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 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
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Tag Archives: Christmas
“Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
One of my favorite parts of the Christmas program last weekend was when B.J. and Amy and Greg sang that beautiful song of the annunciation, which is right out of Luke 1:28, where the angel appeared to Mary and said: … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", assurance of salvation, Christ, Christmas, church, Colossians 2:9, Current Events, deity of Jesus, depravity of man, ecclesiology, Ephesians 1:13, Every Day With Jesus, faith, Genesis 6:5, God with us, God's plan, Hebrews 1:3, Holy Spirit, Hymn In The Garden, I Corinthians 6:19, II Corinthians 13:9, illustrations, Immanuel, Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14, Jesus, Jesus and marriage, John 14:8-9, John 1:12, King Ahaz, man, Martin Luther, Mary, Matthew 1:23, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Elf production, Romans 8:15, salvation, sealed in the Holy Spirit, smallpox vaccine, The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, trust
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“The Christ of Christmas: His Deity” (John 1:1-3 message)
There was an article in the paper a couple of years ago about the Nativity Scene in St. Albans, West Virginia. It included a picture of the scene, because it was so unusual: it had a stable, some sheep, camels … Continue reading
Why the Incarnation: Paul Harvey’s “The Man & The Birds”
I have used Paul Harvey’s “The Man & The Birds” over the years as a favorite story to illustrate the meaning and necessity of the doctrine of the Incarnation, that God became Man in the Person of Jesus Christ. Following … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations
Tagged Christmas, Incarnation, Paul Harvey, The Man and the Birds
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“Yachidati”: God’s Great Christmas Gift!
We understand more about God’s gift to us at Christmas from a Hebrew word used in Psalm 22:20. There the Psalmist asks God to deliver “yachidati” from the power of the dog (the enemy). The Hebrew word “yachid” means “only … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged beloved, Christmas, Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, love, Psalm 22:20, sacrifice, yachid, yachidi
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“Your Response to Christmas” (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
(Preached at FBC Pauls Valley, OK 12-21-14) They asked some kindergarteners in Great Britain about the Christmas story of the visit of the Magi, and they had some interesting insights on it: one young boy said that the three wise … Continue reading
“He Will Save His People From Their Sins” (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
(Preached at Mt. Home Baptist, Morganton, NC, and FBC Pauls Valley, OK, December 2014) C.S. Lewis wrote of an interesting experience that his brother had one Christmas season. He said Warnie was riding on a big English double-decker bus one … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged assurance, C.S. Lewis, Christmas, Death, glorification, heaven, Imagine, John Lennon, Joni Earickson Tada, justification, Matthew 1:21 sermon, salvation, sanctification, soteriology
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Christmas in Carolina
Since two of our children are married with families, attending Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and one has a baby and the other is expecting, we needed to take a trip east if we were going to … Continue reading
A Post From Christmas Past
Since we are involved with family worship and other activities today — as I hope you are — I thought I would share some highlights from LAST year’s Christmas which I never published: At one point during the week, the … Continue reading
“The Little Condo On The Prairie” (12-17-13)
“It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas” at the “Little Condo”: A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG? Michael was very interested in Pastor Ronnie Rogers’ message on the Magi from the Christmas sermon at Trinity, Norman, last Sunday — especially that … Continue reading
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