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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Psalm 3:3 “Thou, O Lord” Part II: “My Glory”
- 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)
- 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)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 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
Fellowship at the Mercy Seat
In Exodus 25:22 God spoke to Moses regarding the mercy set of the Ark of the Covenant: “There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of … Continue reading
Better the Little of the Righteous
Psalm 37:16 says: “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.” Psalm 37 presents several contrasts of the righteous and the wicked, and enjoins God’s people not to envy the wicked. Verse 16 is a … Continue reading
Your Testimony & Your Family
In Exodus 18:1-12, Moses’ father-in-law Jethro came to meet him during the Exodus in the wilderness. Moses told him about all that God had done (:8). Jethro rejoiced (:9) and blessed God (:10) and offered God a sacrifice as a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 18:1-12, family, religion starts a home, testimony
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A Key To Spiritual Growth
In Philemon :6 Paul writes to Philemon with the prayer “that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake”. Paul wrote that Philemon’s faith would be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged knowledge, Philemon 6, Philippians 1:9, spiritual growth
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The Missing Distinctive
Exodus 33:16 is a signature verse. Moses said: “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Exodus 33:16, power of God, presence of God
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A Surprising Sign of Wickedness
Psalm 10 speaks of “The wicked” in :3. But when many of us think of “the wicked” we often picture some REALLY bad people, not anyone like US! But some might be surprised at what :4 says about the wicked: … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Great Commandment, Psalm 10:3-4, seeking God, sin, wickedness
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The Change of a Moment
Psalm 6:10 says: “All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed; they shall turn back, be put to shame IN A MOMENT.” This verse reminds us that SO much can happen, in God’s plan, “in a moment” of time.
An Important Balance in Worship
Psalm 2:11 commands: “Worship Yahweh with reverence; rejoice with trembling.” Here we find an important balance commanded for our worship. We are to worship with “reverence” — and yet “rejoice.” We are to “rejoice” — yet “with trembling.” It reminds … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged balanced worship, joy, Matthew 28:8, Psalm 2:11, reverence, Romans 8:15, worship
2 Comments
Zealous For Good Deeds
Titus 2:14 says that Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” The verse opens with what we might consider a … Continue reading
My Part/God’s Part
Psalm 1:3 says: “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” The “He” in :3 refers … Continue reading
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