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 Joshua 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Remembering God's Works" for June 21, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
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
“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
Leave a comment
Every Encumbrance
Hebrews 12:1 exhorts us: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, encumbrance, Hebrews 12:1, priorities
2 Comments
Who Will Go With Me?
In I Samuel 26:6 David asked a bold question of two of his most valiant warriors: “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” If this sounds daring, it was even more so because :5 says that … Continue reading
Book Review: Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, by Donald S. Whitney
I read Don Whitney’s Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health for a small-group class on Sunday mornings at Trinity Baptist in Norman this year. I understand that it has been used for some time by several ministers and in … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Ministry, Reviews
Tagged Christian life, curriculum, discipleship, legalism, small groups, spiritual growth
2 Comments
Scripture’s Indispensable Qualities of a Leader
In Exodus 19:21 Jethro told Moses: “You shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, Exodus 19:21, leadership, qualifications
Leave a comment
Fickle “Fans”
At one point, Jesus had a big “fan club” in Jerusalem. Mark 11:8-10 describes how people went “in front” and “followed” (in other words, all around Him, a big crowd) shouting “Hosanna!” as Jesus entered the city on a donkey. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged discipleship, fan of Jesus, fan or follower, fickle fans, Mark 11:8-10
Leave a comment
shawnethomas 