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.
Tag Archives: religion
“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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“True Religion” (Philippians 3:2-3)
There are some things on this earth, that it just doesn’t really matter that much what you believe about them. It’s just not that important. For example, you may believe that pecans are God’s gift to humanity. But I myself … Continue reading
Posted in Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged altar call, assurance, baptism and salvation, Bethan Lloyd-Jones testimony, by grace you are saved, Dr. Johnson apprehension of death, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Ephesians 2:8, false prophets, false religion, fear of death, Galatians 2:16, glory in Christ Jesus, go down to the front, go to church, heart in worship, how to be saved, I John 4:1, Jesus Jesus Jesus, Jewish false teachers, live a good life, love God with all your heart, many false prophets, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 7:13-14, no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:2-3, religion, Robert Caro Lyndon Johnson, Roosevelt Roosevelt Roosevelt Lyndon Johnson, salvation, salvation by grace, salvation not by works, the gate is small, True Religion, true religion is Jesus, works salvation, worship, worship in the Spirit of God
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“The Blood-Bought Life” (I Peter 1:17-21 sermon)
There is a man in Australia, James Harrison, whose blood is precious. Harrison has an antibody in his blood which is given to mothers whose systems would attack their unborn babies. When they discovered the antibody in his system, about … Continue reading
Posted in I Peter sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged American Caesar, Bataan, blood, blood bought life, blood of Christ, blood of Jesus, Calvin Fairbank, Carl Sandburg Abraham Lincoln, Christians aren't perfect just forgiven, church, conduct yourselves in fear, Douglas MacArthur, George Pickett, Gettysburg, gold, good works, I Peter, I Peter 1:17-21, in an hour you'll be in hell or glory, James Harrison Australia blood, John 8:34, John Piper Don't Waste Your Life, live differently, precious blood, price of slave, Psalm 49:7-8, ransom, redeemed, redemption, religion, religious, salvation, saved, seashells, set free, silver, sin, slave bought to set free, slavery, slaves of sin, sober, submarine, take life seriously, What can wash away my sin?, William Manchester, worth its weight in gold, worth their weight in gold
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“The Misplaced Passion of Spectator Religion” (Jonah 4 sermon)
On this Father’s Day, many of us are remembering our dads — whether they are still with us, or like my dad, have gone on to be with the Lord. I can remember my father sitting in his recliner, watching … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Amos, Apostle Paul, armchair religion, Charles DIckens, Christianity, church, clergy laity divide, comfort, compassion, convenience, critic, cruise ship or battleship?, disciples, discipleship, Ephesians 4:11-12, evaluate, Fathers Day, gifts, grieve, Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:7, Jonah, Jonah 4, La-z-boy Christianity, Marquis St. Evremonde, Matthew 26:58, Matthew 5:4, mercy, ministry, mission, mourn, Nineveh, passion, religion, Romans 10:1, salvation, service, spectator, spectator Christianity, spectator religion, spiritual gifts, Tale of Two Cities, worship, worship services
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“Meeting With God” (Exodus 29:42-45 sermon)
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I was talking to Barbara Riddle the other day, after Billy Graham had passed away, and she was telling me that some years ago Ruth Graham was at the same hospital … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged adultery, assurance of salvation, Bible Reading, Billy Graham, Christianity, consecration, Exodus 29:42-45, fellowship, forgiveness, God, good deeds, heaven, holiness, homosexualiity, I John 1:5-6, I John 2:3, I Samuel 3:9, Jesus, John MacArthur Laverne & Shirley, Joy Behar and Mike Pence mental illness, language, mercy, note-taking, pornography, prayer, religion, revelation, salvation, Universal Studios, worship
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“That He Gave” (John 3:16 sermon)
One movie that Cheryl, Michael & I enjoy watching together is the 1960’s musical, “My Fair Lady”, in which Professor Henry Higgins takes Eliza Doolittle, a young flower girl from the streets of London and transforms her into a well-spoken … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged appease, atonement, Bible, Bible one story, bronze serpent, child sacrifice, demonstrate love, evangelism, faith, forgiveness, Genesis 22, gift, He gave, heaven, human sacrifice, I Corinthians 13, I John 4:10, I Peter 2:24, Jacob & Esau, Jehovah Jireh, John 3:14-15, John 3:16, John 3:16 sermon, love, Michael O'Neill, My Fair Lady, Numbers 21, Old Testament, President Reagan assassination John Hinckley, propitiation, religion, Romans 3:20, Romans 5:8, sacrifice, sacrificial death, salvation, Secret Service, soteriology, substitutionary atonement, take the bullet, The West Wing, theology, works
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“For God” (John 3:16 sermon)
In London, England there is a 70-foot high red granite obelisk called “Cleopatra’s Needle” that stands beside the Thames River. In the 1870’s it was given to Britain by Egypt. When they moved it to England and set it up, they put a … Continue reading
Posted in John 3:16 sermon series, Uncategorized
Tagged "For God", Bible, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, China Middle Kingdom, Cleopatra's Needle, egocentrism, Ephesians 2, ethnocentrism, grace, humility, John 3:16, Luke 18, mercy, prosperity gospel, Redemption Plan song, religion, Ron & Pat Owens, salvation, Sarah Michelle Geller, scripture, selfishness, spirituality, theology, worship
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Would You Tell Jesus To Leave?
“And they began to implore Him to leave their region.” (Mark 5:17) Seriously? What kind of people would ask Jesus to leave their midst? Actually it might be much more common than we might first think!
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Jesus, Mark 5:17, religion, status quo, tradition
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The Basic Christian Message
David’s prayer in Psalm 25:16 is a little gospel in miniature: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” At least two elements in this verse are significant: what he realizes about himself, and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged gospel, poor in spirit, Psalm 25:16, religion, salvation
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“The Disciplines of Disciples” I Timothy 4:7-10 Sermon
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley 8-17-14) I had the opportunity a few days ago to go up to the high school during their summer band practice, and I must say that I was impressed with the quality of what … Continue reading
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