Sermons on Joseph Cook:

The Plans Of Our Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 9, 2010

Some think they have a grasp on their future and what is best for them. Truly only God knows what is best for us, we must concede to His leadership.

THE PLAN OF OUR HEARTS It has been over 4 months since I have preached a sermon, For ten years I preached almost every week, sometimes two different messages and at least four revivals that I can remember doing. Being away from the pulpit has made me long for the Word, presented with passion, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Game's Not Over Yet

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 10, 2010

Christmas 1985: In our tumultuous world and in our troubled lives, those negatives are not the last word, for God has sent Immanuel to work a work that is not yet finished, but will be eventually.

The morning sports pages brought forth a pearl of wisdom from one Ron Jaworski, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. Jaworski, as it turned out, is something of a prophet. He referred to his team's irritating habit of getting off to a good start in their games, leading right up to the last ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Father: Reaching Into The Pockets

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 9, 2010

The waiting father reaches deep into the reservoirs of love, extending compassion to his wayward son. So we also as parents must seek not to control but to guide and then be ready for forgiveness.

I shall not soon forget the image he presented, this father of the bride. He had smiled all through the vast and elaborate preparations for the wedding; his daughter was a kind of elegant princess, he knew it, she knew it, everybody knew it – and so the princess must have a grand occasion. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 10, 2010

Celebrates the literary insights of James Baldwin, who had died shortly before; the privilege of redemptive suffering on the part of a person or a people participates in the suffering of Christ and of His victory. Includes readings from Baldwin’s writing

Nothing is more full of mystery than this – that the suffering of .a few who are oppressed and injured acts to redeem the many, including the oppressors. And yet nothing is more true than this – that from time to time a person, a people, a race receives the awesome privilege of suffering in such ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Many Voices, Careful Choices

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 11, 2010

Having Discernment is vital in our world, this sermon discusses three ways the scripture shows us to get discernment

MANY VOICE, CAREFUL CHOICES? (All my sermon use illustrations from www.sermoncentral.com and the scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.) I am pretty sure that all of us want to make wise choices, I feel confident that we would all instruct our children to be careful when making choices, because ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grow To Care, Care To Grow

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 11, 2010

A church that wishes to grow must "get over" negatives about evangelism and must tell the truth about the human spiritual condition; must present a full diet of worship and study and preparation; and must be a source of radical community.

We have a garden at our house. Or should I say, we had a garden. It was carefully planted, lovingly tended for a time, it was nurtured through the searing heat of July and watched over during the thundershowers of mid-August. But something happened to that garden, something awful and terrible, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Baptist

Heart Bypass (1986)

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 16, 2010

We are divided over whether to invest more in charity or more in the church program. A key element must be the compassion that gives from the core of our beings.

It seems as though just about once a week someone will phone from one of the charity agencies -- the Purple Heart, the Good Will, the Disabled Veterans -- and I always know when they are calling, because they will ask for Mrs. Smith. Nobody asks for Mrs. Smith when they could ask for Margaret ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Everlasting Encouragement

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 17, 2010

It is so easy to become discouraged in our world, especially with the steady flow of bad news coming from the world around us, this sermon shows why the Christian has a supply of everlasting encouragement

EVERLASTING ENCOURAGEMENT (All me sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) How many times in life do we feel the weight of discouragement? I am fairly certain that every person sitting here this morning knows what a battle it is to stay ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sobering Standards Of Spiritual Success

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 20, 2010

Success is so many things to so many people, but the Bible tells us what Success really is.

SOBERING STANDARDS FOR SPIRITUAL SUCCESS (ALL my sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) All of us want to be successful, but first one must understand what success is. Webster’s defines success 1. Favorable or desired outcome, 2. The ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Heart Transplant

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 21, 2010

God works in our lives much as a surgeon does in our bodies: cleansing thoroughly of old idolatries, assisting us in the transition, and then giving us a new indwelling presence, that of Christ.

I remember the corny old song that says, "They've gone just about as fur as they can go." And it seemed just about right, too, at one time. They've gone just about as fur as they can go, when airplanes were invented and we could soar as on eagle's wings. They've gone just about as fur as they can ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:22-27

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Does God Care About Us?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 9, 2009

The word "while" alerts us to the sources of our frustration: weakness, pride, and broken relationships. But God in the crucified Christ has an answer to each of these issues.

Why are so many people so unhappy? Why is it that there are so many people with so much ability and with so many resources, but they still feel profoundly unhappy and frustrated? A great many people do, you know. Some of them show it in the obvious ways; some of them are angry and even ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Do We Care About God?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 15, 2009

We can measure our care for God by our willingness to equip ourselves for witness and to share the Gospel with our neighbors and to be missions supporters.

The plumber came this week. You remember, those of you who were here last Sunday, how I was waiting for the plumber to come and solve our drainage problems? The plumber did come this week. He did the job I wanted, and even did it better than I knew it could be done. Not only did he unstop the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 16, 2009

Sin at its worst is the inability to understand ourselves and to control ourselves, leading to separation from self, others, and God. The cross, the empty tomb, and Christ’s life rescue us.

Well, are you ready today for the fourth step, the step that’s all the way down at the floor level? Those who were not here last Sunday do not know what I’m talking about. Those who were here will need a little review. Let me explain. Last Sunday we walked the first mile on the Roman Road ... ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Worth It To Disciple Everybody?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 18, 2009

The death and resurrection of Christ give Him the authority to command us to disciple beyond superficiality, to reach even the marginal, and to have a global scope to our mission.

Somebody out there has a plan for your life. Somebody has a plan for the world you live in. Time and again I see evidence that there are those who believe that with enough planning, enough energy, and enough work, they will get you into their orbit. They have a plan for your life and for your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

It's All So Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 19, 2009

To the issue of why bad things happen to good people, Eliphaz’s answer is spiritually lazy and assumes that we can earn God’s favor. Job’s response is to have faith in a God who will ultimately accept responsibility for sin.

You and I are about to enter the realm of mystery together. I know of nothing which challenges the mind and the imagination quite so much as the mystery of human suffering. Why men and women should have to suffer physically or emotionally – that has never been answered completely. In recent weeks ...read more

Denomination: Baptist