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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou O Lord” Part III: “The Lifter of My Head”
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 Martial Mindset
Psalm 144 opens “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” (:1) This is another good reminder (see the devotion on “No Beds of Ease” here) that life is not about … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged conflict, Ephesians 6:12, J.I. Packer, Psalm 144:1, Puritans, spiritual armor, spiritual warfare
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Seeking God: A Different Direction
II Samuel 5:23 says: “When David inquired of the Lord, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.” This is in the context of war. :22 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged daily devotions, God's will, II Samuel 5:23, seeking God
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God WILL Give You More Than You Can Handle!
In Psalm 142:6 David makes his request to God: “Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.” Here David asks God for help, on the … Continue reading
The Blessed Wounds of Godly Criticism
In Psalm 141:5 David prays: “Let a righteous man strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” Psalm 141 is evidently an evening prayer … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged constructive criticism, criticism, pride, Proverbs 27:6, Psalm 141:5, rebuke
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Abandoning the Inadequate
In II Samuel 5:21 it says that after David defeated the Philistines in battle, “They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.” It is both Ironic and instructive that the Philistines cast aside those idols … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged idolatry, II Samuel 5:21, religion, spurious faith, test, trial
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No Beds of Ease
II Samuel 5:17 tells us: “When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David.” We read in :12 that David realized how God had established and blessed him … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged armor, battle, conflict, Ephesians 6, II Samuel 5:17, spiritual warfare, struggle
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Hurtful Ways
In Psalm 139:23 David asks: “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Then in :24 he prays: “and see if there be any hurtful way in me.” “Hurtful way” here is literally, “way of pain.” Our sinful, or ungodly … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged confession, hurt, pain, Psalm 139:23-24, repentance, self-evaluation, sin
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What Voracity Reveals
Hebrews 12:16 exhorts: “that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.” This verse is very revealing, not only about Esau, but many people today as well. It teaches us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged depravity, Hebrews 12:16, immorality, Philippians 3:19, sin, voracity
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An Edifying Syllogism
Psalm 139:14 says: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made … wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Here is a word of genuine, Biblical self-esteem. GOD made us, “wove” us in our mother’s womb (:13). We … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Psalm 139:14, self-esteem, self-worth, syllogism
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Awakening to God’s Blessings
II Samuel 5:12 says: “And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.” This verse comes in the context of David having … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, gratitude, II Samuel 5:12, New Year, perspective, thanskgiving
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