Sermons on Joseph Freidman:

Remember My Chains Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 24, 2008

Like some of Paul’s companions in prison, we may be held back by tasks too small, by shame, or even by our own prejudices. But once we accept our limitations as part of God’s will, they become ways to help others and fulfill our life callings.

If you suffer severe limitations, what do you wish for? What is your prayer, if you are bound by something that keeps you from doing what you really want to do? Do you wish you could be free from it? Likely you do. Do you even pray that you might have that limitation removed? I expect that I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-18

Denomination: Baptist

Success In Christ Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jul 23, 2012

Each of us wants to be a better Christian, God has already given us EVERYTHING we need according to 2 Peter 1:3-5, journey with me trhough this great text.

SUCCESS IN CHRIST I think that I can say with some degree of confidence that there are many people in this room this morning that would like to be better Christians. I would include myself in that statement, and I can speak for my wife as well. I KNOW, without a doubt that many people here today, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good To Go

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2010

Funeral service for Alberta Perry Faulkner, the mainstay of the church's missions support efforts and a world traveler, nurse, teacher, Scout leader, senior citizen sponsor.

I had my car repaired not long ago. It took about as long to check out at the cashier’s desk as it did for the mechanics to do the work, because at the desk I had to sign several forms, initial a couple of others, present my credit card and sign the charge slip, and then wait for the clerk ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Entering By The Front Door

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 31, 2010

Annual Theme sermon for 1989. Some of us have entered the fold by the back doors, for all the wrong reasons. We need to get that right, and then obey the Lord's invitation to bring others to the only door to the only fold.

One day as we/were here in the church building we heard a loud banging noise, as if somebody were trying to get inside the building. It was an insistent loud knocking, but at first we couldn't find out where it was coming from. Our secretary went down the hallway to the door on the alley, but it ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Down To Racing Weight

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2010

Delivered March 1986. To run this race of life and faith, you need worthy role models, you need to rid yourself of destructive habits, and you need the pacesetter, Christ.

Beneath this bulky middle-aged body and especially beneath the generous folds of this preaching robe, there beats the heart of a runner, a racer. Surprise, surprise, you never knew that, did you? But it's true. Inside this fleshy disgrace to the human race there lies buried somewhere the soul of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Immanuel: He Drives Away Our Fears

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2010

Advent 1987: Ahaz let fear drive him to sacrifice the best that he had and to mire down in "what if". God through Isaiah offered the ultimate sign of hope, His own presence, who drives away our fears.

The birth of a child has many layers of meaning. When a baby is born into a family, there can be all kinds of different feelings, all sorts of different meanings. For one family, this is indeed a blessed event, filled with joy, running over with excitement, the fulfillment of hopes and dreams and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Absence Of God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2010

January 1985: The psalmist experiences the absence of God, even to the point of denigrating himself as a "worm." But when he takes inventory, he does see evidence of God's presence, opens up his heart, and dares to hope.

Today I am going to take a somewhat different approach to the reading of the Scripture and the way I will be preaching on it. And in fact I hope this will make it come alive for you and will enable you to follow the thought of the Scripture writer as well as my own thought. What I plan to do today ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The War Against Wickedness

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 8, 2010

We are called to be warriors against wickedness, do we do our part?

THE WAR AGAINST WICKEDNESS I think we would all agree that our world is filled with wickedness. It is not something new to our world or our time or this generation even, the world has been filled with wickedness for as long as we have recorded history. The word translated “wickedness” ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

2nd Chance Jesus?

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 9, 2010

Many of become ineffective Christians, because of the sin our lives. God gives us a second chance to get it right.

2 CHANCE JESUS? (All my sermons use illustrations found on sermoncentral.com and passages are NIV unless noted) I have studied many different passages of scripture, I have read and re-read several passages and felt a different leading many times. One of my favorites books in the Bible is the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

When Jesus Comes: No Fear

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 12, 2010

Christmas Day 1988: Jesus came into a world full of fears about economics, government, health, and the rest. Our pretty porcelain manger scenes are not realistic. But when Jesus comes today and works through us, He works to drive away all the fears that

A certain family, a number of years ago, as was their custom, lovingly and carefully set out their beautiful porcelain nativity scene for Christmas. They were so very proud of this delicate, fragile thing of beauty; they had paid a good deal of money for it on a trip to Europe, and its value could ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Comes: No Grasp Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2010

We live in a status-seeking world. But when Jesus comes as a tiny infant in a humble set of circumstances, He shows us that the way to live is one of obedience and giving up control.

This afternoon, if all goes as we would like – all of us, that is, with the possible exception of a few traitors and a few folks who for some strange reason do not care about pigskin prowess – this afternoon, if all goes as we would like, our beloved Redskins will do battle with the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes You Think You Can Come Here?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2010

Lent, 1986, Communion: We should never be intimidated from the Lord's Table by ritual, shame, or weakness. It is hosted by one who offers us mercy and grace, paid for by His blood; so come boldly.

In the South Africa of apartheid, I suppose, nearly anything is possible. And so I do not expect that this story, improbable as it sounds, is untrue. If anything, I expect it could be multiplied many, many times over. At any rate, the story is that one day an Afrikaner, one of the ruling class in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Comes: No Respect Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2010

Christmas Eve 1988: When Jesus comes as an infant, there is no respect, for he is the child of an unwed mother and is poor. When Jesus comes to the end of his life, there is no respect. But He redeems His status and can redeem ours.

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield has made en entire career out of a single piece of business and a single punch line: "I don't get no respect". He will regale you with tales of his childhood, when the other kids used him as a punching bag and called him a host of unflattering names, and then he sums it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist