Sermons on Greg Smith:

Worship: Sense And The Senses

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 3, 2008

Too often it is true that those who pray do not work and those who work do not pray. Real worship will engage our entire beings and will empower us for action.

I’m sure you know the statement which Jesus made, "God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." We want to think today about both spirit and truth. Worshipping in both modes. Over the door of the monastery hung a sign. It read, "To pray is to work; to work ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers And The Sword

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 3, 2008

Mothering in our time is mirrored in the one prostitute, who decided just to take what she could, though it was destructive. But the true mother was willing to sacrifice that her child might live.

Preface Who is the real mother? How do you measure authentic mothering? Is it by the mere accident of birth, or is it by something deeper? Who is the real mother, who is the authentic mother? Is it simply the woman you gave you birth and who wiped your messy nose during your growing up years, or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:16-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Motley Crew, In Chains

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 3, 2008

Tychicus, Onesimus, and Aristarchus chose to chain themselves to ministries of encouragement, inclusion, and support.

If you follow the rock music scene, I guess I should hurry to assure you that the sermon today is not about a heavy metal group, nor is it about some kind of kinky fetish. The theme, "A Motley Crew, In Chains" is evoked by the long list of names which Paul singles out as he finishes the Colossian ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

Disappointment With God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Dec 4, 2008

Disappointments will come and we have the choice to let them bury us or buoy us.

Christmas is a season not only of joy, but, if we’re honest, also of disappointment. Sometimes we’re disappointed with gifts. When Laura’s brother, Grayson, was in Middle School he received one such gift. To appreciate this you have to get the image in your mind of the entire family gathered ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

My Gospel

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 4, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if given by Paul. Against trusting in ritual, correct ideas, or emotion, trust the grace of Christ given in personal relationship with Him.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Oh.. almost didn’t see you there. See what large letters I make when I am writing ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

My Home In God's Heart

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 6, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if Hosea were speaking; his mixed feelings of anger and compassion toward Gomer become the clue for understanding God’s feelings about Israel.

It had been a hard day in the fields. The sun had beat down without mercy on my back. Twice or three times, my team of oxen had stumbled and I had had to stop and help them up out of the miry clay, lest they break their legs and be useless. I’ve always found that it’s not hard to stop and care for ...read more

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

My Three Sons

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 7, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if David were speaking: he starved emotionally his son Adonijah, he indulged his son Solomon, and he distanced himself from his son Absalom.

"Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and do not forget all his benefits ... as a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him." As a father has compassion for his children … When I first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Whatever You Get, Pass It On

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 8, 2008

Deacon ordination: Christ has won the victory, so yours is the opportunity to roll up the score with no fear of losing. Pass on what you have received in comfort, conversion, gifts.

Some things, once they get started, cannot be stopped. There are just some things, once they get rolling, which cannot be interrupted. It’s just impossible. You’re a student and have an exam tomorrow. When the morning dawns and the sun begins to rise, no amount of wishing that the day light would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Humble Servant Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

It seems in the birth of Christ that God took humility to a whole other level. From the outset, God seems to be saying humility is more than an attitude; it is a way of life. One of the first identities we find in the birth of Christ is ultimate humility

Humble Servant Luke 2:1-7 We’re starting a series today called “Born Identity,” where we will consider the identity of the Christ child as he entered the world. Today’s message on humility may be the most difficult message. I’ve had to do a lot of research for this sermon and two of the books I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Wounded Healer Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

Christmas is not just about the birth of a child, it’s about who he was born to become. Today, we’re going to consider Jesus who was born to be a Wounded Healer.

Wounded Healer Isaiah 53:1-7 When I lived in Tulsa, OK and worked at Boston Avenue UMC, an 8000 member church with 13 ministers on staff, I would go over to one of the other associate pastor’s homes on Saturdays to watch college football. As I got off the interstate and there was an antique store ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Uncompromised Character Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

Isaiah 53 was written some 700 years before Christ was born, yet it describes the coming of a Savior or Messiah who would be the wounded healer of the world and would have an uncompromised character. Here’s what we see about the character of Jesus.

Uncompromised Character Isaiah 53 Andy Stanley tells the story of when he was 13 and learning the meaning of the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” His dad was the Associate pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Prophecy Fulfilled Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

Much of what the Gospels proclaim are prophecy fulfilled. Of all the religious leaders in the world, Jesus Christ is unique. Unlike any other religious leader, there were 100’s of prophecies written about Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and Second

Prophecy Fulfilled Isaiah 53:4-6 When you hear the word prophecy, what do you think of? Nostradamus? The thousands of people throughout history who have predicted the end of the world, only to see the date come and pass? Do you think of people who have told others they are going to be healed only ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6, Luke 4:14-21

Denomination: Methodist

Born Identity Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

Sometimes it takes a baby to remind an old man what your world is really about” in that one moment when Christ was born. Oh, Praise his name for that one moment! Thanks to Jim Altar for the intro to this message

In One Moment In one moment, one seemingly insignificant measurement on the span of time, "The Word became flesh". In that moment, undiminished Deity became humanity. What an incomprehensible thought! In one moment, the one for whom are all things and by whom are all things, became a thing —like ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Understanding Vision Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

Vision has always been at the heart of serving God and doing His will. So a God given vision has always been at the heart of doing the will of God. God’s vision takes us to new levels and challenges us to do new things we would not think to accomplish our

Unique Vision Daniel 9:22-23 God loves creativity and nowhere is that found more than in creation. Where I grew up in Kansas City, we have an average snowfall of 20 inches a year. One of the things you learn growing up there is that every snowflake is unique. No two snowflakes that have ever fallen ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:22-23

Denomination: Methodist