A Southern Baptist pastor for almost 35 years, I currently serve as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Angleton, Texas, and post my weekly sermons on this site, as well as a brief overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson.
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Top Posts & Pages
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson of John 15:1-17, "Remain In Me"
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview: Lifeway "Explore the Bible" John 14:16-29 "Peace I Leave"
- "Following Jesus" (Matthew 4:18-22 sermon)
- "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Purpose of God's Blessings" (Psalm 67 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Seek The Lord" (Isaiah 55:6-7 sermon)
- The Drink Offering: Don't Waste Your Life
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
- History
- Home & Family Life
- I Peter sermons
- India Mission Trip 2011
- John 3:16 sermon series
- Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series
- Matthew sermons
- Ministry
- missions
- Music
- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
- 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: missions
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 12:20-33, “If It Dies”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 12:20-33, “If It Dies,” for Sunday, March 12, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged "The Joel Osteen Sermon That Changed Oprah's Life", Blaise Pascal quote, born to die, chief end of man, commitment, evangelism, Explore the Bible, follow Jesus, glorify God, glory, God, God's Purpose, I Corinthians 10:31, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 12 teaching help, John 12:20-33 Sunday School lesson overview, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 12, missions, seeds, some said it thundered, Sunday school lesson help John 12, teacher's help John 12 Sunday school lesson, Tim Challies Joel Ostend sermon, we would see Jesus, Westminster Catechism, witness
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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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“A Divine Appointment” (Acts 8:26-40 sermon)
In 2014 Cheryl & I were living in Norman, Oklahoma while I was recuperating from illness that had caused me to resign my pastorate in Louisiana. One winter afternoon about 4:00 I suddenly had a strong urge to go out … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Ministry, Sermons
Tagged Acts 8, Acts 8 Philip and Ethiopian, baptism, baptism and salvation, baptism profession of faith, baptism symbolic, daily Bible reading, divine appointment, Dwight Moody Big L, Ethiopian eunuch, Ethiopian Treasurer, evangelism, faith, gospel, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit prompting, India mission, instant obedience, Isaiah 53, Jesus, meaning of baptism, missions, morning devotions, morning worship time, Only Jesus saves, people need the Lord, priest "we baptize you", religion, repentance, response to the gospel, salvation, Walk Across The Room, witnessing, witnessing opportunity
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“Jesus Directs His Church” (Acts 1:1-8 sermon)
Steve Jobs was one of the most unique CEO’s in history. He had a lot of quirks, but he led Apple computers to become what is now THE largest company in the world, worth over 300 BILLION dollars. But among … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, missions, Sermons
Tagged "Acts 1:8 Christian", "Acts 1:8 missions church", Acts 1:1-8 sermon, Acts 1:8, Bible Reading, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, church, conviction of sin, ecclesiology, end times, eschatology, Holy Spirit, I Samuel 13 Saul, Isaiah 40:31, John 16:8, mission, missions, NASA rocket Chris Kraft, Psalm 130:5-6, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37, sin, theological speculation, wait on the Lord, waiting
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“The Lord Our Provider” (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
I’ll never forget the time, just after Cheryl & I had graduated from seminary; I only had a part-time job, and we didn’t have any prospects of finding a full-time church yet; we had just had our first child, and … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged Angleton Christian School, building fund, Christian School provision, church building provision, condition of Philippians 4:19, First Baptist Church Angleton Texas, Genesis 22, George Muller orphanage proviision, givers, giving, God our provider, God's providence, good stewards, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor testimony, in Christ Jesus, investing in eternity, investing in the Kingdom, Jehovah Jireh, kingdom giving, Kingdom investing, Lottie Moon offering, missions, missions giving, needs vs. wants, pastor Shawn Thomas, Philippians 4 sermon, Philippians 4:19 sermon, provision, relationship with God, retirement savings, salvation, Shawn Thomas, stewardship, supply, tithe, tithe ten percent, tithing
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“God’s Providence in America” (Sunday, July 4, 2021)
For the last several years, I have made a personal “tradition” of reading David McCullough’s book, 1776 on the 4th of July. (Hey, you choose your holiday fun and I’ll choose mine!) The book is a marvelous retelling of that … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sermons
Tagged "the outcome seemed little short of a miracle", 4th of July sermon, abortion, America, America God's chosen people, David McCullough 1776, Genesis 22, George Washington, God will "see to", God will provide, God's providence in America, I Timothy 2 pray for authorities, II Chronicles 7:14, immorality, Independence Day sermon, Isaiah 46, Lottie Moon, Lottie Moon offering, miracle vs. providence, mission trips, missions, perversion, providence, Providence of God, Psalm 103:19, Psalm 67, Romans 8:28, slavery, Southern Baptist missions
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“The Drink Offering” (Philippians 2:16-18 sermon)
Early in his presidency, George Washington was stricken with a serious illness, from which he was slow to recover. Historian Ron Chernow writes: “Washington conceded that his job might have contributed to his ailment and might even kill him, but … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged C.T. Studd, Christian life sacrifice, drink offering, George Washington sacrifice, invest your life, just one life will soon be past, ministry, missions, Nate Saint, nursery, Philippians 2:16-18 sermon, sacrifice, service, waste your life
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“My Children’s Conduct” (Philippians 1:27-30 sermon) Mothers Day 2021
In 1778, during the American Revolution, John Adams of Massachusetts was needed by his young country as an ambassador in Europe. His 10-year-old son Johnny (John Quincy Adams) would accompany his father on the trip. It was an amazing opportunity … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged A.W. Tozer, Abigail Adams letter, ambassador for Christ, behavior, Bible, biblical marriage, children, Christian life, church compromise, church mission, church purpose, church unity, evangelism, family unity, gender, God created male and female, Jesus only way, John 17 High Priestly Prayer, John Quincy Adams, marriage, mission, missions, Mothers Day, Nabeel Qureshi, parents, parents and children, Philippians 1:27 sermon, representative, Satan's schemes, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, sexuality, stand firm, striving together for the gospel, Sunday school organization, together, unity, witness
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