Sermons on Joseph Smith:

Expect Death At The Birth Of The King

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 24, 2003

how Jesus birth brought about the sword of Herod, and we can expect the same - a sermon for the minor festival of "the Holy Innocents: Martyrs"

Jesus once said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) The pictures we see of Christmas seem to portray the exact opposite. With Mary and Joseph gently hovering over a little baby in a manger, it’s a very ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Believing The Best In Others Series

Contributed by Bob Briggs on Dec 4, 2002

We often overlook the life of Joseph in the birth story of Jesus and in doing so miss valuable life lessons

Believing the Best in Others Each year we hear the Christmas story, how Jesus was born of a virgin, in a stable, in Bethlehem during the time of a Roman census. In the midst of our celebration we have images of Mary and baby Jesus while we push to the back Mary’s husband Joseph. Not much ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Best And Worst Day

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Dec 11, 2002

Matthew places his emphasis on Joseph during his retelling of the birth of Jesus. Joseph’s trust in God is an amazing story.

The Best and Worst Day Matthew 1:18-25 Preached at Laurel Church of Christ On Sunday, December 8, 2002 Introduction: I. Robert Beringer writes about a geography lesson from elementary school A. He learned that the southern most tip of Africa is a point, which for centuries has experienced ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Outside The Comfort Zone

Contributed by Daryl Bahn on Dec 24, 2001

First Sunday after Christmas, Year A -- God had Mary and Joseph take Jesus down to Egypt. When God sometimes takes us out of our comfort zone, it is part of his gracious plan for us in Christ.

Here we are at the end of one year and ready to begin another. The readings for this morning are for the First Sunday after Christmas, and the Gospel tells us about the trip that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus took down to Egypt. It wasn’t a vacation. They weren’t just “going south for the winter.” They ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11-23, Ephesians 5:15-17

Denomination: Lutheran

A Man Of Faithfulness

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 11, 2002

A sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

4th Sunday in Advent Matthew 1:18-25 "A Man of Faithfulness"   A father was telling his small son the story about the lost sheep who left the other 99. He explained, how the little sheep crawled through the hold in the fence -- running and skipping and playing in the sunshine. Out of the woods came ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Embracing God During Confusing Times

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Dec 19, 2006

What if your fiance announced she was pregnant with someone else’s child? Talk about confusion. How do we embrace God during confusing times? We’ll use Joseph and Mary as examples.

God With Us: Embracing God During Confusing Times Circumstances have a way of making us feel that God isn’t with us. See if you feel the confusion in these verses Matthew 1:18-25 18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Appearances Can Be Deceiving Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Dec 11, 2005

#3 in Christmas series on fear. What was Joseph afraid of? How things looked.

Matthew 1:18-25 – Appearances Can Be Deceiving Today we are continuing our series on fear. Four times in the Christmas story, someone is told not to be afraid. Today we are looking at the story of Joseph from Matthew 1:18-25. Now, there is a lot said about Mary, the topic of last week’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Trust God To Help You PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Learn from Joseph's story, understanding that trials are not burdens but opportunities to grow in faith and trust in God, as He prepares us for an extraordinary destiny.

Good morning, church family! Today, we are diving deep into the heart of Genesis 45, a chapter that reveals a lot about the life of Joseph, a man who experienced many trials yet never wavered in his trust in God. As we grapple with our own trials, Joseph's story provides us with a roadmap on how to ...read more

Topics: Joseph

Together In Sin, Alone In Jesus

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 18, 2009

Done as a pulpit dialogue between a spectator at the stoning of the woman taken in adultery and a prosecutor trying him for not sharing in the stoning. JMS, my initials; HM, initials of the church member who played the prosecutor.

JMS: What are you doing to me? This is outrageous! You have no business putting me on trial! I didn’t do any more than anybody else did. Let me go! This is crazy! HM: You know exactly why I’m putting you on trial. That woman was as guilty as sin, and so are you. You were with her. You ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Taking Hold Of Contentment

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 28, 2004

Funeral service for Dock Burgess, whose last day of life was a time of acceptance and calm. We can take hold of contentment by learning to receive, by investing in a relationship with God, and ultimately by accepting grace for life eternal.

I am persuaded that the fundamental human problem is anxiety. I’ve watched the way we live for quite a while, and I am convinced that the most basic human issue is that we are anxious. We are fearful and afraid; we are anxious. And it is not just that we are afraid of what others may do to us. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

There Is No Substitute

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2004

Mothers’ Day sermon: We need the structure of the home, for there is no substitute for moral living, which means there is no substitute for authentic religious teaching, which in turn means there is no substitute for responsible parenting.

Lord, help the poor soul who serves as a substitute teacher. When I was a schoolboy and our teacher had to be away, we plotted what we were going to do to that substitute. There was something about the idea that we would have her for only one or two days and would likely never see her again. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:1-13, Judges 17:11

Denomination: Baptist

After The Cicadas

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 15, 2004

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education: God still sees much to judge in America, and we are laid waste by lingering racism. We must recommit to justice in the nation and in the church.

I am here to announce an invasion. This land has been taken over by an alien army. The invaders are so numerous that all hope of turning them back is gone. It is useless to resist. And not only are they here in massive numbers, these invaders, but also they know no fear. They are perfectly ...read more

Scripture: Amos 2:6-8, Amos 5:24

Denomination: Baptist

Gloria In Excelsis -- Deo

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 15, 2004

Ordination of a woman named Gloria; glory not in your achievements but in helping others seek God; glory not in defending yourself against predators but in receiving God’s protection; and let yourself feel passion.

Over the years I have developed the habit of focusing on a person’s name whenever it is time to do a message that relates to that individual. For example, I have done funerals for people named James, using something from the New Testament letter of James. I did a funeral service once for a woman ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:1-36, Luke 2:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Not Yet Perfect

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 18, 2004

Funeral sermon for Doris Reynolds Parker, veteran teacher, civil rights worker, and mother, whose spirit of determination we can complete if we commit to justice, kindness and a walk with God.

Perfection is difficult to come by! No matter how good something is, it is always possible to find flaws. It is always possible to discover imperfections. When I was in engineering school, I took a class in drafting. My professor’s claim to fame was that he could, without a compass, ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

What Stands In The Way?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 22, 2004

For Ascension Sunday; and in preparation for my retirement as pastor. What stands in our way? Exhaustion? Gather all, gather the marginalized, and pray. Planless? Remember our core values and do them. Lack of urgency? We are accountable to God.

When a leader and those he leads part company, we learn a whole lot about both of them. Their true values become apparent. The things they are really about become clear. There is no more game-playing when it is time for a leader and those he leads to part company. Sometimes they separate ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-14, Acts 28:23-31

Denomination: Baptist