Sermons on Joseph M Stowell:

A Different Kind Of Hope

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 18, 2008

Funeral sermon for Andrea Pitts, who had instructed this preacher a few days before her death about the ways in which she felt hope.

The message this morning is not just about Andrea Pitts. It comes from Andrea Pitts. I bring no eulogy, but rather a report, a report that proclaims the truth of Christ in the midst of suffering from the very lips of a woman who embraced her death and lived her hope. The words today are not so ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Not A Nothing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 21, 2008

We excuse everything with "I don’t care", but when we see the eyes of those we have offended and hear them speak, we know that we have hurt them. When we see Christ and hear Him at the cross, we can no longer pretend that we don’t care.

I “I don’t care.” That was the mechanism I used as a boy to fend off whatever punishment my parents gave. “You’re grounded.” “I don’t care”. “No allowance this week.” I don’t care.” And, to tell the truth, I didn’t care. I would just go to some quiet corner and get a book and read. I was ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Discerning The Body

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2006

Communion service for Black History Month: discerning the body means seeing our connectedness, understanding one another, and living in hope beyond our history. For Montgomery Hills Baptist Church; reworking of message done in 2000 at Takoma Park Baptist

Several years ago my wife and I went with a group on a tour of Italy. It was a wonderful experience, most of it. Most of it, but not all. The part that was less than wonderful came when we had a few free hours in Florence. Margaret and I decided to set out on our own to find the Uffizi Palace ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Denomination: Baptist

Blessed Are The Pure In Heart Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Feb 14, 2006

An 8 Week sermon sermon series on the attitude we are to possess as children of God.

BE-Attitudes Blessed are the Pure in Heart Sunday AM Trans: We’re in a series focusing on the (8) attitudes Jesus said we’re to have as His disciples. Each of these attitudes determines our altitude. They testify to our disposition and determination in life. Jesus offered ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Baptist

El Elyon - God Most High Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Oct 24, 2005

A message on the name El Elyon - God Most High

Hello I Love Let Me Tell You My Name El Elyon – God Most High – Gen. 14 Intro: We‘ve been studying God’s name to understand who He is and how he relates to us. Trans: This morning I want to turn our attention to the name El Elyon – God Most High. El Elyon is used over 238 times in the O.T. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:13-24

Denomination: Baptist

Jehovah Tsidkenu- God Is My Righteousness Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Oct 24, 2005

A message on the name Jehovah Tsidkenu - God is My Righteousness.

Hello I Love You… Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness Intro: Ashley and I were wasting time at a video establishment people watching. One game caught our attention – karaoke dancing. You stand on a dance pad and jump around doing combos – the more accurate you are the farther you ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Managing Terrible Times: Windows Blown Out Or Open? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 13, 2007

Liiving large in stressful times requires prayer. We are targets of a conspiracy of hate, but prayer makes us genuinely missionary. We are victims of self-centered religion, but prayer makes us compassionate. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

(Singing): “Sitting by the window praying, waiting for the break of day; sitting by the window praying, waiting to hear what the Lord might say.” (Repeat) The way to live large is not only to step out in faith, as Abraham did, leaving his comfort zone; and not only to get past old defeats, even ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With Your Self Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 19, 2007

We all wear masks, which puts us in danger of losing our real selves. Jesus shows us how to be real as He deals with threatening people, hostile people, and those whose hearts are full of pain. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

When you wear a mask – not a Halloween costume mask, but a personality mask, a way-of-being mask – when you wear a mask, you not only hide from others, but you also hide from yourself. You lose your real self. And that is a huge loss. It is crucial to get real with yourself. The poet Paul ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

Gluttony Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Nov 28, 2005

This is the sixth message in series on the seven deadly sins.

Virus – Hidden Infections of the Spiritual Life Gluttony Funny: A hiker was charged w/ eating an endangered species while tracking the woods of California. After hearing the man had eaten a condor, the judge quickly passed a harsh sentence of 10 years behind bars. The man pleaded w/ the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

A World Crying From The Quicksand

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2008

We get bogged down by responsbilities. The way out is first to act responsibly, second to tell others what God is doing in you, and ultimately to yield to our Savior.

One afternoon I came by the church to pick up a few things. I parked around the back, and there discovered two of our members, plus our sexton, in major trouble. These men had purchased a heavy-duty safe for the church office, and were intent on moving it inside. The safe had been hauled here on a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Come On Down Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2008

The times, like those of post-Exilic Jerusalem, require us to wait. Will it be passive, impassive, or active waiting? Active waiting means seeing that what God has done He will do again. God will enlist us and shape us to work for His purposes.

“We wait. We are bored. No, don’t protest, we are bored to death, there’s no denying it. … A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste . . . .In an instant all will vanish and we’ll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!” So speaks one of the characters in Samuel ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Whatever You Get, Pass It On

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 8, 2008

Deacon ordination: Christ has won the victory, so yours is the opportunity to roll up the score with no fear of losing. Pass on what you have received in comfort, conversion, gifts.

Some things, once they get started, cannot be stopped. There are just some things, once they get rolling, which cannot be interrupted. It’s just impossible. You’re a student and have an exam tomorrow. When the morning dawns and the sun begins to rise, no amount of wishing that the day light would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Payday Someday

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 15, 2008

Dated 1988. Being paid not only means money, it also means self-worth. So when they complained to Malachi that evil people got rewarded, he pointed out that being God’s possession was reward enough, and that God’s justice would ultimately be done.

My seminary classmates and I were approaching graduation, and went through a little process requested by the alumni office of the seminary. They asked us to fill out a form that would help them place us in churches or other ministry positions, now that we were finishing our training. And one of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Indescribable Abundance Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 23, 2008

How can one describe what God has given in this church, with the successes of the past year? How describe human needs, especially for the Gospel? And how describe the opportunities for inclusive worship, honest learning, and artistic expression?

Once upon a time a certain church was in an uproar. Some said that the pastor was not performing according to expectations. And so complaints were brought to the deacons, who met to consider the issue, and asked those who were grumbling, “What is the problem with the pastor?” One disaffected ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Without Hindrance Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 24, 2008

For Lent and for Black History Month, with a focus on Africa: the purposes of God will be accomplished, though not without difficulties and sacrifice. Examples of African Christians to show this truth.

I cannot imagine how Paul did it. Here he is, in prison, chained to a soldier, and he is talking about hope and making plans for the future. How can anyone with half a brain do that? Does he not understand how perilous is his predicament? Chained! Awaiting trial! And yet he can say, “It is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:16-30

Denomination: Baptist