Sermons on Joseph Cook:

Picking Up The Pieces Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2004

First in a series from Ephesians; and for the Day of Prayer for World Peace. Our lives and our world seem fragmented. But God brings order to our lives by choosing us; He redeems the messes we make; and He calls us to the work of restoration.

Do you experience life in pieces? Do you find that each day is a jumble of bits and pieces, fragments? That most of the time there isn’t any coherence, there isn’t any consistency? Do you feel that each day is a whole lot of things to be done, but they don’t always hold together? I don’t know ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Who Are Our Strangers? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2004

Many things conspire to keep people separate, even in the church. Only God can connect us, and it is the cross that binds us. Are we living out that reality, or have we let separations disconnect us?

When he says it, it feels both enraging and endearing. When he pronounces it, it sounds like irritation, but it also sounds like invitation. It is both attracting and detracting, both including and excluding. I am referring to those moments in the old TV show, when Felix Unger, the neat freak half ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Able To Accomplish Abundantly Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2004

God intends for the church to be the instrument of redemption, full-faceted, and intends for us, though we may think we are inadequate, to be its agents. Challenge your imaginations as to what the church might be able to do by letting God do what He is a

If you were to ask the average person, out on the street, what he thinks of the church, what answers might you get? What do people think about churches? I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. But I know some of the things they say: They say that church is all talk. Ceaseless talk. Noisy gongs and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

When Sensitivity Is Dulled Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 17, 2004

Where does interpersonal insensitivity come from? Ignorance, alienation from God, loss of feeling, destructive self-absorption. How can sensitivity be regained? Learn, learn Christ, let the relationship govern, be renewed.

There has been an accident. You’ve been hit hard, and you cannot lift that leg. They examine you, they flex your muscles, they look for broken bones. If the condition persists, they may stick pins into the soles of your feet. They are trying to find out whether you can feel anything. They are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Safe At Home Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2004

Interactive message. What do we do about the family? Respect our children; parent with sacrificial love; and give children priority of emphasis in the church’s outreach.

There are times when all of us need to participate, times when no single person can speak all the truths or do all the work. There are times when a community of people must come together, think together, pray together, speak together. This is such a time. The state of family life in our nation is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Life Will Cease To Be A Struggle Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Second in a series on popular illusions; and for Independence Day. Life will not cease to be a struggle if justice is not fully realized, feelings are not fully expressed, and wrong decisions are not fully reversed.

What kind of a retirement party was this? He had worked so long, he had struggled with so many things, and now, here, at the end, it seemed there was still unfinished business. His worries were not behind him, nor were all the issues settled. And why not? Had he no right to expect that now life ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

I Can Define God Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Third in a series on popular illusions. We try to limit God by turning to religion instead of relationship. The issue is in our own integrity. The world understands the power of God better than we do! The loss of our idols is fatal, but in Christ ther

She was obviously tired of discussing the issue. The wrangling had gone on long enough. Neither side was about to give in to the other. It was time for somebody to settle this matter. So she drew herself up to her full five feet two; she threw her shoulders back; and with that certain toss of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

I Can Change People Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Third in a series on popular illusions. We think we can change others, but shaming them will not work. Nor will forcing them. Only a spiritual-relationship crisis will do so. Help them see how sin injures Christ and they will change.

There have always been folks who have thought they could change the world, people who were unwilling to leave things as they are, who want to make a difference, who want to get things done. They want to change the world. The trouble is, they usually run up against harsh human reality. Eighty or so ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Am The Vine Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jul 20, 2004

The final message in a series on the "I am" discourses of Jesus from the book of John.

The Great I Am – I am the Vine July 18, 2004 John 15:1-8 Sunday AM Setting: Jesus is w/ His disciples on the way to the Gethsemene. Somewhere along the way, they likely came across a vineyard which served as the perfect setting for another important lesson from the Messiah. Note: Jesus wants ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jul 20, 2004

A meesage from John 14 in a series on the "I am" discourses of Jesus from the book of John.

The Great I Am – The Way, Truth, and Life June 27, 2004 John 14:1-6 Sunday AM Intro: For 7 years, Mt. Bethel Methodist in Atlanta had hosted the community’s baccalaureate service. One year, organizers wanted to include speakers from the Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and Wicca religions. Many students ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Windswept

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 3, 2005

America is a land swept by the winds of change. Are they destructive? Yes, if we invest in religion without integrity and if we accept leaders committed to materialism. But refreshing winds are possible as we the church are in touch with the Spirit.

In the hills of eastern Kentucky, not far from where we once lived, there is a hidden-away estate called Windswept. If you crawl up the winding grade of US 421 to the wide place in the road called Morrill, off to your left there is a driveway that leads to a lovely stone house. Windswept was ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 8:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

From Goodness To Going

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 11, 2005

Preached at the National Baptist Memorial Church -- a congregation facing selecting a pastor, dealing with an aging building, and in decline. The issue is whether we will stop depending on just being "good" and will live out of grace to bear our witness

I heard not long ago about a very special automobile. It was built in the 1920’s by the Italian firm Bugatti, and it was designed for the outrageously wealthy. This car had 450 horses under the hood, it was 22 feet long and weighed 6000 pounds. It was hand-crafted of the finest materials, it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Who's Your Daddy?

Contributed by Joseph Comage on Jul 20, 2005

James and John we know, but who’s their Daddy? Is he important or is he significant in any way?

Who’s Your Daddy? Mark 1: 16 - 20 16And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18They immediately left their nets and followed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

With A Child's Heart

Contributed by Joseph Comage on Aug 4, 2005

The church is responsible to train and feed the New Born Christian in the ways of the Lord

With a Childs Heart Proverbs 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. When we speak of a child, it can mean different things. ľ There is the child that is an infant. ľ There is the child of God. ľ There is a New Born Christian Child. Every ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sown In Peace

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2005

Funeral message for Velton H. Edmonds, former chair of the church’s Music Committee. Gentleness and wisdom together, without an ounce of envy or ambition, yields a harvest for those who survive.

The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson has the ancient Greek hero Ulysses say, “I am a part of all that I have met”. More completely, I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ Gleams that untravell’d world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move. How dull ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist