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 Preview of Matthew 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, "Loyalty Tested"
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson "Mercy Extended" for 1/25/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 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
Tag Archives: commitment
All In
In I Kings 19, God told the prophet Elijah to anoint Elisha to take his place, and Elijah departed from the Lord and threw his mantle over Elisha, who was plowing with some oxen, calling him to be his disciple. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, discipleship, I Kings 19:21, Jesus, Lordship, Luke 9:62
2 Comments
You’ve Got To Choose
I Kings 18 tells the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. In :21 Elijah speaks to the people of Israel and says: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If YHWH is God, follow … Continue reading
Put It To Death
In Colossians 3:5 the Apostle Paul uses striking language to address how followers of Christ should deal with certain sins. He says, “Put to death the members (things) which are upon the earth: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged be killing sin, Colossians 3:5, commitment, consecration, holiness, John Owen, mortification, sanctification, sin
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Sermon: Romans 1:4 “The Meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus” for FBC Paul’s Valley, 4-20-14
When we were serving in Louisiana one of our church members was coaching a kids baseball practice just before Easter one year, and he announced that they weren’t going to have practice or a game that weekend because it was … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Chuck Colson, commitment, David Koresh, decision, Easter sermon, Ganges River, Hinduism, John 14:6, life change, power, resurrection of Jesus, Romans 1:4, salvation, Watergate
2 Comments
We Are An Offering
Psalm 110:3 says: “Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power …”. In Hebrew, that literally reads: “Your people WILL BE freewill offerings” — that is, they will offer themselves freely as a sacrifice and offering to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, consecration, freewill offering, Psalm 110:3, Romans 12:1, sacrifice
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Speak Lord
I Samuel 3:9 contains one of the great prayers in scripture: “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Eli taught Samuel to say it to God the next time He called him in the tabernacle. It is a simple but … Continue reading
The Heart of Worship
Psalm 28:7 says: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” If one asks, “How does one ‘exult’ in … Continue reading
The Commitment of the Redeemed
The First Commandment (Exodus 20:2-3) is based on the redemptive work of God: “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage …”. He reminds them first of all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, Exodus 20:2-3, first commandment, Lordship salvation, redeemed
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A Wineskin In The Smoke
In Psalm 119:83 the Psalmist declares: “Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.” What a picture of a total commitment to the Lord and His word: even if he dies, even … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged commitment, Job 13:15, Psalm 119:83, total commitment, wineskin in the smoke
2 Comments
The Last Word
In Psalm 89 the author feels cast off and rejected by God (:38) as well as reproached by men (:41). He asks God in :49, “Where are Your former lovingkindnesses, O Lord?” He feels totally deserted. And yet with all … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessed be the Lord, commitment, faith, Job, Psalm 89:52, trials
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