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 3:13-4:11, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "Affirmation," for 12/07/25
- “Immanuel: God With Us” (Matthew 1:23 sermon)
- Teacher's Overview of Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 26-29, Lifeway Explore the Bible lesson, "God's Power," for 11/30/25.
- “Building Your Life On The Rock” (Matthew 7:24-27 sermon)
- "The Example of Joseph" (Matthew 1:18-25 sermon)
- "He Will Save His People From Their Sins" (Matthew 1:21 Sermon)
- "How To Run The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon)
- "The Greatest Verse in the Bible?" (John 3:16 sermon)
- "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon)
- "The World, The Flesh, and the Devil" (James 3:15 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
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- Matthew sermons
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- missions
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- Philippians sermons
- POTS (dysautonomia) articles
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- Revelation sermon series
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- The Model Prayer Series
- The Model Prayer series (FBCA 2020)
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- worship
Tag Archives: unity
Teacher’s Overview of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 2:41-47, “United”
And overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Acts 2:41-47, for Sunday, June 16, 2024, with the title, “United.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRO: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Acts, Acts 2, Acts 2:41-47, apostolic teaching, At Arm's Length, baptism, believer's baptism, Bible, Bill Elliff, Book of Acts, church in Acts, Dan Emmitt, Early Church, Explore the Bible, fellowship, house of prayer, infant baptism, Jack Tillery, kidney transplant, koinonia, lesson overview, lesson plan, Lifeway, love, marks of the church, prayer, Simply Prayer, sprinkling baptism, Sunday School, Sunday school help, Sunday School teacher, unity, word of God
3 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway “Explore the Bible” lesson: Mark 3:20-30, “Questioned”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of Mark 3:20-30, for Sunday, September 17, 2023, with the title, “Questioned.” (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged a house divided, Abraham Lincoln a house divided, all sin may be forgiven, bind Satan, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, church, Civil War, criticism, division, Explore the Bible, forgiveness, Franklin Graham, George Whitefield, High Priestly Prayer, I Corinthians 6:9, In Jesus' name, Jesus, John 10 thief, John 17, John R Tyson Assist Me To Proclaim, John Wesley, Lifeway, Mark 3:20-30, prayer, presidents criticism, Shawn Thomas, sin, spiritual warfare, strong man, Sunday school lesson, Sunday school teacher help, the unforgivable sin, unity, Woodrow Wilson
5 Comments
Teacher’s Overview: Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 17:13-26, “I Pray”
A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of John 17:13-26 for Sunday, April 23, 2023. (A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at: INTRODUCTION: Several years ago … Continue reading
Posted in Explore the Bible SS lesson overviews
Tagged Christian unity, eternal life, Explore the Bible, Explore the Bible lesson help, glory, gospel of glory, how to pray, Jesus High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayer, Jesus prayer John 17, Jesus prays, John 17, John 17 Bible Study, John 17 Sunday School lesson, John 17 teacher help, John 17:13-26, Lifeway, Lifeway lesson John 17, Lifeway Sunday school lesson, Mark Twain Innocents Abroad, Matthew 6 Lord's Prayer, mission, model prayer, prayer, prayer outline, salvation, sanctification, service, spiritual protection, The Lord's Prayer, The Model Prayer, Trinity, Trinity love, unity, what is eternal life?, your word is truth
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“My Children’s Conduct” (Philippians 1:27-30 sermon) Mothers Day 2021
In 1778, during the American Revolution, John Adams of Massachusetts was needed by his young country as an ambassador in Europe. His 10-year-old son Johnny (John Quincy Adams) would accompany his father on the trip. It was an amazing opportunity … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Philippians sermons, Sermons
Tagged A.W. Tozer, Abigail Adams letter, ambassador for Christ, behavior, Bible, biblical marriage, children, Christian life, church compromise, church mission, church purpose, church unity, evangelism, family unity, gender, God created male and female, Jesus only way, John 17 High Priestly Prayer, John Quincy Adams, marriage, mission, missions, Mothers Day, Nabeel Qureshi, parents, parents and children, Philippians 1:27 sermon, representative, Satan's schemes, Seeking Allah Finding Jesus, sexuality, stand firm, striving together for the gospel, Sunday school organization, together, unity, witness
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The Sin of Indignation
“Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James & John.” (Mark 10:41) This verse highlights a danger that good Christians need to beware of. James and John had just asked Jesus that they might sit on His right … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged bitterness, division, fellowship, forgiveness, Genesis 4:7, indignation, jealousy, Mark 10:41, ministry, sin, strife, temptation, unity
3 Comments
Jesus’ Prayer Request: Unity In His People
One of the outstanding characteristics of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in John 17 is the repetition of His prayers for the unity of His people. At least FOUR TIMES in His intercession He asks the Father to make … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged church, John 17, Philippians 2, prayer, sacrifice, unity
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Will You Pay The Price For Unity?
“Jesus said to them, any kingdom that is divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25) Many churches, organizations — and even our nation — need to give heed … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged Abraham Lincoln, church, kingdom divided, Matthew 12:25, preferences, sacrifice, unity
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The Triune Example For Unity Amidst Diversity In The Church
In I Corinthians 12:4-6 Paul definitely spoke in purposeful Trinitarian terms in order to make his point about God’s desire for unity amidst a diversity of gifts in His church: — :4 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Doctrine/Theology, Ministry
Tagged church, diversity, gifts, I Corinthians 12:4-6, roles, Trinity, Triune God, unity
2 Comments
The Importance of Unity
“Now I urge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged divisions, I Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2, unity
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