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
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "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: Uncategorized
God Can Use “Messes”
“David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6) There are some less-than-exemplary people and circumstances found in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. One of them is contained in this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, Bathsheba, David, forgiveness, genealogy of Christ, grace, Matthew 1:6, providence, service, Uriah
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When It’s Time To Keep Your Mouth Closed
“I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who have done it.” (Psalm 39:9) Although we do not know the exact nature of it, David was in a life crisis here in Psalm 39. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged acceptance, complaint Psalms, God's will, prayer, Psalm 39, Psalm 39:9, resignation, sovereignty, trust
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Stop Comparing
“But when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” (II Corinthians 10:12) Many people feel that they can come off well by comparing their behavior or achievements to someone else’s, but the Apostle … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged comparisons, I Peter 2:21, II Corinthians 10:12, judgment, Matthew 5:48, standards
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Why Doesn’t God Help Me?
“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” (II Corinthians 12:9) History is replete with examples of God healing and rescuing His people from illnesses and difficult situations — but it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, II Corinthians 12:9, prayer, trials
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“The Disciple’s Character: Peacemaking” (Matthew 5:9 sermon)
In 1994, North Korea precipitated an international crisis, when they took the rods out of their nuclear reactors, which would allow them to create nuclear weapons. Many thought we might be on the brink of war. But Jimmy Carter, years … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, character, doing peace, Ephesians 2:14-16, evangelism, Jimmy Carter Peacemaker, love, making peace, Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 5:9, peace, peace with God, peacemaker, peacemakers, relationship pyramid, The character of Christ, The Disciple's Character
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Looking Past The Surface
“You are looking at things as they are outwardly.” (II Corinthians 10:7) Many of the Corinthians evidently didn’t think much of the Apostle Paul. He wasn’t very “impressive” outwardly: verse 10 says that many of them were saying, “His personal … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged discernment, II Corinthians 10:7, spirit, surface level
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“An Abundance For Every Good Deed”
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (II Corinthians 9:8) The last phrase in this verse should cause many … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, good deeds, II Corinthians 9:8, material blessings, money, stewardship
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The Gift of Giving (maybe not what you think!)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15) Many of us have heard the expression “the gift of giving”, and the Bible does teaches that giving is a gift. But it may also be a gift in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 20:35, fellowship, gift of giving, giving, II Corinthians 9, II Corinthians 9:15
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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
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“The Disciple’s Character: Purity of Heart” (Matthew 5:8 sermon)
I enjoy going to a number of high school sporting events, like football and basketball games, and track meets. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this one track meet I watched several years ago in Louisiana. As I sat in … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged appearance, Beatitudes, holiness of God, inner man, Islam, Jeremiah 17:10, Mark 7:1-7, Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 5:8 sermon, pornography, Psalm 51:10, pure heart, purity of heart, salvation
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shawnethomas 