Sermons on Joe Smith:

Hollywood Endings Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Sometimes, we want a Hollywood ending in life and we don’t get one. This is the problem with the Parable of the Prodigal Son as we look atb it from the older son

Hollywood Endings Luke 15:25-32 How many of you like Hollywood endings when you go to the movies? You know, the joy-filled, love engaged and relationship mending that leaves you with a warm, feel-good heart and smile on your face? The problem is, life doesn’t always give us a Hollywood ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Methodist

Finding What We’ve Lost Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon focuses on the question of “How do you find something that’s lost, especially if you’re the one that’s lost?

Finding What We’ve Lost Luke 15:11-32 A couple of years ago, I was blessed to win tickets to the practice round of The Master’s golf tournament. The Masters is one of four majors in professional golf and is considered to be hallowed ground to golfers. It’s in Augusta, GA in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist

The Wilderness Experience Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon is about Elijah the Prophet and the result of his defeat of Jezebel

The Wilderness Experience Matthew 26:69-75 When Jesus finished sharing the Passover with the disciples, he took Peter, James and John with him to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Gospels describe Jesus as “sorrowful and troubled.” The Gospel of John in chapter 21 reports that Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-12, Matthew 26:69-75, Matthew 26:29-75

Denomination: Methodist

King David’s Story Of Sin And Redemption Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon looks at another type of wilderness experience, one of our own making.

King David’s Story of Sin and Redemption 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In this series, we’re looking at five OT characters who experienced the wilderness in their lives, both physically and spiritually. The Judean wilderness was rugged and barren and it was a place of hopelessness and despair. It ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

In Need Of A Redeemer Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon is about Ruth and Naomi's wilderness experience through death and loss

In Need of a Redeemer Ruth 4:13-15 When you hear the word wilderness, some of your may think about the barren landscape of the desert, others the swamp or the jungle far removed from any human being. For the Israelites, they thought of the Judean wilderness, a barren place of very little water or ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:13-15

Denomination: Methodist

The God Who Sees Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon focuses of Hagar's wilderness experience

The God Who Sees Genesis 16:1-10 We’ve been looking at people in the Old Testament who passed through the wilderness, some literally and physically and others spiritually and emotionally. The Judean wilderness was a barren, harsh, bleak place and became a Jewish metaphor for the painful and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Vision Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

God's unique vision for the church

Vision Sermon When I arrived here 7 years ago, I met with the congregation in small groups of 10-12 people and asked 3 questions: What do you love about Gretna UMC? What do you want to change? And what do you want to keep the same? In those meetings, I remember Judy North making a statement that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 17:17

Denomination: Methodist

Strategy Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

This sermon discuss how to implement God's unique vision for the church

Our Strategy Proverbs 14:15, 16:3, 9 Stanley Tippet tells of visiting with two young men from Nagaland, a northeastern region of India. God had moved in a mighty way in the region sending revival to the area. Almost the entire population of the region had come to faith in Christ and as a result, ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Values Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

God’s unique vision for a church is like the sail of the ship, catching God’s wind or spirit and moving it forward. But every boat must also have a rudder helping to guide the direction of the ship. Values are passions that rudder or direct a ship

Values Sermon What’s your passion in life? I mean what gets you really excited? Everybody has something which drives them in their lives. It could be your kids, your work, a hobby, a cause, a mission or even a ministry. What drives us is often reflected in how we spend our time, our money and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 17:7

Denomination: Methodist

Keys For The Journey Ahead Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

In our Scripture today, Moses shares the news with the Hebrew people that He will not be leading the Hebrews into the promised land. With his words, he seeks to prepare the people for the next leg of the journey

Goodbye Sermon Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Have you ever thought about what you want on your tombstone? On a windswept hill in an English country churchyard stands a drab, gray slate tombstone with an epitaph not easily seen unless you stoop over and look very closely. The faint etchings read: ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Why Trust Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

Trust can be a huge challenge for us, especially when it comes to God. What does it really mean to trust God?

Why Trust? Matthew 6:25-34
 A man was out jogging one day and slipped and fell off a cliff. Grabbing hold of a branch on the way down, he found himself stranded and began to scream, “Help, is there anyone up there who can hear me?” He yelled for hours and was about to give up when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Methodist

Why Pray Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

Prayer is meant to be at the heart of a relationship to Jesus. Jesus assumes you are already praying. He doesn’t say IF you pray but WHEN you pray any relationship is built and strengthened through communication and with God, that’s prayer

Why Pray? Matthew 6:1-13 Prayer is meant to be at the heart of a relationship to Jesus. In our Scripture today, Jesus assumes you are already praying. He doesn’t say IF you pray but WHEN you pray. Last week, we learned that Jesus is directing the Sermon on the Mount to hypocrites. The Greek ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Giving Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

A sermon on giving

Why Give? Matthew 6:19-24 Bob Doyle tells the story of overhearing a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.' The daughter replied, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

Why Deny? Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

We have been inundated with the message of self-indulgence, so why should we deny ourselves?

Why Deny? Matthew 6:16-18 The Sermon on the Mount is a guide for how to live as followers of Jesus. Specifically, Jesus is teaching us that we have to lose some things in our religion so we can get back to a relationship with God. Religion focuses on religious practices, rules, observances, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Methodist

Why Care? Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2014

How can we avoid being a hypocrite and instead be a faithful witness?

Why Care? Matthew 6:1-4 The Sermon on the Mount is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus in the NT, the most widely quoted and the best known, which includes the Lord’s Prayer. Many Christians say the Sermon on the Mount contains the central tenets of the Christian life. In this Sermon, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4

Denomination: Methodist