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 Matthew 2:1-12, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Worship the King," for 12/21/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "A 'Real Life' Christmas" (Luke 2:1-11 sermon)
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "Your Response to Christmas" (Matthew 2:1-12 Sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 4:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Invitation," for 12/14/25
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
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Tag Archives: righteousness
“Reckoned Righteous” (Genesis 15:6 sermon)
One of the great blessings of reading through the Bible together this year is that in the course of the year we will come across all of the greatest verses in the Bible at one point or another. Our verse … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons
Tagged Abraham, Abram, Acts 10 Peter and Cornelius, Al Mohler, Augustine Confessions, Augustine of Hippo, commitment, cross of Christ, deserve, faith, forgiveness, Genesis 12, Genesis 15:6, Genesis 15:6 sermon, Genesis 17, Genesis 20, heaven, holier than thou, Holy Spirit, II Corinthians 5:21, imputed righteousness, Isaiah 53:4, Job 19:15, justification, Martin Luther King, MasterLife, paralzyed man Matthew 9, R.C. Sproul Jr. content of His character, reckoned, righteous, righteousness, Romans 3:10-12, Romans 4 and Genesis 15:6, salvation, sin, Spurgeon, thief on the cross, tzedek
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“Don’t Be A Hypocrite!” (Matthew 6:1+ sermon)
“Beware!” If you are out driving, and you come across a sign in the road that says “Beware!”, you are going to pay attention, and proceed very carefully, aren’t you? And you should. You know there is something dangerous ahead, … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged actor, alms, applause of heaven, church, Facebook, fasting, giving, heart, humility, hypocrisy, hypocrite, hypocrites, Jesus, John 11 Jesus prayer, let your light shine, Luke 20:20, Matthew 23, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:1-18, model prayer, motivation, NBA home court, Pharisees, poor in spirit, praise, prayer, pride, private prayer, public ministry, pure in heart, recognition, righteousness, scribes, singing, tip of the iceberg, worship
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“Getting To Heaven May Be Harder Than You Think” (Matthew 5:20-48 sermon)
I want to begin by congratulating Dewey Phipps, Josh Peterson, and Anthony Burdick for completing the Bear Run last week. If you aren’t familiar with that, it is a 5-mile run ALL UPHILL on Grandfather Mountain. I can’t imagine how … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, David Thomas, Devil's Island, divorce, Gethsemane, Hebrews 12:29, holiness, Jesus, Jesus only way, Mark Dever, Matthew 5:20-48 sermon, murder, On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand, poverty in spirit, righteousness, Romans 3:23, salvation, Sermon on the Mount, Ten Commandments, wrath of God
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An Important Perspective For Prayer
“In Your righteousness deliver me …” (Psalm 31:1b) As David calls out to the Lord for deliverance in Psalm 31, this is an important little statement because of its correct perspective about our prayers and what we “deserve.” David asks … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, intercessory prayer, justice, Merchant of Venice, mercy, prayer, Psalm 31:1, righteousness, Shakespeare
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Our Confidence In Judgment
“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.” (I John 4:17) The Day of Judgment is coming for all … Continue reading
“The Example of Joseph” (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Morganton, NC 12-18-16) A few years ago, I preached a sermon on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and I had several people tell me afterwards that it was the first time that they had … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged balance, church, holier than thou, homosexuality, instant obedience, J.P. Boyce and C.H. Toy, Jen Hatmaker, Joseph, love, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew sermons, obedience, righteousness, Rosaria Butterfield, self-righteousness, the obedience of Joseph
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Will Your Righteousness Get You To Heaven?
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) This is one of those sayings of Jesus that must have astounded His hearers. … Continue reading
Well-Pleasing To God!
“This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) What amazing thing to hear from God the Father! Everything Jesus had done: in thought, word, deed, and attitude, from His birth, to the time of His baptism … Continue reading
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