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 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- 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)
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou, O Lord” Part II: “My Glory”
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou O Lord” Part III: “The Lifter of My Head”
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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
With Us At Our Worst
In Psalm 73 Asaph shares a very frank testimony. He had envied the prosperity of the wicked (:3), and had considered that he had kept his life pure in vain (:13). He admitted that “my heart was embittered” and he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doubt, God's presence, Psalm 73:23, security
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Defenseless?
In I Samuel 13, the Philistines sent groups of raiders against Saul and the people of Israel. But Israel was in an extremely weak position. Verses 19-23 tell us, “Now, no blacksmith could be found in all the land of … Continue reading
Choice and Consequences
In I Samuel 13:13-14, Samuel rebuked King Saul for not waiting to offer the sacrifice before the battle, as he had been instructed. He told him: “For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged choice, consequences, I Samuel 13:13-14, II Kings 13:17-19, otherwise choice
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part VII) Pray For Those Who Have Messed Up!
Maybe you are not the one who has messed up (THIS time — remember we all do!) What is your responsibility towards those who have sinned? We find one of the most important answers to that question in I Samuel … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged George Mueller, I Samuel 12:23, intercessory prayer, prayer
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part VI) Don’t Take Grace Lightly!
The message of I Samuel 12 to a people who had sinned is a hopeful one: if they will admit their sin, God will forgive, and they should not give up on their relationship with Him. But it ends with … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged cheap grace, forgiveness, grace, I Samuel 12:24-25, John 8, repentance, sin
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part V) Remember the Faithfulness of God!
In I Samuel 12, the people of Israel had “messed up” by asking God for a king so that they could be like the other nations. God made it clear to them that they had indeed sinned against Him, which … Continue reading
When You’ve “Messed Up”: (Part IV) Don’t Give Up On Your Walk With God
I Samuel 12 describes how the people of Israel had “messed up” by seeking a king to reign over them, in order that they might be like all the other nations. Verses 17-19 make it clear that the people had … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged faith, I Samuel 12:20, remorse, repentance, spiritual warfare, walk with God
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part III) Turn to the Intercessor
I Samuel 12 tells us that the people of Israel had “messed up” by asking for a king so that they could be like all the other peoples. God showed them clearly in :17 that this was a sin, and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews, I John 1:9, I Samuel 12:19, I Timothy 2:5, intercession, mediator
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When You’ve Messed Up: (Part II) Admit Your Sin
We saw yesterday that Israel had “messed up” by asking God for a king to rule over them, so that they could be “like all the peoples.” Then in I Samuel 12, God showed the people of Israel clearly that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged admit blame, confess sin, confession, excuse, I Samuel 12:17-19, justify, messed up, minimize, sin
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When You’ve Messed Up (Part I: Introduction)
God has blessed Cheryl & I with some pretty good kids. People are always complimenting us on them, and saying what great parents we must be, but I can tell you for certain that we did not get the kind … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged confession, I Samuel 12, parenting, repentance, restoration, sin
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