Sermons on Joe Smith:

Extending Love

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 24, 2009

Most people love only when it benefits them or meets their needs. Even though it is forbidden by God to hate another person, to nurse a grudge or to seek vengance, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was the rule of the day, Jesus calls us to love

Extending Love John 13:34-35

 In our Scripture today, Jesus is sharing His last evening with His disciples before He is crucified. They’re together in the Upper Room and Jesus began the evening with washing the disciple’s feet, teaching them humility and servanthood. While they were ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Denomination: Methodist

Funeral Sermon

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 24, 2009

Life has stripes and blood and death. Each is a part of life. We know that but sometimes we turn the page too quickly, wanting only to think of the good things of life. In fact life would be so much easier if we could do just that. But it is in times like

Sam North Star Island is an island of the coast of New Hampshire, near Portsmouth. It is unique because half the island is in Maine and the other half is in New Hampshire. It is a place where New Englanders come to vacation, worship and sit in rockers on the front porch of the old Victorian Hotel. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38

Denomination: Methodist

Prepare For A Vision

Contributed by George Smith on Mar 26, 2009

(To CATCH A VISTION)

PREPARE FOR A VISION JOSHUA 14:7-13 Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. INTRO: To get ourselves prepare for a vision, to look ahead and to see what is out there for us, dare to step out on faith, dare to trust God. You just don’t ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:7-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Blessed Life Now Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 27, 2009

This sermon answers the question, "How did I get here?"

Have you ever had one of those moments where you stopped, looked at your life, and asked, “How did I get here?” This usually occurs when life doesn’t turn out as we expected. Divorce, bankruptcy, job loss, mid-life crisis, broken relationships, failure to obtain a goal or dream, health problems, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Turn Around Or Turn Out Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Dramatic monologue as if Paul were speaking: a farewell address, focused largely on Philippians, but drawing from much of the Pauline literature. A play on Paul’s name: Pray, Avoid, Understand, Love.

Paul, servant of the Gospel, to all the saints in Gaithersburg: grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Opposition, Prayer, And Victory Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Preached in 1989. Sometimes opposition is deeply destructive and isolating; the only answer is through prayer, for ultimately integrity is given by the risen Christ.

Opposition comes in all shapes and sizes. Opposition: feeling that somebody is out to stop you -- it takes many different forms. Sometimes it is just outright, straightforward, political campaigning. Sometimes folks choose up sides and define the issues and go after each other, and that‘s all ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Not Perfect, Just Forgiven

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Jesus’ call for us to be perfect is complemented by the Lord’s Prayer’s petition for forgiveness. "Trespasses" and "debts" are different nuances, and both need to be forgiven.

He marched up to me, stopped me in my tracks, fixed my eyes with his eagle look. And then slowly he raised both arms and clapped both hands on my shoulders, cleared his throat slightly, and intoned, "I forgive you.” And then, as quickly as he had encountered me, he walked away. Just dropped his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Having, Losing, Choosing

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 31, 2009

Whatever we think we possess can be lost. God gives it to us for only so long as we need it, but after that it becomes an idol. We must choose to give away time, talent, treasure for things that do last, and for life itself.

Almost nothing that you and I count on to be permanent really is permanent. Almost everything that we think will last forever, it turns out, can be destroyed. Anything we have we can also very easily lose. We live in a monumental city. Capitol Hill, the monuments, the Federal Triangle, the White ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Denomination: Baptist

Whole And At Peace: Get Up!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2009

Funeral message for Launer Jones: Help comes from hope, not fear. Life comes from trust, not anxiety. A concerned family who did all they could turned to Jesus, and He will not disappoint.

It might have been a cold, gray morning, that day when Jairus did what a desperate father had to do. A cold, gray morning, made all the more bleak because a little girl lay dying. Only twelve years old she was, full of promise, full of life, the apple of her father’s eye, and so much in love with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Baptist

He Shall Feed His Flock

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2009

Enacted pulpit drama, with props and symbolic actions, as if the preacher were Ezekiel. Immorality and inattention will be judged by God, and until we repent of these we will not flourish.

[Heaving silently, face contorted, head shaking] Immorality and inattention. Immorality and inattention. These things are destroying our people. These things are going to bring God’s judgment on us. I just know it. Immorality and inattention. Selfishness and self-centeredness. Wrong hearts and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping On Keeping On

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2009

For the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor: in times of turmoil, God is still present, using war to wake up His people. Our temptation is to turn to idolatrous weapons, but He is giving us a chance to use compassion to win hearts and minds.

You will need some background and interpretation in order for you to appreciate the Scripture I’m working from today. Let me first set the stage of history, and then, as we read through, I’ll try to show you the shape of what is being said. The time in which this reading from the 41st chapter of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

God Using A Two-By-Four

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 4, 2009

The cross hits us like a two-by-four to get our attention and remind us of our sin, teach us how God suffers for that sin, and show us how far He will go to call us back to Himself.

There is an old story -- so old, in fact, that I will not ask you to stop me if you’ve heard it before, because you have heard it before. But the story concerns a fellow riding on a cart, pulled by a stubborn old mule. It seems that this fellow liked to brag that he never had to whip the mule, he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:9-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel According To Genesis Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Apr 4, 2009

Surrender absolutely to the God who is absolutely committed to your good.

“Surrender: verb 1 a: to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand b: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another” During the First Gulf War a common occurrence was the immediate, unconditional surrender of members of the Iraqi Army. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The World Turned Upside Down Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 5, 2009

An adaptation of the Seder service: Jesus turns upside down all our common values: sorrow for slavery becomes sorrow for sin; common issues become community; and wandering becomes salvation, all through the Cross.

When great crowds gather in city streets, it is either for a celebration or for a revolution. Throngs do not come together without a purpose; they come together either to celebrate a great occasion or to agitate for what they want. They come to see evidence of a world turned upside down. In ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Having Is Losing

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 6, 2009

In times of financial stress, God knows the pressures on us. Our problem is that we want both material and spiritual security at the same time. The answer is faithfulness to the core values of ministry and witness.

A little snatch of dialogue from a television show caught my attention. Could it be true, or was it just so much pretentious hype? Could it be right, or was it just another exercise in excuse-making? The character who spoke, I noticed, was dressed tres chic and lived in a lavish house with a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist