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
When They Refuse To Listen
When Samuel tried to dissuade Israel from asking for a king, I Samuel 8:19 says: “Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, ‘No, but there shall be a king over us.’” Samuel had … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged counseling, hard-heartedness, I Samuel 8:19, stubbornness
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They Have Not Rejected You, But Me
In I Samuel 8:7, God told the disappointed Samuel: “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me.” Many pastors and other Christian workers today need to hear this same word from God and take it to heart.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged disappointment, I Samuel 8:7, ministry, rejection
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Take It To The Lord
I Samuel 8:6 tells us that when the people of Israel asked for a king, it hit Samuel wrong: “the thing was displeasing in his sight.” Then, significantly, it says “And Samuel prayed to the Lord.” And :7 adds: “The … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged disappointment, hurt, I Samuel 8:6-7, prayer, take it to the Lord in prayer
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Like All The Nations?
In I Samuel 8:5 the people of Israel told Samuel: “Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” A king in and of himself was not not necessarily a bad thing; in fact a godly … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church, I Samuel 8:5, Romans 12:2, worldliness, youth ministry
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Evaluate Your Worship With Psalm 65
Psalm 65 begins: “There will be silence before Thee, and praise in Zion, O God, and to Thee the vow will be performed.” Notice three very different, but very important elements of worship described in this opening verse:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged awe, obedience as worship, praise, Psalm 65:1, reverence, worship
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The Personal Priority of the Word
Psalm 119 is all about the commitment that the Psalmist has to the word of God. In :134-136 we see several examples of the priority that scripture has for him:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, priority of the word, Psalm 119:134-136, scripture
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The Throne of Grace
Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Notice that we are not encouraged to draw near to … Continue reading
“Here I Raise Mine Ebenezer”
The second verse of the hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, begins, “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” — a reference which escapes some who sing it. The Biblical source for these words is in I Samuel 7. The prophet … Continue reading
“Just Thunder” — or the Work of God?
I Samuel 7:10 says: “The Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel.” There are times in scripture when it seems that God does enough of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged ambiguity, coincidence, disbelief, faith, I Samuel 7:10, John 12:28-29, room for doubt, skeptics, thunder
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Samuel Describes Repentance
In I Samuel 7:3, during a message to the people of Israel, Samuel describes what repentance is. He says: “If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and … Continue reading
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