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
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
Our “Safe Home Base”
In Psalm 71:3 David importunes God: “Be to me a rock of habitation, to which I may continually come.” What is this “rock of habitation” David refers to?
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged base, game of tag, Psalm 71:3, refuge, rock of habitation
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The Greatest Blessing
Psalm 67:1 says: “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.” Having God’s face to shine upon us is the ultimate goal; that is the blessing for which we seek: the beatific … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged beatific vision, greatest blessing, I John 3:2, Matthew 5:9, Psalm 67:1, see God
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Magnify the Lord
Psalm 70:4b says: “Let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified.’” – What does it mean to “magnify” God? The basic Hebrew word here, “gadol,” means “great”.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged great, Hebrew gadol, magnify the Lord, praise, Psalm 70:4
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Learning Obedience In Sufferings
Hebrews 5:8 says of Jesus: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” “In the days of His flesh” (:7) Jesus suffered many things, “learned obedience” (:8) and became “perfect” (:9). Jesus was, of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews 5:8, obedience, purpose of suffering, sufferings
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Reproached for Righteousness
In Psalm 69:10-11 David laments: “When I wept in my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.” One would like to think that when you humble yourself, and … Continue reading
Coincidence or Providence?
I Samuel 9 describes the circumstances by which God brought Saul to the attention of the prophet Samuel that he might be anointed king. Saul’s father’s donkeys were lost, and Saul and his servant went to find them — which … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged circumstances, coincidence, I Samuel 9, luck, providence
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While I Wait For My God
David wrote in Psalm 69:3 “I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.” We see several things in this verse about David’s response to his trials, which may challenge … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged perseverance, Psalm 69:3, trials, wait on the Lord
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Don’t Just Look The Part!
I Samuel 9:2, describing Saul, says he was, “A choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the … Continue reading
Zeal For His House
Psalm 69:9 says: “Zeal for Thy house has consumed me.” This scripture was fulfilled especially in Christ when He cleansed the Temple, but it has application yet for servants of God: we might pray that the zeal of more of … Continue reading
They Will Sing Praises
Psalm 66:4 declares: “All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.” How will “all the earth” worship God; what will they do? “They will sing praises to Your name.”
shawnethomas 