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 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- 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)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "What God Wants From Us" (Micah 6:8 sermon)
- "Working Out Your Salvation" (Philippians 2:12-13 sermon)
- "Fear Not, I Am With You" (Isaiah 41:10 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
Shut Up By The Scriptures
“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22) Paul teaches us here that one of the purposes of scripture is to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged conviction, Galatians 3:22, Golden Rule, Holy Spirit, love your neighbor, Romans 11:32, salvation, scriptures, shut up
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Perfected In The Flesh?
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) Writing to the legalistic Galatians, Paul was reminding them that they were not saved by works of “the flesh” — good … Continue reading
Jesus Christ Crucified
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” (Galatians 3:1) In his rebuke to the Galatians, Paul references the central theme of the Gospel that he had shared with them, which … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christ crucified, cross, evangelism, Galatians 3:1, witness
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God’s Understanding Towards Us
Psalm 103 is well-loved for its opening words “bless the Lord, O my soul,” and is a great Psalm of praise to God for His blessings towards us. Among the emphases of the Psalm is the blessing of God’s UNDERSTANDING … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged bless the Lord, empathy, fairness, God, God's patience, God’s grace, God’s sympathy, grace, Hebrews 4:15, judgment, patience, praise, Psalm 103, sympathy, theology, understanding
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“He Loved ME”!
“… and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20b) Martin Luther once wrote that “the heart of religion … Continue reading
Influence
“The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:13) You are not an island. It matters what you do. Other people are influenced by you, and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Galatians 2:13, hypocrisy, influence, leadership, no man is an island
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The Fear of Men
“For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.” (Galatians 2:12) The Bible tells … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged fear, fear of God, fear of man, fear of men, Galatians 2:12, Matthew 10:28, Proverbs 29:25
1 Comment
“Different” or “False”?
“But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.” (Galatians 2:4) Some people are just “different” … Continue reading
“Let Us Come Before His Presence”
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:2) It is not unusual to hear a worship leader ask the Lord to come and be with us, or some such similar … Continue reading
The Favor of Men, or God?
“For am I now seeking the favor of men or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10) This is the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged favor of god, favor of men, Galatians 1:10, PC, politically correct
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