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)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Condescension & The Glory" (Philippians 2:6-11 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 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
Begin With Praise
Psalm 100:4 instructs us to open our prayers to God with adoration: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.” Jesus’ Model Prayer teaches us to do the same: “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged II Kings 19:15, Matthew 6:9, model prayer, praise, prayer, Psalm 100:4
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Take It To The Lord
In II Kings, the Assyrian army under Sennacherib had come up to Jerusalem and threatened Hezekiah, the king of Judah who was besieged there. Hezekiah’s reaction to the Assyrian threats is a model for our response in times of difficulty:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged anxiety, II Kings 18, II Kings 19, petition, Philippians 4:6, prayer, trials, worry
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“God Told Me”?
In II Kings 18, the Assyrian King Sennacherib had sent his army to capture Jerusalem. In verse 25 he had his messengers tell Hezekiah, King of Judah: “Yahweh said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's Spirit, God's will, II Kings 18:25, impression, leadership of the Spirit, revelation
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Will God Find Nothing?
In Psalm 17:3 David proclaims his innocence before God: “You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” David (or perhaps … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, in Christ, in Him, Psalm 17:3, Psalm 32:1, righteousness, salvation, sin
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Brother Against Brother
II Kings 13:12 summarizes the reign of Joash the King of Israel by describing “all that he did and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah …”. What a sad summary of a legacy …
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, conflict, divisions, II Kings 13:12, unity
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God’s Not In Our “Box”!
II Kings 14 tells a story which is hard for many of us to put in our “box”, theologically speaking. It relates how Jeroboam II came to reign over the northern tribes of Israel. Jeroboam was named for the infamous … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged II Kings 14, Jeroboam II, theodicy, why do wicked prosper
1 Comment
The Secret of Confidence
If Christians would train themselves to apply Psalm 16:8, it would give them the ability to overcome every fear and anxiety, and bring God’s power to bear on every situation in their lives: “I have set the LORD continually before … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged anxiety, Brother Lawrence, fear, practicing the presence, presence of God, Psalm 16:8
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“Until Now”!
II Kings 13:23 describes God’s treatment of the people of Israel who had rebelled against Him for years. It says that “YHWH was gracious to them … and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forbearance, grace, II Corinthians 6:2, II Kings 13:23, judgment, patience, Psalm 103:10, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 103:9, sin
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What Is Your Legacy?
In II Kings 13, the Bible tells of two of the kings of Israel, Jehoahaz and Jehoash. Neither of these kings was godly. It is of note that they are both described in their relationship to Jeroboam the son of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged heritage, II Kings 1:3, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, legacy
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“Eschatou”, not “Eschatology”
Many of God’s people are fond of dwelling on the “end times”, otherwise known as “eschatology”, from the Greek word “eschatos”, which means “end.” But this obsession is unhealthy and was rebuked by Jesus when He addressed His disciples in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Acts 1:6-8, church, end times, eschatology, eschatou, focus, mission
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