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
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20, "Our Task," Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 4/05/26
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "Suffering Servant/Glorious King: The Cost and Benefits of His Atonement" (Isaiah 53:5 sermon)
- "A Living Hope" (I Peter 1:3 sermon)
- "Christ's Suffering/Our Salvation" (I Peter 3:18 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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: prayer
Three Keys
In I Kings 18 Elijah was very bold with his challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. God answered by fire — but will He always do such things? In :36 Elijah prays: “Today let it be known … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged boldness, discernment, Elijah, God's will, I Kings 18:36, prayer
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Making US Ready!
In Psalm 10:17 David writes, “O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.” Near the end of a Psalm in which he has been entreating God for answers … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged consecration, prayer, preparation, Psalm 10:17
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“The Morning Watch” (Psalm 5:3 Sermon)
One of the best articles I have ever read is “The Tyranny of the Urgent” by Charles Hummel. In it he writes that many people often wish for a 30-hour day, so they could get more done. But Hummel says … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Christian disciplines, devotions, George Mueller, Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13, model prayer, morning prayer, morning watch, prayer, Psalm 5:3, quiet time
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His Way, Not Ours!
In Psalm 5:8b David prays to the Lord, “Make Your way straight before me.” In Hebrew it is literally: “Make straight before my face Your path”! This is a significant prayer:
And WATCH!
In Psalm 5:3 David says, “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice. In the morning, I will order my prayer to You, and eagerly watch.” Those last words are important. David did not just say that he … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship
Tagged faith, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 1:11, prayer, Psalm 5:3
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Faithful Intercessors
In Colossians 1:9 Paul wrote: “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask …”. Here Paul was declaring the faithfulness and consistency that he (and evidently … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christlikeness, Colossians 1:9, Hebrews 8:25, I Samuel 12:23, in His steps, intercession, prayer
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“In Christ Alone”: Praying for a Loved One
It is easy to get in a “rut” when we pray for friends and loved ones, merely rehearsing the same tired words every day. It can help to run the person, or the special request, through another “grid”, like a … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Home & Family Life
Tagged In Christ Alone, intercession, prayer
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But You …
In Psalm 3, David is almost overwhelmed by the increase of his enemies, and the hopelessness of his situation. And this was not only his own perception. Verse 2 says “MANY are saying of my soul, ‘there is no deliverance … Continue reading
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