Sermons on Joseph M Stowell:

Asking Both Kings For The Wall

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 15, 2010

For every significant task, there is the "sit-down" approach and the "rise-up" approach. We need both to sit down and pray and then to rise up and do, but even then by involving the resources of others. Lone wolves are not appropriate.

When a big challenge faces you, essentially there are only two things you can do about it: You can rise to the challenge. Or you can sit down and ignore it. When there is a big task to be done, I am saying, there are two entirely different ways to approach it. There is the rise up approach and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ark, Anger, And Acceptance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 20, 2010

We who are successful want instant gratification, but must know that God’s timing may be different, and that it is important to do something that enables others to succeed. In prayer we learn that we are accepted and so our efforts have meaning.

Success brings with it its own set of problems. If you get used to being successful, you soon expect it, and then if it eludes you, that can be very hard to take. I know that I am speaking this morning to reasonably successful people, by and large. Most of you, when you face a challenge, are able ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Snapshots In An Autumn Album

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2009

Contrasting Koheleth and Paul in the later season of their lives: one blames the young, the other gathers them; one mourns broken things, the other invests in ideas; one is anxious, the other trusts God for every need.

This past weekend, as a part of our brief getaway, my wife and I spent two nights in an old farmhouse. The farmhouse dated from 1704 and was partly furnished with antiques. Now my wife loves antiques; I guess that’s why she puts up with me. So we took the tour of the house, especially the parlor ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

For Such A Time As This

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 27, 2009

Compassion must be owned personally, and we must know that we do have the resources to meet needs. However, it will be costly to do so.

If we suppose that the essence of being compassionate is simply to have mushy feelings about somebody, we are dead wrong. If for us the word "compassion" suggests nothing more than feelings of sympathy and maybe the willingness to dole out a few dollars of welfare, then we’ve missed it. We’ve not ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Ghostbusters

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 15, 2009

Panicked people do irrational things, like attempt to live in the past or to live out of bad religion. Panic can be dealt with only by trusting God and living in integrity. Luther’s Reformation is a prime illustration.

Children are not the only ones who are afraid of the dark. You do not have to be a child to be subject to irrational, unreasoning fears, fears that take you over and leave you breathless. Children may be afraid of dark rooms and of monsters under the bed, but the rest of us also panic. Don’t tell ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:3-18

Denomination: Baptist

Every Barrier Down: Mary Magdalene

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 6, 2010

Commitment to the living Christ will let Him break down circumstantial, cultural, and spiritual barriers to our success. Illustrated with the story of Marian Anderson.

I think it was John Lennon, one of the Beatles, who once observed, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." That really is the issue, isn't it? Getting a fix on our lives. Getting hold of life. Being able to make it go the way you want it to go. And the trouble is that life just ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

All Ye Jigs And Juleps, Praise The Lord

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 3, 2010

The whole created order finds joy in the coming of Christ. It’s time we truly celebrated, either by doing something good for ourselves or by helping someone else.

The psalm which we just read together was paraphrased many years ago by Archbishop Cranmer as a great hymn of praise, used for generations in the Church of England. Its Latin name is "Benedicite omnia opera": "Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord". This hymn is a long recitation of many of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 148:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Deadly Virus

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 3, 2010

Sin is not excused by good works, and unrepentant self-indulgence is destructive. Sexual integrity is not just a private matter; how we handle it will determine what happens with our church.

This has the potential for being the shortest sermon I’ve ever done. At first glance, it seems all I need to do with this text is to praise the church for doing so well, declare myself to be against sin, and wrap it up. The shortest sermon I’ve ever done, and maybe the shortest on record! Anybody ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Can't Shake Off Mom's Voice

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 11, 2008

For Mother’s Day and Pentecost: We cannot shake off our mother’s voice. That voice needs to be one of faith, not just admonition. Yet we need to grow our own faith. The Spirit’s voice overrides all negatives.

Can you, in your own mind, hear your mother’s voice? Can you remember not only what she says or used to say, but how she says it? Many of us can remember those things. Even people whose mothers died young can remember distinctive things. It seems we can’t quite shake off Mom’s voice. It stays ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Directions Series

Contributed by Ron Baker on Dec 14, 2006

This sermon should motivate people to see that God was directing the events at the incarnation and He has given us directions as well.

Divine Directions (4 of 4 in the series “Jesus our Messiah” – Matthew 1-2) Text: Matthew 2:12-23 - Date: December 17, 2006 INTRODUCTION We see here in this narrative section of Scripture that there was a lot of Divine Directions taking place. God seemed to be directing all these events ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bold & Obedient Series

Contributed by James Parker on Mar 6, 2011

This week we will consider the letter "O" and once again God has provided for us a Christmas theme for the letter "O". This was a little more difficult to think of for me, and it's a good thing I don''t have to come up with these sermons on my own. This w

Boldness A-Z O- Obedience Once again we find ourselves in our a-z of spiritual Boldness. Last week we considered the letter "N" and we looked at the Good good news of Luke chapter 2. The angel of the Lord delivered the news of the Messiah's birth. "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Joy

Contributed by Thadius Sales on Dec 23, 2018

We all suffer from seasons of sadness, but that does not mean joy is out of reach. In times of depravity, anxiety, pain and suffering, Jesus Christ awaits us to lay it at his feet so that we may be filled with joy.

Season of Sadness (Headline) Have you ever noticed just how different people act during this time of year? There are some who are typically unappealing the entire year who turn into the most wonderful people to be around. And then there are people who are usually very delightful who start becoming ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Fe En Navidad

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Dec 13, 2019

Este sermón analiza la fe que José necesitaba para esa primera Navidad.

Fe en navidad 12-11-05 Isaías 7: 13-17 Lucas 1: 26-38 Déjame contarte sobre mi idea para otro programa ridículo sobre Jerry Springer. Parejas que están comprometidas y la mujer queda embarazada antes del matrimonio, pero el futuro esposo no sabe que está embarazada. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:13-17, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Recognizing The Redeemer

Contributed by Steve Sheek on Dec 24, 2018

Recognizing our redeemer changes our relationships, attitudes and actions. Lessons from Egypt and Emmaus

20181218 Parsha Vayigash – Recognizing the Redeemer Readings Genesis 44:18-47:27 Luke 24:30-48 This week’s Parsha is Vayigash. That means “He approached”. In the last Parsha we saw Joseph coming to power in Egypt. Egypt was just about the most powerful nation in the world at that time. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 44:18-27, Luke 24:30-48

Denomination: *other

Do I Know It's Christmas Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Dec 5, 2014

Christmas, The Messiah, Understanding God's Plan

4 QUESTIONS FOR THE HOLIDAYS – Do I Know It’s Christmas? Matthew 1:18-25 (p. 675) December 7, 2014 Introduction: I’ve discovered something about myself, maybe about human nature in general. I can take things for granted that seem to occur often and at regular times. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