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)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 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 Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "This Is My Story: The Man Born Blind" (John 9 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 sermon)
- "The Most Important Thing" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 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
- Explore the Bible Sunday School lessons
- Habakkuk "Find Us Faithful" series messages
- History
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- 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
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- missions
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- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
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Tag Archives: sin
Will God Find Nothing?
In Psalm 17:3 David proclaims his innocence before God: “You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” David (or perhaps … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forgiveness, in Christ, in Him, Psalm 17:3, Psalm 32:1, righteousness, salvation, sin
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“Until Now”!
II Kings 13:23 describes God’s treatment of the people of Israel who had rebelled against Him for years. It says that “YHWH was gracious to them … and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged forbearance, grace, II Corinthians 6:2, II Kings 13:23, judgment, patience, Psalm 103:10, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 103:9, sin
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“Four Surprising Signs of Wickedness” (Psalm 10:3-11 sermon)
(Preached at First Baptist, Pauls Valley, OK on Sunday evening, July 20, 2014) When most of us think of “wickedness”, we tend to think of certain specific “evil deeds.” Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who was in the news recently for having … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Dr. Gosnell, Presumption, Psalm 10, Psalm 10:3-11, seeking God, sermon, sin, wickedness, words
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Character Leads To Conduct
Psalm 14:1 opens with its well-known words: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds.” This verse is revealing on several accounts:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Abigail, character, conduct, depravity, fool, fruit, I Samuel 25:25, Matthew 7:20, Nabal, Psalm 14:1, Romans 3:12, sin
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Your Heart’s Inclination
“Have you murdered and also taken possession?” This is the question Elijah asked King Ahab in I Kings 21:19, after Ahab had killed Naboth and stolen his vineyard. The prophet also foretold the disaster that was come upon Ahab because … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Ahab, David, heart, I Kings 21:19, punishment, repentance, sin
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The Prophetic Function of God’s Word
In I Kings 21, after King Ahab took the land which was the inheritance of his neighbor Naboth, :17 says: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite …” God did not overlook this evil deed of … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, God's word, I Kings 21:17, II Timothy 3:16, prophetic function, scripture, sin
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Sin & the Body of Christ
Colossians 3:8 says: “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.” It is interesting that in the Greek text, the word “mouth” is singular, but the word “your” is plural. … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged body of Christ, Colossians 3:8, corporate sin, sin, words
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Put It To Death
In Colossians 3:5 the Apostle Paul uses striking language to address how followers of Christ should deal with certain sins. He says, “Put to death the members (things) which are upon the earth: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged be killing sin, Colossians 3:5, commitment, consecration, holiness, John Owen, mortification, sanctification, sin
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From Bad To Worse
In I Kings 16 we see a picture of how wickedness compounds. It never remains as it is, but left unchecked will always go from bad to worse:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged compromise, consecration, drugs, gateway drug, holiness, II Kings 16, lust, pornography, sin, substance abuse
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When They Sin
In I Kings 9 Solomon spoke a prayer of dedication for the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem. In :46 he prayed regarding his people: “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) …”. This … Continue reading
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