Sermons on Joseph Biden:

Working The Prayer Master Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

a six part series on building a better church body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 4 All my illustrations come from Sermon Central unless otherwise noted and the scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. WORKING THE PRAYER-MASTER The Body of Christ is compared at times by the Apostle Paul to physical body we have here on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:21-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rowing The Growing Machine Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

A six part series on building better church body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 5 all my illustrations come from Sermon Central unless otherwse noted scripture is NIV unless noted ROWING THE GROWING MACHINE I hope that you have enjoyed this series of sermons as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Building a Better Body is the theme of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lifting Weights Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

a six part series on building a better chuch body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 6 all my illustrations come from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. LIFTING WEIGHTS It is almost hard to believe that we are 5 weeks into this year already and at the end of this series of sermons on Building a Better Body. I think it is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surviving Marriage

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 13, 2009

A Sermon about marriage with illustrated suggestions

Surviving Marriage (ALL illustrations come from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless oherwise noted) It seems with the completion of Revival and the series of sermons I preached on Building a Better Body, that we should stay on the roll. However, this is Valentine’s weekend and after next ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:4-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Makes God Smile?

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 17, 2009

A sermon designed to mak us think of ways to please Our God and Father in heaven.

WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE? (All my sermons use illustrations from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Have you ever wondered if by something you said, or by your actions, you have made God smile? I know as a parent there are things that my children do and say that make me ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Moving Out In Humility Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 19, 2009

This series is about Giving God room to work in our lives and in our church, each sermon talks a little about what we need to do and we need to stop doing in order to have God work in our lives.

WHEN WE MOVE OUT, GOD MOVES IN! Part 1 “Moving Out in Humility” (All my sermons use illustrations from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Several years ago I was the preacher of a church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After I had ministered there for a while, I saw ...read more

Scripture: John 3:30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Memory Strings And Purse Strings

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

We remember what matters to us. God asks us to remember what He has done for us, but our attachment to money competes with that memory. We need to remember what God has done among us and that His mission is for all to experience it. That will loosen ou

Memory is a very tricky thing. You never know what you will remember and what you will forget. The other day one of my friends told me if he is in a group and he is asked to introduce the members of the group, by the time he gets halfway around the room he is forgetting the names of people he ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Happens Behind Closed Doors Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

In worship God provides a way for us to deal with the lingering dirt in our lives, and offers us a vision of life’s beauty and possibility.

How many househusbands do we have here? Are there any househusbands? Not housewives … we don’t even say that word in these politically correct times! You know what I mean … how many of us men will admit that we get into the housework routine? Come on, I know about some of you! You have a working ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Denomination: Baptist

Pontius Pilate: Stuck In People-Pleasing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

Pilate was a classic people-pleaser, who found that his behavior produced popularity that masked contempt, pessimism, and powerlessness.

The story has it that during creation, as God was sitting up in heaven turning out all these creatures, some of the angels asked if they could help. It looked like fun, making plants and animals, birds and beasts. And so God, who had just finished fashioning something, said, "All right. Come ahead. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Praise Is Comely

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

The King James Version word "comely" helps us see that praise and worship fit the reality of today’s world, but are attractive to those who need perspective by which to live.

Our members will know that I seldom use the King James Version of the Scriptures, except on certain occasions when the majesty and beauty of its language are desirable. We are a church which is generally committed to contemporary readings of the Bible because they are more accurate and are easier ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 147:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Moles Or Souls? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

Some of us choose darkness, like moles burrowing into the ground. Our behavior becomes obsessively demonic, for which there are consequences. The Gospel calls us to be what God has made us to be, creatures living in the light, with passion.

Well, now, are you a mole or a soul? I want you to identify yourself, clearly and unequivocally, are you a mole or a soul? I suppose that does require a bit of explanation. A mole is a little creature that lives out its life underground, in the darkness, endlessly burrowing to and fro and making ...read more

Scripture: John 3:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

Were You There? No, But We Are Here

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

To know real and lasting power means admitting that we fail at what we do (repentance), giving over the control of our lives to Christ (faith), and obedience.

The speech choir has asked us a pointed question, "Were you there?" "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?" They went on, "Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?" And finally, "Were you here when He rose up from the grave?" Were you ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing Through The Darkness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 22, 2009

This is a time of profound darkness, when many things we have depended on fail. We may be among the curious crowd or the concerned companions, but we will eventually see. Who will be the next converted centurion?

When you are suddenly plunged into darkness, that darkness is profound, and you cannot see anything. But wait a while, let your eyes adjust, and if there is a glimmer of light anywhere, you will begin to see and you will make your way through. The darkness will not be quite as dismal as you first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:44-49

Denomination: Baptist

Wacky Wall Walkers

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 23, 2009

We Christians will be seen as wacky, using our own value system; we are wall-builders, giving the world something it really needs; and we are walkers, plodders, keeping at the task faithfully.

Anybody who is reading today’s newspapers can understand at least a part of Nehemiah’s frustration. The newscaster reported from Saudi Arabia this week that when fall comes in a few more weeks the midday temperature will drop all the way down to 110°! Tough times in the Middle East! But I’m sure ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

War Of The Walls

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 26, 2009

Just as God used two American generals to rebuild a wartorn world after WWII, so he used Nehemiah to build Jerusalem and will use us to rebuild our society and our church, despite the naysayers and those who say it cannot be done.

No one was quite sure when sundown came, for it was already too dark too see. The enormous clouds of dust and debris had filled the air for hours, and a choking darkness engulfed the sky. The moments of destruction had been so horrible, so swift and so complete, that those left alive could ...read more

Denomination: Baptist