Sermons on Josephs Coffin:

Blessings Greater Than The Bounties

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 27, 2001

Funeral for Robert Hamilton, Jr., a Georgia farmer and retired cook/chef for National Naval Medical Center, who left four accomplished sons and whose spiritual legacy focused on each one’s unique needs.

A man reaches maturity when he recognizes that he is not the center of the universe. In our younger years, we tend to think that it’s all about what we want, all about our wishes and our whims. But you are growing up when you recognize that the world is a great deal larger than what you want; ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:26-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Loveliest Lynchee Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2001

The poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, recently deceased African-American poet, illustrates how a commitment to justice begins with hope, turns to a sense of responsiblity, rises to act, but also acknowledges the depth of human sin.

The dateline was to be Little Rock, Arkansas, September 1957. The story was to be about the vicious hatred of a city whose people were resisting justice and terrifying school children. Little Rock, Arkansas, where Governor Orval Faubus had become the symbol of massive resistance, and where an ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

The Ugly, The Bad, And The Good

Contributed by Joseph Ng on Feb 26, 2001

God’s verdict on the lives of Solomon, Ahab, and Hezekiah is different from that of secular history and is what matters ultimately.

Opening: You’ve heard of the 1966 Western movie starring Clint Eastwood entitled The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. As we consider the lives of kings in the Old Testament, it will be apparent that some are ugly, bad, or good. In particular, the lives of three Hebrew kings--Solomon, Ahab, and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stairway To Heaven Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 4, 2001

The beatitudes can be understood sequentially .. as stairsteps to "perfection" (Matt. 5:48). The first four lift us to fellowship with God; the other four bring us back down to the reality of ministry with needy people. This sermon was delivered using a ladder as a "prop".

When Stanley Kubrick made the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey”, he guessed that by this time we would be flitting back and forth in outer space, visiting other planets and seeing things never before seen by human beings. The movie suggested that those who would be alive in the year 2001 would go on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Diagnosing Illness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 11, 2001

Jesus diagnoses our illnesses as primarily spiritual and/or connective; the fatal illness He diagnoses is the one which cannot see God at work.

We all know people for whom illness is a way of life. It is not just incidental, it is every day. Every day is spent dealing with sickness or pain. Every day is invested in physicians, treatments, medications, therapies. People who struggle just to stay alive, or to manage pain. Their lives ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Love Almighty And Ills Unlimited Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 17, 2001

When we are dealing with issues and conflicts, we may select to be babies (unlimited retaliation), children (limited retaliation), adolescents (limited love), or mature (unlimited love), toward Jesus’ command to "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. What madman spoke those words? What visionary would even in his wildest dreams suppose that you and I could be perfect? What is this raving? It is the word of Jesus, at the end of a series of challenges. Love your enemies. Give to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Baptist

Played Out Or Prayed Out Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2001

We are given to frenetic activity, most of it characterized by wrong priorities, a lack of partnerships, and the failure of power. We get played out unless we are prayed out.

Is there a lawyer in the house? Somebody who can give me a little legal advice? I need to know what the statute of limitations is on destruction of church property. Can somebody tell me, is it possible to prosecute fifteen years after the crime? And especially, is it possible to prosecute a pastor ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Isolation On The Journey

Contributed by Joseph Sykes on Mar 27, 2001

Walking by faith, not by sight.

Isolation on the Journey Psalms 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:11-14

Denomination: Baptist

Many Children To Glory

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2001

Funeral message for Chastine Bailey, whose life had been devoted to children as a mother, grandmother, teacher, Sunday School teacher, and neighborhood "mom".

If you are in any way involved with children, I have bad news for you. I have somber tidings. If you are involved with children, your work is not complete. It has not been completed, it is not completed, it never will be completed. Anyone who works with children knows that they will never quite ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-10

Denomination: Baptist

Playing The Fool Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 1, 2001

Words do hurt when they come from our unresolved anger. That anger is about our own issues, it requires accountability when it hurts others, it separates us from God when it is deliberate. Reconciliation is a priority.

Words have power. The things we say to one another have power. Kids may deal with smart-mouths in the schoolyard by chanting, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” But that’s rubbish! Don’t you believe it. Names do hurt. Words hurt. The things we say to each ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

I Pledge Allegiance To A Hiding God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 7, 2002

The recent "under God" court decision is inconsequential. Far better to pledge allegiance to a God who does not need publicity and lip service, but who points us to acts of justice, liberation, and witness.

In every age there are those who feel they need to help God out of hiding. God, it seems, is never without public relations agents, who want to help Him get His name out. They have their own reasons – some of them well-intentioned, and some of them selfish – but the truth is that God does ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Silence And Sin, Strength And Summer

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2002

Our lives have seasons like summer: heated, turbulent, conflicted. This is a result of unconfessed sin and of not listening to God’s priorities.

Every season of the year has its joys and its challenges. But God has ordained them all for the benefit of His creation. And every season of our lives has its joys and its challenges. Yet again God has ordained all these for the benefit of His people. Every season of the year is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

We Have, They Need: Formula For Life Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 28, 2002

First of a series based on the Johannine letters: our response to overwhelming need is first of all a discovery of who we are; then a commitment to maximum effort; and finally a discovery of where our passion lies. This will energize us.

I invite you today on an imaginary trip. Let’s walk through just one day in a needy world. Just imagine a few hours in a world that asks us for more than we can possibly give: You are awakened early by the phone’s insistent ringing; you hear the voice of a member of your family. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-18, 1 John 3:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Don't You Get Weary, Children Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 5, 2002

There are many thankless tasks we have to perform, of which, to some, church participation may be one. But God teaches us that if we do something out of love, it is not burdensome, and the Cross and Empty Tomb teach us that it is not futile.

There sure are a lot of thankless tasks to be done. There certainly are a great many things that are immensely frustrating, because they just won’t stay done. Do you know what I mean? The kinds of jobs that you do and almost immediately you have to do them again? These are thankless ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5, 1 John 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

On Not Losing What We Have Worked For Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 11, 2002

There is nothing more disappointing than losing something for which we have worked; we are in danger of losing a generation of children if we do not teach forthrightly what Christian values are and if we do not reject intrusive, deceptive messages from th

There is no greater disappointment than working for something for a long time, only to see that work just disappear. You worked hard, but it’s gone. That is truly an awful feeling. A couple of weeks ago, on one of those steamy weekends filled with unpredictable thunderstorms, my wife was ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist