Sermons on Josephs Dream:

Living Beyond Fear

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 14, 2001

There are two sources for fear: when we are caught up in something we did not count on, and when we are not in control. There are two ways in which living in Christ helps us live beyond our fears: knowing that He is completely trustworthy, and doing as He calls us to do.

Did anything frighten you this morning? Did you feel any kind of fear? Before you answer “No” too quickly, consider that we cannot live without fear. We cannot live without fear. You do not want to get rid of fear entirely. You must be afraid of some things, or else you will be in trouble. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Everything Is Failing, But Nothing Has Failed

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 5, 2001

Sermon for Senior Adult Sunday; Joshua’s "retirement speech" identifies his sense of God’s promises kept and focuses on claiming the future for the next generation.

Are you a little tired of all the pious platitudes about failure? You know, the folks who tell you that failure is a good thing because you will grow from failure and you will be a better person? I am a little tired of that. I do not want to grow from failure. I want to be a success. I do not ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 23:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Presenting Hands: Taking, Working, Giving Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2001

Follow the hands of Jacob, as they are involved in taking (because of his insecurity), in working for that which does not satisfy, but finally, in giving, as a result of their having wrestled with God. An appeal to struggle with God’s will.

Last week I began by giving you an eye test and an ear test. I wanted to help you discover that sometimes we don’t see what there is to see and we don’t hear what there is to hear. But God provides us vision and offers His word to help us with the “too much” in our world. Today I want to examine ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Shall Never See The Greatest Tree

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 20, 2003

For World Communion Sunday: Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom is large, but the weakness of the church makes it unlikely we shall see it fulfilled. Yet we must affirm the small beginnings that are being made, even by us, for they have potential, when they are

So how do you feel about trees? Did Hurricane Isabel change your feelings about living in a city of trees? When some of them fell on the power lines and cut you off – our house was out for six whole days – how did you feel about trees? I didn’t ask you how you felt about Pepco. That’s another ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Managing Terrible Times: Windows Blown Out Or Open? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 13, 2007

Liiving large in stressful times requires prayer. We are targets of a conspiracy of hate, but prayer makes us genuinely missionary. We are victims of self-centered religion, but prayer makes us compassionate. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

(Singing): “Sitting by the window praying, waiting for the break of day; sitting by the window praying, waiting to hear what the Lord might say.” (Repeat) The way to live large is not only to step out in faith, as Abraham did, leaving his comfort zone; and not only to get past old defeats, even ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Transformers

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Sep 21, 2011

So many so-called Christians are only Christians outwardly, what needs to happen is a Transformation of our heart.

(All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) TRANSFORMERS Recently I took my children to see the new Transformers movie, I had already seen it in 3-D, but they had not seen it so we went and truly enjoyed the family time ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deciphering Discipleship

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Nov 17, 2011

We are all called to be floowers of Christ, but do you really know what it means to be a disciplke of Jesus?

(All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) DECIPHERING DISCIPLESHIP You and I are called to be Disciples of Christ, followers of Jesus. We are told throughout scripture that this is the way, the only way to get to heaven. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Struggling When Others Disappoint Us Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 18, 2009

July 1989. When others disappoint us, it is often because they do not meet our expectations, and anger is natural. God feels that about us. But God allows us to reap the consequences of our sin in Christ’s cross takes into Himself that burden and transf

He was a fuzzy-faced young man with a twangy West Virginia accent and an angular chin as craggy as the hills from which he had come. You had to notice him, small though he was, because he carried a Bible as big as the side of a barn and painted in the same bright fiery color. It was obvious that he ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

If It's Light, Let It Lead Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 18, 2009

MLK Sunday: to work in the darkness, we need light, lots of it, but it may show us things we don’t want to know. The Bible is light for life; the church makes us see its truth in ways that claim us; and Christ leads us to a healthy integrity

If you are going to work in the darkness you need light. There is only so much you can do by feeling your way. You need light and lots of it. Last Wednesday night as my wife and I left Montgomery Hills Church, I noticed some poor soul in the driveway of the house next door. He had the hood of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:22-23

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

Remembering, Reconnecting, And Rejoicing: What God Gives To The Grieving Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 25, 2009

Grieving healthily means remembering both positive and negative; it means connecting with others who can love us and whom we can love. In His own time God will give joy.

One of the laws of life is: To get something, you must give up something. To gain, you must also lose. We call that the tradeoff principle. We operate on the tradeoff principle every day. When you go to the grocery store and fill your basket, they have the audacity to expect you to pay for what ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From Wiffle Ball

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on May 5, 2009

I loved wiffle ball as a child, some of those lessons apply to our walk with Christ

LESSONS FROM WIFFLE BALL (All my sermons use illustrations from sermon central and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) When I was a young child I loved to play wiffle ball. We would set up a small “ball park” in the back yard and pretend we were great base ball players. You can do ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 16, 2009

Sin at its worst is the inability to understand ourselves and to control ourselves, leading to separation from self, others, and God. The cross, the empty tomb, and Christ’s life rescue us.

Well, are you ready today for the fourth step, the step that’s all the way down at the floor level? Those who were not here last Sunday do not know what I’m talking about. Those who were here will need a little review. Let me explain. Last Sunday we walked the first mile on the Roman Road ... ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-25

Denomination: Baptist

Handling God's Success When We Wanted It For Ourselves Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 29, 2009

Ministry looks impossible, and we want to run the other way. But when we do finally tackle it, and God redeems, then we want the credit. In His grace He assures us that we are not forgotten even though we are inappropriate.

All during this month we’ve worked together on the theme of compassion. Because we are a church which urgently needs to do ministry in this community; because we are a people with much to give and much to share, and with a place to share it, by the time this week is over we will have invested four ...read more

Denomination: Baptist