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
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
People > My “Rights”
“However, so that we do not offend them (cause them to stumble) go …” (Matthew 17:27) In the Book of I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul told us that we should restrict our own freedoms, in order not to make others … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Matthew 17:27, stumbling block
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Disappointing Disciples
“I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” (Matthew 17:16) The man had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples, hoping that they might be able to heal him. But he was disappointed. “They could not cure … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, disappointment, disciples, Matthew 17:16
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Seriously?
“Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” (Matthew 15:33) Seriously? Where would they get enough bread to feed the multitude of 4000 who had been with Jesus and His disciples … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged experience, faith, Matthew 15, providence, provision, spiritual maturity, tests, trust
1 Comment
When God Answers An Outrageous Request
“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’” “And He said, ‘Come!’” (Matthew 14:28-29) Can you imagine the gall that Peter had, to make this outrageously brash request of Jesus? … Continue reading
“YOU give them something to eat!”
“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” (Matthew 14:16) Although the gathering of the multitude before Jesus that day was unusual in a sense, in another way it is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, concern, excuses, love, Matthew 14:16, ministry, responsibility
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People Aren’t “Interruptions”
“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) In this passage, Jesus had just heard about the tragic death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, love, Matthew 14:14, ministry
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Alone Time
“Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself …”. (Matthew 14:13) The unjust death of John the Baptist was very difficult to understand. And it seemed to hit Jesus … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:13, prayer, quiet time, seclusion, solitude
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Is God Really In Control?
If your circumstances have ever been so bad that you wondered whether God was really in control, you are not alone. Those living in the days of Jesus and John the Baptist must have had occasion to feel the same … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged circumstances, control, God's sovereignty, Matthew 14, Psalm 1:1, purpose, Romans 8:28, sovereignty
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Limited By Our Unbelief
“And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58) These words were written about the people in Nazareth, Jesus’ home town. Verses 53 and following tell us how the people there questioned Jesus: “Is this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
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No Difference In “The Wheat & The Tares”?
“But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.” (Matthew 13:26) The parable of “The Wheat & The Tares” has become one of the most well-known parables in American Christianity, primarily through popular contemporary preaching … Continue reading
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