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 14:22-33, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Courage," for March 1, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Judgment Coming," for 2/22/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Rejecting Legalism," for 2/15/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 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: Sermons
“Rejoice In The Lord” (Philippians 3:1 sermon)
John Newton, the former slave ship captain who later became a Christian, is best-known for writing the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” But he was also a pastor for about 20 years after his conversion, and he had an extensive counseling ministry … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged "happy game", fellowship, Fred Tubb and Jo, golf, happy in a pirson, John Newton, joy, joy in Philippians, Lifeway Through the Bible series overview, meaning of rejoice, more than when their grain and new wine abound, Philippians 3:1, Pollyanna attitude, Psalm 4:7, rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, salvation, Shawn Thomas, unhappy in a palace, www.shawnethomas.com
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“Brother, Worker, Soldier” (Philippians 2:19-30 message)
Those of you who are on social media know that often a person will put on their home page a brief description of themselves, often with just a series of words, saying something like, “Christian, mother of 3, blogger”, or … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged adoption into family of God, battle stations, brother, brother in Christ, brother worker soldier, church, commitment, commitment level in church, difference in worker and soldier, discipleship, Epaphroditus, Ephesians 2:12-13, fellow soldier, fellow worker, gifts for service, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit gift, I Corinthians 12:7, Meggie Hixson Kigoma Tanzania, Philippians 2:19-30 sermon, Romans 8:15, sacrifice, salvation, service, soldier, Timothy, total commitment, war, worker
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“God’s Providence in America” (Sunday, July 4, 2021)
For the last several years, I have made a personal “tradition” of reading David McCullough’s book, 1776 on the 4th of July. (Hey, you choose your holiday fun and I’ll choose mine!) The book is a marvelous retelling of that … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sermons
Tagged "the outcome seemed little short of a miracle", 4th of July sermon, abortion, America, America God's chosen people, David McCullough 1776, Genesis 22, George Washington, God will "see to", God will provide, God's providence in America, I Timothy 2 pray for authorities, II Chronicles 7:14, immorality, Independence Day sermon, Isaiah 46, Lottie Moon, Lottie Moon offering, miracle vs. providence, mission trips, missions, perversion, providence, Providence of God, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 67, Romans 8:28, slavery, Southern Baptist missions
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“The Drink Offering” (Philippians 2:16-18 sermon)
Early in his presidency, George Washington was stricken with a serious illness, from which he was slow to recover. Historian Ron Chernow writes: “Washington conceded that his job might have contributed to his ailment and might even kill him, but … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged C.T. Studd, Christian life sacrifice, drink offering, George Washington sacrifice, invest your life, just one life will soon be past, ministry, missions, Nate Saint, nursery, Philippians 2:16-18 sermon, sacrifice, service, waste your life
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“Lights In The World” (Philippians 2:14-16 sermon)
It’s almost hard to remember last February’s winter storm now, in the heat of the summer — but I may need to remind SOME of you that you DID say you would never gripe about the Texas heat again, after … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged above reproach, BBC Cranford, cohabitation, dark world, darkness, divorce, eight year old gender decision, family, gender, gender issues, Genesis 2, God's plan for marriage, God's plan for sexuality, I am the light of the world, light, lights in the world, marriage, perversion, Philippians 2:14-16 sermon, Sam Rayburn, sexuality, sin, Texas winter storm 2021, the world, ungodliness, world, you are the light of the world
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“The Hand Inside The Glove” (Philippians 2:12-15 sermon)
This is a nice golf glove. But it is very limited. It really can’t do much by itself, can it? It can’t swing a club. Really, it can’t do anything, can it?! But this glove belongs to somebody. It belongs … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged church, complaining, do all things without grumbling or disputing, Ephesians 1:13, examine yourself, God will in you, God work in you, golf, grumbling in church, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:3, II Corinthians 12:5, indwelling Holy Spirit, Mark Twain Innocent Abroad, Philippians 2:12-15, power, Romand 8:9, salvation, spirit filled living, test yourself, the hand inside the glove, will and work in you
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“The Condescension & The Glory” (Philippians 2:6-11 sermon)
There are some things that human words and media, just do not have the ability to fully convey. For example, our secretary Dana just visited Niagara Falls with her husband. She said so it was just so incredible. I’ve never … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Charlotte Diggs Moon, Christ died for us, Christ's model of condescension, death of Jesus, deity of Jesus, discipleship, following Christ's example of humility, girl pushes bear to save dog, Ha Shem, have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Jesus Christ condescension, Jesus Christ exaltation, Jesus Christ God, Jesus Christ humility, Jesus equality with God, Jesus exaltation, Jesus steps of condescension, Lottie Moon, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Philippians 2:6-11 sermon, the name above all names
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“Our Imitation of Christ” (Philippians 2:5 sermon)
Birch Bayh was a Senator from Indiana back in the 1960’s. He and his wife Marvella ended up serving in Washington for some years, but they were admittedly “babes at sea” when they first arrived from Indiana. They were nervous … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged attitude, Birch Bayh, discipleship, E.W. Starling and Woodrow Wilson, following Jesus, imitating others, imitation, Imitation of Christ, Katharine Graham's Washington, LBJ, Lyndon Johnson, Marvella Bayh, Matthew 14 Jesus and John the Bpatist, Phil Mickelson, Philippians 2:5 sermon, Philippians 2:6-11, Phroneo, salvation, selflessness, Starling of the White House, Ten Commandments, the attitude of Christ
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“What Do These Stones Mean?” (Joshua 4:19-24 sermon) First Baptist Church Angleton Grand Opening, May 16, 2021
I can still remember walking through downtown San Antonio on my way to my first Southern Baptist Convention there, when all of the sudden, on my left, I saw this building, made of big, blondish white stones — and suddenly … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged church building dedication, church building program, church buildings, church grand opening, church mission, courage, First Baptist Church Angleton Texas, God purpose, God's will, Joshua 4:19-24 sermon, Judges 5:2, leader, leadership, mission, Pastor Rodney Bowman, pastor Shawn Thomas, people followed, people volunteer, perseverance, privilege and responsibility, Psalm 67:1-2, Remember The Alamo, Santa Fe Chop rock, The Alamo, Thomas Edison lightbulb, vision, We Will Remember, what do these stones mean?
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