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 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
Do You Appreciate God’s Word?
Psalm 119 is an acrositc. It is composed of 22 sections of 8 verses each, the verses of each section beginning with one letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So :1-8 all began with the Hebrew letter Aleph; verses 9-16 in … Continue reading
Psalm 119’s Most Important Lesson
”How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.” (Psalm 119:1) Well, that eliminates all of us, doesn’t it?! Psalm 119 is such a majestic Psalm. It is the longest Psalm, the longest … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God's word, God’s commandments, God’s Law, Law of the Lord, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:1, Romans 3:10, salvation, sin, the Law
2 Comments
Keep The Fire Going!
“Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.” (Leviticus 6:13) The Old Testament tabernacle worship was full of symbolism. It taught God’s people the “A-B-C’s” of what it takes to have and keep … Continue reading
The Power of an Example
“Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat. All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food.” (Acts 27:35-36) This may not … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 27:35-36, disciple, discipleship, example, ministers, parenting, pastors, teachers, teaching
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“I Commend You To God”
“And now I commend you to God …” (Acts 20:32) Paul didn’t utter these words casually, or irresponsibly. He had just said in :32 that “day and night for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 20:32, children, disciples, discipleship, prayer, students, training, trust
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“Just As The Lord Had Commanded”
“Just as the LORD had commanded Moses” is the theme of Exodus 39 & 40. Nothing “new” was commanded here; rather the focus was on how Moses actually DID everything that God had commanded him. Notice how these same words, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, commandments, Exodus 39, Exodus 40, God's word, obedience
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It’s Only Temporary
“He made two golden rings for it under its moldings on its two sides — on opposite sides — as holders for poles with which to carry it.” (Exodus 37:27) It wasn’t permanent. That’s what stands out here. As you … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged buildings, Exodus 37, faith, golden rings, material, Matthew 24, poles, tabernacle, Temple, temporary
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When “Worship” Misses The Mark
“He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’” (Exodus 32:4) … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, church, church standards, creativity, Exodus 32:4, idolatry, regulative principle, worship
2 Comments
The Problem of Impatience
“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain …” (Exodus 32:1) One of the biggest problems that afflicts God’s people is IMPATIENCE. We want instant results. This is certainly true in our “microwave era”, … Continue reading
Paul’s “Theology 101”
The Apostle Paul preached at Mars Hill has been criticized by some for not being directly based upon the Old Testament scriptures. But upon further inspection it is an amazing compendium of knowledge about the One True God. Notice what … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", Acts 17:23-31, Apostle Paul, doctrine of God, God, God judge, God mercy, God the Father, holiness of God, immanence, omnipotence of God, Omnipotent, Providence of God, sufficiency of God, teaching, theology, theology 101, theology of God, transcendence
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