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 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- 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
- "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
A Simple Verse For A New Year
As the song says: “Fast away the old year passes” and we sit on the doorstep of a brand new year. It is typically — and should be — a time of reflection, and recommitment. But what kind of commitments … Continue reading
The Higher Purpose of Sharing Prayer Requests
Why should we share our prayer requests with other people? The answer may not be what you think. It is not just because “the more who pray, the more powerful the prayers.” As James teaches us, “the effective prayer of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged glory of God, I Samuel 14:6, II Corinthians 1:11, intercession, prayer
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Sharing Our Comfort
“Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (II Corinthians 1:4) Two of the key words … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged affliction, comfort, II Corinthians 1:4, Psalm 67, purpose in trials
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Don’t “Fit In”!
“Depart, depart, go out from there, touch nothing unclean; go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.” (Isaiah 52:11) Speaking of the return of the His people from captivity in Babylon, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aliens, compromise, culture, I Peter 1:1, Isaiah 52:11, separation, strangers
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“Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals”
Evidently, someone had been teaching people in the church at Corinth that there was no resurrection from the dead, and most of I Corinthians 15 is a rebuttal of that false teaching. Interestingly, right in the middle of the chapter, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged company, fellowship, I Corinthians 15:33
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It Makes All The Difference
Would you still be a Christian even if there were no heaven, no eternity, no resurrection? I have heard some people make that claim, but I myself cannot adhere to it. Such people have said, “The Christian life is the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Christianity, eternity, faith, heaven, I Corinthians 15:32, resurrection
1 Comment
Not In This World
“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (I Corinthians 15:19) How important is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? In this part of I Corinthians 15, Paul listed a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged eternity, I Corinthians 15:19, prosperity gospel, rewards, suffering, Your Best Life Now
2 Comments
A Terrifying Prospect
I was reviewing James Chapters 1 & 2 on the way to the office yesterday when all of the sudden, one of the verses sent shudders down my spine:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God, James 2:13, judgment, justice, Lamentations 3:22, mercy, scripture memory review
2 Comments
Church: Not Spiritual “Show & Tell”
“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (I Corinthians 14:26) After detailing several ways … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged church, edification, ego, I Corinthians 14:26, pride, service, worship
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A King’s Example
“When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.” (Jonah 3:6) What an extraordinary picture this verse renders of the response … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged ashes, humility, intercession, Jonah, Jonah 3:6, king, leadership, mercy, mourning, Nineveh, pray for America, prayer, President Obama, repentance, sackcloth
1 Comment
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