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)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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)
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Tag Archives: luck
“The Providence of God” (Genesis 37-50 sermon)
Christians have a different outlook than other people have. We believe in an unseen, almighty, all-wise God. So because of that, not only is our outlook different, but our vocabulary is different as well. Many people speak of “karma” or … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Illustrations, Sermons
Tagged Carson Wentz, chance, church planting, coincidence, Corrie Ten Boom, Doug Pederson, dysautonomia, Ephesians 1:11, forgiveness, Genesis 37-50, God, Joseph story, Karma, luck, Nick Foles, OU Nebraska game of the century, Philadelphia Eagles, plan, POTS, providence, Providence of God, purpose, Romans 8:28, salvation, theology, trust, witness, workplace
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No Such Thing As Luck
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:33) This is a very striking verse, and its truth should sink deeply into our hearts, permeate our outlook, and change our vocabulary. It … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chance, Hebrews 1:3, luck, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 16:33, providence, Providence of God
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Not A Coincidence
In II Kings 8:1-6 we find the story of how the Shunnamite woman, whose son Elisha had raised from from the dead, had been gone from the land of Israel for 7 years during a famine, but was returning to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged coincidence, Ephesians 1:11, II Kings 8:1-6, luck, providence, provision, purpose
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Coincidence or Providence?
I Samuel 9 describes the circumstances by which God brought Saul to the attention of the prophet Samuel that he might be anointed king. Saul’s father’s donkeys were lost, and Saul and his servant went to find them — which … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged circumstances, coincidence, I Samuel 9, luck, providence
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I Didn’t Roll “Snake Eyes”!
Proverbs 16:33 concludes: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” This Proverb isn’t just about “dice”. It is really about two very different, very competing world views: do things in our world happen … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged dice, dysautonomia/POTS, lot, luck, Proverbs 16:33, providence, snake eyes, theocentric worldview, trust
1 Comment
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