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)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 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
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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
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- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
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- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
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- John 3:16 sermon series
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- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
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Tag Archives: criticism
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 3:20-30, “Questioned”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 3:20-30, for Sunday, September 17, 2023, with the title, “Questioned.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged a house divided, Abraham Lincoln a house divided, all sin may be forgiven, bind Satan, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, church, Civil War, criticism, division, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Franklin Graham, George Whitefield, High Priestly Prayer, I Corinthians 6:9, In Jesus' name, Jesus, John 10 thief, John 17, John R Tyson Assist Me To Proclaim, John Wesley, Lifeway, Mark 3:20-30, prayer, presidents criticism, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual warfare, strong man, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the unforgivable sin, unity, Woodrow Wilson
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Lifeway Explore the Bible: John 12:1-11, “Why Wasn’t This Sold?”
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:1-11, for Sunday, March 5, 2023 with the title: “Why Wasn’t This Sold?” A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged 5 Love Languages, Asbury Revival, Asbury Revival criticism, criticism, discipleship, doing vs talking, Explore the Bible lesson John 12, Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman Five Love Languages, gift, gift of service, God, heart, how to show love, John 12:1-11 Sunday school lesson, judge servant of another, judging, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, love, love God, loving God, loving others, Mary gift, motivation, motives, persecution, quality time, service, Sunday school lesson overview John 12, teacher help John 12, Teacher help John 12:1-11, Theodore Roosevelt Sr quote, time, touch, Why Wasn't This Sold, words of affirmation
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“Watch Yourselves”
“Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.” (II John 8) Despite just warning the church about the false doctrines that the antichrists are out propagating in the world, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged criticism, focus, II John 8, log in your eye, Matthew 7:
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Don’t “Sit In the Seat Of Scoffers”
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1) Psalm 1 opens with a blessing for the person … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged attitude, criticism, discernment, faith, Psalm 1:1, scoffer
2 Comments
Compassion, Not Criticism
“But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’” (Matthew 12:2) “When (they) saw … they said …”. Seeing, and then being critical, was a mark … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, criticism, Hosea 6:6, judgmentalism, Matthew 12 devotion, Matthew 12:2, Pharisees
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Responding To Correction
In II Samuel 19, King David is mourning the death of his rebellious son, Absalom, while his victorious army comes “by stealth” back into the city because of his grief. In :5-7 David’s general, Joab spoke a spoke difficult truth … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged constructive criticism, correction, criticism, grace, humility, II Samuel 19:1-7
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The Blessed Wounds of Godly Criticism
In Psalm 141:5 David prays: “Let a righteous man strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” Psalm 141 is evidently an evening prayer … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged constructive criticism, criticism, pride, Proverbs 27:6, Psalm 141:5, rebuke
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Missing the Blessing
Many are familiar with the opening words of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” But … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, counsel, criticism, holiness, missing the blessing, Psalm 1:1, scoffing
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Fleeting Laughter, Lasting Pain
Most of us have been guilty at some point of poking fun at someone without thinking of the pain it might be inflicting on them. In Peter Ackroyd’s Dickens, he tells the story of John Coleman, who lived opposite the … Continue reading