Sermons on Greg Smith:

Jesus In Love Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 18, 2002

Jesus, in dealing with sexual sin, did NOT make an object out of the woman involved, nor did He feel it necessary to do anything but give her space to work out her own spiritual issues. He DID determine that His aim was redemption, not shame, and He love

All these years of preaching and teaching, and no one has ever asked me why Jesus didn’t have a wife or a girl friend. No one has even so much as wondered out loud whether Jesus the man felt what most men feel. Are you afraid of that question? Or do you just suppose that, after all, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Partying Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 24, 2002

We have taken our cues about how to have fun from the wrong places. When Jesus parties, he includes rather than excludes the misfits; he goes not to participate nor to criticize, but to listen and redeem; and when you party with Jesus, you have joy and z

Suppose you gave a party and Jesus showed up! What would that do to your party? He wasn’t on the invitation list, He didn’t RSVP, but here He comes, making a beeline straight at you, with arms outstretched in greeting, and about twelve of his best buds looking eagerly at the buffet table. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-38

Denomination: Baptist

Strange Land, Foreign Land, Promised Land Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 1, 2002

A poetic, impressionistic rendering of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, presented by two readers in dialogue

Every day is unique, every time is new. Never before have these same things happened, never again will this moment come. But the one who made this day, the one who is ever new, knows this moment. And knew that moment in which all things would be fulfilled. Each day is a gift. And each ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Choose To Change

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Dec 3, 2002

Study of two men who had the opportunity to change but only one had the courage to do so.

CHOOSE TO CHANGE Luke 18:18-23 - 19:1-10 Introduction: Our world has changed dramatically in the past 100 years, and futurists predict that even greater changes are coming. Consider these facts: We now watch as routine as space shuttles propel people into space and land routinely, yet it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-23, Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

All I (Really) Want For Christmas Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 8, 2002

Joseph thought he knew what he wanted: freedom from embarassment, a normal life, a few friends to support him. But in listening to the Spirit he found that what he really wanted was to love and to be loved, to be significant, and to be understood by God.

What do you want for Christmas? I hope there’s somebody in your life who is asking that question. I am not one of those curmudgeons who thinks we should do away with giving gifts at Christmas. Yes, it gets out of hand. And yes, it’s all very commercial. But still, gift-giving is a part ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Be Careful What You Pray For, You Might Get It Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 15, 2002

There are only two motives for prayer: fear and hope. If you pray and live in fear, you will live a lie and deny God, and you will become destructive. But if you pray and live in fear, you will find satisfaction and will become a life-giver.

God answers prayer. Let there be no doubt about that. God answers prayer. God responds to what His people ask. So it has often been said that you had better be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it! There is something awesome, something even dangerous about prayer. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-16, Psalm 106:15

Denomination: Baptist

Down The Jericho Road Again Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 17, 2003

Sermon for Martin Luther King Day: we must go "down the road" of compassion, understanding that human hurts are both physical and spiritual, that we must see hurting people as our neighbors, and that we must devote substantial resources to caring for them

There’s something we say every time we find ourselves repeating an unpleasant experience. Whenever you see yourself about to get into the same trouble you’ve already been in, you say, “I don’t want to go down that road again.” For example: Some fellow comes to your door and says, “We’ve been ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing Is Impossible

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2003

Preached at a rescue mission. When we think that not even God can do what He has promised, He will silence us so that we can listen. When we experience God’s power, we will be empowered to give our testimony and to stand for what we know is right.

There are a whole lot of things which yesterday seemed impossible, but which today are not only not impossible, but also are everyday, ordinary. A hundred years ago, who would have thought it would be possible to send pictures through space? Who would have imagined that somebody standing in front ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-66

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Impossible Dreams Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2003

In observance of my 17th anniversary as pastor; to worship is to become available for God’s purposes, which mean being sent to unreceptive and impossible situations. Can we dream impossible dreams about our church’s building, properties, ministries with

If what you expect to receive and what someone wants to give you are not the same thing, you are doomed to disappointment. If you want a particular thing, but the person you are dealing with is determined that you shall have something else, it is going to be tough. The other day ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

God Pursues A Love Relationship Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2003

Part 2 of a series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: when God pursues us, we can either keep on running, hoping that He cannot catch up, or we can hide, hoping He will not find us. We need to let His love catch us.

A few weeks ago I was driving down Fifth Street, on my way to a hospital visit. Just this side of the Soldiers’ home grounds, I became aware that some driver was right on my back bumper, weaving back and forth, his engine roaring, his horn blowing. Somebody was in a very big hurry. Well, as we ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 30:10-15, Jeremiah 30:31

Denomination: Baptist

God Speaks To Reveal Himself Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2003

Part 4 of a series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: God speaks through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.

The children were gathered for Sunday School, and the teacher knew that she had a particularly hard lesson to teach that day. She was to teach about the Trinity. She was supposed to teach the children that God is one but in three persons, and how do you explain the concept of the Trinity to young ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-18

Denomination: Baptist

God's Invitation Leads To A Crisis Of Belief Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2003

Part 5 of a series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: when God invites into some new truth, the first crisis will be one of personal belief; the second is one of tension between old patterns and new options; and the last comes in the temptation to fall back

There’s an old, old story about the time a crowd had gathered to watch a stunt man perform at Niagara Falls. It seems that the fellow had rigged up a wire from shore to shore, right across the falls, and was wowing the crowd by riding a bicycle along that wire. Back and forth he went, several ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

Blood, Sweat, And Tears

Contributed by Chris Smith on Jul 22, 2003

If Abel’s sacrifice was simply offering God his best, then Jesus Christ died for nothing except as a good example. Then we must agree with the world in saying that there are many sincere ways to God. Many people are sincere, but are sincerely wrong

Why must it be only through the Blood that we can be saved? Genesis 4:1-12 We are told today that mankind is naturally good at heart. What we need to fix is the environment; through our social policies, our education, and our laws. The Bible clearly tells us this is not the case. Mankind is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Major Adjustments Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 23, 2003

Part 6 of series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: All are called to make adjustments to be disciples, regardless of personality. We have to give up old habits, change our time use, redirect our finances, to enter this city and change it.

The old farmer claimed that he could command his mule with nothing more than a few soft words, no whips or prods necessary. She would respond, he claimed, with nothing more than gently spoken commands. So his buddy down at the feed store asked for a demonstration. “Prove to me that your old mule ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

When Bad Things Happen To Good People Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 23, 2003

In a world of injustice, it is appropriate to pray a prayer of anguish; God gives us memories of His grace to sustain when He seems absent, and may force us to rock bottom so that we can heal fully.

There is very little justice in the world. But that’s old news. People have felt from time immemorial that they were not being treated fairly. Just about everybody thinks that they deserve a better deal than they’re getting. There is very little justice in the world. But that’s old news. Now ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist