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 Ruth 1:11-18, 2:5-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Faithfulness," for 8/23/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Overview of Judges 16:16-31, Lifeway's Explore the Bible lesson, "Compromise," for August 16, 2026.
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- “The Narrow Way To Heaven” (Matthew 7:13-14 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Judges 7:1-8, 19-23, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Trust," for August 9, 2026
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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
“The Model Prayer: Thy Will Be Done” (Matthew 6:10 sermon)
What would you pray in the following situation: A few years back a pastor had for a friend of his who at the point of death. He was praying fervently that God would spare this friend’s life. In fact he … Continue reading →
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020), Uncategorized
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Tagged 3rd petition of the Model Prayer, C.S. Lewis Great Divorce Thy will, Chuck Quarles Sermon on the Mount, daily decisions, daily Gethsemane, daily prayers, decisions, false gospel, false teachers, garden of Eden, Garden of Gethsemane, George Muller, George Muller morning prayer work, God's will, Greg Laurie, Henry Blackaby Experiencing God, how to pray, Jesus only way, John 14:6, John 7:17, John Newton Amazing Grace, John Newton God's will, Lord's Prayer, make me willing, Matthew 26, Matthew 26:42, Matthew 6:10 sermon, model prayer, morning devotions, morning prayer time, name it claim it, prayer, praying for God's will, Praying For Others, praying the Model Prayer, Praying Thy will be done, prosperity gospel, Psalm 103:19, quiet time, Rosaria Butterfield Openness Unhindered, Thy will be done, your vision, Your will be done
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“The Model Prayer: Kingdom Praying” (Matthew 6:10 sermon)
William Carey was a shoemaker who lived in England in the 1700’s, but his heart went out to the people groups all around the world who had never heard the gospel. Carey kept a map of the world on the … Continue reading →
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons, The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
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Tagged Acts 13:1-3, Apostle Paul prayer, daily prayer time, daily quiet time, devotions, fasting, force, hold the ropes, how to pray, i Kings 17, II Corinthians 10:3-5, India prayer, intercessory prayer, John 18:36, Joshua project, kingdom, kingdom of God, Kingdom praying, Luke 10, missionary, missions, missions intercessor, model prayer, morning devotions, morning prayer time, Oklahoma Baptist Messenger, Oswald Chambers, outline for prayer, pastor, pray for your pastor, prayer, prayer greater work, prayer is the greater work, praying for missions, praying for the Kingdom, praying for the lost, priority of prayer, Romans 10:1, Romans 15:30, The Lord's Prayer, Thy Kingdom come, time with God, William Carey, worship, Your kingdom come
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“The Model Prayer: Begin With Praise” (Matthew 6:9 sermon)
When the Revolutionary War was over and the United States became a new nation, our country appointed John Adams as its new ambassador to England. When he arrived in London, Adams was to make his first appearance before George III, … Continue reading →
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons, The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020), Uncategorized
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Tagged Acts 4 prayer, ambassador, begin with praise, Charles Spurgeon, Daniel prayer, David McCullough, discipleship, enter His gates with thanksgiving, example of giving thanks, George III, giving thanks, God is worthy, Heidelberg Castle, how to begin prayer, how to pray, iPod, Jesus' Model Prayer, John Adams, learning to pray, Mark Twain A Tramp Abroad, Model Prayer outline, music, Nehemiah prayer, praise, praise Psalm, praise scriptures, praise songs, prayer, prayer changes you, prayer example, praying, Psalm 100, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 95:1-2, Psalm 96:1, Psalm 9:1, Psalm 9:2, Psalm songs thanks, Revelation 4:11, Revolutionary War, scripture memory, sing to God, singing, Solomon prayer, Spurgeon praise, St. James palace, thankgiving, thanks, Thanksgiving, The Lord's Prayer, The Model Prayer, three means of praise, vertical praise songs
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Introduction to the Model Prayer (Matthew 6:1-13 sermon)
(Preached at the First Baptist Church of Angleton, TX 9/13/20) The pastor who married Cheryl & I, Bill Elliff, tells of how a mentor of his, Ron Dunn, was visiting Scotland with his wife, Kay. They rented a car to … Continue reading →
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons, The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
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Tagged Amity Schlaes, Bill Elliff, Calvin Coolidge, Christian life, communication, daily Bible reading, daily devotions, daily quiet time, devotions, email, forgiveness, God's will, Hail Mary prayer, how to pray, hurry is the death of prayer, hypocrisy in prayer, John 17:3, kingdom, legalism, Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:1-13, Matthew 6:9-13, meal prayers, meaningless repetition, model prayer, Model Prayer outline, Our Father prayer, praise, prayer, prayer relationship, prayer wheel Buddhist, praying in public, public prayer, relationship with God, requests, Ron Dunn, rut in prayer, salvation, Samuel Chadwick, spiritual protection
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“The Maladies of Martha” (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
A few weeks ago I read Joseph J. Ellis’ book on President Thomas Jefferson, entitled American Sphinx. In it, he discussed, among other things, the men who influenced Jefferson and made him the kind of president that he was. He … Continue reading →
Posted in Discipleship, Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged accusing God, busy-ness, Christian growth, consecration, COVID-19, daily Bible reading, daily devotions, daily prayer time, daily quiet time, devotions, discipleship, does God care?, egocentrism, Ephesians 2, example, Exodus 2:24-25, God, God mercy, God who sees, God's will, Hagar in the wilderness, It's not about you, Job 38-39, John 21 you follow Me, John Adams, Joseph J. Ellis American Sphinx, log out of your own eye, love, love of God, Luke 10:38-42 sermon, Maladies of Martha, Mark 4:38, Mark 5 Gerasene demoniac, marriage, Martha, mercy of God, morning prayer time, negative example, others' shortcomings, others' sins, our will, prayer, priorities, relationships, Rick Warren Purpose Driven Life it's not about you, salvation, sanctification, schedule, self-centeredness, selfish, selfishness, sin, spiritual growth, telling God what to do, Thomas Jefferson, Thy will be done, time, time with God, what's in it for me?
