Sermons on Joseph Ondu:

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

Legions Lost, Language Loosed Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 9, 2008

If we are captured by a demonic past, then we will try to break our chains and will seem to succeed. But the old demons come back to haunt us, for we have not yet turned to the One who gives permission to send them away.

She drifted into my office on a stormy afternoon, much like those we’ve just gone through. She had no appointment, nor did she even ask if I had time to talk. She just drifted in and hovered over my desk, tears in her eyes, lip quivering. I invited her to sit down and tell me what was wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Lofty Lord, Live Lips, Long Layby

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 28, 2009

Where do we get the motivation to keep doing what the Lord wants us to do? We affirm that we are called by a God of power, who is able to equip us; He will give us victory eventually even though it may come slowly (Deacon Ordination Sunday).

This evening two very good football teams will face each other under the dome. The outcome will hinge not only on physical condition and coaching strategy and just plain luck; it will hinge also on motivation. Who really, really wants to win? Who is hungry to win? One of the great personal issues ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 28, 2009

Growth can come by pruning, cultivating, or simply letting it happen. God wants the church to grow, and all these methods are used.

Growth takes place in one of three ways. Things grow because one of three things happens. First, some things grow just because it is in the very nature of those things to grow. You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to feed them or nourish them or encourage them. Some things just grow. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-16

Denomination: Baptist

Rahab: Marked By Scarlet Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2009

God is ready to forgive all sinners and use them for His purposes; and God’s people must receive them, no matter the nature of their sin, for all have sinner and are forgiven. (Spools of scarlet thread were distributed for people to unroll and hold).

Soon through your hands will be passing a scarlet thread, a scarlet cord. I do not say a red cord, but a scarlet cord. Scarlet, you see, is a special kind of red color. The art books tell us that scarlet is a bright red with just a tinge of orange in it. And scarlet has some special ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Promises: Barnabas

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 30, 2009

As we grow older we find meaning in encouraging others, especially the young. Trusting them is equivalent to trusting God.

We like to say that age is a state of mind more than it is a set of numbers on the calendar. We tell each other, "You’re only as old as you feel." But you know, I’m finding that it is important to know what you feel. It is important to listen to yourself as you age. I am not referring to aches ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Love People, Use Things

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve sermon 1989: We have a hard time giving up our attachment to things material. We do need to feel, however, that what we use makes a difference for someone -- a way to love them.

When we read that the city of Washington is going to get everybody out of an infamous homeless shelter by Christmas, because that shelter is no longer fit for human habitation, we have a variety of reactions. Some react at the thought that we still have not come very far at settling the issue of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Land Of The Midnight Sun Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 1, 2009

Our culture has lived in sheer optimism, but that time is fading. We must seize the opportunity to minister while it is here; and if we do so, we will see bountiful rewards.

My besetting sin, if you must know, is procrastination. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, for somehow tomorrow always seems to be even more than only a day away. It seems to be an eternity away, and so what if I do not do today what my To-Do list says I am to do? Who will know ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Men And Their Macho Machines

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2009

Men have sadly learned to use machines as status symbols and instruments of power, but that only leads to destruction. Learn from Him whose ride was a lowly beast and whose symbol is a cross.

I had been away from home for about three months, working in Akron, Ohio, as an engineering student. The three months were over, and it was time to go back home. I went back the way college students traveled in 1957 … not in a plane, not in a car of my own, not with my father coming to transport ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 9:14-28

Denomination: Baptist

Shaping The Clay Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2008

For Memorial Day/Christian Legacy Sunday: We must not protect the vessel in which the Gospel is carried more than the Gospel itself. The Gospel is power; the vessel must be impervious to popularity, a good transporter. Legacy giving encouraged.

I am not much of a gardener. The Scripture says that there is a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted, but I must tell you that I don’t know the difference. I pluck up only what I am told to pluck up, because I don’t know a weed from a willow. However, the mistress of our little ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Humble Walk

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 25, 2010

FBC Gaithersburg: funeral for Julia McNeely Vance, centenarian, physician, daughter of Irish Baptists. Text and poem requested by family. Julia's commitments, nurtured early, brought her into an unusual life. Not delivered by me because of illness.

That classically Irish face looks out at me from the printed page, and I wonder what it must have been like for Julia McNeely, born a century ago, to have grown up and to have followed her calling. On one side were all the customs and expectations of her day and time … that women would live ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Tell The Truth

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 25, 2010

Monologue, as if the speaker were James, illustrating points by incidents in the life of Jesus. Truth comes with compassion, it does its own convicting, and must be backed with a life of integrity.

One of the peculiarities of the letter of James is that it has so very little direct reference to the life of Jesus. If it was written, as has traditionally been believed, by the James who was the brother of our Lord and who became prominent in the Jerusalem church, then it does seem odd that he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Tragedy Of Spongebob Squarepants

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jul 29, 2010

With ALL the false teachings going on today, this sermon shows Paul's warning and application to defend ourselves

The Tragedy of SpongeBob Squarepants (All my sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and all scripture is niv unless otherwise noted) When I was a young child I can remember coming in from trick-or-treat on Halloween night and hearing Orson Welles “War of the Worlds” and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Of 4-H

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jul 29, 2010

4-H stands for Head, Heart, Hands & Health, all essential ingredients in church today, EPH 4:1-16 show us how.

CHURCH OF 4-H (All my sermons use illustrations from sermoncentral.com and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) As we recently had our county fair, I remembered my children being a part of the 4-H and the work they did to show their animals, and the projects they were going to do, but never ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Becoming A Water Walker

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jul 30, 2010

A challenge to chruches to step out in faith bsed on thoughts from John Ortenberg's Book.

Becoming a Water Walker (All my sermons use illustrations from www.sermoncentral.com and the scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) (This sermon was based on John Ortenberg’s Book and credit was given to the author) It takes great deal of FAITH to build God’s Church, especially ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