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)
- "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)
- "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
A Time For Certainty
“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) In our era of “what’s true for me may not … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged anathema, certainty, confidence, evangelism, Galatians 1:8, gospel, Orthodoxy, witness
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“What Is That To You? You Follow Me!”
“So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’” (John 21:21-22) After Jesus told Peter … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged attitude, discipleship, God's plan, God's will, John 21:21-22, Matthew 6:27
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“Follow Me”: Jesus’ First and Last Words to His Disciples
“Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22) Thus Jesus’ first word to Peter (Matthew 4:19) was now also His last: “Follow Me!” And it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, follow Me, John 21:22, Matthew 4:19
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“Tend My Lambs”
“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My … Continue reading
“Worthy of Worship” (Psalm 65:1 devotion)
I have heard several people this week say that they are looking forward to the cooler weather that is coming in at the end of the week, and fall — and Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged "Worthy of Worship", actions, Apostle John, awe, be still and know, commandments, deeds, Genesis 28, Hallelujah, intercessory prayer, Job, John 14:15, Lottie Moon, Lottie Moon and C.H. Toy, Lottie Moon love, Luke 6:46, obedience, praise, praise methods, prayer, Psalm 100:1, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 65:1, Revelation 1:17, reverence, silence, tithe, ways to praise, worship
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Breakfast With Jesus
“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’” (John 21:12) What an amazing morning the disciples had, after that long night of catching nothing, getting to eat breakfast with Jesus! The passage says that Jesus “took the bread and gave … Continue reading
The “Peters” & The “Others”
“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the … Continue reading
“That Disciple Whom Jesus Loved”
“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’” (John 21:7) Although there is some debate about just who “the disciple whom Jesus loved” might be, verse 2 of this chapter tells us that on this … Continue reading
Written That You May Believe
“But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31) John 20:31 is known as the “thesis” or purpose … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged belief, Bible, evangelism, evangelism methods, faith, Holy Spirit, John 20:31, Luke 16 rich man, Romans 10:17, salvation, scripture, witnessing, word of God
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shawnethomas 