Sermons on Joseph Ondu:

Without A Trace

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 18, 2004

Funeral sermon for Paul Quick, member of the cleaning crew. A gentle spirit without a trace of negatives help others, labors in the house of God, and has received gentle treatment from a Christ who understands our weaknesses.

Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom ... the wisdom from above is ... gentle ... without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. He is able to deal gently with the ... wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness. In this noisy world, it is easy to miss ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18, Hebrews 5:2

Denomination: Baptist

Too Pooped To Pray Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2004

When spiritual exhaustion strikes, we fail to pray. It means that we have not dealt with our control issues, and we compromise principle to save ourselves. But God will give us a sign of His presence, even when we do not ask.

There is a weariness of heart that goes so deep, it puts us in danger of losing our souls. There is an exhaustion of the soul that goes so far inside us that, if someone does not do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, we wiII be lost in despair. There is a weariness of heart, an exhaustion of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Experience, Obedience, Fulfillment Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 6, 2004

As the conclusion of a series on the "Experiencing God" discipleship course, and for Christ the King Sunday and a stewardship emphasis. The only way one can experience God is to obey Him and wait for the grace of fulfillment.

The time comes when it is no longer good enough to know about something; you want to experience it directly. The moment comes when it just does not satisfy to have only an arm’s length relationship to something. The only thing that will satisfy is a first-hand, up close and personal, immediate ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:11-29

Denomination: Baptist

God Invites You To Become Involved Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 7, 2004

The story of Philemon and Onesimus, presented as an imaginative story, shows how God called Paul to become involved as a mediator, Philemon to become involved in real church work, and Onesimus to become involved in overcoming his background to become usef

The new day greeted his eyes early. He stretched and shook off the sleep, but then, remembering why he had wanted to get up at the crack of dawn, Philemon jumped out of bed and began his day’s duties. His first task was to open his window and turn his gaze toward the rising sun, offering his ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Always At Work Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2004

Part of Experiencing God series: God may not seem to be at work, but He is, according to His own purposes, and using instruments we may not see. Our task is to trust Him and get out of His way!

You’re driving along the road, and you come upon a roadblock. Somebody is holding up a sign which says, "Slow, men at work." What do you see? What do you do? Well, first, I speed up instead of slowing down. Why? Because I have important things to do, I have mv work to do, and I don’t want to slow ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

When Good Things Happen To Bad People Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2004

When unworthy people get good things, prayer helps us discover that we too do have good things, that the issue is not goods but our feelings, and that ultimately God is just and gracious.

There is, indeed, very little justice in the world. But that’s very old news. We established that last week. Last week we talked about that age-old problem of what you do what bad things happen to good people. We thought about how, when good people get into tough times, it just feels as though ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Picking Up The Pieces Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2004

First in a series from Ephesians; and for the Day of Prayer for World Peace. Our lives and our world seem fragmented. But God brings order to our lives by choosing us; He redeems the messes we make; and He calls us to the work of restoration.

Do you experience life in pieces? Do you find that each day is a jumble of bits and pieces, fragments? That most of the time there isn’t any coherence, there isn’t any consistency? Do you feel that each day is a whole lot of things to be done, but they don’t always hold together? I don’t know ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Who Are Our Strangers? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2004

Many things conspire to keep people separate, even in the church. Only God can connect us, and it is the cross that binds us. Are we living out that reality, or have we let separations disconnect us?

When he says it, it feels both enraging and endearing. When he pronounces it, it sounds like irritation, but it also sounds like invitation. It is both attracting and detracting, both including and excluding. I am referring to those moments in the old TV show, when Felix Unger, the neat freak half ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Able To Accomplish Abundantly Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2004

God intends for the church to be the instrument of redemption, full-faceted, and intends for us, though we may think we are inadequate, to be its agents. Challenge your imaginations as to what the church might be able to do by letting God do what He is a

If you were to ask the average person, out on the street, what he thinks of the church, what answers might you get? What do people think about churches? I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. But I know some of the things they say: They say that church is all talk. Ceaseless talk. Noisy gongs and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

When Sensitivity Is Dulled Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 17, 2004

Where does interpersonal insensitivity come from? Ignorance, alienation from God, loss of feeling, destructive self-absorption. How can sensitivity be regained? Learn, learn Christ, let the relationship govern, be renewed.

There has been an accident. You’ve been hit hard, and you cannot lift that leg. They examine you, they flex your muscles, they look for broken bones. If the condition persists, they may stick pins into the soles of your feet. They are trying to find out whether you can feel anything. They are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Safe At Home Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2004

Interactive message. What do we do about the family? Respect our children; parent with sacrificial love; and give children priority of emphasis in the church’s outreach.

There are times when all of us need to participate, times when no single person can speak all the truths or do all the work. There are times when a community of people must come together, think together, pray together, speak together. This is such a time. The state of family life in our nation is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Everybody Will Like Me Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 18, 2004

First in a series on dealing with popular illusions. I can deal with not getting everybody to like me if I will live in integrity, love intentionally, let go of negative feelings, and leave it finally to God.

More energy has been spent on this one thing than on building the Panama Canal, constructing the Great Pyramids, or creating the Interstate Highway system. More energy! More tears have been shed on this one item than on the depredations of poverty, the destruction wrought by great storms, or a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Life Will Cease To Be A Struggle Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Second in a series on popular illusions; and for Independence Day. Life will not cease to be a struggle if justice is not fully realized, feelings are not fully expressed, and wrong decisions are not fully reversed.

What kind of a retirement party was this? He had worked so long, he had struggled with so many things, and now, here, at the end, it seemed there was still unfinished business. His worries were not behind him, nor were all the issues settled. And why not? Had he no right to expect that now life ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

I Can Define God Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Third in a series on popular illusions. We try to limit God by turning to religion instead of relationship. The issue is in our own integrity. The world understands the power of God better than we do! The loss of our idols is fatal, but in Christ ther

She was obviously tired of discussing the issue. The wrangling had gone on long enough. Neither side was about to give in to the other. It was time for somebody to settle this matter. So she drew herself up to her full five feet two; she threw her shoulders back; and with that certain toss of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

I Can Change People Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2004

Third in a series on popular illusions. We think we can change others, but shaming them will not work. Nor will forcing them. Only a spiritual-relationship crisis will do so. Help them see how sin injures Christ and they will change.

There have always been folks who have thought they could change the world, people who were unwilling to leave things as they are, who want to make a difference, who want to get things done. They want to change the world. The trouble is, they usually run up against harsh human reality. Eighty or so ...read more

Denomination: Baptist