Sermons on Joseph Remembered:

Why Some Cannot Sing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 15, 2003

John saw the 144,000 singing around the throne and their characteristics. That tells us who "could not learn the new song" -- those with unresolved sexual issues, those with perfectionistic tendencies, those who had accepted lies about themselves.

Alongside every group that gathers to sing, there is also someone who cannot sing. No matter how professional, no matter how disciplined, Alongside any group that gathers to sing, there is also someone who cannot sing. Have you been to a sporting event, where we are supposed to sing, “The ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Blessed Are The Persecuted

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 4, 2006

Week 8 of an 8 week sermon series on the Beatitudes that focuses on our call to stand in persecution.

BE-Attitudes February 26, 2006 Blessed are the Persecuted Funny: A Texan billionaire w/ a beautiful daughter loved having parties at his pool which was home to a 20 ft. great-white. Every night he’d issue a challenge to the men: “½ my fortune or my daughter’s hand in marriage to the man who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Robbed By Relationships Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The first of four messages on the threats to spiritual identity theft.

Identity Theft March 12, 2006 Robbed By Relationships Intro: I need a volunteer. Did you ever take the ACT/SAT? This will be kind of like that. Have you ever seen one of these? I want you to take a few seconds to put these shapes into the canister. According to our Vandy alumni this is ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:4-22

Denomination: Baptist

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2003

People expect only the ceremonial from the church. But God wants to give us a rich, varied, and outward-reaching life.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Oneness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 13, 2003

Receiving the gifts of oneness means that we love one leader and commit to one calling. Those things are not the same as having doctrinal agreement or being socially compatible.

This week I met a young man who was very clear about what he needed. He came here to the church to participate in a wedding rehearsal. We began to talk about weddings. He expressed the hope that this wedding would not be like the last wedding he had attended. In that earlier wedding, he had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When Nothing Seems Possible, Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2003

When frustration abounds, in prayer we can discover deepened relationships, new possibilities, and ultimately grace.

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you. Isn’t that an intriguing phrase? “Your servant has found it possible to pray.” My theme for today is “when nothing seems possible, pray.” “When ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 17:1-27, Romans 3:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Road Maps For A Far Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

For Father’s Day: Fathers who say "yes" to everything provide a road map to disaster; who keep their children at arm’s length point to alienation; but who may also go home themselves to lead their children home. (Maps were displayed)

I have always liked maps. Any kind of map fascinates me. You can learn so much from a map. If it is a road map, you can find out how to get from here to there and back again. When I was in elementary school and the classroom got boring, like most kids, I would doodle. But while some kids ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Galatians 4:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Michael, Row That Boat Ashore! Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 10, 2003

We are engaged in spiritual warfare, not just minor disputes, and so must take on the enemy. God calls not only "Michaels", leaders, but also "ordinary angels". When we engage evil, we create the opportunity for salvation, wholeness, to be done. Victor

Imagine that it’s Sunday afternoon. You are on the turf at FedEx field. You have been assigned to play defense for the Deadskins ... er, I mean, the Redskins. Yes, you. You have been assigned to play defense; why not? Nobody else is doing it! Spurrier says to you, “When one of them gets the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Gifted For Ministry

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 10, 2007

We are a gifted church, with diversely gifted members, and we need to turn that into creative expressions of love for our community.

I don’t get to watch the Miss America pageant any more. Used to be, every September I would hunker down in front of a TV set and prepare to ogle. Gorgeous gals, we called them, in those Neanderthal days, before our language had to become politically correct. Beauty contest, we called it, before ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lifting Weights Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

a six part series on building a better chuch body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 6 all my illustrations come from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. LIFTING WEIGHTS It is almost hard to believe that we are 5 weeks into this year already and at the end of this series of sermons on Building a Better Body. I think it is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Road To Wellville (Rated G) Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 19, 2009

Christ wants us to be healthy. The road to health begins with a desire to be healthy, a willingness to leave bad habits, and then a desire to share health insights with others.

What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! Shakespeare’s Hamlet: full of admiration for the human race. Taken by the beauty and grace of the human form; ...read more

Scripture: John 5:2-17

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Absolutely Positively Proper Perspective

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Aug 26, 2010

Having a Positive Attitude is a vital aspect of a successful Christian life, this sermon looks at ways that the proper perspective insures our success.

THE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY PROPER PERSPECTIVE (All my sermons use illustrations found on sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Having the proper perspective is truly one of the most important things we can have in life. Another way of saying this is: Having a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Judgmental Junk

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Sep 30, 2010

There is NO room for judgment when their is sin in our own lives, this sermon shows God's plan for judging other and the downfall of it being done improperly.

JUDGMENTAL JUNK (All my sermons use illustrations are found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) This Sermon is preceded by a small puppet skit entitled “Mr. Teacherdude” and the scripture 2 COR 5:16-17 which says: So from now on we regard no one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

That Old-Time Religion: Job's Friend Bildad Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 4, 2009

When we are in distress, we do not want doctrine. We want a fresh encounter with God, we want listening friends, and most of all, we want, and have, a Redeemer.

Years ago the church of which I was then a member had an evening ice-cream social and service out on the church grounds one summer Sunday. It was a gently warm night, and as the sun went down and a little chill crept into the air, as the stars began to come out and faces began to disappear into the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist