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 Joshua 6:12-25, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Winning Strategy," for June 28, 2026.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Numbers 14:11-24, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Rebellion & Judgment" for 9/28/25
- Teacher's Overview of Joshua 3:14-4:9, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson "Remembering God's Works" for June 21, 2026.
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "Ambassadors For Christ" (II Corinthians 5:20 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Philippian Jailer" (Acts 16:25-34 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: salvation
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1-2 sermon)
In 1957, Jack Warner’s movie “The Spirit of St. Louis,” about Charles Lindbergh’s first-ever flight across the Atlantic Ocean, came out at the theaters. Interestingly, the real Charles Lindbergh took his wife Anne and their three youngest children to see … Continue reading
Posted in Revelation sermon series, Sermons
Tagged antichrist, blood moons prophecies, bondservant, bondservant of Jesus Christ, Charles DIckens, Charles Lindbergh, day Lord one thousand years, Dionysius Revelation quote, doulos slave, gospel, Hitler antichrist, II Peter 3:3-4, introduction to Revelation sermon, Jesus Christ, Jesus Master, March 2020 COVID, Mike you are my home, Napoleon antichrist, Nicholas Nicholby, Revelation book study Shawn Thomas, Revelation future, Revelation of Jesus Christ, Revelation prophecy, Revelation sermon, Revelation timing, salvation, slaves of Jesus Christ, The Spirit of St Louis Jack Warner
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Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: John 10:7-14, 25-30 “I Know My Own”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 10:7-14, 25-30 for Sunday, February 19, 2023 with the title: “I Know My Own.” (A video version of this overview is … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged abundant life, discipleship, eternal life, eternal security, eternal security John 10, Explore the Bible John 10 teacher help, Explore the Bible lesson overview John 10:7-14, I am the door, I am the gate, I am the Good Shepherd, Jesus Good Shepherd, John 10 Sunday School lesson helps, John 10:10 eternal life abundant life, John 10:27-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 10 teacher help, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, salvation, teacher help John 10
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“Discovering First Baptist Angleton”: Session #4 The Nuts & Bolts”
My car’s Owner’s Manual is not my favorite book ever to read — in fact I can’t say I have ever read it all the way through. But I am also really glad that I have it when I need … Continue reading
Posted in Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
Tagged Acts 1:8 Offering, baptism, Baptist General Convention of Texas, building program church, car owner's manual, church budget and finances, Church Constitution and by-laws, Church Council, church discipline, church financial statement, church membership, church membership class, Church membership commitment, church officers, church polity, Discovering First Baptist Church, God's Vision In Action, Gulf Coast Baptist Association, nuts and bolts of church, Romania mission, salvation, southern baptist cooperative program
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, “I Am The Light”
A brief overview for Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 8:3-18, for Sunday February 5, 2023. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: There’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged accuser of the brethren, adultery forgiveness, Bruce Catton Civil War, D.A. Carson John, Dan Sickles forgiveness, devil, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible teacher help John 8, Feast of Tabernacles, follow Jesus, forgive 70 x 7, forgiveness, gospel, I am the light of the world, Jesus, Jesus light, John 8 BIble study, John 8 Sunday school lesson, Lifeway, Lifeway Explore the Bible John 8, salvation, Satan, Sir Isaac Newton, Sunday school lesson help John 8, teacher helps John 8, think before you speak, writing in the dirt
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 7:14-29
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 7:14-29 for Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, “He Sent Me.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged A.W. Tozer theological training, Bill Elliff Simply Prayer, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles, God's way, God's will, gospel, II Kings 5 Naaman, Isaiah 55:8-9, Jesus, John 7 Bible study, John 7 lesson teacher helps, John 7 Sunday School lesson, judgment, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson John 7, Lifeway Explore the Bible teacher help John 7, Martin Luther Diet of Worms, Martin Luther here I stand, Messiah, prejudice, salvation, Savior, show me scripture, tithe, tithing
