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 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "Inviting Jesus Into Your Home" (Luke 10:38-42 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: discipleship
A Word to Church Leaders
Ezra 5 tells us that the prophets Haggai & Zechariah prophesied and told the leaders of the Jews, Zerubabbel and Jeshua, to rebuild the house of God, despite those who opposed them. Verse 2 says that Zerubabbel and Jeshua did … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, Ezra 5:2, Haggai, leadership, Zechariah
2 Comments
“The Discipline of Ordered Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13 Sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, 9-07-14) When our son Paul was a preschooler, we went to my mom’s house for a get-together, and we all had a good time. We ate cake, and swam and played outside, and at … Continue reading
“The Discipline of the Word” I Peter 2:1-3 sermon
(Preached 8-24-17 at First Baptist Pauls Valley, OK) For years before his death in 2013, Pat Summerall broadcast NFL games on television. Many of you would recognize his voice to this day. Some of you also know that Summerall’s life … Continue reading
“Are You A Disciple?” Luke 9:23 Sermon
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 8-03-14) In Matthew 28, Jesus gave His Great Commission to go and “make disciples.” The most important business of the church is to make disciples. But what does it mean to be a … Continue reading
The Drink Offering: Don’t Waste Your Life (Philippians 2:17 sermon update)
(This is the text of the sermon I preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley on Sunday, July 13th 2014. It is a revised and updated version of a previous message by this title I preached at FBC Moss Bluff, LA … Continue reading
Evidence of Discipleship
In II Kings 3:14 the prophet Elisha addressed the king of Israel, and he began his sentence with the phrase: “As YHWH of hosts lives, before whom I stand …”. This expression is significant for a couple of reasons, one … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged accountability, disciple, discipleship, II Kings 3:14, mentor, mentoring, presence of God
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Menial Training For Ministry
In II Kings 3:11, when Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of Yahweh, someone responded: “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” This is a revealing statement, with some telling implications … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged apprenticeship, discipleship, II Kings 3:11, mentoring, ministry, ministry training
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“Decisions” & Following
I Kings 19:21 says that when Elijah called Elisha to be his disciple, that Elisha sacrificed the oxen he had been plowing with (demonstrating that he was “all in”, see devotion here) and the text continues: “then he arose and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged commitment, discipleship, following Jesus, I Kings 19:21, Luke 9:23, salvation
1 Comment
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
A Balanced Ministry Goal
In Colossians 1:28 Paul wrote, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Here he states his goal for ministry, which we would do well … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 1:28, discipleship, evangelism, ministry
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