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)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 5:13-20, 43-48, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "True Righteousness," for 12/28/25.
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "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: grace
“For God” (John 3:16 sermon)
In London, England there is a 70-foot high red granite obelisk called “Cleopatra’s Needle” that stands beside the Thames River. In the 1870’s it was given to Britain by Egypt. When they moved it to England and set it up, they put a … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Uncategorized
Tagged "For God", Bible, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, China Middle Kingdom, Cleopatra's Needle, egocentrism, Ephesians 2, ethnocentrism, grace, humility, John 3:16, Luke 18, mercy, prosperity gospel, Redemption Plan song, religion, Ron & Pat Owens, salvation, Sarah Michelle Geller, scripture, selfishness, spirituality, theology, worship
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“What You Really Need, & Where It Comes From” (Philippians 1:2 sermon)
Sometimes what you think you want is not really what you need. I walked into an Asian restaurant the other day and ordered something that I thought was like eggrolls (which I love!), but when I got it, it was … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Deity of Christ, depravity of man, Ephesians 2, grace, needs, peace, Philippians 1:2 sermon, Psalm 15, salvation, salvation by grace, Trinity, Triune God, wants
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Which IS easier?
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matthew 9:5) This sentence is full of the searching wisdom of Jesus, and may not be what it appears at first blush. Which IS … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged forgiveness, grace, Matthew 9:5, salvation
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He Knows Your Thoughts
“And Jesus knowing their thoughts …” (Matthew 9:4) These may be some of the most intimidating and convicting words in scripture. They should serve to eliminate ANY pretense of “self-righteousness” from every one of us: “Jesus, knowing their thoughts.”
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Genesis 6:5, grace, holier than thou, Matthew 9:4, mind, self-righteousness, sin, thoughts
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God Can Use “Messes”
“David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6) There are some less-than-exemplary people and circumstances found in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. One of them is contained in this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, Bathsheba, David, forgiveness, genealogy of Christ, grace, Matthew 1:6, providence, service, Uriah
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Why Doesn’t God Help Me?
“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” (II Corinthians 12:9) History is replete with examples of God healing and rescuing His people from illnesses and difficult situations — but it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, II Corinthians 12:9, prayer, trials
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Grace & Trials
“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great deal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, grace, II Corinthians 8:1-2, joy, liberality, trials
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“The Disciple’s Character: Mercy” (Matthew 5:7 sermon)
Several years ago, a man and his wife were traveling on the Interstate Highway in Florida, when their car broke down. The next exit was 40 miles away, and there had been a rash of highway robberies, so no one … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, character, character of Christ, compassion, definition of mercy, grace, Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 5:7 sermon, merciful, mercy, ministry, Prodigal Son, salvation, The Good Samaritan
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“The Christ of Christmas: His Gifts” (John 1:1-14)
Whenever we think of Jesus, and gifts, and Christmas time, most of us probably think of the gifts that the Magi brought Jesus in Matthew 2: “gold, frankincense and myrrh.” In imitation of that, as many of you know, we … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Christ, eternal family, eternal life, family, family of God, gifts, grace, John 1:1-14 sermon, Law, salvation, truth
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