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)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou O Lord” Part III: “The Lifter of My Head”
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
God Will Fulfill Your Purpose
In Psalm 138:8 David declares confidently that God’s purposes for him will come to pass: “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands.” (ESV) Each … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged grace, Psalm 138:8, Psalm 139:13, purpose, Romans 9:16
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The Fear of Man Exemplified
I Samuel 3 relates how King Ish-bosheth rebuked his general, Abner, for immorality. Abner responded with indignation and anger and promised to deliver the rest of the kingdom of Israel to David. Ish-bosheth was mortified. Verse 11 says: “And he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged fear of man, fears, II Samuel 3, insecurity, trust
1 Comment
An Oft-Unwanted Token of God’s Love
The many of us who sometimes question God’s love during times of difficulty or trial would do well to remember Hebrews 12:6, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged assurance, children of God, difficulties, discipline, Hebrews 12:5-6, John 9, sons of God, trials
1 Comment
God With Us
Psalm 132:13-14 says: “For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.” We find in these verses several expressions of how … Continue reading
Putting Hardship In Perspective
If you ever think about how hard things are for you as you live and serve in the Christian life, Hebrews 12 may have some good words for you: get a little perspective by pondering the hardships that Jesus endured … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged difficulties, hardship, Hebrews 12, Jesus, ministry, persecution, perspective, service
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Inquiring of the Lord
In II Samuel 2:1 we find David in a familiar situation. After Saul’s death, he did not just “assume” that he should go back up to Israel, but instead it says he “inquired of the Lord.” The Bible tells us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged direction, God's will, I Samuel 2:1, prayer, seeking God
1 Comment
Getting Real With God: Four Important Admissions
The writer of Psalm 130 is very transparent in his prayer to the Lord. We find here that he makes 4 very important admissions which each of us would do well to imitate:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged admit sin, confession, forgiveness, help, prayer, Psalm 130, salvation, transparency
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A Lesson in Civility and Grace
Following the death of Saul & Jonathan on Mt. Gilboa at the hands of the Philistines, David composes a lament in their honor. The song he wrote in II Samuel 1:17-27 is instructive to us in several ways: — First, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged civility, enemies, grace, II Samuel 1:17-27
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Answering That Accusing Whisper When We Pray
Psalm 130 begins with a couple of pleas to the Lord to hear the Psalmist’s prayers. In :1 he says: “I have cried to You, O YHWH” and again in :2, “Lord, hear my voice.” He wants God to hear … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accusation, accuser, confession, conscience, forgiveness, prayer, Psalm 130:3-4, Satan
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The Prayer of a Dusty Soul
In Psalm 126:4 the Psalmist prays: “Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.” That phrase “the streams in the south” is literally, “the stream beds of the Negev.” The Negev was the desert wilderness to the … Continue reading
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