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 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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Rejecting Legalism," for 2/15/26.
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- Lifeway "Explore the Bible" Jonah 1:15-2:10 "No Escape"
- Basebaal Strikes Out
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
Tag Archives: Bible
God’s Word: Desire or Discipline?
In light of I Peter 2:2’s command to “long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”, one might ask if spending time in the Bible should be considered to be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, Bible Reading, desire, devotions, discipline, I Peter 2:2, quiet time, scripture, word of God
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Read The Word: Public Reading of Scripture
In II Kings 23, King Josiah led a revival in Judah when God’s word was rediscovered in the Temple. The book of the Law was read aloud to him by Shaphan the scribe (22:10) and it had a profound effect … Continue reading
God’s Perfect Word
Psalm 12 contrasts the flattering words (:2-3) and boastful word-faith (:4) of men with the perfect words of God. Verse 6 says “The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, inerrancy, infallibility, Psalm 12:6, scripture, word of God, words of men
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The Missing Ingredient
There is a vital missing ingredient in the lives of many American Christians today. Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another …”. Those words “one another” are … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accountability, Bible, church, Colossians 3:16, fellowship, God's word, individualism, scripture, teaching
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The Prophetic Function of God’s Word
In I Kings 21, after King Ahab took the land which was the inheritance of his neighbor Naboth, :17 says: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite …” God did not overlook this evil deed of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, I Kings 21:17, II Timothy 3:16, prophetic function, scripture, sin
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Delight in His Word
Psalm 1:2 says of the man whom :1 declared blessed for avoiding the ways of the world: “But his delight is in the LAW of YHWH, and in His LAW he meditates day and night.” This is an example of … Continue reading
Book Review: The Doctrine of the Bible, by David S. Dockery
INTRODUCTION: Dr. David Dockery is one of the most highly-respected leaders in the SBC, and his observations should be considered with appropriate regard. In the Preface to the book, Dockery states his purpose: “I have attempted to provide a careful … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged application, Bible, book review, David Dockery, inerrancy, inspiration, scripture, The Doctrine of the Bible
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How Sweet Are Your Words?
In Psalm 119:103 the Psalmist exclaims: “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Are they indeed? How would we demonstrate the truth of this verse, if it were so in our own … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, Psalm 119:103, scripture
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Learning to Hate Evil
Psalm 119:104 says: “From Your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every evil way.” Psalm 97:10 admonishes us: “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” One of the salient problems of God’s people in every age is that we … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, hate evil, holiness, Psalm 119:104, Psalm 97:10, sanctification, scripture, word of God
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You Yourself Have Taught Me
In :102 of Psalm 119, the writer recalls: “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.” We observe in this verse the intimate connection between God and His word. To the Psalmist, “Your ordinances” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, daily devotions, daily walk with God, privilege, Psalm 119:102, quiet time, teaching
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