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Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” John 5:5-16, “Pick Up Your Mat”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, over Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 5:5-16 for Sunday, January 15, 2023, with the title, “Pick Up Your Mat.” (A video version of this overview is available … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Explore the Bible lesson helps, John 5:5-16 Sunday school lesson, John Lloyd Stevens Holy Land, legalism, Lifeway Explore the Bible help John 5, obedience, pool of Bethesda, repentance, Sabbath controversy, salvation, Sunday school teacher help for John 5:5-16
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“The Promise of Christmas” (Zechariah 2:10-11 sermon)
In the 1800s, R.H. Dana was a student at Harvard who got measles, which weekend his eyesight and kept him from being able to read, so he took a job on a sailing ship in hopes of regaining his health. … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged agent Clint Hill President Eisenhower, Charles Ellet bridge builder Niagara Falls, faith, God with us, Immanuel, Messiah in Zechariah, R.H. Dana Two Years Before The Mast, Revelation 21 God Himself dwell among them, salvation, saving faith, Zechariah 2 sermon, Zechariah 2:10-11 sermon, Zechariah Christmas sermon
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“O Come Let Us Adore Him” (Revelation 4 & 5 sermon)
Christmas celebrations like many of us experience today haven’t really been in existence that long. Many old-time religious folk didn’t believe Christ was born on December 25, so they actually FORBID making it a special day of any kind. The … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized, worship
Tagged children Christmas, Christmas, Christmas worship, God, heaven, kingdom of priests, Lion and the Lamb, Lion Witch Wardrobe C.S. Lewis, manger scene St Albans West Virginia, O Come Let Us Adore Him sermon, Pilgrims Christmas, Revelation 4 sermon, Revelation 5 sermon, salvation, sons of Asaph, South Christmas log, Thou Art Worthy, worship
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“I John’s Tests of Your Salvation”
Last week Cheryl & I went to the anniversary celebration at Challenger Aviation, Mike Challenger’s aviation business at Hobby Airport. Mike’s wife Mikelle’s dad is on staff at Sagemont Baptist in Houston, and we really enjoyed visiting with him and … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged agape love, assurance of salvation, can I know I am saved, Challenger Aviation, Christian, Christian doctrine, Christian love, Christianity and homosexuality, commandments obedience, conviction, conviction of sin Holy Spirit, David McCullough Wright Brothers, doctrine, forgiveness, fruit of the Spirit, fully God fully man, Hadrian Aristides love one another, holiness, Holy Spirit, how to be saved, how to know I am saved, I John 4:6, I John 4:7-8, I John 5:13, I John assurance of salvation, I John sermon, I John test of salvation, Jesus Deity, Jesus humanity, John 16:8, keep His commandments, Ken Keithley quote indifference, lay down life love, love, love in marriage, love one another, marks of salvation, marriage, obedience, Oberkfell decision, righteousness, Romans 8:15-16, sacrificial love, salvation, sanctification, signs of salvation, sin, test of Holy Spirit
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“He Will Hold Me Fast: 5 Reasons Why A Genuine Christian’s Salvation Is Eternally Secure” (John 10:27-29 sermon)
We have SO many blessings to count this Thanksgiving season, don’t we? But surely one of THE greatest blessings we have to give thanks for as God’s people, is the SECURITY of our salvation in Jesus Christ — that “HE … Continue reading
Posted in Doctrine/Theology, Sermons
Tagged Abraham Lincoln, Charles Spurgeon Isaiah 55:1, discouragement, Ephesians 1 earnest money, Ephesians 1 sealed in Him, Ephesians 1:13, eternal life gift, eternal life meaning, eternal security sermon, God faithfulness, Greek ou me, He will hold me fast song, I Timothy 1:12, II Timothy 2:13, John 10 eternal security, John 10:27-29 sermon, never perish, once saved always saved, perish, perseverance of the saints, Psalm 63:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:35-39, salvation
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