Sermons on Joseph Freidman:

Everybody Will Like Me Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2004

First in a series on dealing with popular illusions. I can deal with not getting everybody to like me if I will live in integrity, love intentionally, let go of negative feelings, and leave it finally to God.

More energy has been spent on this one thing than on building the Panama Canal, constructing the Great Pyramids, or creating the Interstate Highway system. More energy! More tears have been shed on this one item than on the depredations of poverty, the destruction wrought by great storms, or a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

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

Mourning The End Of Summer

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2005

We come to points in our lives when it appears to be too late to do what we felt called to do. Our problem is that we have expected God to do for us what we would not do ourselves. But the good news is that God is an empowering healer.

“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore – and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over – like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load; or does it just explode?” Langston Hughes, poet of the Harlem ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-22

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

Blessed Assurance

Contributed by Joseph Comage on Aug 8, 2005

We all remember days of major life events. Brother Job had a day and the bible says NOW THERE WAS A DAY. Jesus is ready to help you through that Day.

BLESSED ASSURANCE Job 2:11 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place-- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Da Vinci Code: Thrilled By A Thriller Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on May 17, 2006

Decontructing Brown’s conjecture to equip believer’s to share the truth.

The DaVinci Code – Fact or Fiction Thrilled by a Thriller – 1 Pt. 2:1-3 Insert: Unlocking the DaVinci Code Intro Video Clip Intro: Treachery, religious fanaticism, murder, an ancient conspiracy, secret societies, erotic spirituality and feminism are just a few of the plot lines in the 2003 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Da Vinci Code: Is There Something About Mary Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on May 30, 2006

Exposing the fiction of Mary Magdalene.

The DaVinci Code – Fact or Fiction Is There Something about Mary- Mt. 7:24-27 Intro: Much as I anticipated, despite the poor reviews, the DVC has been a smash hit at the box office taking in 85 million in the U.S. and over 224 million worldwide in the first weekend – meaning that millions of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

From Crisis To Christ

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 30, 2006

Funeral sermon for Andrew Maybin, Navy veteran who had gone through a spiritual crisis about a forced retirement.

When you reach a crisis point in your life, you have only a few choices about how to respond. When those crisis moments come, all you can do in response can be boiled down to three things and three things only: either you can give up; or you can stand and fight; or you can learn something ...read more

Denomination: Baptist