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 Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Winning Strategy," for June 28, 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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- “The Golden Rule” (Matthew 7:12 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)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 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: faith
A Model of Obedience
Although the character of Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, does not appear for long in the gospels, what we see of him there is commendable. In just the first chapter of Matthew alone, he modeled obedience to God in a number … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged example, faith, Joseph, Matthew 1:24-25, obedience
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Looking At What Is Unseen
“We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:18) The Apostle Paul … Continue reading
We Do Not Lose Heart
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man in decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) It is a sobering reality to many when they observe the gradual decline of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aging, body, faith, heaven, hope, II Corinthians 4:16, physical body, senior adults
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“Perplexed, But Not Despairing”
In verses 8-9 of II Corinthians 4, Paul lists a series of contrasts. He said that he and his ministry partners were: “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, aporumenoi, despair, faith, II Corinthians 4:8, trials
2 Comments
Not “Self-Confidence”, GOD-Confidence!
In II Corinthians 2:16, the Apostle Paul, speaking of his ministry to the Corinthians and others, exclaimed: “And who is adequate for these things?” The answer, of course, is that none of us are. We must depend upon God … Continue reading
It Makes All The Difference
Would you still be a Christian even if there were no heaven, no eternity, no resurrection? I have heard some people make that claim, but I myself cannot adhere to it. Such people have said, “The Christian life is the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Christianity, eternity, faith, heaven, I Corinthians 15:32, resurrection
1 Comment
“This Is My Story: The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32 sermon)
A few years back, in a state prison in Hominy, Oklahoma, they had an area in the kitchen they called the “pig slop” pit, into which they would throw all kinds of animal renderings and other food wastes, which they … Continue reading
Faith Sees Past The Means, To God
King Hezekiah was dying in Isaiah chapter 38 — until God intervened. The Lord told him through the prophet Isaiah that he would not die, but live — another 15 years. And God did absolutely heal Hezekiah — no question … Continue reading
Have You Signed A Peace Treaty With The Enemy?
“‘Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me and come out to me, and eat each of his vine and each of his fig tree and drink each of the waters … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compromise, faith, Isaiah 36, peace treaty, prosperity, security
1 Comment
“This Is My Story: Cornelius The Centurion” (Acts 10 Sermon)
When we were serving in Louisiana, our church sent a mission team to Suriname, South America, where one of our members was a missionary. The first team we sent went to teach Bible stories in a local school, and they … Continue reading
Posted in "This Is My Story" sermon series, Sermons
Tagged Acts10 sermon, Cornelius, evangelism, faith, gospel, salvation, story, testimony, works
7 Comments
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