Sermons on Joel Smith:

Why Is It So Hard?

Contributed by Duane Smith on Apr 15, 2007

This message is meant to bring us face to face with the problem of sin and encourage us to go to Christ for freedom and victory!

WHY IS IT SO HARD? Proverbs 13:15 INTRODUCTION: A. Over the past few months I have heard quite a few people tell me that life is hard 1. Life, Why is it so hard? a. Is the over arching principle of life found in 1 Cor 10:31 hard to understand - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:15

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Life!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 21, 2007

In response to Virginia Tech: we have choices -- to choose to live in the here and now; to choose to give life to our children by contradicting this violent culture; and to choose life eternal for ourselves.

“I had no choice.” Of all the things we heard this past week from the deeply disturbed mind of Cho Seung Hui, that stands out for me as key: “I had no choice.” Cho Seung Hui felt trapped and cornered. He felt driven to do this terrible thing. In his mind, every victim was to blame – they were ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Our Walk Say About Us

Contributed by Fred Smith on May 5, 2007

Considering Christ’s description of the cost of discipleship.

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”—Luke 9:62 WHAT DOES OUR WALK SAY ABOUT US? This is a word from Jesus about the importance of commitment. Hand refers to our spiritual motivation. Because of the hand’s ability to seize, control or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Said...

Contributed by Duane Smith on May 6, 2007

This message is intended to help us realize that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life in every aspect of our living: personal, family and church.

JESUS SAID…. John 14:6 INTRODUCTION: A. A small group of disciples had gathered with Jesus to eat the Passover meal together. 1. He had told them of a traitor in their midst, His coming death, the desertion of the disciples and the denial of Peter. 2. Things were looking pretty grim and, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Baptist

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day Series

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Nov 26, 2007

Learn the story behind the writing of the famous carol and the points of application from the message of the carol

Everyone loves the Christmas carols! Today I am starting a series of messages based on the stories behind the writing of the carols, and the message in the carols themselves. Take your hymnal and turn to hymn 98. The first carol we shall study is “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”. Look down ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 22:1-14 (Abraham Sacrifices His Son)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

A sermon given on the anniversary of the kidnapping of Mordechai Vanunu ...

Some reflections on Abraham – the father of faith: I It was early morning. Abraham rose in good time, had the asses saddled and left his tent, taking Isaac with him, but Sarah watched them from the window as they went down the valley until she could ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Genesis 21:8-21 (The God Of Ishmael)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob turns out the be the God of Ishmael too!! ...

We continue our sojourn with Abraham today – Abraham, the ‘father of faith’. We’ve been working our way through the story of Abraham for some time now – stories about Abraham & Sarah, Abraham & his family, Abraham & his descendents, Abraham and the promises God made to him - Abraham the ‘father of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21, Genesis 21:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

The Lord is my shepherd. Of course, the problem is that most of us have never even seen a shepherd! ...

Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd The Lord is my trainer I shall not fear the fight. He is constantly with me, working my corner He refreshes me between rounds with cool water And with even cooler advice Yeah, though I walk to centre-ring To stare out an opponent twice ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

David & Bathsheeba (2 Samuel 11)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

David and Bathsheeba - an old story with a very contemporary ring to it, and a few things still to teach us!

"You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act-that is, to watch a girl undress on the stage. Now suppose you came to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowly lifting the cover so as to let everyone see, just before ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jacob Wrestles With God (Genesis 32:24-30)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

Jacob, our Father in the fight, squares off against the Almighty on the field of combat....

"Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. (25) When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. (26) Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24-30

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

1 Samuel 1 & The Institution Of Marriage

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 28, 2007

Who was it who came up with the idea that the purpose of marriage was to make two people happy? Marriage is an institution designed for a very specific purpose! ... ...

’Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like horse and carriage’. So we’re told, but not in my book they don’t, and by ’my book’ I mean the Bible. That’s a warm and inviting way to start a sermon, isn’t it? But the tone is set for us today by our reading from the Old Testament - the ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Welcome

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 1, 2007

Memorial service message for James M. Wright, volunteer for a Florida Shriners Hospital. Focus on the welcoming of children meaning the welcoming of Jesus.

Images cross our television screens, and we turn away instinctively. Photos jump out at us from the newspaper, and we quickly turn the page. Brochures from charities arrive in our mail, and almost automatically we pitch them in the recycle bin. All because the media continue to show pictures of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Semper Paratus Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2007

The inbreak of God, whether now or in the day of His return, is both judgment and blessing. But if we are always prepared, we can handle the judgment without being destroyed and can receive blessings even though disguised.

If we prepare, we can handle just about anything. Preparation allows us to handle both negatives and positives. If we are ready, we can take the negatives and deal with the blows that fall on us. And if we are ready, we can also enjoy the positives and receive the blessings. When I was growing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

Presumption

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 9, 2007

Religion does not create a relationship with God, nor does ritual. It is refinement born of repentance that shapes that relationship. Repent, relate, and receive.

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Famous words supposedly spoken by journalist Henry Morton Stanley somewhere in Tanganyika at the end of his expedition to find the missing explorer. “I presume”. It means, “I think I know what I am doing. Would you please confirm it for me? You look like what I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Ten Lepers (A Sermon On Luke 17:11-19)

Contributed by David Smith on Dec 9, 2007

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying,

I remember hearing of a rural vicar in England whose bicycle went missing. The man relied exclusively on his bicycle to get around his little parish, and he knew things like bicycles didn’t just disappear into thin air, so he put two and two together and figured out that someone in the parish - ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican