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: Jonah
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 11:15-25 “Clears”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible lesson of Mark 11:15-25, “Clears,” for Sunday, October 29, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO ??? You … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged anger, bitterness, cleansing the temple, court of the Gentiles, evangelism, Explore the Bible, faith, fig tree, forgiveness, Gentiles, Gentle Jesus, gospel, grudge, house of prayer, IMB, Jesus, Jesus art, Jesus picture, John Bunyan, Jonah, lesson outline, lessons of the fig tree, Lifeway, Mark 11:15-25, missions, model prayer, outreach, Pilgrim's Progress, prayer, purpose church, resentment poison, righteous anger, salvation, Southern Baptist missions, Sunday school lesson, teacher help, temper, Texas Port Ministry, The Angry Christian Bert Ghezzi, unanswered prayer, unforgiveness
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“A Not-So-Happy Ending” (Jonah 4 sermon)
In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities he tells of the Marquis St. Evremonde, an extremely rich man who entertained himself by racing his carriage through the narrow streets of Paris and watching the peasants dive out of the … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, missions, Sermons
Tagged Carroll Keach LBJ driver, Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities, Christian service, Christians comfort, church battleship or cruise ship, discipleship, I Corinthians 12:7, Jonah, Jonah 4, Matthew 26:58, missions, passion, Robert Caro Lyndon Johnson, Romans 10:1, service, spectator religion, spiritual gifts
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“The Misplaced Passion of Spectator Religion” (Jonah 4 sermon)
On this Father’s Day, many of us are remembering our dads — whether they are still with us, or like my dad, have gone on to be with the Lord. I can remember my father sitting in his recliner, watching … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Amos, Apostle Paul, armchair religion, Charles DIckens, Christianity, church, clergy laity divide, comfort, compassion, convenience, critic, cruise ship or battleship?, disciples, discipleship, Ephesians 4:11-12, evaluate, Fathers Day, gifts, grieve, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:7, Jonah, Jonah 4, La-z-boy Christianity, Marquis St. Evremonde, Matthew 26:58, Matthew 5:4, mercy, ministry, mission, mourn, Nineveh, passion, religion, Romans 10:1, salvation, service, spectator, spectator Christianity, spectator religion, spiritual gifts, Tale of Two Cities, worship, worship services
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A King’s Example
“When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.” (Jonah 3:6) What an extraordinary picture this verse renders of the response … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged ashes, humility, intercession, Jonah, Jonah 3:6, king, leadership, mercy, mourning, Nineveh, pray for America, prayer, President Obama, repentance, sackcloth
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shawnethomas 