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
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- 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)
- "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)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 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
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
If I Were In Your Place
One of the striking statements of the book of Job is found in 16:4, where Job tells his “friends”: “I too could speak like you, if I were in your place.” It should cause each of us to ponder the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, discrimination, Job 16:4, judgment, suffering
2 Comments
Are You Wearing A Path To God?
While I was running on the grass beside the road the other day, I noticed that a path had been worn down where many of us have walked and run. It would bring to life one of the most important … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrew darash, prayer, Psalm 22:26, quiet time, seeking, seeking God
1 Comment
The Only One Who Matters
In Job 13:9 the oppressed saint asks his fickle friends a question: “Will it be well when He examines you?” That is a question that should search the hearts of us all.
Test Words!
Job 12:11 is a great example of some of the good advice this godly man has to offer us: “Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?” It SHOULD — but unfortunately that is not always … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discernment, discretion, I Thessalonians 5:21, Job 12:11, music, words
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A “Sure-Fire Church Growth Method”
For the last generation, “church growth” has been a primary emphasis in American religion. Methods and process which appeal to the population at large have been employed by many religious practitioners in the hopes of reaching the unreached in our … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged church, church growth, compromise, ecclesiology, entertainment, I John 4:5, worldliness
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“Yachidati”: God’s Great Christmas Gift!
We understand more about God’s gift to us at Christmas from a Hebrew word used in Psalm 22:20. There the Psalmist asks God to deliver “yachidati” from the power of the dog (the enemy). The Hebrew word “yachid” means “only … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged beloved, Christmas, Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, love, Psalm 22:20, sacrifice, yachid, yachidi
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His Humiliation — And Our Response
“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me …” the Christmas hymn says. Psalm 22:18 continues the idea of the humility — and even humiliation — that Jesus underwent for us: “They … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged devotion, humiliation, humility, Incarnation, Psalm 22:18, service
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The Mediator
Sometimes two estranged parties need a third person, sympathetic to both, who can bring them together. Job lamented in 9:33 of his relationship with God: “There is no umpire between us who may lay his hand upon us both.” In … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 4:16, I Timothy 2:5, intercessor, Jesus, Job 9:33, mediator, umpire
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Job’s God And Ours
How big is your God? In Job 9:4-10 Job gives us an idea of his view of God. He says, among other things: — “It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how …” (:5) — “Who shakes … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doctrine of God, glory, God, Job 9:4-10, theology
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A Friend Indeed
Who can advise you as to how you should respond to a friend who is going through a difficult trial? Who better than the Biblical character Job, who knew something about it? In Job 6:14 he speaks a word for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged counsel, friend, friendship, Job, Job 6:14, suffering, trials
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