Sermons on Baptist Distinctives:

Do You Really Want To Follow Jesus?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 18, 2007

We need to distinguish between needs and wants. Poverty can help us decide what we truly need; then we become eager to make happen what we truly want. Our relationship to God determines our priorities. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

Some things I need, it is true. But many of the things I think I need I do not truly need. I only want them, but persuade myself I need them. They are not needs; they are wants. And, deeper than that, many of the things I think I want I do not truly want. I just hope they will make me feel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Out Who Really Cares

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 7, 2006

Who really cares about us? Not this world’s Herods, for fear lashes out destructively. We find care in those who, like the wise men, believe in us and give gifts for the future; and who, like Joseph, sacrifice for us. Epiphany at National Baptist Memor

Some people have friends. Some people have enemies. Most people have acquaintances. But everybody has people to do business with. The people you do business with -- usually, that’s not an intimate relationship. It’s a distant relationship, limited to transactions. We deal with people who may ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Delivered From Among The Bricks

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 6, 2009

Labor Day sermon, Calverton Baptist Church: God is able to deliver us from work we do not like and which is focused only on the bottom line. Work faithfully but do not let work consume you. Believe that God is at work even in financially difficult times

We have a love-hate relationship with our jobs. If we do not have jobs, we are anxious, because no job means no income, and no income means trouble, so we want to work. But when we get those jobs, we begin a love-hate relationship. We say that we love our work, but then we want to take as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ignorance Is Bliss -- Not!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2009

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD: We avoid too much information because we know we will have to respond. Some escape into private piety; some escape from knowing themselves. But true bliss comes from knowing how to invest in Kingdom concerns.

You can buy it anywhere in Pennsylvania Dutch country – a banner, an apron, a towel, anything really – and it proclaims, in pidgin German, “Ve get too soon oldt und too late schmart”. Your preacher this morning is a walking example of that ancient truth. Too soon oldt und too late schmart. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 92:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Dynamic Tension Body Building Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2010

Montgomery Hills Baptist Church: As the old Charles Atlas method used muscle against muscle to build young bodies, so the church may use its forces against the values of the world to build itself. Inclusion rather than clannishness, love rather than comp

If you are male and of a certain age, you will remember the little cartoon stories that ran in every comic book or came wrapped around your Bazooka bubble gum – stories about a 97-pound weakling who was always about to approach a curvaceous bathing beauty but was invariably upstaged by a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

Bringers And Includers Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 20, 2010

In our Scripture today, John the Baptist was with two people who he was bringing and including in the mission of God when he saw Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” To be a bringer and an includer means you bring them to Jesus. We have no power to do

Bringer and Includers John 1:35-42 Teacher Rex Roland at Enka Middle School in North Carolina was recently in the news because he wrote ‘20% off for being a loser' on a sixth grade student's assignments. When the girl's mother complained, he said he was "just joking.” Some parents say ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-42

Denomination: Methodist

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 27, 2022

Life is full of unexpected moments—it would be boring without them. But what happens when that unexpected moment is huge? It affects you personally, and it’s something that seems unbearable. It causes you to doubt. That’s what we find in Luke 7 with John the Baptist.

Has something unexpected ever happened to you? —you find a 20 dollar bill in between the cushions on your couch —you bump into someone at the store that you haven’t seen in 5 years —the forecast says it’ll be sunny, but it pours —the dog decides to bring you a gift from the outside world, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Tounge Trouble

Contributed by David Whitten on Dec 4, 2001

ILL:Little boy selling a push lawnmower. Baptist preacher come along and wanted to buy it and asked did it run. "Yes sir", said the boy. The preacher pulled and pulled on the rope and said, "Son, this thing won’t start." The boy said, "That’s ‘cause you ‘

Tounge Trouble THE TROUBLE MAKING TONGUE JAMES 3:1-12 Self control is an awesome thing to behold. This Fruit of the Spirit is the most respected fruit listed in Galations 5:22-24. Perhaps this is because so few of us have obtained it. We respect those who demonstrate it. ILL:Little boy selling ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing The Way For God’s Visitation-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 27, 2011

1 of 2. John the Baptist was instrumental in preparing the way for the Lord’s visitation. God’s visitation received adequate preparation. How has God’s visitation received adequate preparation? For God’s visitation We must lose the...

PREPARING The WAY For GOD’s VISITATION-I—Luke 3:1-10 Need: Do you feel as if you don’t experience God’s power? You see Him work in others but not in or thru you? John the Baptist was instrumental in preparing the way for the Lord’s visitation. God’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

God Ended Silence With Silence

Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006

Dr. Wood used this sermon at Christmas show his listeners how God worked through the life of a doubting priest when He blessed him with his first son at an old age. Of course, this son was John the Baptist. Dr. Wood show what can happen at the feet of p

Introduction: The story is told of a small town in which there were no liquor stores. Eventually, however, a nightclub was built right on Main Street. Members of one of the churches in the area were so disturbed that they conducted several all night prayer meetings, and asked the Lord to burn down ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

I Know Where I Need To Be Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 25, 2007

Our sin is that we do not know who or where we are, or where we need to be. We can discover that by setting no boundaries, taking risks, and finding that in God we are already where we need to be. Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD

“Watch where you plant your feet!” That’s the command I hear every time I work in the garden. “Watch where you plant your feet!” My job is to clear out dead leaves and old twigs. I open up the flowerbeds for spring. But to do that I have to step into the flowerbeds; I cannot reach all the ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Christ's Lights All Year Long Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 2, 2012

Jesus said we should be "the light of the World." But just how and why should we shine that light?

I asked the congregation: “How many of you have already taken down your Christmas lights?” (This was 7 days after Christmas Day, and about a 1/3 raised their hands) “Well, how many of you will take down your decorations NEXT week? (a few more raised their hands). How many of you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Christ: The Light Of The World

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Feb 17, 2022

John's Gospel presents seven distinctive claims by the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:48, 8:12, 10:9, 11, 25, 14:6, 15:5). His claims reveal a great deal about our world, our lives, and what he has to offer us. This message will center on His claim of being "the Light of the World".

The Lord Jesus made it clear to His disciples and those who encountered Him throughout HIs three and a half years of ministry that He was no mere healer, teacher, sage, or model of behavior we could try to emulate. Each of the four Gospels present Him as God Incarnate, the fulfillment of ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, John 8:20, Isaiah 9:1-6, Ephesians 5:11, Isaiah 49:6, Philippians 2:15-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Excuses, Excuses

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 19, 2022

If you had the chance to go back to the time of Jesus and follow him as a disciple, would you take it? Jesus pointed out that there were people who saw his ministry and saw John the Baptist's ministry, but made excuses rather than commitment, so they missed out.

I love preaching through the life of Jesus. There is something about his teachings and the things that he did that just stretches me again and again. Any time I start to think I have it all figured out, I just need to take another look at Jesus, and I know there are more wonders still ahead for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:31-35

Knowing One's Self: Listening To I Am Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2007

Listening to your own heart IS listening to God. Here I am: availability; God’s I AM is then heard in those who have gone before us. Who am I?: accepting responsibility. God’s I AM is His powerful presence. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

Do you trust what you hear? You hear something, your ears pick it up, but you don’t quite trust that you’ve heard it right? Sometimes that’s because there is a speaker making rash statements and offering foolish promises. You may have thought that about some preacher! Did he really say that? ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-14

Denomination: Baptist