Sermons on Joseph M Stowell:

I Know Where I Need To Be Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 17, 2002

We neither know where we are in our lives, nor where we need to be. But, like Job, we want to break out of the limits, we must take risks, and we learn to locate in trust of God and there to find that where are now is indeed where we need to be!

“Watch where you plant your feet!” That’s the command I hear every time I help with the garden. “Watch where you plant your feet!” My job is to clear out winter’s debris, the dead leaves and old twigs. I am to open up the flower beds for spring. To do that I have to step into the ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:1-27, 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2001

This sermon was done while peeling off T-shirts, one by one. The focus is that the presence of the Lord in our lives, as an active participant, drives out cynicism and preserves our joy.

I wish I had bought stock in the T-shirt industry. Of the making of souvenir T-shirts there is no end. People are using T-shirts to send all sorts of messages. Some T-shirts advertise products. Some T-shirts identify the work places. Some focus on the club memberships. And then some T-shirts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Thyatira: 'tis The Gift To Be Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 3, 2003

True simplicity is a focus on the fundamentals of love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Getting caught up in theological guesses or emotional highs diverts us from "this one thing I do".

Some things are so simple they are hard to understand! Some things are so direct and obvious that we don’t want to accept them as they are. We want to make them complicated. Have you ever tried to describe to someone how to tie a shoestring? It seems simple until you start to teach it. Left ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Voices - Can You Hear Me Now? Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 26, 2007

If the Christian life is KNOWING God, HEARING HIs voice, and OBEYING His leading, then it is essetial that believers learn how to tune their ears to His voice.

Voices – Can You Hear Me Now? March 18, 2005 Matthew 13:1-23 Sunday AM Video: Can You Hear Me Now – www.sermonspice.com Trans: Throughout our previous series, I continually stated that the Christian life is about knowing God, hearing His voice, and obeying His commands. Many of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Matthew 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Sobering Standards Of Spiritual Success

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 20, 2010

Success is so many things to so many people, but the Bible tells us what Success really is.

SOBERING STANDARDS FOR SPIRITUAL SUCCESS (ALL my sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) All of us want to be successful, but first one must understand what success is. Webster’s defines success 1. Favorable or desired outcome, 2. The ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:7-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

United We Fly

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Sep 22, 2010

Often churches are not united because people kill the vision God has for the church, this sermon shows what kills a vision.

UNITED WE FLY (ALL my sermons use illustrations from www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) This church is about people reaching people. If a young person gets saved then they will reach 19% of their family. If a woman gets saved she will reach 32% of her family. ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Getting Real With God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Authenticity before God begins with self-examination, proceeds to self-disclosure, and involves trusted advisors.

National Baptist Memorial Church, Washington, DC March 13, 2005 The issue is not an academic discussion as to whether there is a God. Relatively few doubt or debate that. The issue is not whether God is real, but whether we know how to get real with God. Let me play out a little scene with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

Will Anything Really Change?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a church making a major turn in direction and leadership. Change is hard for us, for some of us fear change, some of us do not think change is real. But God is able and willing to complete what He begins among us.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD, September 19, 2004 Will anything really change? I mean, really?! So often change is only apparent, and not real. So often we tinker with things, but we do not really change them. We lack the will to change things, really. We lack the imagination ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Were You There? No, But We Are Here

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

To know real and lasting power means admitting that we fail at what we do (repentance), giving over the control of our lives to Christ (faith), and obedience.

The speech choir has asked us a pointed question, "Were you there?" "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?" They went on, "Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?" And finally, "Were you here when He rose up from the grave?" Were you ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Child-Sized House

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 2, 2009

Let us commit to building a church building with room for personal response to Christ and not business as usual; with room for spontaneity and not control; with room for those who need healing and not for exploitation.

When our children were small, we often took them to the Smithsonian museums, to try and cram a little culture into heads usually preoccupied with cartoons or sports. The best place to go was the Museum of American History, because there were so many different kinds of exhibits and so many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With God Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 26, 2007

We treat God as though He were not present. Jesus shows us how to get real with God by admitting His feelings, by telling what He wanted, and by enlisting His friends in prayer, however inadequate. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

We are not going to debate this morning whether there is or is not a God. That’s settled, I would think, in this room. The issue is not whether God is real, but whether we know how to get real with God. Let me play out a little scene with you. Picture a home in which there is a parent and a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

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

Recognize The King!

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 13, 2011

Palm Sunday is a time when we see Jesus enter into Jerusalem, BUT, did the people really see Jesus for the King He is, or the King they wanted Him to be?

RECOGNIZE THE KING (All my sermons use illustrations found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) I have often wondered how many people would recognize Jesus if He were to walk amongst us today? Now I know that Jesus is “with us,” but that is not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Messiah Who Reads The Heart Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jun 24, 2010

Our words are a litmus test of the condition of our hearts.

A Messiah Who Reads the Heart Text: Matt. 12:33-37 Introduction 1. Illustration: My wife Tina is an internal auditor for T. Marzetti. When she walks into a plant to do an audit she can tell a lot about that plant by what she sees. If she finds that the financials, employment records, inventory, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:33-37

Denomination: Methodist

God Cares

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 9, 2010

Showing how God cares through the story of Esther - PowerPoint slides aere available for this sermon on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info

God’s care Reading: Esther chapters 2 verse 5-11.. Ill: Top 6 things that people tend to forget: • 6: faces • 5: what was said • 4: words • 3:telephone numbers • 2: where something is • 1: names! Be assured of this: • God not only knows you by name, but he will never ever ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:5-11

Denomination: Brethren