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 Preview of Matthew 16:13-26, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson: "Following Jesus" for 3/15/26
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Preview of Matthew 15:1-11+, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson for March 8, 2026, "Real Devotion"
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Man Born Blind" (John 9 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
- 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: sin
If I Do Not Wash You
“Peter said to Him, ‘Never shall You wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’” (John 13:8) There can be no fellowship with the Lord for human beings, unless we … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged blood of Jesus, cleansing, cross of Christ, faith, fellowship with God, forgiveness, holiness, Holy God, I John 1:9, John 13:8, salvation, sin, sin nature, washing
1 Comment
“Your Spiritual Fitbit” — The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 sermon)
Well, our family is officially a part of the “Fitbit” craze. Many of you know what I am talking about. Cheryl got me this Fitbit watch for Christmas, and it keeps track of how many steps you take every day … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Alvin Reid, BBC movie, Beatitudes, character, character of Christ, discipleship, evaluation, Fitbit, goal, hunger for righteousness, I Corinthians 5:2, I John 3:2, Matthew 5:3-12, meekness, merciful, mercy, mourning, peacemaker, persecuted, persecution, poverty in spirit, prayer, Psalm 37, Psalm 37:11, Psalm 63, pure in heart, Romans 8:29, scripture memory, Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, sin
2 Comments
An Overlooked Verse
“Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, ‘Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.’” (John 5:14) Jesus had previously healed this man, who had been sitting by … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged holiness, John 5:14, repentance, salvation, sin
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The “Hard Part”
“He said to her, ‘Go, call your husband and come here.’” (John 4:16) Having gotten the attention of the woman at the well with His promise of eternal life, Jesus gets to the “hard part”: “Go, call your husband and … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged confrontation, discipleship, evangelism, John 4:16, repentance, sin, witnessing
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Dear God’s People: Do Not Sin
“My lttle children, I am writing these things to you, so that you may not sin.” (I John 2:1) The Apostle John was good about telling his readers his purpose for writing. In the Gospel of John he specifically stated … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged holiness, I John 2:1, purity, sin
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“NO Darkness AT ALL”
“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5) John could not be more clear in what he asserts here, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged compromise, darkness, holiness, I John 1:5, libertinism, light, sanctification, sin
3 Comments
“He Will Save His People From Their Sins” (Matthew 1:21 sermon)
(Preached at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, December 11, 2016) In his famous play, “Romeo & Juliet”, William Shakespeare wrote: “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And there is some truth in that. … Continue reading
Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged C.S. Lewis, Colossians 2:14, glorification, guilt, Hebrew, I John 2:2, II Thessalonians 1:9, It is finished, It Is Well, Jesus, justificatiion sanctification glorification, justification, Matthew 1:21, paid in full, Romeo and Juliet, salvation, salvation past present future, sanctification, sin, sins, slavery, test, tetelestai, wrath, Yehoshua, Yeshua
1 Comment
Don’t Harden Your Heart
“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.” (Matthew 28:11 NASB) You have to ask yourself: just how depraved were these chief priests? … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged bitterness, disobedience, harden heart, heart, humility, Matthew 28:11, obedience, Pharaoh, pride, repentance, sin
2 Comments
What Displeases Your Master
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.’” (Matthew 25:26) There are two things which the master of the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged consecration, holiness, kingdom, laziness, Lordship, Matthew 25:26, morality, obedience, sanctification, sin, wickedness
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Doing The Impossible
“When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And looking at them Jesus said to them ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:25-26) This conversation, … Continue reading
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