Sermons on Greg Smith:

Never Trust A Charismatic With Marriage Problems Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jul 27, 2009

A Spirit-filled Christian chooses to be under the influence of God.

I love idioms. Idioms are local or cultural words or phrases that have dual meanings. If, for example, someone says that you are cool or hot, they’re not talking about your body temperature. Cool means unaffected by pressure or it describes a certain winsome personality or just means good. Hot, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Spies Who Stayed To Serve

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 28, 2009

For deacon ordination: deacons are like spies, of whom the world is suspicious; but we win their confidence by serving them.

Agent Double-Oh-Seven has it all. Movie buffs know that when you hear him intone his introduction, "Bond, James Bond", you are in for another adventure, during which this intrepid spy will single-handedly defeat the enemy, win the affections of three or four women, line his pockets with money, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of A Free Spirit

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 29, 2009

Singing is a matter of skill and practice, but it is only when your spirit is freed that you have a convincing song to sing, only when your life is changed that you have something to share.

What makes it possible for voices like these to sing music like that? Where do they get whatever it takes to sing with such grace and power and beauty? Of course they have been blessed with a good deal of natural skill. Of course these singers are talented, and there’s no substitute for that. And ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Something No Thief Can Steal

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 30, 2009

Contrast the thieves on the crosses; from Jesus they had, or could have had, salvation, assurance, companionship, things which no thief can steal.

The scene was one of striking and even bitter contrast. While three men were being hauled off to their deaths, one of them was far different from the other two. Two of these hapless three were thieves, and as thieves they had lived by the law of the thief: namely, easy come, easy go. If you take ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Denomination: Baptist

Resisting Thought Assault Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jul 30, 2009

God created you for a calling, but you’re going to have to fight for it.

When I read this Paul’s final teaching in the book of Ephesians. It reminds me of George C. Scott in that classic movie “Patton.” He’s standing in front of an enormous American flag rallying the men to fight the battle before them during WW II. In he utters one of the best lines I’ve ever heard ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

So Much I Can Taste It

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 31, 2009

We the church have not been paying attention to what God wants passionately for His people: that they be fed, that they be healthy, that they have salvation.

She strode feverishly across the room, brandishing two sheets of paper, one in each hand. She was smiling and yet agitated, excited and yet anxious. "I want this job so much I can taste it." In one hand was a job listing that read as if her very name were on it. Her degree, her major, her ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart And Walk Of A Heathly Church Series

Contributed by Duane Smith on Aug 3, 2009

This message is intended to encourage us to examine our own spiritual lives and then that of the church in light of Paul’s words to the church at Colosse. Are we helathy?

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST A MESSAGE SERIES FROM COLOSSIANS The Heart And Walk Of A Healthy Church, Col 2:1-7 INTRODUCTION: A. Col. 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 1. Here are the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 3, 2009

Rewritten for Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD: When terrible things happen, pray honestly, in complaint; remember what God has done in the past; and know that He may be forcing us to see how much we need Him.

There is very little justice in the world. Many people feel that they are not being treated fairly. Just about all of us think we deserve a better deal than we are getting. We think that there is very little justice in the world. But that’s old news. We already know that. So what do you do ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Flesh And Spirit: Love And Patience Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 3, 2009

Patience reaches four layers: relational, emotional, sexual, and spiritual. At each level to be impatient is to fail to trust God to be God.

I know you’ve heard this old line, but I just can’t resist repeating it. It concerns the fellow who had realized that he was impetuous, compulsive, and impatient. And so he decided to ask the Lord to help him settle his personality problem. "Lord," he prayed. “Lord, give me the gift of patience and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Sacrifice Of Silence: How Men Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 4, 2009

Men can pray in their own way by doing what they know is right to do, by listening to the Lord as well as speaking, and by holding others and God Himself accountable to keep promises.

The young Australian pastor had just received his first assignment. It was to a remote sheep-ranching settlement deep in the Australian outback. He had arrived during a period of prolonged drought, and was making pastoral calls to his far-flung flock of ranchers, who were trying to keep their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Dead Prophets Society

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 4, 2009

For Transfiguration Sunday: we, like the disciples, have not imagined Christ as who He is, we as who we can become, or the cost of glory ... losing our lives to save them.

Every one who teaches knows what a mighty struggle it is to teach anybody anything and make it stick. Students come to school drowsy and distracted. Some are there because they have to be; some because Daddy’s money put them there; and some just because they cannot think of anything else to do. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Denomination: Baptist

Dazzling Mountain, Dying Mountain

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 5, 2009

For Transfiguration Sunday. God gives us defining, dazzling moments, perhaps only a few; but they empower us for the self-giving times and never need to be renewed.

For many people, life peaks early, and then they seem to run downhill all the way thereafter. There are many people who do well early in life -- they have a happy childhood, they do well in school, they launch their careers, all in their early years. But then something goes wrong. Something goes a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing Now

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 6, 2009

People and churches can settle down and forget where they came from and lose sight of where they could be going. Now is the time for the church to venture forward, or lose its place in God’s plan.

There are two problems with settling down: one of them is that you forget about where you came from. The other is that you lose sight of where you could be going. Here is a young couple. They start out married life in just a small place, with room for themselves and maybe that first child. They ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Satisfied With God Alone Series

Contributed by Clinton Smith on Aug 6, 2009

God, our Shepherd, knows how to supply our needs

At a reception, a famous actor was asked to give a recitation. An old preacher suggested the twenty third psalm. He did it with great oratorical skill & sat down to prolonged applause. Then he turned to the old preacher & asked him to recite the psalm also. In a weak & trembling voice, the kindly ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Safe In His Arms Series

Contributed by Clinton Smith on Aug 6, 2009

God knows how to keep me because I don’t know how to keep myself

Isaac Watts was born in Southampton, England, on July 17, 1674. His parents were Dissenters - that is, they were not members of the Church of England. They adhered to the Congregational faith. That was a serious matter at the time; Dissenters, depending on the tolerance of the monarch on the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Proverbs 29:25, Psalm 27:5

Denomination: Baptist