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 13:24-30, 36-43, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Judgment Coming," for 2/22/26.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 12:1-14, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Rejecting Legalism," for 2/15/26.
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 11:1-6, 16-24, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Confronting Doubts, for 2/08/26
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- Lifeway "Explore the Bible" Jonah 1:15-2:10 "No Escape"
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- “No Strange Fire: Honoring God in Worship” (Leviticus 10:1-3 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: service
The Servants Knew
“When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom” (John 2:9) Not everyone at the wedding party … Continue reading
“The Servant & The Savior” (Matthew 3:11 sermon)
Several years ago, one of my sisters was attending a missions banquet, and she heard that the President of our Southern Baptist International Mission Board was going to be in attendance, so she was looking forward to meeting him. She … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Charles Spurgeon conversion, cruise ship or battlleship, Deity of Christ, humble, humility, Isaiah 45:22, Jesus, life change, look to Jesus, love, Matthew 3:11 sermon, power of the Holy Spirit, pride, Savior, service, spiritual gifts, steward, stewardship, the Holy Spirit and fire, transformation
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Your Most Important Duty In The Church
“The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth;” (II John 1) The second and third epistles of John are generally much less appreciated and referenced than the first. Although I John is a penetrating … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, elder, II John 1, John, love, minister, ministry, responsibility, service
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“Three Resolutions: Or What To Do If The End Is Near” (New Years Message 2017)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Jan. 1, 2017) A couple of years ago I read a survey of Americans which asked what they would do, if they knew the world was coming to an end soon. Two of the … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged accountability, end of the world, forgiveness, I Peter 4:7-11 sermon, intercessory prayer, last days, love, love covers a multitude of sins, Matthew 24:46, New Year, New Year resolutions, prayer, prayer for the lost, return of Christ, service, spiritual gifts, stewards, stewardship
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Who Is “The Greatest”?
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?’” (Matthew 18:1) We might do well to ask why the scripture tells us that it was “at THAT time” that the … Continue reading
The Ultimate Sacrifice
“Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Often when a soldier gives his life in battle, it is said that he made “the ultimate sacrifice.” Humanly speaking, that is … Continue reading
Get Up And Serve Him
“He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.” (Matthew 8:15) It is one thing to tell someone “Thank you!” for a deed done on your behalf — it is another thing … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged deacon, diakoneo, gratitude, Matthew 8:15, service
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God Can Use “Messes”
“David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6) There are some less-than-exemplary people and circumstances found in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. One of them is contained in this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged adultery, Bathsheba, David, forgiveness, genealogy of Christ, grace, Matthew 1:6, providence, service, Uriah
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Tested and Found Diligent?
“We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things …”. (II Corinthians 8:22) We don’t know who this unnamed “brother” is (:18 similarly mentions a “brother” whose fame has spread in … Continue reading
Posted in Current Events, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged diligence, faithfulness, II Corinthians 8:22, ministry, service, trustworthy
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Church: Not Spiritual “Show & Tell”
“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (I Corinthians 14:26) After detailing several ways … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged church, edification, ego, I Corinthians 14:26, pride, service, worship
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