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 2:4-21, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Amazing Grace," for June 14, 2026.
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 1:1-11, 16-18, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson: "Strong & Courageous" for 6/07/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "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)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Word That Sustains In Difficult Days" (Habakkuk 2:1-3 sermon)
- "The Gift That Is An Insult" (I Kings 9:10-14)
- "The Disciple's Character: Purity of Heart" (Matthew 5:8 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: God
What You Really Need
The story of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness is familiar to most of God’s people, but what He actually quoted to the enemy in His time of tempting is very instructive to us. Jesus quoted from Dueteronomy 8:2-3, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Deuteronomy 8:2-3, God, Matthew 4:1-7, Matthew 4:4, need, perceived needs, purpose of trials, temptation
1 Comment
Our Ultimate Aim
“… that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (II Corinthians 4:15) This verse reveals something very important when it tells us what happens … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged aim, glory, goal, God, II Corinthians 4:15, man's chief end, purpose, Westminster Shorter Catechism
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God Of Eternity — and 2016!
“For thus says the high and exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is Holy …” (Isaiah 57:15) This is one of a number of verses in Isaiah in which God reveals something of His glory to His people Israel … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Uncategorized
Tagged eternity, God, Isaiah 57:15, New Year, time, time and eternity
1 Comment
A Terrifying Prospect
I was reviewing James Chapters 1 & 2 on the way to the office yesterday when all of the sudden, one of the verses sent shudders down my spine:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God, James 2:13, judgment, justice, Lamentations 3:22, mercy, scripture memory review
2 Comments
The Immeasurable Goodness of our God
Psalm 36:5-6 describes four qualities of God in the following manner: — :5a “Your lovingkindness, O Lord, reaches to the heavens” — :5b “Your faithfulness to the skies” — :6a “Your righteousness is like the mountains of God” — :6b “Your … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, faithfulness, God, grace, judgment, lovingkindness, Martin Luther, Psalm 36:5-6, righteousness, theology
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He Longs To Be Gracious!
Isaiah 30:18 must be one of the most encouraging verses in all of the word of God: “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.” God had spent … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, God, grace, Isaiah 30:18, Prodigal Son, theology
3 Comments
Does God Not Care?
“Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” (Mark 4:38) The verse previous (:37) indicates that a “fierce gale of wind” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God, God's love, Mark 4:38, providence, theology
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Conspiracy Theories?
“Conspiracy theories” are popular with many people, and some of them gain traction among the Christian population as well. It should be instructive to us that scripture actually has a word that speaks to these, in Isaiah 8:12-13: “You are … Continue reading
“The Goodness of God in the Midst of Affliction” (Psalm 119:65-72 sermon)
In February 2012, I stood to lead prayer meeting at the church I had been pastoring for 12 years in Louisiana, and the longer I stood the more nauseated I became. I had to leave during prayer and have my … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged affliction, doctrine of God, God, God is good, Psalm 119:68 sermon, purposes for trials, theology, trial
3 Comments
When God Whistles They Come!
“He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, and will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; and behold, it will come with speed swiftly.” (Isaiah 5:26) This verse give us one of the most … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged "Sovereignty of God", countries, God, history, Isaiah 6:26, nations, theology
1 Comment
shawnethomas 