Sermons on Joe Smith:

A Mutual Assurance Company

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 23, 2010

In order to feel fully at home in the church, we begin with praying for one another, we learn both to receive and to give to one another, and we abandon top-down thinking.

Isn’t it astounding, the power of the group? Isn’t it amazing that an otherwise normal, there, healthy, together person can be in a group and feel so wrong? Have you ever been in a group that was sending out such negative vibes that you just wanted to get out of there? Somehow you even felt ashamed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

Effective Giving

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 23, 2010

The example of the Macedonian our Corinthian churches give us tremendous advice on the sensitive subject of tithing for NT believers today! Advice that is easy to understand requiring very little interpretation!

So much is said about tithing and yet it is probably the most difficult subject for me to speak on. I think it would be actually easier if the church was wealthy. Why is this such a sensitive subject? Or maybe its me, but why is it so hard to preach on? What about to you? Think about it for a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Sting Or A Saint?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 24, 2010

An empty niche above the church door, made for a statue of a saint, but now containing a hornet’s nest, suggests the choice of letting our lives be empowered by God or letting the sting of death and disappointment take over.

The other day I was hauling in a load of stuff from my car. I came in the Aspen Street entrance to the building, the entrance nearest my office. For some reason, as I was carrying things through the door, I looked up above my head, probably to implore the Lord to give me an extra ounce of muscle ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Denomination: Baptist

Back To Basics

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 27, 2010

There are times when a church, however successful, must review the basics: do we love those whom we serve, are we able to love those with whom we disagree, and can we feel sheer, passionate love for Christ Himself?

Where I come from, the real religion is basketball. Baptists, Methodists, and Catholics all take a distant back seat, because the real religion in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is basketball. No spring day goes by without every schoolboy finding his way to the hoops to do lay-ups and to dream about ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Born Old

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2010

To experience new life, even in the senior years, means using old knowledge to gain new knowledge; to set aside pride in order to learn; and to be fully open to Christ.

We had been talking about a mutual friend. We had laughed a little at how rigid he was, how staid. We had commented that he didn’t like change; he could easily be "all shook up" when something didn’t go his way. I asked the other person in this conversation, "How long have you known John? Has he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Envisioning A Dream For Your Joshua

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 30, 2010

1988. We may be at a point in our lives where we know we will never fully realize our dreams, but we can find fulfillment if we can identify and encourage others to embody our values.

Several years ago a rather childish and tasteless movie, but nevertheless one good for escape purposes, made the rounds. The movie was called National Lampoon’s Vacation. It starred Chevy Chase, a batch of kids, fleeting glimpses of seductive models, and a monster station wagon that developed a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Blood And The One Blood

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2010

All of us are more alike than we are different, even those who are well outside our values. We need to see the broken as brothers and sisters in search of God, and to feel urgency about reaching them.

If blood is supposed to be thicker than water, meaning that we have a primary responsibility to our families, then I guess we had better know who our families are. I guess we’d better know who our blood kin are if blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes, and there is some kind of special ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Baptist

When Did We?

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 31, 2010

This message helps the church ask why we do the acts of mercy we do? What is our motive? Last in a series of 4, we are reminded that all opportunities of service are to be done as though we are doing them for the Master Himself!

Introduction Today, we end our study of preparation for the Vision of our church for the year 2010. We’ve talked about: 1. Recognizing the Open Doors (Rev. 3:7-8) 2. Effective Prayer (Col. 6:2-6) 3. Effective Giving (2 Cor 8:1-15) And now today the question, “When Did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40

Denomination: Baptist

Simeon And Anna: Seeking Their Redeemer Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Jan 19, 2014

Simeon and Anna are two people that were truly planted in the house of the Lord and flourished for Him as Psalm 92:12-15 speaks of. They waited on the Lord, worked for the Lord, and worshiped the Lord

INTRODUCTION In Luke 2, Jesus is brought to the Temple to be presented to the Lord 40 days after His birth in fulfillment of the Law. Then the text takes an interesting twist. At such a momentous occasion; the time in which God’s very Son is being presented to Him at His Temple, the focus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Are We Boasting In?

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Feb 2, 2014

What things do we boast in? What things are we proud of? What things do we try to show God as making us acceptable?

WHAT ARE WE BOASTING IN? (ANO ANG ATING NA IPINAGMAMALAKI) Phil 3:1-14 [7-10] BACKGROUND Paul in prison in Rome (Si Pablo ay nasa bilangguan) The Phil. Church sent a brother with a love gift : (Nagpadala ang simbahan ng regalo pag-ibig sa kanya) Phil. Is a thank you letter (ito ay isang ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"Study"

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Feb 2, 2014

"Study" is an INDIVIDUAL matter for every believer; for our OWN GOOD: That we may be APPROVED of God; that we may be workmen that NEED NOT be ashamed; that we may learn to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the word of truth.

"STUDY" 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The last epistle of Paul, 2nd Timothy, before being beheaded. His parting words. What would ours be? Of course they are important. He reminded Timothy (and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Come Out From Among Them ...

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Feb 2, 2014

God says, “come out from among them…” Why? Because our Heavenly Father is holy. Are we presenting the image of our Father in heaven (like Jesus Christ was), or are we presenting the image of the world?

OPENING * Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17). God says, “come out from among them…” Why? Because our Heavenly Father is holy. Are we presenting the image of our Father in heaven as ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pleasing Our King Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Feb 3, 2014

Why is it that we do what we do? It must be because we want to please our King and to do what He reveals. This lessons shows us what we need to keep in mind if we want to please King Jesus.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 INTRODUCTION My next five lessons, Lord willing, will be on the topic of Bible Authority. I have titled the Series “Pleasing our King.” Our first lesson will be the introduction to our series which, Lord willing, will include lessons on what we do ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Feb 6, 2014

Psalm 23 is a commonly known, oft-quoted Psalm which many have memorized or display promptly in their homes. However, from the very beginning of the Psalm, we see that it is quite personal.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Perhaps as a shepherd, David often mused or thought on the things of the Lord. The word muse means to think, ponder, or consider. Psalm 23, is evidence that David spent time considering and meditating on God ("musing"). How much the Lord might reveal to us about Himself if ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Toiling

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Feb 6, 2014

What are you toiling with today?

Question: What are you toiling with today? “Toiling” : Doing arduous or unpleasant work; effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort; Taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance; Difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable mental effort and skill. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52

Denomination: Independent/Bible