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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority Acknowledged," for 1/11/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "The Discipline of Fasting" (Ezra 8:21 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: Ministry
A Ministry to PEOPLE
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) From the very beginning, Jesus indicated to those who would follow Him, that our ministry was to focus on people: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged John 3:16, love, Matthew 4:19, ministry, motivation, people
2 Comments
The Motivation of Love
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son …”. (John 3:16) Among the rich truths this well-loved verse gives us, is the Lord’s motivation for saving us. Jesus said, “For God so LOVED the world.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged evangelism, John 3:16, love, ministry, motivation, motive, witness
Leave a comment
To Whom Are We Really Pointing?
“I am not fit to remove His sandals.” (Matthew 3:11) John the Baptist had a good perspective on himself and the focus of his ministry. This mission that he was proclaiming was NOT about HIM. It was about Jesus. In … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged dress, humility, Matthew 3:11, ministry, motivation, preaching, pride, teaching
Leave a comment
Tested and Found Diligent?
“We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things …”. (II Corinthians 8:22) We don’t know who this unnamed “brother” is (:18 similarly mentions a “brother” whose fame has spread in … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged diligence, faithfulness, II Corinthians 8:22, ministry, service, trustworthy
Leave a comment
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
Prayer + Purity = Power
In II Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul speaks of “the surpassing greatness of the power” that is in the life of a Christian, even though in and of themselves they are merely an “earthen vessel.” In other words, God manifests … Continue reading
Something Beyond Ourselves
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (II Corinthians 4:7) Why is it that God often allows those of us in His service … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged evangelism, Holy Spirit, II Corinthians 4:7, ministry, power, witness
1 Comment
Not “Self-Confidence”, GOD-Confidence!
In II Corinthians 2:16, the Apostle Paul, speaking of his ministry to the Corinthians and others, exclaimed: “And who is adequate for these things?” The answer, of course, is that none of us are. We must depend upon God … Continue reading
Two Keys to Paul’s Ministry of the Word
“For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.” (II Corinthians 2:17) How did the Apostle Paul keep from corrupting the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged II Corinthians 2:17, ministry of the word, motives, preaching, sincerity, teaching
Leave a comment
Your Real Resume
“Do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged discipleship, II Corinthians 3:1-3, letter of recommendation, love, ministry, people, resume
Leave a comment
shawnethomas 