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.
-
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: worship
Book Review: THINK: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper
In the introduction to John Piper’s Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God, Piper writes that his book is a plea not to be “either/or” regarding thinking and feeling, that we need them both. And he … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged Calvinism, John Piper, love for God, relativism, Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God, thought, worship
1 Comment
Sing Praises to Him
Psalm 105:2 instructs us: “Sing to Him; sing praises to Him.” Notice some things about this verse which instruct us regarding our worship of God:
Insights on Praise (Psalm 98)
Psalm 98 is a Psalm of praise, and verses 4-6 specifically give us several insights on how we are to praise God:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged music, praise, Psalm 98:4-6, singing, worship
Leave a comment
A Most Important Prayer
Psalm 90:14 contains a most important prayer for blessing: “O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” NOTICE: — “SATISFY us”: there is satisfaction to be found in … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged chesed, fulfillment, joy, lovingkindness, morning, prayer, Psalm 90:14, steadfast love, worship
1 Comment
Biblical Revival (Psalm 85)
Psalm 85:6 says, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” Here scripture teaches us several important things about revival:
Praising God
At the end of Psalm 72, David blesses God. Notice 4 things about the praise he gave which instruct us:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged exclusivity of God, praise, Psalm 72:18-19, Revelation 4:8, worship, Yahweh
Leave a comment
They Will Sing Praises
Psalm 66:4 declares: “All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.” How will “all the earth” worship God; what will they do? “They will sing praises to Your name.”
Evaluate Your Worship With Psalm 65
Psalm 65 begins: “There will be silence before Thee, and praise in Zion, O God, and to Thee the vow will be performed.” Notice three very different, but very important elements of worship described in this opening verse:
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged awe, obedience as worship, praise, Psalm 65:1, reverence, worship
Leave a comment
Make an Altar in Bethel
Genesis 35:1 says: “Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.’” God commanded Jacob to move, and … Continue reading
The Heart of Worship
Psalm 28:7 says: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” If one asks, “How does one ‘exult’ in … Continue reading
shawnethomas 