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 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 15:1-11+, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for March 8, 2026, "Real Devotion"
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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 Confidence That Serves
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged assurance, confidence, discipleship, faith, humility, John 13:3-4, service
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“Knowing”: The Firm Foundation
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God …” (John 13:3) The word “knowing” here is a crucial one: “Jesus, KNOWING …”. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged assurance, confidence, faith, foundation, heaven, I John 5:13, Jesus, John 13:3, knowing, relationship with God, service
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Going to The Father
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged comfort, Death, death of loved one, eternal life, facing death, father, heaven, Heavenly Father, John 13:1
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Some Said It Thundered
In John 12 Jesus had just prayed before the multitude, “Father, glorify Thy name.” “Then a voice came out of heaven: ‘I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.’” (:28) What is interesting is the response of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged belief, Blaise Pascal, choice, cynics, doubt, faith, John 12:28-29, Pascal light shadows, skepticism
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The First Hypocrite
“Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.” (John 12:6) It doesn’t take long … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, critics, hypocrisy, hypocrites, John 12:6
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Prophecy From The Lips Of A Murderer?
“Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation.” (John 11:51) This scripture give us yet another example of how God can … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged authority, I Timothy 2, John 11:51, prayer, Romans 13, submission
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Losing Your “Place” For Jesus
“If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both OUR PLACE and OUR NATION.” (John 11:49) Why did not the chief priests and the Pharisees follow … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged count the cost, discipleship, following Jesus, John 11:49
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The Dual Purpose of Public Prayer
“I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” (John 11:42) There are some people who refuse to pray in public, because of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Jesus, John 11:42, Matthew 6:5, prayer, public prayer
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Belief & Glory
“Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40) These words of Jesus, spoken to Martha before He raised Lazarus from the dead, could well have … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged faith, glory, heaven, John 11:40, Romans 3:23, salvation
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