Sermons on Joel Smith:

The Father Heart Of God

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jun 24, 2008

If your heart beats like the Father’s, you’ll love lost people too.

A several summers ago Laura and I witnessed every parent’s nightmare. As we soaked up the sun at Myrtle Beach, enjoying our annual vacation, watching Drake and Anna Gray, who were then still young enough to enjoy just playing in the sand, we noticed a man acting rather strangely. A barely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

It's Not The Economy, Stupid! Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Aug 6, 2008

The erosion of values always runs downhill.

I think I need to begin by explaining the title of today’s sermon. Back in 1992 William Jefferson Clinton’s campaign slogan was, “It’s the economy, stupid.” His campaign manager, James Carville, formulated the saying to keep the Clinton campaign focused on an issue that was sure to beat George ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Refreshing The Heart Of God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Aug 18, 2008

Noah refreshed the heart of God by trusting the Lord and taking Him at His word.

A. Read: Genesis 6:9-22 B. Song Intro: Part 1 – The Preparation 1. God promised and Noah prepared. One of the benefits of preaching books of the Bible rather than topical sermons is that God gives me “fresh eyes” to see His word. In the past my focus for this story was the flood itself. I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hamnation Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Aug 30, 2008

Knowing and applying God’s truth to sexuality brings freedom and blessing.

Those of you who are my age or older I want you to try to remember back to your high school days. As I read this news item from June 18th ask yourself this question, “How did we, as a nation, get here?” As summer vacation begins, 17 girls at Gloucester High School are expecting babies — more than ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

A User-Friendly God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Sep 13, 2008

Don’t let the drive for security and significance cause you to create a more manageable God.

Aren’t you glad we live in an age of user-friendly technology? You could go to Wal-Mart right after this service, purchase a relatively inexpensive laptop computer, plug it in, fire it up and with no previous experience understand how to use it in no time. Computer companies intentionally make ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The School Of Faith Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Sep 13, 2008

God wants to reveal Himself to you so that He can reveal Himself through you.

[Use children’s sermon as introduction for this sermon.] I have a reward for one of you this morning, but you’re going to have to trust me to get it. Here’s the challenge: Somewhere in this room I have hidden a candy bar and you have to find it while blindfolded. I will tell you that it is in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

His Frustrating Ways Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Sep 25, 2008

God’s ways are usually more frustrating than mysterious.

Back in 2000, my friend Dan and I were called and hired as pastors of Wellspring Community Church, a fellowship that we started from scratch. Dan and I began the process as friends, but we’d never actually worked together. At first, all was well as we concentrated on getting the facilities ready ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing And Doing God's Will Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Sep 25, 2008

You can’t always know what God is up to, but you can position yourself to participate in His plan.

If I had to pick the number one question that people have asked me over the years as a pastor I’d have to say that it’s this: “What’s God’s will for me?” That question used to stump me, but now I have an answer, “I don’t know!” God’s will is an incredibly slippery thing, even for those who are ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Impact And Impotence Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Oct 2, 2008

A changed heart doesn’t guarantee that you will change the world.

If you’re like me you’ve been keeping up with the federal government’s attempt to bailout failing housing and financial markets this week. I found an article from Reuters in which the blame for this economic slump has been traced to a decline in Christian influence in our nation. DALLAS ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Serve God Without Really Trying Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Oct 13, 2008

You must learn to ride the waves that God raises up.

One of my favorite college instructors was a history professor named Dr. Oakley. I loved his Western Civilization classes because of the unique perspective he brought to the subject. He was also one of my favorites because he empathized with his students. On the first day of class I was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Everything You've Heard About Christmas Is Wrong

Contributed by Joel Smith on Dec 18, 2008

Exposing the myths of Christmas in a lighthearted way

As you can see from the title of the sermon this morning, I’m going to attempt to overturn much of what you believed to be true about Christmas. Over the last several years I’ve become convinced that God created me to combat conventional wisdom. Why? Most of the time conventional wisdom is just ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Reason For Hope On The Road Ahead Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 1, 2009

The road ahead is about to get rocky, but, we have reason for hope.

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. It’s 2009 and what makes this new year unique is there’s more reason for pessimism than optimism at what it will bring. Maybe you’ve heard some of the dire predictions about what the near future holds. A couple of weeks ago, economist and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

A Crash Course In Character Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 14, 2009

God wants to shape your soul to be just like Jesus. Will you cooperate?

John Ortberg tells of a man in a church he once pastored whom he called Denny. Denny was not a happy man. He had attended church his whole life, but he had never been happy. Even the expression on his face was perpetually negative – so much so that one day a deacon asked him, "Denny, are you ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Going Forward With God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 24, 2009

A rather mediocre sermon about Jacob’s facinating encounter with God at the Jabbok. The so-so title tells it all.

If you take the Bible seriously, it’s quite a frustrating book. Within its pages are outrageous commands like “be holy” (1 Peter 1:16) and “offer the parts of your body to [God] as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13). Jesus laid a heavy burden on us when He said, “…be perfect, just as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Somewhere Between Quack And Quisling Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 24, 2009

The Christian life is a balancing act between syncretism and sectarianism.

When I was a teenager, I was one of the few students at West Davidson Sr. High School who listened to heavy metal music. Although my buddies enjoyed it to some extent, they were a little bit spooked by some of the darker groups I chose. This was mainly because they were all good church-going boys ...read more

Denomination: Baptist