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 18:21-35, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, "Forgiveness," for 3/29/26
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 17:1-13, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Glory," for 3/22/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 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)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "Lessons From Gethsemane" (Matthew 26 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
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
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- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
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Tag Archives: salvation
The Discipline of Service (I Peter 4:10 sermon)
In 1910 Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Paris, France, on the kind of people that is needed to make a great society. A paragraph from that speech has become famous: “It is not the critic who counts, nor the … Continue reading
Tests of Salvation
Are you really saved? Several passages of scripture offer us tests of salvation; indicators of whether one has genuinely been converted. One of those texts is Romans Chapter 8. Multiple verses in the chapter describe the person for whom “There … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged assurance, II Corinthians 13:5, Romans 8, salvation, test of salvation
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A Sobering Self-Deception
“There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12) This is a good reminder that just because a person “thinks” something is so, or “feels” that something is so, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, II Corinthians 13:5, Proverbs 30:12, salvation, self-deceit
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No Room For Boasting
“Where then is boasting? It is excluded.” (Romans 3:27) A better word could not be said regarding true religion. There is NO room for personal boasting in genuine Christianity.
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged boasting, Galatians 6:14, grace, holier than thou, Romans 3:27, salvation, self-righteousness, works
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Not Just “Their” Sins …
We need to recognize the importance of a little word in Romans 1:18, where the Apostle Paul writes: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men …”. This chapter is well-known for … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, homosexual practice, homosexuality, Romans 1:18, salvation, self-righteousness, sin
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THE Power For Salvation
Many Christians can quote Romans 1:16, but perhaps we need to hear again what it is really saying? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …”. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry
Tagged evangelism, gospel, I Corinthians 15:3, ministry, Romans 1:16, salvation, the gospel
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The Demons Know
When Jesus cast demons out of people in Mark 1, :34 says: “He did not allow them to speak, because they knew Him.” There are a couple of important lessons in this verse: One is that the demons have a … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged demons, discernment, James 2:19, Mark 1:34, salvation, spiritual realm
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Are Your Thoughts Just?
Proverbs 12:5 declares: “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.” Like many Proverbs, this verse gives a striking parallel between the righteous and the wicked. Most of us would undoubtedly tend to … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged conviction, inner man, justice, mind, Proverbs 12:5, righteousness, salvation, thoughts, wicked
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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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Salvation Through The Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-6 sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 1-11-14) Some New Year’s commitments are better than others! A year ago, I resolved to do something which I had long neglected: I decided to read a verse a day in both the … Continue reading
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