Sermons on Josephs Coffin:

Sanding The Floors Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 5, 2009

Developing leaders is like sanding floors -- acknowledging that flaws will be removed only by abrasion. But such weaknesses become a channel for strength and for God’s grace to work.

We could all have such perfect houses if people didn’t use them. The most beautiful and perfect rooms you will ever see are the ones in furniture displays at the store or maybe in a museum someplace, and the reason they are so perfect is that nobody uses them. But in the real world houses are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Delivered From Among The Bricks

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 6, 2009

Labor Day sermon, Calverton Baptist Church: God is able to deliver us from work we do not like and which is focused only on the bottom line. Work faithfully but do not let work consume you. Believe that God is at work even in financially difficult times

We have a love-hate relationship with our jobs. If we do not have jobs, we are anxious, because no job means no income, and no income means trouble, so we want to work. But when we get those jobs, we begin a love-hate relationship. We say that we love our work, but then we want to take as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Tearing Up The Ticket

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 7, 2009

God in Christ will enable us to remove the penalties of sin and our guilt and shame by creating a relationship with us and by taking into Himself our limitations.

This past spring, when my wife and I went to Britain, I knew that driving there would be quite a challenge. Not only do you have to drive on the left side of the road; and not only to you have to decipher the lingo on the road signs -- anybody know what a "dual carriageway" is? -- but also you have ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Baptist

To The Uptight: Son Of Man Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 8, 2009

Jesus challenged Nicodemus and us because He challenges our pride and status, or because we think that all we have done is now useless. The human Jesus shows us how to live without being uptight.

Two men standing in a garden to talk; so much alike and yet so different. Two men, with much on their minds, with eternal issues at stake, and yet with very human concerns too. Two men, very different and yet brothers, much the same. Two men standing in a garden to take one another’s measure. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Telling What You Know

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 9, 2009

We can become effective witnesses if we acknowledge the need of the cross, experience the cleansing of the cross, and examine the way the cross works.

I know that most of you are Christians. But what I do not know is how many of you are effective Christians. How many of you can use your faith in an effective way? I know that most, though not all, of you are professed believers. You have publicly acknowledged Christ as Lord; you have followed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-48

Denomination: Baptist

To The Foolish: Beautiful Savior Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 10, 2009

December 1989: We choose not to participate in mission and ministry because we do not want to look foolish. Jesus transforms looking foolish into a redemptive model.

Most of us, especially in our younger years, spend an awful lot of effort in trying not to look foolish. Most of us, particularly when we are young and growing and think our bodies are all out of proportion anyway, will go to great lengths to hide our deficiencies and keep from looking foolish. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Denomination: Baptist

To The Excluded: Lord Of The Nations Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 11, 2009

December 1989: Jesus is building His kingdom, and some who presume they are included are missing it, while some we think unworthy will be included. This is a day in which we must stretch our outreach to include all persons.

The folks who are into real estate will tell you that there are only three factors which enter into the value of a piece of property. Those three factors determine how much you should pay for that dream home, how much you should ask when you have decided to sell out and move up, and how loud you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

How Can You Compel? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2007

Second message for revival, Emmaus Baptist Church, Quinton, VA; done in costume as if Paul were the preacher. How can you compel others to live as you would want? You cannot; you can, however, love them and lead them toward the new creation.

This is astonishing! This is absolutely, totally astonishing! That you – YOU – in whom I invested so much and to whom I taught the Way so diligently, would turn away. It is just incredible. Do you not care about how hard I worked with you? Did you not think twice before you listened to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Did You Experience So Much For Nothing? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2007

Third in revival series at Emmaus Baptist Church, Quinton, VA: Dialogical (sought testimonies from audience at selected intervals). We may feel that our investment in faith is a waste; but it will not be if we can learn to grow in relationships.

I hate waste. I despise it when I find out I have wasted something valuable – time or money or effort. Don’t you? Doesn’t it just frustrate you immensely if all your good work goes down the tubes? When I first learned to use a computer, I didn’t know you could set a word processor on auto-save. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Who Prevented You From Obeying The Truth? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2007

We must take responsibility for our failure to obey the truth. Two personality factors that contribute to disobedience are self-indulgence and competitiveness. Final message in revival at Emmaus Baptist Church, Quinton, VA

I’ve lived in the Washington area long enough now that I know the lingo. I understand what you do when you get caught doing something you are not supposed to do. I’ve discovered that if you cannot get away with a “no comment” and you don’t have a lawyer to send people to, you stand up and you ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7-25

Denomination: Baptist

My Soul Looks Back

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 10, 2007

We blame failure on "social ills" and that is a factor. But most of the time we are scapegoating, when we do not have to, for Jesus has turned our failure into potential. Clifton Park Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD

There is at my house a picture I treasure. In that picture I am about three years old, and my father is holding me in his arms. You look at my father and you see that he is wearing the cap of a service station attendant. Shell Oil, it says. Nothing especially remarkable about that, except that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

Our Walk Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 13, 2007

The heartbeat of the Christian life is learning to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

Live Out Loud – Our WALK (Part – 1) May 20, 2007 Ephesians 4:1-3 Video: Learning to Walk – www.sermonspice.com Insert: Meg and I are about to enter into that wonderful stage once again of watching one of our little ones learn how to walk. It’s a sweet time when those little ankle ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Our Foundation Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 13, 2007

In order to live a life worthy of our spiritual calling, we need to understand what unites us and what we must base our faith on.

Live Out Loud – Our FOUNDATION May 27, 2007 Ephesians 4:4-6 Video: The Power of Unity – www.sermonspice.com Note: Last Sunday we spoke about Paul’s plea for unity by charging all of us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as followers of Christ. If you remember, we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

Our Gifts Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 13, 2007

We serve such an incredible God who gives us good gifts. Paul explains in Ephesians 4 that one of God’s greatest gift to His people, are gifted and called men to lead them.

Live Out Loud – Our GIFTS June 3, 2007 Ephesians 4:7-16 Video: Church of One – www.sermonspice.com Trans: It is amazing how many people attend the church of one where they believe everything revolves around them. I could tell you stories of the shenanigans people have attempted to ensure ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

Our Purity Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jun 28, 2007

How can you tell if a person is genuinely saved? Paul addresses this issue in his letter to the Ephesians.

Live Out Loud – Our PURITY Ephesians 4:17-32 Recap: For several weeks we’ve been studying Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. I believe this epistle might be the most important book in the N.T. b/c it encapsulates the Christian life in a nutshell. You could say that Ephesians is the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Baptist