Sermons on Joseph Ondu:

Sump'n Other Than Slump'n

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 8, 2003

Churches, like individuals, have "body language". If we seem to be slumping, let’s look at our victories; and let’s look at the body language for mission: bending the knees, touching power, expecting the Presence.

Even if you cannot hear what someone is saying with his lips, you can often read his body language. The words may not be clear, but the body language may be eloquent. What is body language? Body language is posture, gesturing, facial expressions, the way you present yourself to others. And that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21, Acts 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Strength Of The Equilateral Triangle Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2003

Strength in families requires all three elements: faith, hope, and love. Illustrated with timbers handled to show that without all three the structure is unstable.

Some of the old-timers used to say that bad things come in threes. Did you ever hear that? There is a notion out there that you never have just one disaster, you always have three, closely grouped. If there is a plane crash in the Andes today, look out, there will be two more in the near ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 2 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

We Know In Part Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2003

We know little about life after death, but we do know that heaven is not possessing things, that hell is about separation from God, and that the love of God will reach even to the most alienated.

We think that having things will make us happy. The truth is that happiness comes from sharing what you have with someone you love. Fulfillment is not measured by how much you have. Genuine fulfillment is measured by who you have it with. That is true in this life. I believe that is also true ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 2 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding From The Whirlwind Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 11, 2003

First person pulpit drama, with "Job" responding to Elihu’s counsel and God’s probing. Designed to lead worshippers to the Communion Table as a sign of God’s understanding of human suffering.

Do you hear? Do you see? The wind, the wind, the whirlwind?! Do you feel it? Is its hot breath on you as it is on me? The whirlwind, the whirlwind! I can scarcely stand up, it is so strong! Are you not blown away with these winds? Are you not devastated? No. No. I suppose not. Few there ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Doing A Slow Burn Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 12, 2003

Elihu listened to Job as long as he could, but finally erupted with the contention that Job had too little faith, was too hypocritical, did not know how to cry out to God to ask for help with his needs, and offered no witness.

32:1-10 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Life-Shaping Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 12, 2003

If we want to be worthwhile, trustworthy, respected people, we must be available for life-shaping. That means to downplay disappointment, pick perceptive people, consider consequences, and accept affirmation.

Worthwhile lives are made, not born. No one gets to get be great just by dumb luck or by the genes they inherited. Worthwhile people, trustworthy people, respected people are made. They are formed. They are shaped. Somebody has to take raw material and shape it into something useful. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

No Better Than We Are Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2003

It is a dangerous illusion to excuse our selves by claiming that we are no worse than anyone else. We find faults in people who look too perfect or who don’t give us what we want when we want it. But help comes from Jesus, who IS better than we are.

When you get caught in some sort of blunder, how do you get out of it? How do you take care of your guilt when you are weighed in the balances and found wanting? Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that you’ve shaded the truth. I will not suggest that you have lied; you have shaded the ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:1

Denomination: Baptist

Yearning To Breathe Free

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2003

We yearn to be free. In Christ we can be transformed from a slave mentality, we can become agents of liberation, and we can come forth from self-imposed bondages. For Transfiguration Sunday and for Black History Month; uses poems (not replicated here)

The plan of God is that all should be free. All free. Free from the things that keep us from what God intends us to be. Free from oppression, free from hostility. Most of all, free from sin and death. That is the ultimate plan of God. We who have yearned to breathe free have not been ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44, Ecclesiastes 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Slippery Rocks

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2003

Even the fundamentals of our faith -- the Bible, prayer, the church, spiritual experience -- can become slippery, unsure. The way to certainty is through obedience.

Although generally I stay away from stories that begin, “There were a Baptist minister, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi,” today I’ll make an exception. Sometimes you just have to be corny to get your point across. So, sure enough, there were a Baptist minister, a Catholic priest, and a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Pray Daily Series

Contributed by Joseph Daniel on Jan 15, 2007

The importance of prayer in church growth.

PRAY DAILY (We Will Grow In 2007, IF #2) (The Importance of Prayer) The Scripture reading for this morning is from Philippians 1:3-11. I encourage you to follow along in your Bibles as I read. Grace Memorial Baptist Church will grow significantly in numbers in the year 2007, but more importantly, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Trusting Faith Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jan 17, 2007

A series in James about possessing a foolproof faith. This message focuses on faith that trusts God in all situations.

Foolproof November 19, 2006 Trusting Faith – James 1:5-12 Review: Last week we started into a series on James entitled – Foolproof. I asked if anyone here had perfected the Christian life – and much to my surprise no one claimed to be perfect. Imagine That! Note: James, the brother of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

Grounding Faith Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jan 17, 2007

A series in James about possessing a foolproof faith. This message focuses on faith that is built upon the truth of God’s Word and the necessity of hearing God.

Foolproof – A Study of James GROUNDING Faith – James 1:19-27 Sunday AM Recap: We’re in a series in James about how to have a foolproof faith so that we won’t be fooled into thinking we have genuine faith when we’re only religious and so we can’t be fooled into embracing anything not of God. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-27

Denomination: Baptist

Living Faith Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jan 17, 2007

A series in James about possessing a foolproof faith. This message focuses on faith that lives what it says it believes.

Foolproof – A Study of James January 14, 2007 LIVING Faith – James 2:11-26 Sunday AM Recap: We’re in a series in James about how to have a foolproof faith so that we won’t be fooled into thinking we have genuine faith when we’re only religious and so we can’t be fooled into ...read more

Scripture: James 2:11-26

Denomination: Baptist

Specks And Planks And Pigs

Contributed by Joseph Daniel on Jan 19, 2007

Are we truly never supposed to judge anything? Is this what Jesus was saying?

SPECKS AND PLANKS AND PIGS (Matthew 7:1-6) (Judging Others) The Scripture reading for tonight is from Matthew chapter 7, verses 1 through 6. The message is entitled “Specks and Planks and Pigs,” and we’ll be talking on the subject of judging others. If you have a red letter edition of the Bible, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Talking Faith Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jan 29, 2007

A message from James 3 on the power of the tongue.

Foolproof – A Study of James January 21, 2007 TALKING Faith – James 3:1-12 Video: One Word – from www.sermonspice.com Recap: A few weeks ago we started a series in James about having a foolproof faith. That is, possessing a faith that can’t be fooled into thinking we have real faith ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist