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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
Worship is More Than Words
We often think of “worship” as the prayers we say, or the songs we sing — or perhaps even the “heart” behind them. And there is some truth to those ideas. But Romans 12:1 should cause many of us to … Continue reading
Holiness & Salvation
In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul writes: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Realizing the audience the … Continue reading
The Motivation For Holiness
Why should we attempt to be holy? Many people do not realize that genuine Christians have a different motivation for holiness than most other religious groups. Romans 12:1 admonishes us: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged grace, mercy, Romans 12:1, salvation, works
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Just Do It!
Are you waiting for the “perfect” time to get started on “that” project? The Preacher of Ecclesiastes may have a word for you: “He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not … Continue reading
“A Little Bird Told Me”
Have you ever wondered where that expression came from: “A little bird told me”? Look no further than Ecclesiastes 10:20 in your Bible. There the Preacher offers the following words of wisdom: “Furthermore, in your bed-chamber do not curse a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "a little bird told me", Ecclesiastes 10:20, gossip, words
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Maintenance Required
“Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.” (Ecclesiastes 10:18) What the Preacher observed here is certainly true of a literal house: if you neglect needed maintenance and repairs, then over time the rafters of your home … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church discipline, discipline, Ecclesiastes 10:18, maintenance, neglect, relationships
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Unless They Are Sent
Often there is in the Christian church an emphasis on “going” on evangelistic and missions endeavors, and this is certainly appropriate. But Romans 10:15 challenges us in a different way: “How will they preach unless they are sent?” It is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Acts 1:8, going, missions, Romans 10:14, Romans 10:15, sending, sending church
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Where Religion Goes Wrong
There are two fundamental problems with the religious outlook of most people in the world, and Romans 10:3 reveals both of them: “For not knowing about the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged justification, righteousness, Romans 10:3, Romans 3:22, salvation, self-righteousness
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Sincerely Wrong!
Won’t a person go to heaven no matter what they believe, just as long as they are sincere? The Apostle Paul wrote otherwise: “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, John 14:6, Romans 10:2, salvation, sincerity, works, zeal
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