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 Judges 7:1-8, 19-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Trust," for August 9, 2026
- Teacher's Overview of Judges 6:1-4, 7-16, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Called," for August 2, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Judges 2:11-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Consequences," for July 26, 2026.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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)
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- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: holiness
Before You Give Up Praying For Your Loved One, Try This
Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) was considered by many of his contemporaries to be the greatest preacher in Scotland of his day. His book, Lord Teach Us To Pray, consists of a number of sermons on prayer from a variety of scripture … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life, Ministry, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Alexander Whyte, family, holiness, intercessory prayer, John 17:19, prayer, sanctification
2 Comments
Your Foremost Concern Today
“This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:38) What is your greatest concern today? If there were ONE thing you could accomplish, which would cause you to consider this day a success, what would it be? Jesus gives us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged concern, daily quiet time, greatest commandment, holiness, love, loving God, Matthew 22:38, priorities, worship
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“Three Fruits of Christian Maturity” (Phil. 1:7-11 sermon)
Cheryl & I had to laugh three years ago, as we watched our son-in-law (who is probably about as mechanically inclined as I am, which isn’t saying very much!) try to put together a baby swing in the living room … Continue reading
How A Christian Responds to God’s Deliverance
“Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.” (Psalm 6:8) It should be instructive to us that David’s response to God answering his desperate prayer was holiness, and not libertinism. … Continue reading
Day By Day
In II Corinthians 4:16, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day.” We looked previously at how a Christian does not become … Continue reading
The Process
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16) The first part of this verse describes how a believer need not lose heart … Continue reading
Prayer + Purity = Power
In II Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul speaks of “the surpassing greatness of the power” that is in the life of a Christian, even though in and of themselves they are merely an “earthen vessel.” In other words, God manifests … Continue reading
“The Holy People”
In Isaiah 62, God promises that one day He will restore His scattered people; that although they are now “desolate” and “forsaken” (:6) they will become “a praise on the earth” (:7). But it is notable what the last verse … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged holiness, holy people, Isaiah 62:12, the holy people
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Consecration Today For Wonders Tomorrow (Joshua 3:5 sermon)
After months of waiting, this week it is finally here! Starting this Friday Pleasant Ridge will be presenting our Christmas musical “The Grinch” downtown at the CoMMA. It is a major production, and preparations have been made for months in … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged consecration, fasting, holiness, Joshua 3:5, Joshua 3:5 sermon, prayer, preparation
4 Comments
Overcome By Evil?
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) Coming on the heels of the admonition not to take your own revenge, but to leave room for God’s wrath, this verse reminds us that there is … Continue reading
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