Sermons on Josephs Coffin:

Don't You Get Weary, Children

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Revised for use at the Chapel of a retirement complex: Life is burdensome if it is merely obligation and not love, or if we think our work means nothing. Christ's victory shows the power of a meaningful life.

Riderwood Village Chapel, Silver Spring, MD August 8, 2004 In May our son got married. He and his bride passed out little bottles of soap to be used instead of the traditional rice, so we all celebrated at the end of the wedding by blowing bubbles. Well, my daughter’s child, his niece, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Life-Shaping

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

To be available for what God wants to do in us we must downplay disappointments, pick perceptive people, consider the consequences, and accept affirmation. Revision of an earlier message

Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD June 25, 2006 It is said that the sculptor Michelangelo could sense that in a rough block of marble there was an angel struggling to get out. He said that his job was to free that angel. Isn’t that remarkable?! To know that in a rough ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Liberation

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Revised for use in a very small church looking for a new direction: Moses became an effective liberator by asking three questions: "Who am I?" "Who are You?" and "What if?"

Broadview Baptist Church, Chesapeake, MD Sept. 3, 2006 Church is not just for you and me who are members of the church. Church is for others. Church is for the world out there. Freedom is not just for you and me who have accepted Christ. Freedom is for others. The free gift of salvation is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Impossible Dreams Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

We become available to God when we fully worship and trust Him, when we go out of our comfort zones; there are many possibilities open to us in our church and community.

Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD July 9, 2006 If what you expect to receive and what someone wants to give you are not the same thing, you are doomed to disappointment. If you want a particular thing, but the person you are dealing with is determined that you shall have ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Standing On The Rubbishes

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a small church trying to affirm a new direction: Focus on what you have accomplished, know the heart of Christ for His church, confirm loving relationships.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD October 3, 2004 Some things end, but are not completed. Other things are completed, but do not end. There is a world of difference between the two. Some things end, but are not completed. Some things stop, unfinished. All these recent accidents ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In Touch With Earth

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 1, 2010

Revision of earlier message. God calls us to remember that we are both physical and spiritual, and are therefore to be stewards of the earth as well as spiritually sound. The Table reminds of both our physical and spiritual sides and responsibilities.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, October 6, 1985, World Communion Sunday No matter how sophisticated we may become, something in us reaches out for the soil, reaches out for our roots and stirs within us to claim a simpler, more basic way of life. I would just about bet that most of us ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

Denomination: Baptist

Will Anything Really Change?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a church making a major turn in direction and leadership. Change is hard for us, for some of us fear change, some of us do not think change is real. But God is able and willing to complete what He begins among us.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD, September 19, 2004 Will anything really change? I mean, really?! So often change is only apparent, and not real. So often we tinker with things, but we do not really change them. We lack the will to change things, really. We lack the imagination ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

In Touch With Earth

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2010

We are both physical and spiritual, and our calling is to be good stewards of both. The Lord's Table ably symbolizes this.

Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD June 5, 1983 No matter how sophisticated we may become, something in us reaches out for the soil, reaches out for our roots and stirs within us to claim a simpler, more basic way of life. I would just about bet that most of us here do not think of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Sword Of Speech

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2010

If we have God's truth in our hearts, we must speak our witness. It is not good enough to remain silent. That word must be a word of love and it must be a word of justice. Martin Luther King exemplified this discipline.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 19, 1986 It was the spring of 1964, and I had to make a choice. I had to decide whether I would, in my very first year of ministry, do something which would create a bit of tension in the church, but which the students with whom I worked were ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Women At The Tomb: Remember

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 3, 2010

The skepticism of the apostles, hearing the women's testimony of the resurrection, could have been prevented had they heeded the angels' admonition to remember what Jesus predicted would happen. So today when our witness is challenged or our desires to d

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC April 14, 1987, Easter The old vaudeville song proclaims, “Dearie, do you remember? Because if you remember, then you’re much older than I.” The idea seems to be that remembering is nothing to be proud of; the implication is that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Water For Drowning, Water For Thirst

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 4, 2010

After Christmas it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the return to reality, responsibility, and even depressing weather. The psalmist also felt overwhelmed until he remembered what God had done in and for him and that God was still present, even when unfe

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 6, 1985 Well, Christmas is over, isn't it? Christmas is over and done with, except for a few remaining lights and poinsettias … over, done with, finished. It was great while it lasted, but Christmas is over. How do you know that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Get Caught In The Return Line

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Dec 7, 2010

S many people will return the gifts they get for Christmas, don;t be one that returns the greatest gift of ALL, Jesus.

DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE RETURN LINE (All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Wow, it is Christmas time already! I know that I have waited until now to preach about Christmas, but this year I will only be doing 2 ...read more

Scripture: John 6:66-69

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Turn Around Or Turn Out Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Dramatic monologue as if Paul were speaking: a farewell address, focused largely on Philippians, but drawing from much of the Pauline literature. A play on Paul’s name: Pray, Avoid, Understand, Love.

Paul, servant of the Gospel, to all the saints in Gaithersburg: grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Opposition, Prayer, And Victory Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Preached in 1989. Sometimes opposition is deeply destructive and isolating; the only answer is through prayer, for ultimately integrity is given by the risen Christ.

Opposition comes in all shapes and sizes. Opposition: feeling that somebody is out to stop you -- it takes many different forms. Sometimes it is just outright, straightforward, political campaigning. Sometimes folks choose up sides and define the issues and go after each other, and that‘s all ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Not Perfect, Just Forgiven

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 30, 2009

Jesus’ call for us to be perfect is complemented by the Lord’s Prayer’s petition for forgiveness. "Trespasses" and "debts" are different nuances, and both need to be forgiven.

He marched up to me, stopped me in my tracks, fixed my eyes with his eagle look. And then slowly he raised both arms and clapped both hands on my shoulders, cleared his throat slightly, and intoned, "I forgive you.” And then, as quickly as he had encountered me, he walked away. Just dropped his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist