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
- “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 Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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
What Kind Of Minister?
Many pastors and other ministers in churches today are noted for their “creativity”, or for their authoritarian nature. But how does this line up with scripture? In I Corinthians 4:1, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Let a man regard us in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged creativity, faithfulness, I Corinthians 4:1, I Peter 5:3, ministers, ministry, pastorate, pastors, servants, stewards, stewardship
1 Comment
Your Conscience Is Not Your Guide
“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the One who examines me is the Lord.” (I Corinthians 4:4) There is an old expression: “Let your conscience be your guide.” But Paul … Continue reading
Your Response Matters
Isaiah 22 shares Isaiah’s oracle concerning the Valley of Vision. In it he relates the coming destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. When the Judeans heard of the impending invasion, they made every earthly preparation — but … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged apathy, attitude, Ecclesiastes 3:4, Isaiah 22, mourning, repentance, Valley of Vision
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Regard For God?
“In that day man will have regard for his Maker and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 17:7) The first verses of Isaiah 17 foretold the judgment that was about to come upon Syria & Israel. … Continue reading
Different Ministries, Same Team!
“Now he who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” (I Corinthians 3:8) This passage gives us a good guide for the way that we are to see … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, gifts, I Corinthians 3:8, kingdom, ministry
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What No One Else Can Do
“… he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.” (Mark 5:4) Mark 5’s description of … Continue reading
Our Part
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” (I Corinthians 3:6) Paul made it very clear here just Who was responsible for making the church at Corinth grow: “GOD was causing the growth.” He alone was responsible for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church growth, I Corinthians 3:6, responsibility, service
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In A Night
“The oracle concerning Moab. Surely in a night Ar of Moab is devastated and ruined. Surely in a night Kir of Moab is devastated and ruined.” (Isaiah 15:1) God revealed in Isaiah 15 His impending judgment on the nation of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged assurance, fear, future, Isaiah 15:1, judgment, materialism, prophecy, security, trust
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Does God Not Care?
“Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” (Mark 4:38) The verse previous (:37) indicates that a “fierce gale of wind” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God, God's love, Mark 4:38, providence, theology
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“NOT In Cleverness of Speech”
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” (I COrinthians 1:17) It is definitely interesting in this day when … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged creativity, I Corinthians 1:17, preaching, teaching
1 Comment
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