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“Find Me At The Feet Of Jesus” (Luke 10:38-42 sermon)
In the 1700’s, Thomas Scott was a young man who felt a call to go into the ministry, but he didn’t know much about it. He became acquainted with John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace,” who was … Continue reading →
Posted in Luke 10:38-42 Mary & Martha series, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged Acts 22:3, Bible Reading, Bible reading plan, busy-ness, Christopher Hogwood, daily devotions, daily quiet time, feet of Jesus, George Frideric Handel, giving thanks, gospel, greatest priority, Handel, help my unbelief, Hudson Taylor, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, humility, Isaiah 59:2, Isaiah 66:1-2, journaling, listen to God's word, Luke 10:38-42 sermon, Mark 9, Mary and Martha, Michael Kelly Christoph Gluck, model prayer, morning prayer time, most important priority, one thing, prayer, prayer time, priority, Psalm 147, Psalm 27:4, salvation, sin, singing, Thanksgiving, witnessing, worship
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“The Ministry of the Intercessor” (Psalm 106:19-23 sermon)
Congressman Kellogg of Illinois read the reply from Secretary of War Stanton: the stay of execution for a young man from his home state had been denied. The young man was scheduled to be executed at sunrise the next day. … Continue reading →
Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged Abigail intercession, Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln pardon, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, Christ intercessor, church and prayer, Colossians 1:9, daily quiet time, devotion time, emotional cost, Ephesians 6:18, Ezekiel 22:30, Facebook prayer requests, I Peter 2:24, I Timothy 2:1, I Timothy 2:5, intercede, intercession, intercessory prayer, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 59:2, James 5:16, Jesus only way, mediator, ministry of intercession, morning prayer time, Moses stood in the breach, Phinehas intercession, prayer, prayer and fasting, prayer for the lost, prayer for the sick, prayer for wisdom, prayer in worship service, praying, priority of prayer, Psalm 106:19-23, Romans 10:1, salvation, stand in the breach, stand in the gap, Tad Lincoln intercession, the cost of intercession, time
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“Not Flashy, But Faithful” (Luke 1:8-11 sermon)
You’d have to be a pretty avid football fan to know the name of Bryce Paup. Bryce Paup was a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers back in the early 1990’s. Most everybody knows of Brett Favre, the Green Bay … Continue reading →
Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged Acts 2 Day of Pentecost, Anna Luke 2, assignment, be faithful, Bible Reading, Bryce Paup Green Bay Packers, church service, clean team, COVID-19, day of small things, Elizabeth, faith, faithful, faithfulness, family, farmers, givng, John the Baptist parents, Luke 1 Zacharias sermon, marriage, ministry, mundane, not flashy but faithful, Piper Bravo Oil Rig tragedy, prayer, prayer meeting, Revelation John, routine, routine assignments, routine tasks, salvation, service, take your turn, witness, Zacharias, Zechariah 4:10
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“Faith In Crisis” (Psalm 74 sermon)
Psalm 74 “Faith in Crisis” (COVID crisis Sunday #4, 4/05/20) The verses we find here in Psalm 74 are not going to make many “verse-of-the-day” Bible calendars: “O God, why have You rejected us forever?” “The enemy has damaged everything … Continue reading →
Posted in COVID-19 crisis assorted messages, Current Events, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged A. Scott Berg Lindbergh, Asaph, Babylonian Captivity idolatry, C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters, Charles Lindbergh 1927 flight, commitment, commitment to Jesus, coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 crisis, COVID-19 prayers, crisis, daily Bible reading, daily devotions, daily worship, Daniel 4:17-18, devotional time, faith in crisis, forsaken, girl praying, girl praying for Lindbergh, ICU doctor St. John's Tulsa, intercession, Jeremiah 7:4, Jesus is King, Jesus is Lord, Job 13:15, obedience, perseverance, prayer, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 74, questioning God, Romans 10:9, salvation, seeking God, The Temple of the Lord, theodicy, trials, Tulsa World, Why have you rejected us?, Yet, yet You are my King from of old, Yours also is the night
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“A Confident Future” (Philippians 1:3-6 sermon)
Last week Cheryl & I went with Scott & Tina to get some fruit trees at the Fairgrounds — and we bought two different avocado trees and two satsumas. I LOVE avocados, so if those trees really produce a good … Continue reading →
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Philippians sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
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Tagged Aaron Ausmus police chief, Acts 16, anxiety, Apostle Paul prayer, avocado trees Texas, baptism, believe, building fund, Christianity, church, confidence, eternal security, faith, faith in Jesus saves, family prayer, fellowship, future, giving, God's protection, good deeds, good deeds vs. bad, gospel, gospel message, He who began a good work, He Will Hold Me Fast, I will never leave you, Isalm, Jesus prayer, John 17:12, judgment, keep them in prayer, Keith & Krysten Getty, koinonia, Lydia, ministry, missions, missions giving, Nabeel Qureshi, once saved always saved, participation, perseverance of the saints, Philippi, Philippian jailer, Philippians, Philippians 1:3-6, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 4:6, Philippians sermon, prayer, prayer warrior, praying, protection, Psalm 14, Romans 3, Romans 8:28-30, saving faith, scales of judgment, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, service, share, The Ballpark in Arlington, there is none good, tithe, What must I do to be saved?, worry
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