Sermons on Joe Smith:

Lessons From Facing A Broken Economy

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2009

We have all been through downturns before but this one is different. It has multiple, complex causes. It is global in nature and no one knows how long it will last or if the bailouts will work. What can we learn in a downturn? Based on a Bill Hybels ser

Lessons from Facing a Broken Economy Romans 8:28-39 Bill Hybels tells the story of finishing a meeting at his church and bumping into a woman who asked about their PADS Ministry which hosts people one night a week who need a place to sleep. They have between 30 and 50 people who show up. They ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Methodist

According To Your Word

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 29, 2009

Funeral sermon for Mary Henry, aged 101, prayer warrior and Bible student, who, like the Biblical Mary, could accept whatever the Word taught her.

Submission is not subservience. Humility is not the same thing as low self-esteem. In fact, it takes a strong and certain heart to be submissive and not subservient, to be humble and not cowardly. If ever there was a strong and certain heart, that was Mary Henry. She knew how to submit to all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

"Act Like You Know!"

Contributed by Kevin Smith on May 30, 2009

Many of us as Christians say we know we’ve been changed, but we don’t act like we know we’ve been changed in terms of our praise & worship to God.

I. Introduction -Re-read verses 8 & 9 in the text as focal verses. -Present Title of sermon. -At the onset of this message I would submit to you that many of us say we know we’ve been changed by God and we know we’ve been changed, but we don’t really act like we know we’ve been changed. -I’m not ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Operates Value Village, Not The Landfill

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2009

For Senior Adult Sunday: There are legitimate concerns about aging; but there are also those who would prey on the elderly. God is our ultimate refuge and the protector of those who are to be valued, not thrown away.

If it’s old, it has to go. That used to be the message. In the years after World War II, once we got our economy back on a peacetime basis, we all wanted only new things. Bright, shiny, new. And so, if it’s old, it has to go. Do you remember? Do you remember, if you go back that far, how, during ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2009

Suffering, endurance, character, hope: the formula is not automatic. All depends on whether we learn to live in the resurrected Christ.

One of my friends begins nearly every conversation with the phrase, "You just can’t win.” "You just can’t win." One day recently he was wearing a long, long face. He had just gotten his car repaired, but some inebriated partygoer had slammed into it. He had just worked off his debts, but suddenly ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Does God Care About Us?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 9, 2009

The word "while" alerts us to the sources of our frustration: weakness, pride, and broken relationships. But God in the crucified Christ has an answer to each of these issues.

Why are so many people so unhappy? Why is it that there are so many people with so much ability and with so many resources, but they still feel profoundly unhappy and frustrated? A great many people do, you know. Some of them show it in the obvious ways; some of them are angry and even ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Remarriage Is Adultery Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2009

Jesus said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Every now and then you find yourself tacking a Bible passage that just doesn’t lend itself to starting your sermon with a joke. Today’s Gospel reading is one such passage. For divorce is no laughing matter, and of course I know that first-hand. Indeed, not only did I experience the divorce of my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

No Rich People In Heaven Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2009

"Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom

In any journey, such as a trek through the bush, there are exciting parts, such as when we start out (perhaps) and when we near your destination, there are relatively boring parts, and there are patches that are just hard work. In our journey through the Gospel of Mark we seem to have reached an ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:23-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Life Is A Box Of Chocolates ... Not! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 29, 2009

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) Yes, I’m quoting God from the book of Job, chapter 38, second verse - a book that I’ve finally decided, reluctantly, needs to be looked at.

I say reluctantly because it’s a depressing book, and depressing not only because it deals with the series of depressing events that befall the story’s main character, but depressing too because the man’s search for an answer to his problems never gets a result that I find satisfying. I’m assuming ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Churchill Or Church, Ill?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 29, 2009

As Winston Churchill rallied the British people, so Paul rallies Christians by urging us to review our motivations and to present something solid and not merely entertaining. Such a church will prevail and thrive.

On the fifth of June, 1940, not even a month after he became prime minister, Winston Churchill spoke to the British people to encourage them of their desperate situation. Bear in mind that in September of the previous year the Nazis had invaded Poland, with no effective resistance. Thereafter, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Earthen Vessel, Feet Of Clay

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 29, 2009

Ordination of Troy L. Dixon, Nov. 1989: We pursue the trappings of religion instead of what is truly value. As a common clay vessel, be wary of power games, know that your foundation can crumble, focus on the treasure of the Gospel.

Somehow in men’s minds the paraphernalia of religion get to be more important than the faith itself. It is one of the enduring problems of religious life, how it is that we get far more caught up and invested in the trappings of religion than in the faith itself. In your average church, you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Baptist

Cisterns, Channels, And Stagnant Ponds

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 30, 2009

If we do not share our faith we will not truly learn it. If we take nothing in we will go dry. Truly refreshing spirituality involves both learning and sharing the truth.

A few weeks ago, as the hot weather season got into full swing, I remembered something I had not done to prepare for the season. Last summer we had bought a big plastic garbage container and had set it outside, next to the air conditioner compressor, and I had run the exhaust hose into it in order ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Elbow Test Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 31, 2009

We may test our spiritual maturity by assessing who Jesus is for us, whether we live with a sense of victory, and whose opinions matter to us.

During our stay in England, we visited my wife’s cousin and his wife, who have a nine-month-old baby son. One night they needed to go out for a while on an errand, so they asked us if we would take care of the baby for a couple of hours. Of course we were delighted with the chance to do so, since ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Road Work Is Finally Finished

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 1, 2009

Neither grief nor guilt are productive, take us anywhere. The Cross is God’s signpost that will put an end to our continuing struggles with both.

Just a few days ago we celebrated, if that’s the right word, the thirtieth anniversary of something we all love to hate. Imagine observing the anniversary of something that has cost us dearly in dollars and also in blood and tears. Something we cannot live without, but sometimes wonder if we can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Communication Relative To Divine Purpose Series

Contributed by Duane Smith on Nov 1, 2009

This message is intended to help us evaluate and make changes to, if needed, our communication habits as they pertain to God’s divine purposes.

COMMUNICATION RELATIVE TO DIVINE PURPOSE Colossians 4:2-6 INTRODUCTION: A. June Hunt, in her Biblical Counseling Keys on Communication opens with this question: Have you ever paused to evaluate the impact of how you communicate? 1. Folks, if you have not noticed already, communication can ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Denomination: Baptist