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 Joshua 24:14-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Vital Decision," for July 19, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 14:1-15, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Unwavering Determination" for 7/12/26
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Judgment Coming," for 2/22/26.
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "The Ministry of the Intercessor" (Psalm 106:19-23 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: evangelism
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 12:20-33, “If It Dies”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:20-33, “If It Dies,” for Sunday, March 12, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "The Joel Osteen Sermon That Changed Oprah's Life", Blaise Pascal quote, born to die, chief end of man, commitment, evangelism, Explore the Bible, follow Jesus, glorify God, glory, God, God's Purpose, I Corinthians 10:31, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 12 teaching help, John 12:20-33 Sunday School lesson overview, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 12, missions, seeds, some said it thundered, Sunday school lesson help John 12, teacher's help John 12 Sunday school lesson, Tim Challies Joel Ostend sermon, we would see Jesus, Westminster Catechism, witness
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 9:24-38, “You Have Seen Him”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 9:24-38, for Sunday, February 12, 2023, with the title: “You Have Seen Him.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged 30 second elevator speech, baptism, Bulgaria mission work, Christian persecution, evangelism, how to give a testimony, John 9 Bible study help, John 9 the man born blind, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson overview John 9:24-38, Son of Man, teacher's help LIfeway Explore the Bible John 9, testimony, testimony workshop, witnessing
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Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 1:40-51, “Come and See.”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 1:40-51, for Sunday, December 11, 2022 with the title, “Come and See.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Acts 1:8, Acts 1:8 church, Acts 1:8 Sunday school class, Charles Dickens Mrs Jellyby, discipleship, Dr. Francis Collins testimony, evangelism, evangelistic testimony, Explore the Bible lesson John 1, follow Me, Jesus is the ladder, John 1 Sunday School lesson, John 1:40-51, John 1:40-51 Sunday School lesson teacher help, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson help, Matthew 4:19, Oscar Thompson Concentric Circles, Reflections on the Existence of God, Richard E. Simmons III book, salvation testimonies, Shawn Thomas Sunday School lesson help, Sunday school lesson help, teacher's helps for Sunday School, testimony, witnessing
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Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” Sunday School lesson: Jonah 4
(A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of a potential lesson plan for teaching Jonah Chapter 4:1-11 from the Lifeway “Explore the Bible” material for Sunday October 9, 2022. A video version of this overview is … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Book of Jonah, Carroll Keach LBJ chauffeur, Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities, Christian life, comfort, criticism church, evangelism, gospel, Jonah 4, Jonah 4 Sunday School lesson help, Jonah 4 Sunday School lesson overview, Jonah 4 Sunday School teacher help, Lyndon Johnson Robert Caro, misplaced passion, spectator Christianity
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“Jesus Coaches His Misguided Disciples” (Luke 9:46-56 sermon)
A couple of years ago, a hurricane hit southwest Louisiana where we had formerly pastored, and some of you may remember, we had a family come and stay with us in the aftermath. They have a little preschool boy (4-5 … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged attitudes of disciples, C.S. Lewis humility, Christian unity, denominations, discipleship, don't win arguments win people, ego, evangelism, humility, Jasper Myers summersault baseball video, Jesus coaches disciples, Jesus teaches disciples, John 17 all be one, John 3:17, John Newton, Luke 9:46-56 sermon, ministry, pastor ego, pride, self-centeredness, selflessness, song He's still working on me, Teddy Roosevelt bride at every wedding, The Cause of Christ Kari Jobe, witnessing
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“The Answer To The Biggest Problem You Have” (Luke 5:17-26)
What if I told you this morning that I know the answer to the biggest problem you have? Some problem just jumped to the front of your mind, didn’t it? “You have the answer to THAT?!” If you’re like me … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged C.S. Lewis run on gasoline, Charles Spurgeon testimony, evangelism, faith, forgiveness, George Whitefield, grace, Isaiah 45:22 Look to Me and be ye saved, Jesus, Jesus and the paralytic, Jesus is the answer, John 19:30 it is finished, John 3 Nicodemus, John 3 serpent, Joni Earickson Tada, look and live, look to Jesus, Luke 16 rich man and Lazarus, Luke 5:17-26 sermon, Numbers 21 serpent, priorities, salvation, sin, Southwest airlines accident, the biggest problem you have, your biggest problem, your sins are forgiven you
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“A Divine Appointment” (Acts 8:26-40 sermon)
In 2014 Cheryl & I were living in Norman, Oklahoma while I was recuperating from illness that had caused me to resign my pastorate in Louisiana. One winter afternoon about 4:00 I suddenly had a strong urge to go out … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Ministry, Sermons
Tagged Acts 8, Acts 8 Philip and Ethiopian, baptism, baptism and salvation, baptism profession of faith, baptism symbolic, daily Bible reading, divine appointment, Dwight Moody Big L, Ethiopian eunuch, Ethiopian Treasurer, evangelism, faith, gospel, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit prompting, India mission, instant obedience, Isaiah 53, Jesus, meaning of baptism, missions, morning devotions, morning worship time, Only Jesus saves, people need the Lord, priest "we baptize you", religion, repentance, response to the gospel, salvation, Walk Across The Room, witnessing, witnessing opportunity
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“Christian Contentment” (Philippians 4:10-14 sermon)
In Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Miserables, one of the early heroes in the story, whom the Lord uses to help turn around the life of the convict Jean Valjean, is Bishop Myriel. Unlike many churchmen in France at that time … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Bible Reading, Bishop Myriel, buy, C.S. Lewis contentment, C.S. Lewis letter Mary Shelburne, C.S. Lewis old folks home, Christ will be with you, Christian contentment, church health, circumstances, circumstances and happiness, contentment, contentment in circumstances, context of Philippians 4:13, dangers of contentment, evangelism, God's will vs. my will, holiness, I can do all things through Christ meaning, I'm satisfied with just a cottage, Jesus, Jesus and contentment, Jesus makes the difference, Les Miserables, Madison Avenue, Nick Saban satisfaction, NOT your best life now, Philippians 4:10-14, Philippians 4:13, Philippians sermon, prayer, prosperity gospel, retail therapy, Romania hospital, secret to contentment, shopper's high, spending, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester, Victor Hugo, walk with God, what Philippians 4:13 does NOT mean
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