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
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "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)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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: Uncategorized
“YOU give them something to eat!”
“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” (Matthew 14:16) Although the gathering of the multitude before Jesus that day was unusual in a sense, in another way it is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, concern, excuses, love, Matthew 14:16, ministry, responsibility
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People Aren’t “Interruptions”
“When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14) In this passage, Jesus had just heard about the tragic death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, love, Matthew 14:14, ministry
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Alone Time
“Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself …”. (Matthew 14:13) The unjust death of John the Baptist was very difficult to understand. And it seemed to hit Jesus … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:13, prayer, quiet time, seclusion, solitude
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Is God Really In Control?
If your circumstances have ever been so bad that you wondered whether God was really in control, you are not alone. Those living in the days of Jesus and John the Baptist must have had occasion to feel the same … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged circumstances, control, God's sovereignty, Matthew 14, Psalm 1:1, purpose, Romans 8:28, sovereignty
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“How To Build A Life Of Joy” (Philippians 1:3-5 sermon)
Samuel Rutherford was a pastor in Anwoth, Scotland in the 1600’s, when the English government changed, and demanded that all ministers use the government prescribed prayer book, and submit to the rites and ordinances of the Anglican church, instead of … Continue reading
Limited By Our Unbelief
“And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58) These words were written about the people in Nazareth, Jesus’ home town. Verses 53 and following tell us how the people there questioned Jesus: “Is this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
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No Difference In “The Wheat & The Tares”?
“But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.” (Matthew 13:26) The parable of “The Wheat & The Tares” has become one of the most well-known parables in American Christianity, primarily through popular contemporary preaching … Continue reading
The Deceitfulness of Wealth
“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22) … Continue reading
“What You Really Need, & Where It Comes From” (Philippians 1:2 sermon)
Sometimes what you think you want is not really what you need. I walked into an Asian restaurant the other day and ordered something that I thought was like eggrolls (which I love!), but when I got it, it was … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Deity of Christ, depravity of man, Ephesians 2, grace, needs, peace, Philippians 1:2 sermon, Psalm 15, salvation, salvation by grace, Trinity, Triune God, wants
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Win the Spiritual Battle For Your Loved Ones’ Salvation
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.” (Matthew … Continue reading
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