Sermons on Blunders:

Playing The Fool Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 1, 2001

Words do hurt when they come from our unresolved anger. That anger is about our own issues, it requires accountability when it hurts others, it separates us from God when it is deliberate. Reconciliation is a priority.

Words have power. The things we say to one another have power. Kids may deal with smart-mouths in the schoolyard by chanting, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” But that’s rubbish! Don’t you believe it. Names do hurt. Words hurt. The things we say to each ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Developing Contagious Christian Character

Contributed by Steven Chapman on May 2, 2001

A look at the kind of Christian who is salt and light.

Developing A Contagious Christian Character Matthew 5:13-16 There is a problem facing us as we approach this week’s theme: Were Christ to be bodily present in our church this Sunday, we would delight in introducing him to others. This problem was summed up a number of years ago in a song called ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Assembly Required

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 1, 2002

Designed for a day devoted to reclaiming inactive members, this sermon argues that the spiritual life is like a piece of equipment: unpack, read the instructions, assemble, plug in the power.

Nothing you purchase comes ready to go. You can’t buy anything ready to use. Everything takes finishing and finagling before you can use it. You would think that when you have paid good money for your purchase, it would be ready. But not so. Something else always has to be done. You ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Unbelief

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Mar 4, 2003

Unbelief presents a great danger. It prevents a person from entering into God’s rest.

Is there one sin greater than all others? Is there one sin that destroys more souls than all others sins combined? I say to you that there is. There is a sin—if it remains in the heart—that will prevent a person from ever tasting salvation. Yes, I know that the Bible says, “Whosoever shall call ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:7-19, Exodus 17:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Liberation Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2003

When God called Moses to the task of liberating a people, Moses felt self-doubt, uncertainty about God, and unreadiness. Actually these are positive values that will lead us as American Christians to take our place in the world.

How do you feel about eager volunteers? What’s your reaction to the kind of person who is always ready to step up to the plate and take a swing at some issue? How do you really feel about those who quickly volunteer when something needs to be done? Maybe you remember what it was like to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-14, Exodus 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Identify And Overcome Difficult People

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How To Identify And Overcome Difficult People

How To Identify And Overcome Difficult People * Remember that you can overcome any difficult person through the strength, wisdom and enabling given to you through Christ. Once you confidently express your faith God’s ability to help you overcome any problem person you are well on your way to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:13-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are Our Strangers? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2004

Many things conspire to keep people separate, even in the church. Only God can connect us, and it is the cross that binds us. Are we living out that reality, or have we let separations disconnect us?

When he says it, it feels both enraging and endearing. When he pronounces it, it sounds like irritation, but it also sounds like invitation. It is both attracting and detracting, both including and excluding. I am referring to those moments in the old TV show, when Felix Unger, the neat freak half ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

I Know You Are Watching Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 10, 2002

When we consider that God is watching us, we may ask, as Job did, whether He is watching us to hurt us, to humiliate us, or to rescue us. Actually He is watching us in love to empower us.

“I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many parents here have ever said that? “I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many have said it at least a thousand times? You said it to a small child, bent on doing something that would hurt. You said it to an older ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22, 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

The Critical Spirit

Contributed by Donnie De Loney on Jan 13, 2010

A critical spirit is An obsessive attitude of criticism and fault-finding, which seeks to tear others down The person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good

The Critical Spirit Luke 6:37-6:42 Illustration: Guilty as sin! It happened just a few years ago. The banks in New Jersey had been robbed systematically, one after the other. What made the robber stand out was his politeness. He just gave the tellers a note which said, "Please place your money ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-42

Denomination: Assembly Of God

World's Greatest Revival Series

Contributed by Travis Markes on Nov 10, 2009

Sermon series on the Book of Jonah. Some of my resources come from John Hamby’s sermons as well as Jerry Giffords

“Returning to God” Part 5 The World’s Greatest Revival Jonah 3:3-10 We would agree with the great American patriot who wrote. “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

Standing Close To The Lightning Strike

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 19, 2009

God will get our attention and force us to make choices, despite our desire to avoid decisions or our wish to be secular. When the lightning strikes it may be painful but it will be about grace.

You can most certainly expect God to attract your attention. I cannot tell you exactly how He will do it, but I do know that He will do it. He will attract your attention. Many of us face a spiritual issue called inattention. Distraction. Inattention. We are not paying attention to what God is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39

Denomination: Baptist

Satan's Premature Victory Dance

Contributed by David Elvery on May 6, 2009

Looking at Christ’s ultimate victory over Satan achieved at his death

“Satan’s Premature Victory Dance - Heb 1:10-11, 14-18” Gladstone Baptist Church – Good Friday 14/4/06 <View a clip from The Passion of Jesus’ Death and Satan’s victory cry.> When Jesus Died, Satan started his victory dance I wonder what went through Satan’s mind when Jesus breathed his last on ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Does God Care About Us?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 9, 2009

The word "while" alerts us to the sources of our frustration: weakness, pride, and broken relationships. But God in the crucified Christ has an answer to each of these issues.

Why are so many people so unhappy? Why is it that there are so many people with so much ability and with so many resources, but they still feel profoundly unhappy and frustrated? A great many people do, you know. Some of them show it in the obvious ways; some of them are angry and even ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Bookkeeping Nightmare

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 27, 2010

Forgiveness is an act of understanding how much God has forgiven us; of the heart, making a changed spirit possible; and of the will, opening up all that God wants to do in us.

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD, October 4, 1979; Cresthill Baptist Church, Bowie, MD, June 8, 1980; Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, May 16, 1982; Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC November 24, 1985 Back in my early teen years I was a Monopoly freak. Not an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:23-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Pharisees: Stuck In Correctness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 30, 2009

It is easier to be smug than satisfied, to be correct than compassionate, to be religious than real. What we need to do is to cry, "Lord forgive my sin."

The surest formula for unhappiness is have to be right, all of the time. If you are expected to be one hundred percent correct, never making a mistake, no blunders allowed, then you are asking for a serious heart attack, for high blood pressure, and for plain old unhappiness. It’s an awesome burden ...read more

Scripture: John 10:31-39

Denomination: Baptist