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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- 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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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
When It’s Time To Keep Your Mouth Closed
“I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who have done it.” (Psalm 39:9) Although we do not know the exact nature of it, David was in a life crisis here in Psalm 39. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged acceptance, complaint Psalms, God's will, prayer, Psalm 39, Psalm 39:9, resignation, sovereignty, trust
Leave a comment
Stop Comparing
“But when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” (II Corinthians 10:12) Many people feel that they can come off well by comparing their behavior or achievements to someone else’s, but the Apostle … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged comparisons, I Peter 2:21, II Corinthians 10:12, judgment, Matthew 5:48, standards
Leave a comment
Why Doesn’t God Help Me?
“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” (II Corinthians 12:9) History is replete with examples of God healing and rescuing His people from illnesses and difficult situations — but it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, II Corinthians 12:9, prayer, trials
Leave a comment
Looking Past The Surface
“You are looking at things as they are outwardly.” (II Corinthians 10:7) Many of the Corinthians evidently didn’t think much of the Apostle Paul. He wasn’t very “impressive” outwardly: verse 10 says that many of them were saying, “His personal … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged discernment, II Corinthians 10:7, spirit, surface level
Leave a comment
“An Abundance For Every Good Deed”
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (II Corinthians 9:8) The last phrase in this verse should cause many … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, good deeds, II Corinthians 9:8, material blessings, money, stewardship
Leave a comment
For The Glory Of God
“… this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself …” (II Corinthians 8:19) Here Paul, writing about the offering that he and his associates were taking up for the impoverished saints at … Continue reading
The Principle of Willingness
“For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” (II Corinthians 8:12) This scripture should be a great encouragement to every Christian who wanted to do … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged desire, giving, heart, II Corinthians 8:12, intentions, ministry, motives, prayer, willingness
Leave a comment
Grace & Trials
“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great deal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, grace, II Corinthians 8:1-2, joy, liberality, trials
Leave a comment
What We’re Hungry For!
“O God, you are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1) Here David, although circumstances had him … Continue reading
Finish!
“But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.” (II Corinthians 8:11) The Apostle Paul was addressing the Corinthian church … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged diligence, finish, II Corinthians 8:11, ministry, perseverance
1 Comment
shawnethomas 