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 Preview of Matthew 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, "Loyalty Tested"
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson "Mercy Extended" for 1/25/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "What God Wants From Us" (Micah 6:8 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "The Church That Left Their First Love" (Revelation 2:1-7 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
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: purpose of suffering
God’s Children: NOT Exempt From Suffering
In early 1865, hundreds of thousands of men from the North were being drafted into the Union Army to help finally bring an end to the war. President Abraham Lincoln’s own son Robert was now also being sent. Lincoln’s wife … Continue reading
Learning Obedience In Sufferings
Hebrews 5:8 says of Jesus: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” “In the days of His flesh” (:7) Jesus suffered many things, “learned obedience” (:8) and became “perfect” (:9). Jesus was, of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Hebrews 5:8, obedience, purpose of suffering, sufferings
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Suffering and Empathy
Hebrews 2:18 teaches: “Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” This verse, which specifically refers to Jesus’ ministry, also has application for us, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged empathy, Hebrews 2:18, Hebrews 4:15, purpose of suffering, Romans 8:28-29, suffering
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