Sermons on Joel Smith:

Chose The Right Friend

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Aug 15, 2019

A study in the book of James 5: 1 – 20

James 5: 1 – 20 Chose the right friend 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like ...read more

Scripture: James 5:5

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

If The Bugle Is Expected, A Flute Will Not Do

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 16, 2019

If we will honour the Risen Saviour, we must ensure that we are focused on what is of importance to Him. Our purpose is not to make people like us, but to fulfil the mind of the Master.

“Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

Signposts To Paradise

Contributed by Thomas Swope on May 10, 2018

A study in the book of Leviticus 23: 1 – 44

Leviticus 23: 1 – 44 Signposts to Paradise 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. 3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Confidence In An Uncertain World Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 3, 2018

The Christian knows intuitively that he/she belongs to God and that the world about them is under the sway of the evil one. The message explores some of the parameters of this knowledge.

“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” [1] The New York Stock Exchange hits a new high every week, sometimes even breaking previous trading records several times in a week. Investor exuberance does make some potential traders nervous; they wonder ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Have A Title? Or A Testimony?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 17, 2018

The believer in the Risen Christ has a powerful testimony. We need to be encouraged to use what God has given each of us to the praise of His glory.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [1] The disciples were just like us—they wanted power, especially power over other disciples. They were convinced that if only they ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Forgotten Element In Modern Marriage

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 11, 2017

A call for purity in marriage for Christians.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” [1] Marriage is under assault in this day. I sincerely doubt that the assault is as successful as some might imagine; nevertheless, marriage is under a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Denomination: Baptist

But Contemporary Music Brings People To Jesus! Right?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 16, 2015

A consideration of the role of worship in salvation, focusing especially on how we worship.

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, ‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’ Thus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Fair Test For Those Who Think They Prophesy

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 8, 2020

While "prophecy" so-called is popular among a segment of the faithful, the test of prophets is seldom applied. The test of accuracy and adherence to the Word of God must be applied to verify a prophecy.

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 13:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

When You Look At God, Who Do You See?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 13, 2020

Our view of God depends upon our perspective. Sinners see God as vengeful; saints see God as a refuge. Thus, our relationship to God determines how we view Him.

“The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:2-8

Denomination: Baptist

Wounded! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 19, 2020

The message is a reflection on the sacrifice of the Christ--why it was necessary for Him to be pierced and why it was required that He be crushed. The message is a reminder that our peace results from His suffering in our place.

“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” [1] Midst the ubiquitous celebrations of this Christmas Season, as the streets of our cities are decorated with colourful banners ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5

Denomination: Baptist

Revival Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 31, 2020

How God uses 1) The Preaching of the Word (Ezekiel 37:1-6), 2) The Prayer of God’s Servant (Ezekiel 37:7-9), and 3) The Power of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 37:5-14) to accomplish Revival.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Other

Struggling To Believe Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 19, 2021

Each Christian has likely struggled with doubts at one time or another. God's Word is given not only to reveal the Father, but to encourage us that we are accepted in the Beloved Son as we believe Him.

“Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Yuck: The Lukewarm Church Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 7, 2018

Christ delivers a message to those who are Christian in name only. Being neither zealous for good works nor orthodox in their doctrine, they are lukewarm and sickening to Christ.

George Barna makes a living through surveys. What makes him unique is that his surveys are on exclusively Christian topics. Although he does poll populations at large, he also does polling on those who profess to be Christian. For millennia, there have been standard benchmarks of orthodoxy. Yet, as ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Other

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Facing The Unknown Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 19, 2017

None of us know with certainty what lies ahead after we are gathered to Christ. However, Paul encourages believers to look forward, preparing ourselves for what is surely coming.

“We know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist