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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "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)
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
Don’t Live For Others’ Expectations
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” (Matthew 11:17) You’ll never please everybody. You can run yourself ragged and never live up to everyone’s expectations. Jesus realized … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged expectations, Matthew 11:16-19, people-pleasers, please god or men
2 Comments
Comfort For The Doubter
“Are You the coming one, or shall we look for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3) These words were spoken by John the Baptist, who had been imprisoned by Herod. And they should comfort any of us who have ever had doubts … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged assurance, depression, discouragement, doubts, Matthew 11:3, salvation
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It’s A Lot About Relationships
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother” (Matthew 10:2) Among the items of note in the list of the … Continue reading
When The Need Is Great: Pray!
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38) Jesus’ response to the overwhelming need of the multitude … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged evangelism, Matthew 9:38-39, ministry, prayer
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“Take Courage” In That Long-Unanswered Prayer
“And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak” (Matthew 9:20) It should be encouraging for some of us to ponder anew the circumstances of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged intercession, Matthew 9:20-22, prayer, prayer requests
1 Comment
Have You Learned Compassion?
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13) If Jesus told you to go and learn something, don’t you think it would be important to do so? Here Jesus tells a group of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, compassion or condemnation, condemnation, judgment, love, Matthew 9:13, Pharisees
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Glorify God
“But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” (Matthew 9:8) This verse describes the response of the people to Jesus’ raising up of the paralzyed man who was brought … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged glorify God, glory, I Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 9:8
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Which IS easier?
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matthew 9:5) This sentence is full of the searching wisdom of Jesus, and may not be what it appears at first blush. Which IS … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged forgiveness, grace, Matthew 9:5, salvation
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He Knows Your Thoughts
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts …” (Matthew 9:4) These may be some of the most intimidating and convicting words in scripture. They should serve to eliminate ANY pretense of “self-righteousness” from every one of us: “Jesus, knowing their thoughts.”
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Genesis 6:5, grace, holier than thou, Matthew 9:4, mind, self-righteousness, sin, thoughts
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The Most Important Thing
“Take courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2) Someone might not think there was anything strange about the words that Jesus spoke here — except that they were spoken to a man who was paralyzed! Some people brought this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged attitude, forgiveness, Matthew 9:2, Psalm 4:7, salvation, sin
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