Sermons on Joel:

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

The Road To Renewal Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 9, 2009

Learn the steps on the journey BACK to God.

“William Hinson, Sr. retired pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, the largest church in American Methodism tells the story about a time when he was going to Columbia, South Carolina to preach in a revival. He had not slept well the night before and had gotten up that morning and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Dream Delay Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 9, 2009

When your God-given vision is interrupted, it’s a part of God’s plan.

When you were young, what did your dream about? What did you imagine you’d do with your life? Who did you envision you’d be? As a follower of Jesus Christ, what do you dream about? Did you ever think about doing something great for God? Have you ever had even a fleeting thought that perhaps ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Baptist

Funeral Sermon For Geneva Peterson: "I Can Do That!"

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 9, 2009

A funeral message about an exceptional woman.

I believe that everyone’s life has a theme. Patterns emerge over the years that are true of us all the time. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out your theme, but with Geneva it’s pretty easy. When facing a challenge or a task or a new direction she was often heard to say, “I can do that.” ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

Rehab For A Scoundrel

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 18, 2009

God has some bitter medicine that can kill or cure the scoundrel in you.

Airport security personnel have a fairly mundane job. They scan people with metal detectors, look through their bags, check their shoes, and sometimes pat them down. It’s probably not uncommon to find a knife accidentally left in someone’s pocket. On rare occasions they might find drugs or fire ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 38:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

In God We Trust

Contributed by Joel Hoyer on Jul 11, 2006

An interesting analysis of the information presented on the United States Dollar Bill, focusing on the national motto of our country: "In God We Trust."

Proverbs 3:5-6 7-9-06 IN GOD WE TRUST Since I have teenagers, I have been reading this Zits comic strip of late. It seems to catch where I am in relationship to my teens pretty well. I showed you some a couple weeks ago. Here’s another one: (Slide: Zits comic strip 7/7/06. Jeremy’s dad ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Four Factors That Promote Genuine Holiness #1 Series

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 11, 2006

Series No. 1: Because we are redeemed children of God, we are to live holy lives.

LIVE HOLY LIVES Four Factors that Promote Genuine Holiness 1 Peter 1:13-25 Late one evening an interesting conversation took place in a college dormitory room. One student posed the question, "What do you want to be?" Several different responses were thrown out by various students. Some thought it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Supplements For A Holy Life #2 Series

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 14, 2006

Series No. 2: Because we are redeemed children of God, we are to live holy lives.

SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS FOR A HOLY LIFE 2 Peter 1 :5-8 A fouryear-old girl asked her mother, "Mom, how long is it until my birthday?" The mother responded, "Not very long, dear." To which the child responded, "Is it time for me to start being a good girl?" The little girl was being charmingly real, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Behind Our Prayers

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 22, 2006

We Christians can pray, but the effectiveness of it depends on something important BEHIND OUR PRAYERS.

BEHIND OUR PRAYERS James 5:13-18 We Christians can pray, but the effectiveness of it depends on something important BEHIND OUR PRAYERS. A. FAITH BEHIND OUR PRAYERS (15) "The PRAYER OF FAITH shall save the sick..." -The effectiveness of our prayers greatly depends on our FAITH. Mark ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Steps Toward Success

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 22, 2006

1. SUCCESS STARTS FROM WHERE YOU ARE 2. SUCCESS FOLLOWS FROM WHAT YOU HAVE 3. SUCCESS ACHIEVES FROM WHAT YOU CAN

Three Steps Toward Success Judges 3:31 This verse and the few verses in chapter 5 comprise the sum total of Shamgar’s biblical biography. Before the life of Shamgar there is Ehud, a valiant left-handed judge who led the people to victory against the Moabites. Israel’s peace with the Moabites ...read more

Scripture: Judges 3:31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preparing For The Success

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 22, 2006

Our introduction on your outline is: ON YOUR MARK. GET SET. GO! and this applies not just to racing but to life. The more we are prepared for what we have to face in life, the better we’ll be able to run the race that God wants us to run.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS Nehemiah Chapter 2 INTRO: ON YOUR MARK. GET SET. GO! Runners are you ready? (Runners shake arms and legs to loosen them up). On your mark! (One runner gets down in position. The other, who was standing behind gets distracted by a better view of the crowd and remains ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

4 Mistakes In Dealing With Problems

Contributed by Joel Santos on Jul 31, 2006

Let’s look this morning Abraham, Sarah’s, and Hagar’s mistakes in dealing with their problems.

4 MISTAKES IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS Genesis 16:1-16 INTRODUCTION: According to management expert Peter Drucker, managers do not generally spend a great deal of time making decisions. Decision making is, however, the task that has the most far-reaching consequences. It’s imperative that managers ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational