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 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou, O Lord” Part II: “My Glory”
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou O Lord” Part III: “The Lifter of My Head”
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 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
Category Archives: Devotions/Bible Studies
The Right Side of History
Psalm 2:1-3 asks: “Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying ‘Let … Continue reading
The Origin of All Skill
In Exodus 31:2-3 God says: “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged ability, Exodus 31:2-3, Exodus 31:6, gifts, God-given ability, skill, talents
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No “Family Plan”
Exodus 30:12 says: “When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each of them shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord …”. Each individual member of the people of Israel was responsible … Continue reading
The Greatest Blessing
In Exodus 29:45 God said: “I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God.” The great blessing of Israel was not invincible military might, unequalled prosperity, or unique religious rituals – but that GOD HIMSELF would … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 1:27, Exodus 29:45, God's presence, the greatest blessing
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ASK!
In Psalm 2:8, God tells His Anointed One: “ASK of Me …”. God would do immense things for His Messiah: give the Gentiles as an inheritance, the very ends of the earth as His possession – but He wanted Him … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged ask, asking God, James 4:2, John 16:24, Matthew 7:7, prayer, Psalm 2:8, requests
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The Incense of Prayer
After the first verses of Exodus 30 describe the pattern for the altar of incense at the tabernacle, :7 says: “Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.” This is … Continue reading
“Sound Doctrine”
In Titus 2:1, Paul commands: “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” Many would say, “Amen!” – but look at what the next verses tell us this “sound doctrine” is composed of: — older … Continue reading
Missing the Blessing
Many are familiar with the opening words of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” But … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, counsel, criticism, holiness, missing the blessing, Psalm 1:1, scoffing
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The Purpose of Everything
Psalm 148 commands everything in creation to praise Yahweh: — “the heavens” :1 — “angels” :2 — “sun and moon … stars of light” :3 — “the earth” :7 — “sea monsters” :7 — “fire and hail, snow and clouds” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged glorify God, praise God, Psalm 148, true success
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Consecrated By His Glory
In Exodus 29:43 God said that He would meet with the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting, and that it “shall be consecrated by My glory.” That meeting place would be set apart, not merely by some religious … Continue reading
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