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)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 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: John 3:16
“Suffering Servant/Glorious King: Like A Lamb” (Isaiah 53:7 sermon)
In Acts Chapter 8 the Bible tells the story of how the Treasurer of the country of Ethiopia was in his chariot reading a verse from the scroll of Isaiah, when the deacon Philip walked up to him. Acts tells … Continue reading
Posted in Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
Tagged Acts 8, atonement, Behold Me, blood on the doorpost, cross, Ethiopian eunuch, Gadhafi, gentleness, Isaiah, Isaiah 53, Isaiah sermon, Jesus, John 10:17, John 3:16, John Milton, lamb, Like a Lamb, meekness, Paradise Lost, Passover, Passover Lamb, Philippians 2, Psalm 37, Robert E. Lee, Rock of Ages, Romans 3:20, sacrifice, salvation, substitution, substitutionary atonement, Suffering Servant, the cross, the lamb of God, volunteer
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“Suffering Servant/Glorious King: For All of Us” (Isaiah 53:6 sermon)
When I got sick in the winter of 2012, and Cheryl & Michael & I moved to Oklahoma, as difficult as that time was, much good came out of it. One of those good things was that I discovered that … Continue reading
Posted in Isaiah 53 sermon series Suffering Servant Glorious King
Tagged Acts 20:21, all, all means all, all of us, all we like sheep, Becky Thatcher, church, consequences, faith, forgiveness, gospel, guilt, He died for me, I John 2:2, I Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 53:6, James Hastings, Jesus, John 3:16, Luke 13:3, Luke 15, Messiah, Messianic prophecy, Mr. Dobbins, older brother, our griefs He bore, personal response, Prodigal Son, Proverbs 14:12, punishment, repentance, repentance and faith, Romans 10:13, salvation, self-righteousness, sheep, sheep ditch video, sin, Sternberg, substitutionary atonement, Suffering Servant, the cross, Tom Sawyer
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 3:4-18 “Everyone Who Believes”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 3:4-18 for Sunday, January 1, 2023, with the title, “Everyone Who Believes.” (A video version of this overview is available on … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Bible study helps John 3, born again, C.S. Lewis, change, Charles Dickens Christmas Carol, John 3 Bible Study, John 3:14, John 3:16, John 3:16 Bible study, John 3:16 lesson help, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 3, Lifeway Sunday school lesson January 1, screwtape letters, serpent in the wilderness, Sunday school teacher help John 3, teacher's help Explore the Bible John 3, you must be born again
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“The Greatest Verse in the Bible?” (John 3:16 sermon)
People often enjoy discussing who or what “the greatest” is in different areas of life. A new acronym has arisen in light of that: “GOAT,” which stands for “Greatest of All Time.” The first time I saw that, it was … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged airplane trust, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, eternal life, eternal life definition, eternal life meaning, everlasting life, faith, for God so loved, Galatians 2:20, GOAT, greatest travel destination, greatest verse in the Bible, heaven, how to be saved, how to go to heaven, invitation, John 17:3, John 3:16, John 3:16 sermon, Jonathan Edwards, love, sacrifice Jesus, saving faith, this is eternal life, Tom Brady GOAT, trust in Jesus, Whoever will call, whosoever surely meaneth me, whosoever will may come, Winston Churchill son Randolph
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“The Firm Foundation” (I Peter 1:23-25 sermon)
Years ago, John Wesley wrote: “I want to know one thing: the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged all flesh is like grass, assurance, Bible, born again, church, confidence, discipleship, duct tape, eternal life, fad, firm foundation, foundation, gimmick, gospel, Hebrews 4:12, How Firm A Foundation, Hussein Bolt, I Corinthians 2:1, I Peter, I Peter 1:23-25 sermon, I Peter sermon, II Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 40:6-8, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 55:10-11, James 4:14, John 3:16, John Wesley quote, Matthew 24:35, Matthew 5:17, ministry, Muslim conversion, not perish, once saved always saved, Ozymandias Shelley, perish, perseverance of the saints, Psalm 103, Psalm 90, Rameses II, Romans 10:17, salvation, salvation testimony, scripture, the word of the Lord, Wilbur Wright, word of God
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“The Gospel” (I Corinthians 15:1-11 sermon)
One of our family’s favorite movies, especially when our kids were at home, was “The Princess Bride.” Many of its lines were quoted at home in our daily conversations — and still are, on our family Facebook chat group. Of … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged American exceptionalism, Anne Bronte The Tenant of Wildfell hall, anointed One, BBC The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Bronte gospel, Christ, culture, euangelion, false gospel, Galatians 1, genuine gospel, good news, gospel, gospel preacher, healing, I Corinthians 15, I Corinthians 15:1, I Corinthians 15:1-11, I Peter 2:24, India, J.D. Greear, John 11:3, John 3:16, Leslie Newbigin, Messiah, mission, politics, pray for yourself, Princess Bride, prosperity, receive Jesus, Romans 1:16, the gospel, what is the gospel?
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