Sermons on Joseph M Stowell:

Universality Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to Constantine’s move, the church gradually began to think of its universality as power rather than as an evangelical mandate. Christ is to be lord of our political life, our cultural life, our everyday life -- every aspect.

Christ is lord of all! What a bold statement! Maybe even an arrogant statement! Lord of all? Do we believe that? It was said of one preacher that “for tender minds he served up half a Christ.” Behind that lie two realities – first, that many of us don’t want the full gospel, we’d rather just ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Impossible Dreams Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2003

In observance of my 17th anniversary as pastor; to worship is to become available for God’s purposes, which mean being sent to unreceptive and impossible situations. Can we dream impossible dreams about our church’s building, properties, ministries with

If what you expect to receive and what someone wants to give you are not the same thing, you are doomed to disappointment. If you want a particular thing, but the person you are dealing with is determined that you shall have something else, it is going to be tough. The other day ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Major Adjustments Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 23, 2003

Part 6 of series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: All are called to make adjustments to be disciples, regardless of personality. We have to give up old habits, change our time use, redirect our finances, to enter this city and change it.

The old farmer claimed that he could command his mule with nothing more than a few soft words, no whips or prods necessary. She would respond, he claimed, with nothing more than gently spoken commands. So his buddy down at the feed store asked for a demonstration. “Prove to me that your old mule ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do You Ask? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 29, 2003

Neither conservatives nor liberals are really interested in learning; all want their opinions confirmed. Jesus teaches us how to deal with both by asking questions to test the argumentative spirit, to test honesty, and to get people to listen to their ow

Some folks want their religion to confirm everything they’ve already committed to, but other folks want, or say they want, a religion that will challenge to change. And there isn’t much common ground between these two types. Or is there? Some folks want their religion to confirm everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Joys False Or Complete Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 10, 2004

For Epiphany: As Richard Foster wrote about "Money, Sex, and Power", is it possible the Wise Men’s gifts are warnings to Jesus and His family about these things? Complete joy comes from what Jesus did with these issues.

Who we are and what we have are two entirely different things, but we confuse them. We insist on identifying who we are by what we have. Who we are and what we have are not the same thing. We are more by far than the material goods we possess. And yet everywhere we are identified by our stuff. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

I Know You Are Watching Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 10, 2002

When we consider that God is watching us, we may ask, as Job did, whether He is watching us to hurt us, to humiliate us, or to rescue us. Actually He is watching us in love to empower us.

“I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many parents here have ever said that? “I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many have said it at least a thousand times? You said it to a small child, bent on doing something that would hurt. You said it to an older ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22, 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

I Never Saw That Coming

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 2, 2003

As a nation we are being blindsided by things that destroy us. Yet if we were to look more carefully and see Jesus at work in all things, we would learn to be wholistic, we would identify with the needy, and we would deal with both the physical and the s

Have you ever been blindsided? Something happened, but you never even saw it coming? The snow, for instance. After several mild winters, did you think we would be hit by repeated snowstorms? Did you see that coming? I didn’t. I laid out seven super Sundays of sermons on the churches ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Is The Bible Reliable Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The third of five messages on the reliability of Christianity.

A Ready Defense March 20, 2005 Is the Bible Reliable? Review: This AM we’re going to finish our series entitled A Ready Defense. 1 Pt. 3:15 says, “But set part Christ as Lord of your life, and if you are asked about your Christian hope, always being ready to explain it.” This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:24-25

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

Tired Of Too Much Church Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 4, 2004

It is easy to be tired of church if church does not connect with integrity, compassion, or fundamental life change. But you will not grow weary if you will work for the good of all.

Several years ago I officiated at a wedding at National Cathedral. At the rehearsal an official of the Cathedral explained why the service would be held in just the Great Choir of the Cathedral, and not out on the main floor, and why we would have to be exactly on-time, no exceptions. He said that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Leaky Disciples

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 17, 2008

Dated 1988; post-revival message. We do not retain the Spirit after a period of excitement because we have not counted the cost, we are victims of low self-esteem, or we are not our own persons.

Nothing is more annoying than to be trying to transport some liquid in a leaky vessel. You think you’ve got whatever it is all secure and ready for use, and then all of a sudden you find out it has leaked and drained allover the place ... and nothing is more disturbing and frustrating. When I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Baptist

Lost In Wonder, Love, And Praise

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2008

We have a tendency to get lost in activities, especially church activities. The church that is worthy of getting lost in focuses on Christ, serves people, and calls for specific new commitments.

The other night I caught a TV show that featured people showing off the peculiar talents of their pets. One man brought a tiny little dog and proceeded to wind up its tail, sort of cranking the tail, much as you used to have to wind up a mechanical toy. Then he let go and the poor puppy ran round ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Healed Hearts His Home Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 7, 2008

Two obstacles must be removed before we may receive the peace God wants to give us, so long delayed and frustrated: our false pride and our negative spirit of self-accusation. Then His victory will be ours.

The neighborhood, if you could call it that, was one of the most rundown and poverty-stricken in the city. For fifty years the housing had decayed, and, as the original residents left, absentee landlords jammed far too many people into the old dwellings. Diseases became epidemic, and fires not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Without Shifting From Hope

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 12, 2008

For Day of Prayer for World Peace: Peace is shattered because of social, personal, and spiritual relationship breakdowns. It is restored through spiritual healing, which leads to personal and then social healings.

Introduction A All around us lies the evidence that peace is a sometime, fragile thing. Everywhere we turn we discover that peace has been broken, peace has been shattered. 1 We have the international scene to remind us. A few years ago we hardly knew where Yugoslavia was, but now we are having to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:21-23

Denomination: Baptist