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)
- "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)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
Entering By Grace
Psalm 5:7 says, “But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house …”. This little half-verse is packed with significance regarding our salvation:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, grace, heaven, house of the Lord, lovingkindness, mercy, Psalm 5:7, salvation
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And WATCH!
In Psalm 5:3 David says, “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning, I will order my prayer to You, and eagerly watch.” Those last words are important. David did not just say that he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 1:11, prayer, Psalm 5:3
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Faithful Intercessors
In Colossians 1:9 Paul wrote: “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask …”. Here Paul was declaring the faithfulness and consistency that he (and evidently … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christlikeness, Colossians 1:9, Hebrews 8:25, I Samuel 12:23, in His steps, intercession, prayer
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Grace to You — and Others
In Colossians 1:2 Paul greets his readers with “Grace to you and peace.” It is significant that it is GRACE that Paul prays for his readers. GRACE is the keynote of the Christian message. Think about it: he does not … Continue reading
Responding Graciously When You’re Unjustly Accused
In II Samuel 16:5-8 the man Shimei made accusations against David that were hurtful, but groundless — and David’s gracious response should be instructive to us:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged David, false accusation, grace, II Samuel 16:5-14, responding graciously, Shimei, unjustly accused
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The Ultimate Good
Psalm 4:6 says: “Many are saying, ‘Who will show us any good?’ Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD.” Where is good to be found? The Psalm says, this is what everyone is asking: what good … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged face of God, glory, God, good, I John 3:2, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 17:15, Psalm 4:6, ultimate good
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Only Trust Him
In Psalm 4 we find the command: “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.” In what was another difficult situation of David’s in Psalm 4 (:2 says his honor had become a reproach to men, and in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:6, only trust Him, Psalm 4:5, trust
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A Contagious Faith
There were several very noble and courageous sentiments expressed by David and others when King David left Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion. One of them came from Ittai, a foreigner (:19) who refused to stay in Jerusalem with the new king, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged contagious faith, evangelism, II Samuel 15:21, Lordship, witness
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His Ready Servants
In II Samuel 15:15 we find a great word from the servants of King David to their sovereign: “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” They were in a difficult situation together; Absalom had … Continue reading
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