian Parks Leighton, love your enemy, Matthew 5:1-12, not the smallest letter or stroke, Pharisee and the publican, Pharisees, poor in spirit, poverty in spirit, prophets, righteousness, salt, salt and light, salvation, scripture, Shawn Thomas, shawnethomas, sin, Southern Baptist, standards, Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, True Righteousness, trust, Urban Meyer Above the Line, witness, word of God, yod, you shall be perfect
4 Comments