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 Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "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
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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)
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
Day By Day
In II Corinthians 4:16, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day.” We looked previously at how a Christian does not become … Continue reading
The Process
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) The first part of this verse describes how a believer need not lose heart … Continue reading
We Do Not Lose Heart
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man in decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) It is a sobering reality to many when they observe the gradual decline of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aging, body, faith, heaven, hope, II Corinthians 4:16, physical body, senior adults
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Our Ultimate Aim
“… that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (II Corinthians 4:15) This verse reveals something very important when it tells us what happens … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aim, glory, goal, God, II Corinthians 4:15, man's chief end, purpose, Westminster Shorter Catechism
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It’s Not The Place, But The Heart
God opens the majestic concluding chapter of the Book of Isaiah by proclaiming: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me?” In other words, we human beings cannot … Continue reading
His Terrifying Fury
“Then He will speak to them in His anger, and terrify them in His fury.” (Psalm 2:5) Many people today have a woefully inadequate view of God. Some consider Him to be soft and lenient, like a doting grandfather who … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged judgment, Psalm 2, rebellion, salvation, sin, wrath
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“Perplexed, But Not Despairing”
In verses 8-9 of II Corinthians 4, Paul lists a series of contrasts. He said that he and his ministry partners were: “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, aporumenoi, despair, faith, II Corinthians 4:8, trials
2 Comments
Prayer + Purity = Power
In II Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul speaks of “the surpassing greatness of the power” that is in the life of a Christian, even though in and of themselves they are merely an “earthen vessel.” In other words, God manifests … Continue reading
Something Beyond Ourselves
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (II Corinthians 4:7) Why is it that God often allows those of us in His service … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged evangelism, Holy Spirit, II Corinthians 4:7, ministry, power, witness
1 Comment
“The Holy People”
In Isaiah 62, God promises that one day He will restore His scattered people; that although they are now “desolate” and “forsaken” (:6) they will become “a praise on the earth” (:7). But it is notable what the last verse … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged holiness, holy people, Isaiah 62:12, the holy people
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