Sermons on Joseph Freidman:

Crossing Over 5 Series

Contributed by Joseph Schuck on Sep 6, 2003

This series focuses on crossing over obstacles, problems, situations, and the like which can impede our walk with God.

CROSSING OVER 5 Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 - “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Church Of God

You Were Shaped For God's Service Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 6, 2003

Part of a series on Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life. Worship without service is idolatry; fellowship without service is self-indulgence; discipleship without service is perfectionism. Pay the price of service.

Not long ago an insurance salesman called, wanting to sell me long-term care insurance. I was tempted to tell him I had an unbeatable plan for long-term care, called heaven, but I didn’t. Not this time, anyway, because some aches and pains we had been feeling did remind us that we might actually ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Prevailing Church: Loosing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2002

A prevailing church is one which lives like those persons others thought Jesus might be -- like John the Baptist, loosing himself from tradition; like Elijah, living out of grace; like Jeremiah, let loose in the world.

I walked into the Baptist Student Center at the University of Kentucky, about to take over as chaplain. My predecessor was still on the scene, filling up garbage cans with files. In those pre-Watergate days, nobody had thought of shredders, I guess. He was throwing away every record, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Never Powerless Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 26, 2002

We are powerless to change things only because we give power away and do not know how to reclaim it. We can do so first by affirming that change comes only through Jesus Christ, and then by believing that He partners with us when we pray. To do any less

We are never powerless. We think we are. We think we cannot change the things that trouble us. But in fact we are never powerless. We just give away our power. We give away our power and do not know how to claim it again. Those who have power over us have it only because we let them ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-12, John 14:28-31

Denomination: Baptist

Never Unloved Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 2, 2002

Some receive love, but reject it; others never know that they are loved. In either case, the Cross is evidence that we have never been unloved.

We need to think not only about the way we relate to other people, but also about how we receive them. It is not enough simply to be friendly and cordial. We also need to look at how we receive people when they extend themselves to us. I went to a meeting this week, where all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, John 14:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Getting It Right

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 17, 2002

Pulpit monologue-drama, in which "Solomon" describes how his father’s example influenced him negatively, but his father’s repentance redeemed him.

“A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.” Would you agree? I wrote that, you know. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” Ah, but how do we train them? That is the question. Just by commands? Or do we train them by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Tips For Our Daily Lives

Contributed by Joseph Louis on Jun 26, 2002

List of Scriptures on Spiritual Tips for Our Daily Lives

Spiritual Tips for Our Daily Lives * Be totally dependent on Jesus. Lean on Him for everything. ~ Phil. 4:6-7 (AMP), "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Refresher Course

Contributed by Joseph Louis on Jun 26, 2002

A Message to Refocus on Spiritual Things

Title: Spiritual Refresher’s Course Scripture: Acts 3:19 (AMP), "So repent - change your mind and purpose; turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing - of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air - may ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Assembly Required

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 1, 2002

Designed for a day devoted to reclaiming inactive members, this sermon argues that the spiritual life is like a piece of equipment: unpack, read the instructions, assemble, plug in the power.

Nothing you purchase comes ready to go. You can’t buy anything ready to use. Everything takes finishing and finagling before you can use it. You would think that when you have paid good money for your purchase, it would be ready. But not so. Something else always has to be done. You ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

I Pledge Allegiance To A Hiding God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 7, 2002

The recent "under God" court decision is inconsequential. Far better to pledge allegiance to a God who does not need publicity and lip service, but who points us to acts of justice, liberation, and witness.

In every age there are those who feel they need to help God out of hiding. God, it seems, is never without public relations agents, who want to help Him get His name out. They have their own reasons – some of them well-intentioned, and some of them selfish – but the truth is that God does ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Silence And Sin, Strength And Summer

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2002

Our lives have seasons like summer: heated, turbulent, conflicted. This is a result of unconfessed sin and of not listening to God’s priorities.

Every season of the year has its joys and its challenges. But God has ordained them all for the benefit of His creation. And every season of our lives has its joys and its challenges. Yet again God has ordained all these for the benefit of His people. Every season of the year is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Walking, Sitting, Standing

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2003

Funeral service for Marcia Jean Tucker, single mother and immigration officer.

Our third-grade teacher was very concerned about our posture. Day after day she would command her students to watch their posture. “Sit with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor; don’t slump in your seat.” “Stand erect, with your weight equally distributed on both feet; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With Your Friends Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2003

Jesus used the principle of understanding our weaknesses but trusting our possibilities in order to transform people-pleasers into persons of integrity, ambition into selfless commitment, and immaturity into responsibility.

History is full of stories of betrayal. Those who look like friends sometimes turn on you. Friendship means nothing to people who are bent on preserving privileges or feeding ambitions. Some of us have friends who would sell us for even less than Judas’ thirty pieces of silver if they ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:37-42

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 5, 2003

Hostility comes from the obsessed, self-absorbed heart, and often offers permission for random acts of violence. Jesus got real with His enemies by naming their madness but trusting His own defense to God.

Stress strengthens. That is a physical fact. It is also a spiritual truth. Stress strengthens us. When we face opposition, we grow. When we deal with differences, we become stronger than we were. Strange as it may seem, and unpleasant though it may feel, give thanks when you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:43-50

Denomination: Baptist

Certainly -- At A Distance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 18, 2003

For Good Friday: sometimes we no longer see things because we are too close to them. The disciples saw the cross "at a distance", but the centurion saw it through his callousness, cynicism, and skepticism, and affirmed, "Certainly".

Sometimes when you are too close to something you cannot see it. Or at least you cannot recognize what it is. You can be so close that you do not know what you are looking at. You need somebody else to give you a fresh perspective. My wife and I buy grocery items when they are on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:44-49

Denomination: Baptist