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.
-
Top Posts & Pages
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 7:15-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Authority Acknowledged," for 1/11/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 6:19-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Treasure," for 1/04/2026
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Discipline of Fasting" (Ezra 8:21 sermon)
- Joshua 3:5 Sermon: "Preparing For God To Work"
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: responsibility
This Is Not Mine
“He said to them, ‘My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” (Matthew … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged anxiety, control, controversy, faith, Matthew 20:23, responsibility, stress, trust
1 Comment
“YOU give them something to eat!”
“But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’” (Matthew 14:16) Although the gathering of the multitude before Jesus that day was unusual in a sense, in another way it is … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged compassion, concern, excuses, love, Matthew 14:16, ministry, responsibility
Leave a comment
Judgment For Those With No Excuse
“Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:24) Jesus’ words here are so strong. Speaking to the people of Capernaum, The Lord … Continue reading
Our Part
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” (I Corinthians 3:6) Paul made it very clear here just Who was responsible for making the church at Corinth grow: “GOD was causing the growth.” He alone was responsible for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged church growth, I Corinthians 3:6, responsibility, service
Leave a comment
Sovereignty & Responsibility
II Kings 5 tells the remarkable story of Naaman and Elisha — but the introduction is insightful as well. Verse 1, speaking of Naaman says that he was “highly respected, because by him, YHWH had given victory to Aram.” Here … Continue reading
A Model of Balance
In I Kings 18:41-46 we see how the prophet Elijah models for us a balanced attitude regarding God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility:
Responsibility & Accountability in the Church
Hebrews 13:17 gives us some specific commands regarding our responsibilities in the church: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy … Continue reading
Bearers of Bad News
I Samuel 3:9-10 tells how Eli taught Samuel to say to God, “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.” But we also need to remember the message He subsequently gave Samuel — it was not pleasant! God immediately said in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged bad news, I Samuel 3:9-10, II TImothy 4:3-4, preachers, responsibility
Leave a comment
Shall Perform
In Exodus 36:1 the Lord commanded: “Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Exodus 31:6, Exodus 35:30-31, Exodus 36:1, potential, responsibility, service, spiritual gifts
Leave a comment
A Divine Decision
Proverbs 16:10 is a good word for anyone holding a position of authority or influence: “A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err (be unfaithful) in judgment.” At first one might wonder why the Proverb calls it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged authority, decisions, Proverbs 16:10, responsibility, Romans 13
Leave a comment
shawnethomas 