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
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- 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)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
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
“This Is My Story: The Ethiopian Treasurer” (Acts 8:25-38 sermon)
ACTS 8:25-38 “This Is My Story: The Ethiopian Treasurer” Cheryl & I love Stefan Berci (our Romanian pastor) and his family. They did a Facetime chat with us yesterday, and we had a great visit. One of the things I … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 8:25-38 sermon, Ethiopian eunuch, evangelism, Isaiah 53, Jesus, RSVP, salvation, story, testimony
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Why We Can’t Judge Someone’s Ministry
I Corinthian 4:5 is a great reminder of why you & I are not to judge someone’s ministry too early. The verse reads: “Therefore do not go on judging before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged do not judge, heart, I Corinthians 4:5, Jeremiah 17:10, judging, judgment, mind, motives, Psalm 139:12, secret, service
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Everything But God
In Isaiah 22, Jerusalem is being invaded by the Babylonians, and so the inhabitants are getting ready for the siege. Isaiah describes their preparations: :8 “In that day you depended on the weapons of the house of the forest … … Continue reading
Are You “Really Something”?
“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is ANYTHING, but God who causes the growth.” (I Corinthians 3:7) Writing to a church which was embroiled in a “personality contest”, the Apostle Paul makes it clear … Continue reading
From A Cottage in the Foothills … (June 2015)
The past couple of weeks have been busy at “the cottage”; with all of the kids and grandkids coming in. We had a lot to celebrate — and then to recover from! ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Adding to the typical … Continue reading
“Our Holy God” (Isaiah 6:1-5 sermon)
Originally posted on shawnethomas:
In Here I Stand, Roland Bainton’s biography of Martin Luther, he tells of how Luther, as a young monk, was to lead in his first Communion. Luther was terrified. He said: “At these words I was…
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Whose Birthday Is It?
In Boca Rotan, Florida, several years ago, a 6-year-old boy who was attending a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese was left at the restaurant by his parents after the party. The child went into state custody, as the parents … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged giving, IMB, International Mission Board, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, missions
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“Because”
Psalm 6:2 says, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.” There is a key word in this verse which may help explain many of the difficult things … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Psalm 6:2, purpose, purpose for trials, relationship with God
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Unfolding His Word
In Psalm 119:130 the writer proclaims: “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Barnes writes of this word, “unfolding”: “The Hebrew word – פתח pethach – means an “opening” or “entrance” – as of … Continue reading
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It Does Come Around!
I Samuel 30:11-15 describes how someone who was totally helpless was treated by two very different men — and how God brought their treatment of this helpless person back upon each of them!
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Galatians 6:6-7, I Samuel 30:11-15, justice, Karma, mercy, reward
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