Sermons on Deficit:

Joys False Or Complete Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 10, 2004

For Epiphany: As Richard Foster wrote about "Money, Sex, and Power", is it possible the Wise Men’s gifts are warnings to Jesus and His family about these things? Complete joy comes from what Jesus did with these issues.

Who we are and what we have are two entirely different things, but we confuse them. We insist on identifying who we are by what we have. Who we are and what we have are not the same thing. We are more by far than the material goods we possess. And yet everywhere we are identified by our stuff. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Save One

Contributed by Steven Pace on Jan 16, 2004

This is an updated copy of my sermon on the Pro Life issue. I have revised it and brought it more up to date.

Sanctity of Human Life Psalms 139:11-16 The day started out by waking up early. You see in our house we always decorate the floor with balloons on the kids birthday. I remember getting up early with Becky and blowing up the balloons and scattering them across the floor. After the kids got up I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:11-16, Jeremiah 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

God's Bookkeeping Method Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 6, 2004

Unlike the world, which assumes that we must make a profit and we get what we pay for, God’s bookkeeping says that giving is receiving, and you get more than you pay for. You get grace paid for by the blood of Jesus.

In the last several months I have learned more about bookkeeping than I ever wanted to know. Because the church is converting from bookkeeping by hand to an accounting software, and because our financial leadership does not yet have access to all of that, I began to record transactions on the ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Let's Nail This Down

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 20, 2004

Ordination sermon for Victor Oke. Do not nail down peer group approval; nail down the promises of God to strengthen, help, and uphold you in ministry.

“Who has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service?” Brother Oke, I warned you a month ago, at the ordination service for Gloria Grant, that I would probably use your name as the basis for your ordination message. The name “Victor” is so full of spiritual possibility! And so, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Shattering Illusions Series

Contributed by Louis Bartet on Mar 16, 2003

Are you seeking God or seeking to be god? Do you love people or are you disquising your selfishness

TITLE: Shattering Life’s Illusions TEXT: Luke 22:24-34 TOPIC: Reality, Faith, Sanctification, delusional beliefs Preached by Louis Bartet at Point Assembly of God, March 16, 2003 at 11:00 A.M. -- An illusion is an erroneous perception of the way things really are. It is a false belief or concept ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-34

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Breaking And Making Christmas Chains"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 11, 2002

Jesus came to break chains that bind people and set them free.

Breaking and Making Christmas Chains Luke 1:67-79 As we enter the Advent season today I want to talk about chains we need to break and chains we need to make. The background for this message comes from the life and ministry of Zachariah a priest in Israel. Zachariah was carrying out his ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Abraham: A True Model Of Worship

Contributed by Steven Dow on Aug 23, 2002

Many Christians have never truly worshiped God because they don’t know how. Abraham models for us the essence of true, biblical worship.

ABRAHAM: A MODEL OF TRUE WORSHIP Genesis 22:1-19 August 18, 2002 INTRODUCTION: It seems that very few Christians know much about true worship. Charles Stanely once said that he believed that most Christians in most churches have never worshiped God. We go to church, but we don’t worship. We ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19, Genesis 21:8

I Know You Are Watching Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 18, 2007

We think of God’s watching us as His attempt to hurt us, to shame us, or to rescue us. But it is His availability when we trust Him. Preached at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD

“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.” You said it to a small child, bent on doing something that would hurt. You said it to a teenager, on the phone instead of doing homework. You maybe ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Recalibrate The Sights Of Your Faith Series

Contributed by Eric Vertein on Mar 27, 2004

In a world where godless opinions threaten to throw our faith completely off center, we turn to God’s Word to recalibrate the sights of our faith.

RECALIBRATE THE SIGHTS OF YOUR FAITH Jeremiah 26:8-15 Lent 2 – March 7, 2004 Jeremiah 26:8-15 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die! 9 Why do you prophesy ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 26:8-15

Denomination: Lutheran

The Way Of The Student Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 11, 2007

Stations of the Cross, Station 2

THE WAY OF THE STUDENT (LUKE 14:25-33) Upon entering a little country store, a stranger noticed a sign reading “Danger! Beware of Dog” posted on the glass door. Inside, he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor besides the cash register. The stranger asked the store manager, “Is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Roots - Part 4- Presence And Preaching Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 23, 2009

Beneath the surface. Overlooked but powerful and essential. Unseen but they can split concrete and destroy roads. Essential to sustain life. They produce all of the seen life and fruit. What is beneath the surface is directly responsible for what you

Roots Pt. 4 – Presence and Preaching I. Introduction The foundation is the most important aspect of a building. It isn’t the most impressive aspect of the building, but it is the most important part. No one stops their car in awe of a building’s foundation. We often are awestruck by the beauty ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paternal Pleas To Posterity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 21, 2009

Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, DC: We will never achieve maturity until we come to terms with our paternity and accept our posterity. Understand that those who shaped us were also maturing; the transforming power of Christ will open wide our hearts.

All of us aspire to maturity. All of us hope to become mature and complete, grown up in every way, accomplished, respected, and honored. It’s a worthy goal. It’s a proper ambition. But we will never achieve maturity until we come to terms with both our paternity and our posterity. Our ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

God's Indescribable Abundance Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 23, 2008

How can one describe what God has given in this church, with the successes of the past year? How describe human needs, especially for the Gospel? And how describe the opportunities for inclusive worship, honest learning, and artistic expression?

Once upon a time a certain church was in an uproar. Some said that the pastor was not performing according to expectations. And so complaints were brought to the deacons, who met to consider the issue, and asked those who were grumbling, “What is the problem with the pastor?” One disaffected ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Healed Hearts His Home Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 7, 2008

Two obstacles must be removed before we may receive the peace God wants to give us, so long delayed and frustrated: our false pride and our negative spirit of self-accusation. Then His victory will be ours.

The neighborhood, if you could call it that, was one of the most rundown and poverty-stricken in the city. For fifty years the housing had decayed, and, as the original residents left, absentee landlords jammed far too many people into the old dwellings. Diseases became epidemic, and fires not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Olympians Reach For The Goal Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Aug 23, 2008

Spiritual Olympians with a "go for the goal" mindset keep their eyes on Jesus.

Title: Olympians Reach for the Goal Text: Hebrews 12:2-4 The Big Idea: Spiritual Olympians, with a “go for the goal” mindset, keep their eyes on Christ. Series: Spiritual Olympians: Going for the Goal, is based on Hebrews 12:1-13 and designed to coincide with the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational