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.
-
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)
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: decisions
Paul on Decision-Making, Part III
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31) In the book of I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shares several “nuggets” of truth which can help us in our … Continue reading
Decision-Making, Part II
“Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (I Corinthians 10:24) Having already stated in I Corinthians 9:23 that his first consideration in decision-making was the gospel (see post here), Paul here offers a second: consider … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged decision making, decisions, God's will, I Corinthians 10:25, Philippians 2:4, selflessness
1 Comment
A Gospel Decision-Making Grid (Decision-Making, Pt. I)
How do you determine if you are going to do something or not? By whether you “want” to do it? If it will make you appear good to others? Because it will make you money? How do you decide? The … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged decision making, decision-making grid, decisions, God's will, gospel, I Corinthians 9:23
2 Comments
“Just Follow Your Heart”?
How many times have well-meaning people counseled someone by saying, “Just follow your heart”? It is one of those things which just “sounds right” to tell a person who is seeking direction. But it turns out that according to scripture, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged advice, counsel, deceit, decisions, heart, Jeremiah 17:9, just follow your heart, Proverbs 28:26, sin, wisdom
Leave a comment
Don’t Make Your First Step A Misstep
I Kings 3 describes King Solomon’s first steps after he was established as king over Israel. Verse 1 tells us “Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged choice, decisions, first step, I Kings 3:1, Solomon
Leave a comment
When It’s Too Late For Repentance
Hebrews 12:17 says of Esau, “For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” This verse is speaking in … Continue reading
Inquire of the Lord First!
As I Samuel 23 opens, David is told that the Philistines are attacking and plundering Keilah. Verse 2 says, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?’” It is of note here that David … Continue reading
The Way You Should Choose
Psalm 25:12 says: “Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.” Many people are seeking to make the right choices for their career or other important life issues. This is, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged choices, decisions, fear of the Lord, God's will, Psalm 25:12
Leave a comment
A Divine Decision
Proverbs 16:10 is a good word for anyone holding a position of authority or influence: “A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err (be unfaithful) in judgment.” At first one might wonder why the Proverb calls it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged authority, decisions, Proverbs 16:10, responsibility, Romans 13
Leave a comment