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 Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Man Born Blind" (John 9 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 15:1-11+, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for March 8, 2026, "Real Devotion"
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "Christ's Suffering/Our Salvation" (I Peter 3:18 sermon)
- "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: Discipleship
Discipleship: It’s Not About The Crowds
“Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.” (Matthew 8:18) Why, when Jesus saw that a crowd had gathered, would He tell His disciples that it was time … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged compromise, crowds, discipleship, Matthew 8:18, numbers
1 Comment
“A Christian Decision-Making Grid” (I Cor. 9-10 sermon)
In 1939 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the leading Christian preachers and teachers in Germany — but the country had been taken over by Adolph Hitler, and the noose of his control was beginning to tighten over the country. Soon … Continue reading
Relationship, Not “Transaction” In Prayer
“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8) Here Jesus tells His disciples that their prayers are to be different than those of the pagan Gentiles. He had just … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged Matthew 6:8, model prayer, prayer, relationship
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Do You Have The Right Enemies?
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12) When one of the presidential candidates was harassed at a campaign stop this week, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, enemies, evangelism, joy, Matthew 5:12, ministry, persecution, witness
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Are You Really Following?
“Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:22) When Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4, He gave them an unambiguous command: “Follow Me.” And we see in the succeeding verses that this is exactly … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged caring, discipleship, evangelism, following Jesus, Matthew 4, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 4:22, ministry, teaching, worship
2 Comments
“The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life” (Phil. 2:17 sermon)
Some time ago, as I was getting out of my car, I noticed that I had a can of Coke in the cup holder. I can’t stand to leave anything in my car, so I picked up the can to take it … Continue reading
A Model of Obedience
Although the character of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, does not appear for long in the gospels, what we see of him there is commendable. In just the first chapter of Matthew alone, he modeled obedience to God in a number … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged example, faith, Joseph, Matthew 1:24-25, obedience
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For The Glory Of God
“… this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself …” (II Corinthians 8:19) Here Paul, writing about the offering that he and his associates were taking up for the impoverished saints at … Continue reading
Four Ways To Praise (Psalm 9)
“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2) Psalm 9 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged happiness, praise, prayer, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 9:1-2, singing, song, Thanksgiving, witness, worship
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The Ministry of Reconciliation
“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:18) The phrase Paul uses here, “the ministry of reconciliation”, is a good description of evangelism. What … Continue reading
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