Sermons on Joel Smith:

A Study Of Romans 5:12-21 Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 14, 2013

Romans 5 is a very misunderstood text in the Bible. Verses within it are used to teach many doctrines that are not being taught if you examine the passage within its context.

Romans 5 is a very misunderstood text in the Bible. Verses within it are used to teach many doctrines that are not being taught if you examine the passage within its context. We need to remember the argument that Paul has been making up to this point in the book. Chapters 1-3a: All men have sinned ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Is The Holy Spirit? Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 14, 2013

There are many different views in the religious world about who/what the Holy Spirit is. Some believe the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force while others believe He is a personal being and God. What do the scriptures say?

These lessons on the Holy Spirit of God are meant to just “whet your appetite.” I am attempting to condense a good bit of what we see mentioned about the Holy Spirit into 4 lessons. This series could very easily be expanded into 15-20 lessons, if not more. I pray that these lessons will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are Barabbas

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 14, 2013

There are so many places within scripture where the gospel is foreshadowed. The account of Barabbas’ release is one such place.

This morning I would like to spend a short amount of time studying about a man that we do not know too much about, but a man that for a small amount of time plays an important role in the darkness and injustice that happens the day our Lord was crucified. The man I am speaking of is Barabbas. There ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You're Right! You Don't Have To Get Baptized! Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

It is interesting how we can allow what we have always been taught by others to affect how we look at what the Bible teaches. The subject of baptism is one such subject in which what many have always been taught leads them to suppress the truth.

I have had many discussions about the subject of baptism with people, and it never fails that sometime during the discussion, they just deny what the scriptures say about the topic. They at times just say, “I deny what you are saying about about baptism,” ignoring the fact that all I am ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Shall We Do? Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

There are many answers given in the religious world to the question, "What must I do to be saved?". Which answer is correct? Let's examine the first conversion account in Acts to find out what the Holy Spirit's answer is to this important question.

What a great day for the kingdom of God it must have been when that first sermon was preached by Peter! The door into the kingdom of heaven was opened to the world. That first sermon led to the salvation of about 3000 souls. Let’s put ourselves into the shoes of the people hearing this first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nehemiah: A Godly Leader Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

If I were asked to point to a great leader and the Bible (other than Jesus), I would point to Nehemiah. This sermon series will show many reasons why this is the case.

If someone asked me what I believed the best book in the bible on Leadership is, I would tell them to go straight to Nehemiah. Every single chapter in this book gives us great characteristics of a godly leader. In this lesson, I would like to look at the first 2 chapters of this great book, to show ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's More Than A List! Lessons From Nehemiah 3 Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

Whenever we get to long lists in the Bible, our eyes usually just skim through them, or we may just skip them. If we do this with Nehemiah 3, we will miss many good lessons.

The book opens up with Nehemiah learning of the bad news about the condition of the walls of Jerusalem and the condition of the people. Nehemiah showed in his questioning of his brother of the condition of God’s people and city and what followed what his priorities were as a servant of God. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Working With The Lord's Help Series

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

It should never surprise us when we do the Lord's work and people react with anger, ridicule, and rejection. Nehemiah gives us a great example of how we need to respond when the enemies of God oppose His work.

In this lesson, I would like to look at the leadership of Nehemiah through the hardship and opposition that the people went through. They had opposition from outside and discouragement from inside, yet they got the job done. It should never surprise us when we do the Lord's work and people react ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You A Legalist? Or An Illegalist?

Contributed by Jason Smith on Sep 15, 2013

Are you a legalist, or are you an illegalist? In other words, do you follow the law of God, or do you disobey the law of God? It is not a bad thing to be labeled a legalist. Satan has used this creative title to try to deceive many people to disobey God.

Matthew 7:13-27 Who in this room would consider themselves a legalist? This is the topic that I would like to briefly talk to you about tonight: Legalism, or “The Lie of Legalism.” Since the beginning of the Lord’s church, the devil has held nothing back; He has created so many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Makes You Think You Can Come Here?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2010

Lent, 1986, Communion: We should never be intimidated from the Lord's Table by ritual, shame, or weakness. It is hosted by one who offers us mercy and grace, paid for by His blood; so come boldly.

In the South Africa of apartheid, I suppose, nearly anything is possible. And so I do not expect that this story, improbable as it sounds, is untrue. If anything, I expect it could be multiplied many, many times over. At any rate, the story is that one day an Afrikaner, one of the ruling class in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Comes: No Respect Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2010

Christmas Eve 1988: When Jesus comes as an infant, there is no respect, for he is the child of an unwed mother and is poor. When Jesus comes to the end of his life, there is no respect. But He redeems His status and can redeem ours.

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield has made en entire career out of a single piece of business and a single punch line: "I don't get no respect". He will regale you with tales of his childhood, when the other kids used him as a punching bag and called him a host of unflattering names, and then he sums it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And The Chronically Unhappy

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 21, 2010

For Reformation Sunday, October 1987: Job in the Old Testament and Luther in the Reformation Era were chronically unhappy people, but used that as a form of spiritual energy to drive them toward creative achievement and an honest personal faith.

It looks as though some people are just born to be unhappy. There are some people who are going to approach nearly everything with a complaint or a gripe, who are going to make a personal issue out of everything. Nothing is quite good enough, nothing quite satisfies. There are folks whose ...read more

Scripture: Job 6:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

From Faith To Power

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 23, 2010

After Christmas, 1985. We alone of creation know that we could be and should be more than we now are. In Christ and in his vulnerability we are empowered to change.

"To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." Power to become … If you ask what it is to be human, if you want to know what separates us as human beings from all other forms of life, one way you could answer the question would be to say that ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 24, 2010

Independence Day 1988: Arrogance breeds blindness to our own sin, numbness to the needs of others, and a denial of relationships. The Father's Table is about mercy and grace for all.

You have heard him a thousand times in the TV commercial, warbling away in that gravelly voice with an accent I hear only when I go back to Kentucky. He is singing in the shower and flaunting his huge schnozz at the camera. "0 Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way". ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Game's Not Over Yet

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 10, 2010

Christmas 1985: In our tumultuous world and in our troubled lives, those negatives are not the last word, for God has sent Immanuel to work a work that is not yet finished, but will be eventually.

The morning sports pages brought forth a pearl of wisdom from one Ron Jaworski, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. Jaworski, as it turned out, is something of a prophet. He referred to his team's irritating habit of getting off to a good start in their games, leading right up to the last ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist