Sermons on Joseph Ondu:

Have You Only One Blessing?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 7, 2009

Our families are dysfunctional because we are not creative and do not consult the Lord in prayer. Isaac is weak, late, and materialistic. Rebekah is manipulative and anxious. God the Father of Jesus shows us how to love and give to our chidren.

We are bombarded daily with the phrase "family values." It has become the buzzword of the current political campaign. And as candidates parade their wives and children and grandchildren across the platform; as presidential hopefuls debate about which of them is the more family-oriented; as ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-45

Denomination: Baptist

Heads Or Tails

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 8, 2009

The old argument between Paul and James, faith or works, is really two sides of the same coin. Both are needed for a church’s life to be whole. Preached on a Sunday when members were asked to sign up for various ministries.

The funny thing about arguments is that two people can use all the same information and can come out on exactly the opposite ends of the argument. Two different people, just because they are different personalities, can read the same data, hear all the same pros and cons, examine all the same ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart Is Forgiving

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 9, 2009

Pulpit drama monologue as if the preacher were Simon, into whose house Jesus came, and where the jar of ointment was given. An emphasis on feeling, on forgiveness,and on generosity.

Frankly, I like things cool, calm, and collected. This business of lavish public display has always bothered me. It’s just bad taste, that’s what it is, when people feel they have to hang all over each other in public. Great day, what you do see down at the market sometimes, young people so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-47

Denomination: Baptist

To Us He Turned Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 9, 2009

Maundy Thursday message, designed to be interwoven with verses of "When I Survey ..." and with the elements of Communion. Jesus turns to us to interpret the power of wounded healing.

TO US HE TURNED: REVELATION “Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!’” This is a private moment. To the disciples He turned and spoke privately. There are some things not meant for the public arena, some things intended only for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

A Painful Visit

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 10, 2009

For Martin Luther King Sunday. Misunderstanding comes about because we do not hear one another, we do not have the context to understand, or someone deliberately creates distance. Racial understanding needs to take all this into account.

Misunderstanding is an inevitable part of life. Just because we are human, just because we have limitations and are imperfect, we are going to misunderstand one another. And the sooner we accept that as a part of life and learn to deal with it, the better off we’ll be. There are several reasons ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Price Of A Kiss

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 19, 2009

Black History Month: There is a price to pay for friendliness: Christlike behavior even when others disappoint us, commitment to the development of others.

The passage I am about to read is the very ending of the Second Corinthian letter. It includes a verse which has a warm place in my memory because it was the favorite verse of lots and lots of male seminarians back in the 60’ s when I was in school. You see, in the 60’s there were not very many ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Price Of A Secure Peace

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 20, 2009

Peace is secured if a nation will repent, think realistically, and work to produce righteousness. The support of Christian missions is a step for peace.

In a few days the leaders of two great nations will sit down for a summit conference, designed to promote the cause of peace. One of those nations is passing through unprecedented trials. A year ago who would have predicted that the Soviet Union would look shaky and might even break apart? Six ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:4-13

Denomination: Baptist

Marked Men

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 22, 2009

Cain’s problem is ours: we are fearful and anxious if someone else seems to be getting ahead of us, and our anxiety is the root of our violence. But in God’s curse there is a mercy and a clue for brotherliness.

For today’s message we are going back to the earliest moments in human history to look at one of the most basic issues in human life. We are looking at the way we feel about differences, and what we do about that feeling. The Book of Genesis, in its opening stories, teaches us about what it means ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

One Dark Blot

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 24, 2009

Many of us are given to obsessive behavior. Healing comes when we name it for what it is and accept a healthy substitute. A relationship with Christ will erase destructive obsessive behavior.

Success in life is about one-half drive and one-half perspective. To get anywhere, to accomplish anything, you have to mix both drive and perspective. You have to blend both drive and push, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the ability to back off and look at your drivenness. Most of the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Lighted Cabinets Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 25, 2009

Story form sermon about a man who put all the symbols of recognition on display, but no one noticed. Finally someone asked who helped him attain all this. The world does not need to see display cabinets; it needs to see the God who empowers us.

Like it or not, every day, every moment, we send out messages about who we are. Whether it is about our work, our home, our civic life, our possessions, or our spirituality, we send out strong signals about what is in our very core. Those around us will receive those signals, make no mistake; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

On That Great Gettin' Up Morning

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 26, 2009

For Remembrance Sunday: getting past grief means crying out honestly and insistently for help, and it means having confidence in the God who raised Christ from the dead and thus defeated death itself.

The hymns we have sung and the Scriptures we have read have one important word that is common to all of them. That word is "morning". "Morning", as in "good morning". "Morning" is an important Biblical image. I am leading us to worship around the symbol of morning today because I want us to use it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3

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