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 Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- "The Disciple's Character: Purity of Heart" (Matthew 5:8 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 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
Monthly Archives: February 2013
His Rest
In Psalm 95:11, God said of the rebellious people of Israel in the wilderness: “they shall not enter My rest.” God’s “rest” is the goal for mankind. This is what we long for! But we need to realize that ultimate … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's rest, he is at rest, heaven, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 95:11, rest, rest in peace, vacation
Leave a comment
You Who Love The Lord
Psalm 97:10 speaks of “you who LOVE THE LORD”. In this verse, “you who love the Lord” is a synonym for the people of God, those who are what many of us would call “saved.” We see a similar appellation … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Great Commandment, loving God, Psalm 97:10, Romans 8:28, you who love the Lord
Leave a comment
Commitment to Praise
In Psalm 108:1, David says: “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises.” What David was expressing here was not a ritual, but rather a heartfelt commitment to praise, regardless of his circumstances.
Prayer Warriors
I Timothy 5:5 tells us that widows in the church are commanded to do two things: 1) “fix (their) hope on God” 2) “continue in entreaties and prayers night and day” This verse gives direction not only for widows, but … Continue reading
Sing to the Lord
Exodus 15:1 says that after the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea and the Egyptians were drowned: “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord …”. Notice that the RECIPIENT of their song … Continue reading
Our God Does Whatever He Pleases!
Psalm 115:2-3 says: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where now is their God?’ But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Just like in Israel’s day, there WILL be times in ours when those who do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", doubt, faith, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 115:2-3, questions, where is their god?
Leave a comment
“Paradise”: The House Showing
Following my resignation at First Baptist, Moss Bluff, last Sunday, our house went on the market this week. We will not be able to live at 954 Mission Lane with me being unable to work full-time (or at all, presently) … Continue reading
Posted in Home & Family Life
Tagged cats, family, God's purpose for the family, moving, pastor, POTS, refining furnace, selling home
4 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
Not The Easiest Route
In Exodus 13:17 it says that when the people of Israel came out of Egypt, “God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near …”. God does not always take … Continue reading
shawnethomas 