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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 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 Convicting Trio Of Sins?
Proverbs 23:19-21 warns us against three besetting sins — although in practice, many Christians seem to pay attention to only one of them: “Listen my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Do not be with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged alcohol, gluttony, indolence, laziness, Proverbs 23:19-21, sluggard
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“Just Follow Your Heart”?
How many times have well-meaning people counseled someone by saying, “Just follow your heart”? It is one of those things which just “sounds right” to tell a person who is seeking direction. But it turns out that according to scripture, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged advice, counsel, deceit, decisions, heart, Jeremiah 17:9, just follow your heart, Proverbs 28:26, sin, wisdom
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Is God Even Listening To Your Prayer?
God likes to hear your prayers, right? Well, maybe. Proverbs 28:9 is a verse which reveals some light on that. It reads: “He who turns away his ear from listening to the Law, even his prayer is an abomination.” We … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged abomination, disobedience, prayer, Proverbs 28:9, scripture, sin
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The Sin of “NOT …”
We often think of sin as something we “do”, but Romans 1 reminds us that it also often involves what we do NOT do. Verse 31, speaking of those who are worthy of God’s wrath, says that they are: “unloving, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged apathy, Elie Wiesel, indifference, James 4:17, love, mercy, opposite of love is not hate, Romans 1:31, sin
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A “Little” Sin?
You might not think it’s much of a sin — but it may be bigger than you imagine! Romans 1:21, speaking of those upon whom the wrath of God rightly falls, says: “For even though they knew God, they did … Continue reading
Not Just “Their” Sins …
We need to recognize the importance of a little word in Romans 1:18, where the Apostle Paul writes: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men …”. This chapter is well-known for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, homosexual practice, homosexuality, Romans 1:18, salvation, self-righteousness, sin
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THE Power For Salvation
Many Christians can quote Romans 1:16, but perhaps we need to hear again what it is really saying? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …”. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged evangelism, gospel, I Corinthians 15:3, ministry, Romans 1:16, salvation, the gospel
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And He Was Teaching Them
Mark 2:13 says that Jesus went out by the sea again, and the crowd came out to Him. But it is instructive for us to see just what He did when they came out. It says: “And He was teaching … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged Bible, Mark 2:13, ministry, teaching, word of God
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“If it’s God’s will”?
One must admit, Paul didn’t make much of a “positive confession” in Romans 1:10, when he told the church at Rome: “if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.” Those words … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, God's will, humility, if it's God's will, James 4:14-16, Lord willing, positive confession, Romans 1:10, word faith, words
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Give To Everyone You Meet
In Romans 1:11 the Apostle Paul writes: “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established (strengthened).” Paul wasn’t speaking of “spiritual gifts” here in the technical way … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged discipleship, Navigators Wheel, Romans 1:11, spiritual gift
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