Sermons on Joseph Freidman:

Lasting Love

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 13, 2001

Funeral sermon for Mrs. Lola Black, who died suddenly only five months after her husband’s death.

In March, when we gathered in this place to say farewell to a creative, innovative man, we did not dream that five months later we would gather again to bid adieu to his cherished helpmate. Charlie and Lola are together again, in death as in life; and it’s almost beyond belief. It just does not ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Pain Ignores The Appointment Book Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2001

Many of us dislike dealing with unplanned events, but those who need us need us now. So either we paralyze or we panic, unless we learn to work together inside God’s grace and unless we discern that He is giving us time in which to grow our faith.

I have the utmost admiration for anybody who can live amid constant crises. I cannot do that very well. If you are the kind of person who can keep your sanity when there are ten unplanned things happening around you, I salute you. How do you do it? That’s not me. That’s not my skill. I like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-56

Denomination: Baptist

Put Your Pencils Down

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 1, 2001

A Labor Day and Communion message, dealing with the sources of satisfaction in work. Designed for audience participation.

Labor Day, and school is starting again. I wonder, do they still do the same things as when I was in school? Do they still have the same rituals? Maybe not. Things do change. Dodgeball, for example. Now that was THE game in my day. You had the right to throw the ball as hard as you could and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Thy Kingdom Come: Still Blind And Mute Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 10, 2001

Praying for the Kingdom to come is an awesome responsibility, for some of us remain blind and mute despite Jesus’ healing, criticizing those who are different and causing divisions.

Our backyard is heavily populated. It is home to birds and bugs, to snails and occasional snakes, and most of all, our backyard is populated with moles. The turf is home to those burrowing creatures, moles. I have the twisted ankle to prove it, thanks to sinking in one of the burrows. Our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

24 Karat

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 22, 2001

For our Remembrance Sunday, when we honor the memories of those members who died since Easter a year ago. God refines each life so it is prepared to receive something imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

There have been hints of late that something shiny would be nice. No outright demands, you understand, and no whining. Just a hint that as our wedding anniversary approaches, a little chip of something shiny might be appreciated. Now fortunately we are not yet at the fiftieth year, so it will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

Everything Is Failing, But Nothing Has Failed

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 5, 2001

Sermon for Senior Adult Sunday; Joshua’s "retirement speech" identifies his sense of God’s promises kept and focuses on claiming the future for the next generation.

Are you a little tired of all the pious platitudes about failure? You know, the folks who tell you that failure is a good thing because you will grow from failure and you will be a better person? I am a little tired of that. I do not want to grow from failure. I want to be a success. I do not ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 23:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Jump-Starting Jabez

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 13, 2001

We have learned, thanks to Bruce Wilkinson’s writings, to treasure the prayer of Jabez; but what can we intuit that Jabez’ mother did for him: she honored his uniqueness, she owned her own pain and shared it with her son, and she move him toward faithful prayer.

You know how they say that behind every good man there is a good woman? Well, they used to say that. That is a pre-feminist proverb. Now they say that alongside every good man there is a good woman, like Newton’s Law, equal in force but opposite in direction! But I certainly find it true that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of A Wind-Driven Fire

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 5, 2001

The Spirit comes to the church as fire, passion, energy, but He comes as energy to follow the Lord’s directions, not merely as excess motion.

My grandfather’s workshop held an item that was of special interest to me when I was a boy. Sitting off to the side of his cluttered workbench was a wonderful object – a model railroad locomotive. It was black with silver markings painted on it, dusty and dull by now, but obviously once shiny and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of Destiny

Contributed by Errol Joseph on Jun 14, 2001

Explores God’s perspective on the launching of a new church.

DATE: June 14, 1998 TEXT: Acts 17:24-31 THEME: "The God of Destiny" INTRODUCTION Background - Paul at Athens. BODY I. WHAT IS DESTINY A. Destine - to determine beforehand. B. Predestine - to limit or mark out beforehand; to design definitely beforehand. C. To be like Christ (v. 10-11) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:24-31

Denomination: Pentecostal

Let's Hold Hands

Contributed by Errol Joseph on Jun 14, 2001

An encourgememt for the church to join hands together and to support each other in order to complete the work of God.

DATE: February 13, 2000 TEXT: Exodus 17:8-16 THEME: "Lets Hold Hands" INTRODUCTION Incident occurs soon after Israel leaves Egypt. The Amalekites were a warlike nomadic people who would become bitter enemies of Israel throughout its history. Israel was in a hostile environment, engaged in a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Time To Go To Egypt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 17, 2001

Fathers today, like Jacob, have been irresponsible; but, like him also, we can see that God is giving us another chance to redeem our relationships with our children, to allow Him to keep His promises, and to use major resources for Kingdom business.

This past Monday was our son-in-law’s birthday. We’ve cared about this young man for a long time, but now he’s even more special. He is our granddaughter Olivia’s father. And that makes him extra special. So we sent Don a birthday card and a little gift, and got an email response. In part, it ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Fountain Of Living Water

Contributed by Errol Joseph on Jun 23, 2001

An evangelistic sermon comparing what Christ offers with what we conceive.

DATE: June 24, 2001 TEXT: Jeremiah 2:13 THEME: “The Fountain of Living Water” INTRODUCTION BODY I. WHAT THE PEOPLE FORSOOK – The Spring/Fountain of Living Water A. Is Free B. Is Forever Flowing C. Is Full of Beauty D. Is Fresh & Satisfying E. Only Requires Receipt II. WHAT THE PEOPLE CHOSE- ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Understanding Biblical Stewardship Series

Contributed by Errol Joseph on Jun 23, 2001

Gives an overview of the major components of Biblical Stewardship.

DATE: May 6, 2001 TEXT: Matthew 25:14-30 THEME: "Understanding Biblical Stewardship" INTRODUCTION BODY I. STEWARDSHIP IS A RECOGNITION A. That we are servants of God – doulouv, slaves, idiouv we belong to Him. B. That everything belongs to God “entrusted his property” (v. 14) Psalm 24:1 “The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Pentecostal

Peace: Ready, Set, Go Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 27, 2000

To gain peace in stressful times, we need, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, to be ready and open to God’s doing new things; to set out promptly to respond to God’s action; and to go back into our normal course of life, but with a difference.

These are stressful days. There is too much going on. Too much. Too much work, too much to think about, too many demands, too much. Why, we have to shop and bake and decorate and plan parties and send cards and on and on. Too much. Stressful. Too much traveling. I heard an astonishing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Alpha Male

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 27, 2000

The Jesus of the Incarnation provides us with a more authentic leadership than "alpha males" in the wild or in politics, for in His differences He is Alpha and Omega.

Some of us learned a new term during the late and unlamented presidential campaign. Campaign observers, drawing on something learned from studies of animals in the wild, told us that one of the candidates was trying to learn to behave as an Alpha Male. An Alpha Male. What does that mean? In the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8

Denomination: Baptist