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)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- Lifeway "Explore the Bible" Jonah 1:15-2:10 "No Escape"
- "Three Christian Attitudes" (Philippians 3:12-15 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 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
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- Discovering FBCA Membership class lessons
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- Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
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- 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
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- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
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- Revelation sermon series
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- Uncategorized
- worship
Tag Archives: service
His Humiliation — And Our Response
“Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me …” the Christmas hymn says. Psalm 22:18 continues the idea of the humility — and even humiliation — that Jesus underwent for us: “They … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged devotion, humiliation, humility, Incarnation, Psalm 22:18, service
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A Picture of Cooperation
When everyone does their part, it is amazing what can be accomplished. Nehemiah 3 describes how Nehemiah and the people who returned to Jerusalem rebuilt the wall around the city. What is significant about it is that no one person … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged cooperation, division, fellowship, ministry, mission, Nehemiah 3, service
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“The Discipline of Service” (I Peter 4:10 Sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK 10-05-14) This week our daughter Libby took a picture of our grand daughter Corley, walking in her daddy’s shoes for the first time. It made a cute picture, of course, but is also … Continue reading
According to Your Ability
Ezra 2 describes how the people of Israel came back to the Promised Land and began the process of rebuilding the Temple. Verse 69 says: “According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work”. Here we find … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ezra 2:69, giving, judgment, service, stewardship, widow's mite
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Honoring the Godly
Psalm 15:4 says that those who may fellowship with God will despise the reprobate, “but honors those who fear the LORD.” There are “two sides” to this “coin”: we are indeed to despise those who live perverse lifestyles, which we … Continue reading
Servants, Not Lords
In Colossians 1:23 the Apostle Paul writes about “the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a servant.” The description Paul gave of himself … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Apostle Paul, authority, Colossians 1:23, diaconos, Matthew 20:25-26, minister, ministry, servant, service
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Putting Hardship In Perspective
If you ever think about how hard things are for you as you live and serve in the Christian life, Hebrews 12 may have some good words for you: get a little perspective by pondering the hardships that Jesus endured … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged difficulties, hardship, Hebrews 12, Jesus, ministry, persecution, perspective, service
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Book Review: Father, Son & Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware
Many books, sermons — or even individual Christians themselves — may be labeled as either precise in theology, or strong in their application, but it can be hard to find in any of these a balanced pairing of both. Bruce … Continue reading
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
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The Servant and the Word
In Psalm 119:125, the Psalmist prays: “I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.” There is an interesting relationship here between the servant of God and the word of God:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged prayer for understanding, Psalm 119:125, servant of God, service, word of God
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