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 10:16-20, 26-34, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson for 2/01/26, "Loyalty Tested"
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Matthew 9:10-19, 23-26, Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson "Mercy Extended" for 1/25/26
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The Lord Our Provider" (Philippians 4:15-23 sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "True Religion" (Philippians 3:2-3)
- "The Message of the Cross" (I Cor. 1:18-24 sermon)
- "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon)
- "Fear Not, I Am With You" (Isaiah 41:10 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: trials
The Same Storms
“The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house” (Matthew 7:25, 27) It should be instructive to us that the words quoted above are found in BOTH Matthew 7:25 AND 7:27. “The rain fell, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged house built on the rock, Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27, obedience, salvation, storms, trials
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From Joy To Crisis: The Principle of Undulating Circumstances
It is difficult to imagine how amazing it must have been for Mary & Joseph to experience the visit of the magi — and to receive from them the opulent gifts that they brought. What an emotional “high” they must … Continue reading
Why Doesn’t God Help Me?
“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” (II Corinthians 12:9) History is replete with examples of God healing and rescuing His people from illnesses and difficult situations — but it … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged grace, II Corinthians 12:9, prayer, trials
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Grace & Trials
“Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great deal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged giving, grace, II Corinthians 8:1-2, joy, liberality, trials
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3 Reasons For Comfort In Affliction
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (II Corinthians 4:17) The Apostle Paul gives the Corinthians — and us — three reasons in this verse why we can find comfort … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged affliction, comfort, glory, II Corinthians 4:17, purpose in suffering, Romans 8:18, suffering, trials
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“Perplexed, But Not Despairing”
In verses 8-9 of II Corinthians 4, Paul lists a series of contrasts. He said that he and his ministry partners were: “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, aporumenoi, despair, faith, II Corinthians 4:8, trials
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“The Disciple’s Character: Spiritual Dependence” (Matthew 5:3 sermon)
Several years ago I read the testimony of a Hollywood celebrity who had struggled for years with drinking. But they kept denying that they really had a problem. They said the breakthrough came when they got to their lowest point, … Continue reading
Posted in "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5:3-12), Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Beatitudes, character, character of Christ, humility, I need help, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:3 sermon, Pharisee and publican, poor in spirit, prayer, purpose for trials, Romans 8:28-29, salvation, self-righteousness, sin, spiritual dependence, spiritual poverty, three most important words, trials
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“The Disciple’s Character: God’s Goal For Your Life in 2016” (Matthew 5:3-12 sermon)
Francis Chan wrote in his book, Crazy Love: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” That quote is worth pondering as we begin this new year. Many of … Continue reading
Sunday Afternoon Gleanings (7-26-15)
Samuel Rutherford was a 17th-century Scottish Puritan pastor who was exiled for his faith. He spent much time writing others at home or in prison who struggled with their faith due to their circumstances. Below are some gleanings from this … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged doubt, faith, prayer, Samuel Rutherford, The Valley of Vision, trials
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Finishing His Work In You
Scripture records two responses of Job to God’s appearance to him in the whirlwind. After God first spoke, Job answers in 40:3-5. But God was not finished. He continued to ask Job questions and reveal His glory through His creation, … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged God's purpose, Job 40:3-5, Job 42:6, maturity, Philippians 1:6, repentance, trials
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