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 Judges 2:11-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Consequences," for July 26, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Joshua 24:14-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Vital Decision," for July 19, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of I Peter 1:13-25, "Our Mandate," Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for 3/09/25
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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
“The Goodness of God in the Midst of Affliction” (Psalm 119:65-72 sermon)
In February 2012, I stood to lead prayer meeting at the church I had been pastoring for 12 years in Louisiana, and the longer I stood the more nauseated I became. I had to leave during prayer and have my … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged affliction, doctrine of God, God, God is good, Psalm 119:68 sermon, purposes for trials, theology, trial
3 Comments
Praying Through Romans 12
Handel’s “Messiah” is one of the great “musicals” if you will of all time, but most people know it for ONE song: the “Hallelujah” chorus. But there is other great music in it, notably the song “Worthy Is The Lamb”, … Continue reading
“Forgiving Each Other” (Ephesians 4:32 sermon)
The cross of Jesus is the center of Christianity. The basic message of Christianity is that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” — and He died for our sins on the cross. Paul called the gospel “the … Continue reading
“The Message of the Cross” (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
A few weeks ago we installed a new wooden cross over our baptistry. Many people have commented that they like it — but some might ask: why would we put a cross here in our worship center? The answer is … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged church, cross, evangelism, faith, I Corinthians 1:18-24 sermon, ministry, salvation
22 Comments
“The Discipline of Discipling” (II Timothy 2:2 sermon)
Coach Hayden Fry’s 1983 University of Iowa football team picture has become famous, not necessarily because of the games it won, but because of what became of its coaching staff. The assistants on Fry’s staff that year would go on … Continue reading
“The Discipline of Fasting” (Ezra 8:21 sermon)
A Christian disciple from India came to the United States a few years ago, and made the tour of a number of our Baptist churches, both observing and speaking. After a few weeks, he asked a question of his host. … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciplines of Disciples" series, Sermons
Tagged Christian disciplines, Daniel, discipleship, Ezra, Ezra 8:21, fasting, humility, intercession, Jesus, Moses, prayer, sermon, spiritual disciplines
3 Comments
“The Discipline of Giving” (Genesis 28:20-22 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist, Morganton, NC 6-28-15) It has been a very disappointing week for Bible-believing Christians, the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage at the top of the list. But we have much to be thankful for … Continue reading
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