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)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "Blessed Is She Who Believed" (Luke 1:45 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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
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- 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: Matthew 5:44
“Put The Sword Into The Sheath”
“So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11) Jesus spoke these words in response to the actions of Peter in :10, when … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged boycott, Christianity, Islam, Islam or the sword, John 18:11, love your enemies, Matthew 5:44, non-violence, policy, politics, sword, war
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A Surprising Key To Your Restoration?
Job 42:10 contains an interesting detail regarding Job’s restoration by God after his trial. It says: “YHWH restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends.” Those last words may hold an important key to our own restoration … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Job 42:10, Matthew 5:44, pray for enemies, prayer
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“Love Your Enemies” Lived Out
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of how Naaman the leper was healed. But we should make sure that we do not overlook a remarkable thing in verses 2-3, which says that there was “a little girl” who had … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compassion, enemies, II Kings 5:2-3, love, love your enemies, Matthew 5:44, mercy
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Love Your Enemies: The Prequel
Exodus 23:4-5 says: “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless, you shall surely release it with him.” … Continue reading
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