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 Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "True Righteousness," for 12/28/25.
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 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’s will
His Ready Servants
In II Samuel 15:15 we find a great word from the servants of King David to their sovereign: “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” They were in a difficult situation together; Absalom had … Continue reading
By The Will of God
In Colossians 1:1 Paul wrote that he was an apostle “by the will of God.” This is an extremely important assertion. He had not taken this mantle upon himself; God had purposed and given it to him. It should be … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Colossians 1:1, God's will, ministry, vocation
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God’s Part and Ours: Balancing Sovereignty & Responsibility
In II Samuel 10 David had sent his armies to fight a coalition of the Ammonites and the Arameans. Just before the battle, David’s general Joab told his brother Abishai, whom he had given charge of an important part of … Continue reading
Seeking God: A Different Direction
II Samuel 5:23 says: “When David inquired of the Lord, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.” This is in the context of war. :22 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged daily devotions, God's will, II Samuel 5:23, seeking God
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Inquiring of the Lord
In II Samuel 2:1 we find David in a familiar situation. After Saul’s death, he did not just “assume” that he should go back up to Israel, but instead it says he “inquired of the Lord.” The Bible tells us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged direction, God's will, I Samuel 2:1, prayer, seeking God
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Prayers You Don’t Want Answered!
Psalm 106:15 says: “So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them (literally ‘a leanness into their soul’.” The Psalm describes how Israel had seen God’s work in the Exodus, but “quickly forgot His works” (:13) … Continue reading
Inquire of the Lord First!
As I Samuel 23 opens, David is told that the Philistines are attacking and plundering Keilah. Verse 2 says, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?’” It is of note here that David … Continue reading
Don’t Look Back; Look Ahead
I Samuel 16:1 could be a word for anyone who has been paralyzed by past hurts, and who needs to move on and follow God for what He has next for them:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's will, I Samuel 16:1, living in the past, preparation, regret
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The Way You Should Choose
Psalm 25:12 says: “Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.” Many people are seeking to make the right choices for their career or other important life issues. This is, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged choices, decisions, fear of the Lord, God's will, Psalm 25:12
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Consecration Before Revelation
In Exodus 19:10, the Lord told Moses: “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow … and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged consecration, Exodus 19:10, God's will, holiness, word from God
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