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: worship
Your Foremost Concern Today
“This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:38) What is your greatest concern today? If there were ONE thing you could accomplish, which would cause you to consider this day a success, what would it be? Jesus gives us … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized
Tagged concern, daily quiet time, greatest commandment, holiness, love, loving God, Matthew 22:38, priorities, worship
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Are You Really Following?
“Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:22) When Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 4, He gave them an unambiguous command: “Follow Me.” And we see in the succeeding verses that this is exactly … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged caring, discipleship, evangelism, following Jesus, Matthew 4, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 4:22, ministry, teaching, worship
2 Comments
Four Ways To Praise (Psalm 9)
“I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2) Psalm 9 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized
Tagged happiness, praise, prayer, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 9:1-2, singing, song, Thanksgiving, witness, worship
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“First” (2016 New Years message)
A friend of mine in Louisiana who is a runner sent me a hilarious video some time ago. It was about a guy whose life was all about running. It just dominated his day. He would get up early in … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible Reading, decision making, decisions, devotions, giving, God first, Matthew 6:33, New Year, priorities, priority, running, Sabbath, Sunday worship, worship
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Church: Not Spiritual “Show & Tell”
“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (I Corinthians 14:26) After detailing several ways … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Ministry, Uncategorized
Tagged church, edification, ego, I Corinthians 14:26, pride, service, worship
1 Comment
The River of God’s Delights
“They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. (Psalm 36:8) Speaking of those who have been touched by the grace of God (:7), the present verse … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Christian hedonism, delight, edenica, Hebrew word, pleasure, Psalm 36:8, salvation, worship
1 Comment
Worship is More Than Words
We often think of “worship” as the prayers we say, or the songs we sing — or perhaps even the “heart” behind them. And there is some truth to those ideas. But Romans 12:1 should cause many of us to … Continue reading
A Heart For Worship
The way a person responds to God’s work in his life reveals a lot about his heart. In Acts 3:8 the Bible tells us that when the lame man outside the Temple was healed, “With a leap he stood upright … Continue reading
A Scriptural Guide For Including Children In Worship
The age at which small children should join their parents in worship can be a contentious issue. Is it merely a matter of preference, or can it be resolved scripturally? We may find a hint in Nehemiah 8:2 “Then Ezra … Continue reading
“The Discipline of Fellowship” (Hebrews 10:23-25 sermon)
Cheryl & I are fond of assigning “chapter titles” to different episodes of our life together, as if they would be chapters in a book. We have labeled some of them: “The Great Mouse Caper”, “The Dark Year”, or “Just … Continue reading
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