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.
-
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)
- "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
- "The Condescension & The Glory" (Philippians 2:6-11 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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
Your Heart’s Inclination
“Have you murdered and also taken possession?” This is the question Elijah asked King Ahab in I Kings 21:19, after Ahab had killed Naboth and stolen his vineyard. The prophet also foretold the disaster that was come upon Ahab because … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ahab, David, heart, I Kings 21:19, punishment, repentance, sin
Leave a comment
Patience With Holiness
Colossians 3:10 says that Christians “have put on the new self, who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him …”. It should be instructive to us that the verse says … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 3:10, Golden Rule, holiness, patience, process of holiness, sanctification
Leave a comment
The Prophetic Function of God’s Word
In I Kings 21, after King Ahab took the land which was the inheritance of his neighbor Naboth, :17 says: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite …” God did not overlook this evil deed of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, I Kings 21:17, II Timothy 3:16, prophetic function, scripture, sin
Leave a comment
That We Might Know Him
In I Kings 20:13 one of God’s prophets approached Ahab the king and told him that God was going to deliver him from an oppressive army that day, “and you shall know that I am the LORD.” This is just … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged I Kings 20:13, knowing God, Philippians 3:10, purpose
Leave a comment
Against “Trash Talk”
“Trash talking” is an attempt to verbally intimidate an opponent, and it has become a familiar part of American culture, especially in sports and video games — but it has infiltrated many other segments of our society as well. In … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged arrogance, boasting, confidence, humility, I Kings 20:11, James 4:13-16, Presumption, pride, trash talk
Leave a comment
Sin & the Body of Christ
Colossians 3:8 says: “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.” It is interesting that in the Greek text, the word “mouth” is singular, but the word “your” is plural. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged body of Christ, Colossians 3:8, corporate sin, sin, words
Leave a comment
“Decisions” & Following
I Kings 19:21 says that when Elijah called Elisha to be his disciple, that Elisha sacrificed the oxen he had been plowing with (demonstrating that he was “all in”, see devotion here) and the text continues: “then he arose and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, discipleship, following Jesus, I Kings 19:21, Luke 9:23, salvation
1 Comment
All In
In I Kings 19, God told the prophet Elijah to anoint Elisha to take his place, and Elijah departed from the Lord and threw his mantle over Elisha, who was plowing with some oxen, calling him to be his disciple. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, discipleship, I Kings 19:21, Jesus, Lordship, Luke 9:62
2 Comments
The Coming Wrath of God
Colossians 3:6 says, “For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience.” “These things” refers to the sins which :5 mentioned immediately preceding: “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 3:6, disobedience, God the Son, hen, immorality, Jesus Christ, judgment, Matthew 23:37, protection, punishment, repentance, salvation, sexual sin, wings, wrath, wrath of God
Leave a comment
shawnethomas 