I served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana for almost 30 years before taking a medical leave from the pastorate in February 2013 due to dysautonomia (POTS) and moving to Norman, Oklahoma. Blessed with renewed health, I was called as Senior Pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, NC in February 2015.
In this blog I share daily devotions from my own personal Bible readings, as well as sermons, book reviews, illustrations -- and occasional humorous "peeks" at life inside this pastor's home!
Tag Archives: giving
“Asking & Discerning” (Matthew 7:6-11 sermon)
I loved our Children’s Ministry Bible presentation last week, and I especially appreciated how Dr. Amanda mentioned that she is teaching our kids the importance of CONTEXT in scripture. It’s hard to overstate the importance of that in Bible interpretation. … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Acts 13:45, asking, church fundraisers, compromise, discerning, discernment, donations, evangelism, Ezra, fundraising, giving, government, Holy Spirit, III John, Johann Tetzel, Luke 23:8, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Martin Luther, Matthew 7:6, Matthew 7:6-11, missions, missions giving, missions support, Pandering, pearls before swine, prayer, Reformation Day, salvation, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, spiritual abuse, wisdom, witnessing
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“Your Best Investment” (Matthew 6:19-24 sermon)
In his epic novel “Les Miserables”, Victor Hugo writes about a rich, retired merchant who attended the church in the town — M. Geborand — who had accumulated an estate of 2,000,000 francs in the manufacture of cloth. M. Geborand … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged budget, Burke United Christian Ministries, Dr. David Burleson, eternity, faith, finances, Genesis 28, giving, He is no fool, heaven, Houston flood, I Peter 1, I Timothy 5, III John, imperishable, investments, Jesus, Jim Eliott, kingdom of God, local church, loss, Luke 12:16, mammon, material possessions, Matthew 19, Matthew 6:19-24, money, pastor support, perishable, rich young ruler, tithe, treasure, Walt Disney World
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“Don’t Be A Hypocrite!” (Matthew 6:1+ sermon)
“Beware!” If you are out driving, and you come across a sign in the road that says “Beware!”, you are going to pay attention, and proceed very carefully, aren’t you? And you should. You know there is something dangerous ahead, … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged actor, alms, applause of heaven, church, Facebook, fasting, giving, heart, humility, hypocrisy, hypocrite, hypocrites, Jesus, John 11 Jesus prayer, let your light shine, Luke 20:20, Matthew 23, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:1-18, model prayer, motivation, NBA home court, Pharisees, poor in spirit, praise, prayer, pride, private prayer, public ministry, pure in heart, recognition, righteousness, scribes, singing, tip of the iceberg, worship
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Passing On What Was Delivered To Us (Lord’s Supper Message, I Corinthians 11:23-26)
Several years ago there was a couple who was driving on a remote stretch of highway in Florida, where there had been a number of crimes committed in recent days. Unfortunately the couple had car trouble and got stranded, and … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged communion, evangelism, forgiveness, giving, I Corinthians 11:23-26, Lord's Supper, ministry, teaching, tradition
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What Is Love?
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16) Everyone has some idea of what love is: songs and poems have been … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged brotherly love, feelings, giving, I John 3:16, John 3:16, love, sacrifice, true love
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“An Abundance For Every Good Deed”
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (II Corinthians 9:8) The last phrase in this verse should cause many … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, good deeds, II Corinthians 9:8, material blessings, money, stewardship
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