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 20:1-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Grace," for 4/19, 2026
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 21:23-32, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority," for 4/26/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 19:16-30, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Eternal Life" for 4/12/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson of Acts 17:22-34, "Believe" for Sunday Oct. 13, 2024
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
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- Sermons
- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
- This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog)
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: grace
An Important Perspective For Prayer
“In Your righteousness deliver me …” (Psalm 31:1b) As David calls out to the Lord for deliverance in Psalm 31, this is an important little statement because of its correct perspective about our prayers and what we “deserve.” David asks … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, intercessory prayer, justice, Merchant of Venice, mercy, prayer, Psalm 31:1, righteousness, Shakespeare
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“His Marvelous Love In A Besieged City”
“Blessed be the LORD, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.” (Psalm 31:21) Here David praises God for ministering to him, even in an extremely difficult time in his life. He said he was … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged chesed, circumstances, grace, joy, love, lovingkindness, Psalm 31:21, Psalm 4:7, Samuel Rutherford, trials, worship
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He Loved Us First: The Difference That Makes
“We love, because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19) John tells us in this brief verse God loved us first. This is significant, and makes such a difference in our understanding of our relationship with Him:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged God's love, grace, I John 4:19, love, merit, performance trap, relationship with God, Romans 5:8, salvation, saved by grace
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“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
2 Comments
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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