Sermons on Joseph M Stowell:

Fast Tracks Of Faith - Bible Study

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 15, 2003

This the is second message in a series on knowing and living God’s will. The focus on this message is building your life on th truth of God’s Word.

Intro: The Fast Tracks Recap ¡V the Staging of the Christian life is God¡¦s Word Trans: Seven Wonders of the World Quiz „« Pyramids at Giza „« Hanging Gardens of Babylon „« Colossus of Rhodes „« Pharos at Alexandria „« Statue of Zeus at Olympia „« Temple of Artemis at Ephesus „« Mausoleum at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Fast Tracks Of Faith - Prayer

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 15, 2003

This is the third message in a series on understanding and doing the will of God. Teh third essential tool for accomplishings God’s will is genuine prayer.

Trans: For a closer walk with Thee ¡V we need a closer talk with Him. Define: Prayer is the natural response to a Spirit-led life. It is the breath of the child of God. Just as breathing is a natural response for a child from birth, so too, is prayer a natural response for someone who is born ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Fast Tracks Of Faith - God's Will

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 15, 2003

This is the sixth message in a series on understanding and doing the will of God.

Verse: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Go Tell It On Mt. Carmel Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 20, 2003

We turn our successes into failures because we see only the negatives, and we need approval. But in the Incarnation God accepts our incompleteness and offers us His unconditional love.

All of us want success. All of us need success. If you don’t care about doing something well, you are in sad shape. You are in trouble if you don’t want to succeed at something. And yet the problem is that we are our own worst enemies. We defeat ourselves time and time again. We take ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Time To Dance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 8, 2004

Funeral sermon for Vera Byars, court information specialist and amateur dancer. Ballroom, minuet/ballet, tap -- whatever style she used, it all witnessed to a life of joy. This is not any longer a time to mourn.

I agree with the Scripture, where it says that, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” I agree with that, because we know that some things are fine, in their place, but they are not appropriate in other places. There is a time and a season for everything, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Road Maps For A Far Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

For Father’s Day: Fathers who say "yes" to everything provide a road map to disaster; who keep their children at arm’s length point to alienation; but who may also go home themselves to lead their children home. (Maps were displayed)

I have always liked maps. Any kind of map fascinates me. You can learn so much from a map. If it is a road map, you can find out how to get from here to there and back again. When I was in elementary school and the classroom got boring, like most kids, I would doodle. But while some kids ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Galatians 4:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Goliath: He's Back!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

A first person monologue, done as King David, who wishes he could feel the rush of victory when he first slew Goliath; but he has learned that evil recurs, does not recognize God, is related to power. He needs a greater than David to come and deal with i

Ah, if only I could go back to those wonderful days! If only I could be a young man again and feel the rush of victory! But I cannot. I am old and tired, and I feel defeated. I have lost so much. My body is weary and my soul is drained. If only I could go back and feel victory ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 20:1-8, Psalm 51:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

On His Majesty's Secret Service

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 27, 2003

Funeral sermon for Ruth Gossage, age 97, one of the first female U.S. Secret Service agents.

But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. Life is mystery. It is not just that life contains mystery, nor that there are so many unsolved questions. It is that life itself is mystery, secret and hidden, as Paul says. It has often been ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Life Is Not Fair Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 29, 2003

Life seems unfair to the disappointed, the cheated, the cynical. It was unfair to compel Simon to carry the cross -- injustice piled on. But God uses injustice to stir His people to action, to help us get beyond mere survival, to give us to one another.

Life is not fair. It just isn’t. The playwright MacLeish has his character “J.B.” scream out something we are all afraid to say, but it might be true: “If God is God, He is not good; if God is good, He is not God.” What an awesome thing to think, let alone speak! “If God is God, He is not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Up In The Air Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual indecision leads to sickness and ultimately to death. We are scared of taking risks. Black history shows us, however, that without accepting risk there is no progress.

You should be a fly on the wall around our house on Friday evenings. You see, Friday evenings are our night for ourselves. We try not to take on church things on Fridays, and unless you are at the point of death, you can wait for your pastoral call until Saturday morning. The pastor and his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Time At Last To Open The Mystery Package Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2003

Israel, Rome, and we all think we have God figured out. God has in Christ done so much more; and when it looks as though the wrappings must be thrown away, there is more yet.

With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Every child ought to have at least one mystery package. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Only The Loved Can Love Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Sermon preached to address atmosphere of crisis we experienced when our Assistant Pastor resigned after a short tenure. This sermon interprets the departure as a godsend, in that it stirs us to re-examine our stewardship, our faith, and our direction, an

Some things cannot be explained; they can only be experienced. Music, for example. How could I possibly do justice to music by talking to you about frequencies, rhythm patterns, tone qualities? I couldn’t. But I can play music for you, so that you can experience it. I can sit at the keyboard ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Holiness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 12, 2003

Holiness is the gift of an identity, appearing to be too good to be true, but received by accepting forgiveness.

Today’s message is framed by incidents provided by two church members. I will not be naming the players, but they have given me both the beginning and the ending of this message on holiness. The beginning: a few days ago one of you told me that you came to worship each Sunday so that you could ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

School Supplies

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 17, 2003

Drama dialogue, written as if a conversation between Paul, a tribune, and a narrator, with "chorus" lines for the children of the congregation. Supplies we need for learning are a listening mind, a loving heart, and a desire to grow.

Narrator: I knew very little about the people of the Way, but I did know that everyone in Jerusalem was talking about one of their leaders. We were all most upset about Paul. You see, Paul – actually we knew his name as Saul – Paul had been such a mighty force in our community only a few short ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Of Florida Swamps And Brooklyn Bridges

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 23, 2003

As Jeremiah risked everything to buy some apparently worthless real estate in order to give a sign that the Lord would triumph, so I also asked our church to adopt a new but venturesome vision for its life.

Could I offer you a real estate deal this morning? Oh, it will be the deal of a lifetime! You can’t pass this up! Can I get you to buy a piece of land, sight unseen, in a sort-of shaky area? True, it might be taken over by the military, but, hey, who’s worried about that? Come on and buy! ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-41

Denomination: Baptist