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
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- "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
Sing and Don’t Be Silent!
As many of us head off to our church worship services today, we would do well to remember the way that Psalm 30 ends: “That my soul may sing praise to Thee and not be silent. O Lord my God, I … Continue reading
The Meaning of Forgiveness
David Boudia almost did not make it to the Olympic finals. He had a poor preliminary round in the 10 meter diving competition, and just barely qualified to go to the final round. But fortunately, under the Olympic diving rules, … Continue reading
The Blessing of Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1 opens: “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” The world has an entirely different idea of what it means to be blessed. They would put it (whether stated or not) “How blessed is the RICH … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, Charles Spurgeon, forgiveness, Psalm 32:1, the blessed life
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When The Moral Compass Is Broken
Genesis 34 is an ugly chapter in the history of the Patriarchs. In it, Shechem, a young Canaanite, takes Jacob’s daughter Dinah and “lay with her by force.” Dinah’s brothers then deceive Shechem and his whole town, telling them that they will consent … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged consequences, Genesis 34, justification, morality, remorse, repentance, sin
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My Times Are In Your Hand
David Boudia, who just won the gold medal in the 10 meter platform diving in the 2012 Olympics in London, had a very shaky preliminary round, and thought he might not even make it to the finals. But he was calm … Continue reading
A Divine Decision
Proverbs 16:10 is a good word for anyone holding a position of authority or influence: “A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err (be unfaithful) in judgment.” At first one might wonder why the Proverb calls it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged authority, decisions, Proverbs 16:10, responsibility, Romans 13
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Simple Praise
Someone may ask: “How should I praise God? What exactly should I do?” One might think that there is some complicated, Biblical formula for praise, but the truth is there is a very simple one found in the Book of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged giving thanks, model prayer, praise, prayer, Psalm 30:4, sing
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Not So Among You
In Mark 10:43 Jesus said: “But it is not so among you.” He spoke these words to His disciples in response to James & John’s ambitious request to be seated at His left and right in His kingdom — and the indignation … Continue reading
The Danger of Indignance
Mark 10:41 “And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant toward James and John.” We need to be aware that sometimes our response to someone’s sin may be as great or greater than their sin which elicited our response! In Mark … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged bitterness, danger, indignance, indignation, Mark 10:41
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