Sermons on Joel:

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

Caution! God's Favor ... Handle With Care Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 23, 2009

God’s gifts are ultimately for God’s glory. Use them well.

This week I’ve begun reading a new book by one of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, titled Outliers: The Story of Success. The premise of the book is simple: no successful person is a self-made man; everyone who gets to the top had a lot advantages, help, and luck. He devotes two chapters to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Total Reliance Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 4, 2009

The more God can direct you, the more He can use you.

To what type of person does God give success? What kind of person is God able to empower and use in a mighty way? Is it the man or woman with the most talent or skill? Are looks or leadership ability the necessary traits? Is a high IQ essential to do great things for God? Obviously, the answer ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Playing God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 8, 2009

You are God’s catalyst for change.

Several years ago a movie came out called Bruce Almighty staring Jim Carrey. It’s a good movie about a guy who is frustrated at the way his life is going, so he blames God and tells Him he could do a better job if he were in charge. God, played by Morgan Freeman, grants Bruce all of His powers. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Shepherd Takes Care Of Sheep

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 25, 2012

Encouragement to confirmands to stay faithful and focused on the Good Shepherd.

April 29, 2012 John 10:11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Kingdom Seeds Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Apr 30, 2012

Most Biblical scholars regard the “kingdom of God” as the central theme of Jesus’ message.

The Gospel of Mark #11 – “Kingdom Seeds” Mark 4:21-34 Intro – 1. ILL – In an earlier century, a large boulder laid in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-34

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Safe In The Storm Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Apr 30, 2012

Life is often filled with storms. We must learn to find Christ as our “safety in the storm.”

The Gospel of Mark #12 – “Safe in the Storm” Mark 4:35-41 Intro – 1. ILL – October 1991 a fishing boat named the Andrea Gail sailed from a New England port to fish for swordfish. On their return, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean they faced a hurricane named Grace. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Be Fully Alive In The Deadest Sense Of The Word

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 3, 2012

God puts our hearts at rest through HIs commands to love and believe.

May 6, 2012 1 John 3:18-24 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18-24

Denomination: Lutheran

A Nude Dude In A Rude Mood Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 6, 2012

This is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible!! It is a tremendous picture of the grace of God touching & transforming the most hopeless of men.

The Gospel of Mark #13 – “A Nude Dude in a Rude Mood” Mark 5:1-20 Intro – 1. I love preaching the Bible & all that goes along with it!! I love the study of Homiletics – the art of preaching. I have over 40 books in my library just on this topic alone! 2. 2 Tim. 4:2 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Pressing Into Jesus Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 14, 2012

In Mark 5, we see Jesus going from one seemingly hopeless situation to another. Our text is a “Markan sandwich” where two stories are pressed together. In it we are introduced to two very different individuals with one thing in common - they were willing

The Gospel of Mark #14 – “Pressing into Jesus” Mark 5:21-43 Intro – 1. ILL – A New Yorker was driving through Texas when he collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. “How can you now claim to have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Unbelief Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 17, 2012

One of the central themes in this section of Mark's Gospel is the unbelief of people who came into contact with Jesus. God takes unbelief very seriously, and so should we.

The Gospel of Mark #15 – “Unbelief” Mark 6:1-29 Intro – 1. Can anyone guess what my favorite animal is? The Platypus! 2. ILL – Josh McDowell writes, “People refuse to believe that which they don't want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Look At Two Responses Of The Romans To The Jesus Question Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 21, 2012

A look at the response of the centurion and Pilate as they see him and examine him.

March 21, 2012 Two Romans John 18:28-29 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus On The Move Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Mar 22, 2012

8. The Gospel by Mark is a record of virtually non-stop activity carried out at a rapid-fire pace. The key term repeated over 40 times in this first account of the life of Jesus, the Servant of God, is eutheos, the Greek word for “immediately.” Mark wast

The Gospel of Mark #1 – “Jesus on the Move” Mark 1:1 Intro – 1. ILL – Famous first lines…Books – 1) “Call me Ishmael” (Moby Dick). 2) “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”(A Tale of Two Cities). 3) “Marley ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1

Denomination: Evangelical Free

1st Impressions Of The Servant Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Mar 22, 2012

After introducing us to John the Baptist, Mark then moves quickly into presenting Jesus as the Servant on the Move! We see in these verses 3 snapshots of Jesus’ life up until the time that he began His public ministry in Galilee.

The Gospel of Mark #2 – “1st Impressions of the Servant” Mark 1:2-15 Intro – 1. They say, “You never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression!” 2. ILL – A convenience store manager in Allston, MA related the following story. “I’m in the store ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:2-15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Servant's Power Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Mar 22, 2012

As we come to the rest of Mark 1, we are confronted with the amazing power & authority of God’s servant – Jesus Christ. Today, let’s look at the amazing power of God’s Servant!

The Gospel of Mark # 3 – “The Servant’s Power” Mark 1:16-45 Intro – 1. Have you ever known someone who abused their power or authority? 2. ILL - In Cuba, nothing was bigger than baseball, except for Fidel Castro. When he was 74, he grabbed an aluminum bat & walked to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-45

Denomination: Evangelical Free