Sermons on Joseph Cook:

Chutes And Ladders Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 21, 2015

We want to be a disciplined people, and we want to be wary of the destructive evils that we find so easy to embrace. Discipline is like a ladder that slowly leads us upward; foolishness is a chute that can make us drop quickly.

Chutes and Ladders Proverbs 23:15-35 1.These are actual complaints received from dissatisfied customers by Thomas Cook Vacations (based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey): a. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:15-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

From Disunity To Unity

Contributed by David Zachrich on Aug 9, 2023

How good if all fighting – disagreements, squabbles, arguments, conflicts and worse – ended because we understood the cost and consequences!

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. … Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

'junipers In Wastelands' A Powerful Blessing Over Your Life

Contributed by Sophia Lorena on Mar 17, 2022

God works in the most unlikely situations, in the most unlikely people, in the most unlikely places.

Juniper berries apparently are used in cooking, but the more common usage is that Juniper berries are what gives a gin martini its unique flavoring. In the part of the world where I live, I am not even sure if Juniper berries are available for cooking, and I am certainly not into drinking Gin ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Saul To Be King (1 Samuel 9)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 4, 2025

Do we put our trust in kings or God? Let's look at 1 Samuel 9.

Do we tend to want leaders based on superficial qualities? What outward traits did Saul have? What leader serves like Jesus did? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 9. What were Saul’s outstanding physical characteristics? There was a wealthy man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Greatest Homecoming Of All

Contributed by Thomas Andrufski on Oct 2, 2025

Celebrate the joy of reunion and the hope of heaven! This inspiring message points us to Christ’s promise of an eternal homecoming and challenges us to be ready with our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The Greatest Homecoming of All Text: Revelation 21:27 (KJV) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Introduction – Earthly Homecomings Point to a Greater ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:27, John 14:2-3, Revelation 7:9

Denomination: Church Of God

Legacy - What We Leave Behind

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on May 10, 2025

This is a Mother's Day Sermon that speaks of creating a legacy of faith to leave others. Feel free to use my two personal illustrations as your own.

2 Timothy 1:5 (NLT) – "I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you." The Legacy Question What will people remember about you when you're gone? Will they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bethlehem Travelogue Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 23, 2016

Having just returned from a trip to Israel, this is the first of my talks about what I learned. Bethlehem is the place God chose for Jesus to be born... but why Bethlehem and what does the present day city tell us about our faith?

(For those who have been to the Holy Land and are thinking of making a presentation of your experiences, I submit this lesson as a guideline of what worked for my first of several lessons on Sunday Nights). Set up: My presentation was built around overhead projections of scenes found in Bethlehem. ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Observe The Birth Of Christ

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Oct 15, 2020

Today we will examine the Scriptures and see how the first Christmas was observed and I hope we will walk away with six principals we can apply in our lives as we seek to celebrate the birth of the Savior this year.

How do you celebrate Christmas? How did you observe this holiday last year? Did you purchase presents for your loved-ones? Did you serve dinner in your home or were invited to a friend or family member’s home for dinner? Did you attend a church service? Now someone at this point may be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:15-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Father Will Provide

Contributed by Jenny Franklin on Nov 6, 2021

Jesus said our Heavenly Father will meet our daily need of food and clothing. He gives examples of God’s provision. He tells us what we should do as a child of God. And we will see how we can do our part.

Isn’t life more than meat, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 Having been working on routine, goals setting and time management, this verse caught my attention. It stuck me how much of our time is spent on food and clothing! Planning and shopping Cooking and laundry Washing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33, Matthew 18:3

Denomination: Baptist

Hurry Sickness Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 16, 2025

Eliminating hurry isn't about avoiding urgency, but about intentionally slowing down to align with Jesus' unhurried, peace-filled way of living, which fosters rest, joy, and spiritual growth.

Series: Unhurried - The Hurry up sickness Tag – So many are rushing too nowhere! Opening Quote: Dallas Willard and John Ortberg – Soul Care “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry” Dallas Willard urged people to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" because he considered it the greatest obstacle to a vibrant ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30, Luke 10:42, Luke 6:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Agenda Anxiety Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 22, 2001

When Jesus speaks to the church, as to ancient Jerusalem, he gives us agenda anxiety, for we fear that we are not going to get done what we want to do, since his agenda is far different.

The campaigns are over. So are the celebrations and the inaugural balls. The toasts, the handshakes, the good wishes are about to fade into memory. Today, for George Walker Bush, the work begins. Today, the list of things to do takes on shape. Today, the agenda becomes different. Yesterday he ...read more

Scripture: John 7:14-46

Denomination: Baptist

The Loveliest Lynchee Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2001

The poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, recently deceased African-American poet, illustrates how a commitment to justice begins with hope, turns to a sense of responsiblity, rises to act, but also acknowledges the depth of human sin.

The dateline was to be Little Rock, Arkansas, September 1957. The story was to be about the vicious hatred of a city whose people were resisting justice and terrifying school children. Little Rock, Arkansas, where Governor Orval Faubus had become the symbol of massive resistance, and where an ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Ugly, The Bad, And The Good

Contributed by Joseph Ng on Feb 26, 2001

God’s verdict on the lives of Solomon, Ahab, and Hezekiah is different from that of secular history and is what matters ultimately.

Opening: You’ve heard of the 1966 Western movie starring Clint Eastwood entitled The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. As we consider the lives of kings in the Old Testament, it will be apparent that some are ugly, bad, or good. In particular, the lives of three Hebrew kings--Solomon, Ahab, and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stairway To Heaven Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 4, 2001

The beatitudes can be understood sequentially .. as stairsteps to "perfection" (Matt. 5:48). The first four lift us to fellowship with God; the other four bring us back down to the reality of ministry with needy people. This sermon was delivered using a ladder as a "prop".

When Stanley Kubrick made the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”, he guessed that by this time we would be flitting back and forth in outer space, visiting other planets and seeing things never before seen by human beings. The movie suggested that those who would be alive in the year 2001 would go on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Love Almighty And Ills Unlimited Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 17, 2001

When we are dealing with issues and conflicts, we may select to be babies (unlimited retaliation), children (limited retaliation), adolescents (limited love), or mature (unlimited love), toward Jesus’ command to "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. What madman spoke those words? What visionary would even in his wildest dreams suppose that you and I could be perfect? What is this raving? It is the word of Jesus, at the end of a series of challenges. Love your enemies. Give to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist