Sermons on Joseph And Christmas:

A House Is Not A Home

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2001

Christ comes to dwell in our messy, imperfect homes, just as they are, to build love, not a museum-like perfection.

A house is not a home. A house is not a home. A house is a house, and it may be lovely to look at and fine to visit, but a house, by itself, is not a home. What is the difference? Let me tell you a tale of two houses. These are the best of houses, these are the worst of houses. See if you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17, John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A King In The Gate

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2001

David’s emergence from grief over Absalom was marked by his "sitting in the gate" -- a sign of healthy recovery in that he had begun to care for others more than for his own wounds, he had returned to the work of justice, he faced vulnerability, he resumed leadership, he could face his own grief.

I This day the noise of battle, the next the victory’s won. Or so the king hoped. Much was at stake. His own future was uncertain; the nation’s stability was shaky; the confidence of those around him was low; and, most of all, his relationship with his son was in jeopardy. There had been a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Rsvp

Contributed by Joseph Johnson on May 3, 2002

God invites us to the greatest party of all time

R.S.V.P. Mark 3:1-12 During the Holiday season many of us will be doing some extra entertaining. We’ll take certain steps to ready ourselves for the visit of guests. The first thing we work on is the guest list: who can visit together amicably, ( in other words who can get along together) Then ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Be Careful What You Pray For, You Might Get It Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 15, 2002

There are only two motives for prayer: fear and hope. If you pray and live in fear, you will live a lie and deny God, and you will become destructive. But if you pray and live in fear, you will find satisfaction and will become a life-giver.

God answers prayer. Let there be no doubt about that. God answers prayer. God responds to what His people ask. So it has often been said that you had better be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it! There is something awesome, something even dangerous about prayer. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-16, Psalm 106:15

Denomination: Baptist

Acceptance And Rejection

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 25, 2007

We know what both acceptance and rejection feel like. What must God feel at our rejection of Him? In Jesus He turns around our rejection into His acceptance of us. We can accept our acceptance.

“He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” Do you have experience with both acceptance and rejection? I imagine you do. No one is so fortunate as to have had everything he wants, and so we have all experienced rejection. And no one is so hard-up that she has been ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

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

Knee Deep In Sheep

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 10, 2005

For Advent III, preached at First Baptist of Gaithersburg, MD. "We may be knee deep in sheep, but let this keep you as you sleep, it is joy we reap". God in Christ transforms the ordinariness of everyday, humdrum life.

We may be knee deep in sheep, but let this keep you as you sleep – it is joy we shall reap. Did you get all that? Too many rhyming words? Ah, but every one of them is important. Listen again: we may be knee deep in sheep, but let this keep you as you sleep – it is joy we shall reap. Now you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

About To Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 21, 2008

If God is about to create a new world, it needs to be one that realizes His promises of fulfillment, reconciliation, and peace. In the babe of Bethlehem those promises, though not yet complete, have come to be.

When I was a boy, my brother and I slept in an upstairs bedroom, and always, on Christmas morning, the door at the bottom of the steps would be shut tight. Normally it was kept open, but on Christmas morning, not so. Things were happening on the other side of that door, things we were not to see ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25

Denomination: Baptist

Mary's Heart Beat Series

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 14, 2015

Just what was in Mary's heart that enabled her to conceive and give birth to the greatest Gift, God's Son?

Mary's Heart Beat Enjoying God's Favor Introduction: Christmas is upon us, everyone is busy making sure gifts are purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree for the up and coming Christmas celebration. Tis a season to show acts of charity and for many, to cling to those church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Advent 2 2018 - Observing Mary Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 13, 2018

Some tend to over emphasize Mary; while others tend to nearly dismiss her. What can we learn from Scriptures that show us the heart of Mary? Mary is indeed a good example for us to follow.

Observing Mary Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-20, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:18, Luke 1:34, Proverbs 3:5-6, Luke 1:38, Luke 1:46-48, Luke 2:29-32, John 7:3-5, Luke 2:33, Luke 2:51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

Surrounded By Family And Friends Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Nov 13, 2023

Stable – Barn – Cave – What did the place look like where Jesus was born and what were the conditions? Let’s see what we find in Luke 2:1-7

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7; Micah 5:2 Theme: The S of Christmas – THE STABLE Title: Surrounded by family and friends Stable – Barn – Cave – What did the place look like where Jesus was born and what were the conditions? Let’s see what we find in Luke 2:1-7 INTRO: Grace and peace in the name ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7, Micah 5:2

Denomination: Nazarene

All I Need Is A Miracle: The Virgin Birth Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Dec 7, 2025

She asks the question any of us would ask, “How is this going to work?” Ancient peoples may not have known the intricacies of modern embryonic science, but they knew how babies were made. Mary knew she had not yet consummated her marriage to Joseph.

If it weren’t for Jesus, Mary would be the star of Christmas. People all over the world love Mary. Get this: there are about 4,200 churches dedicated to Mary in the United States alone.1 There are likely tens of thousands more churches named after Mary around the world, but no one knows for sure. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Mar 26, 2014

What we gather around announces JOY.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room Series: Joy to the World December 8, 2013 - Brad Bailey INTRO The most popular hymn of Christmas... "Joy to the world." The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 and as of the late 20th ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah 40:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not What You Expected

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 7, 2015

Have you ever gotten something for Christmas that was totally unexpected? It could’ve been a special gift or a visit from someone. There were some things that happened on that first Christmas that were quite unexpected.

NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED Have you ever gotten something for Christmas that was totally unexpected? It could’ve been a special gift or a visit from someone. On the flip side have you ever expected a certain gift or visit from someone and ended up being disappointed? I was looking at this online ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Bethlehem To Golgotha: A Christmas Story In The Psalms Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Dec 17, 2024

He actually became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was abandoned for us. He was abandoned, so God would never abandon you. You may feel abandoned, but a genuine child of God is never truly abandoned.

To prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas, we are tracing the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah. These are often called the Messiah predictions. I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 22. Today, we continue a series entitled The Essence of Christmas, which just happens to be the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist