Sermons on Joseph Smith:

Prayer And The Cynical

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 25, 2010

Prayer emphasis fall 1987: common wisdom is that we will never change, and the cynic believes that. Like Koheleth we can lose hope for everything. But the Christ who will come gives us hope, life, companionship, and is at work in all things for change a

One of the rules you learn when you study the discipline of marriage counseling is that you must try to help young people preparing for marriage to know at least this much: that whatever he or she is now, they will be more of it in fifty years. Whatever he or she is now, they will be more of it in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Dirty Feet At The Table

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2010

The Lord's washing of all the disciples' feet reminds us that all of us need cleansing, that His cleansing starts us on the way to holiness, and that we are then empowered to help others toward cleansing.

When I was growing up, there were very definite rules about what you did or did not do at the dinner table. Obviously, everyone was expected to wash their hands before coming to the table and then to wait quietly while prayer was offered. To this day, if I rush to eat something without doing both ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit: The Gift Of Unity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2010

Delivered in 1986, shortly after pastoral call. The Spirit gives us unity in a time of riskiness and danger. That gift is more than unanimity; it is dedication to God's purposes.

Not everything in every sermon has to be communicated in words. Words and speech are only a part of the way you get a message across. A part of what you folks receive is not only what you hear, but also what you see. What you see and what you pick up just from being here is certainly a part of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit In The Heart: When Words Fail

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 28, 2010

Delivered 1986: When we cannot express ourselves even in prayer, God's Spirit communicates what we cannot say. So also His Table opens up a channel of communication via the contrite heart and the broken spirit.

Have you ever had this experience? You are caught up in a great debate, or maybe it's a discussion of some issue. You are quite sure you are right; you know, you just know, that what you think is the right way, and here you are, arguing your point. With power and passion you get right up to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27

Denomination: Baptist

Heavenly Cpr

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 28, 2010

1986, with an Assistant reading the part of Philemon. An imaginary set of letters between Paul and Philemon, emphasizing that a new relationship with Christ changes every human relationship, and calls for forgiveness and mutual support.

Among all the weighty theological treatises the apostle Paul wrote to the churches he had established, among all the complex sentences and profound thoughts and ponderous pronouncements, there is one little gem from the hand of the great apostle that is quite different. The little letter to ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Eyewitnesses Of Majesty

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 8, 2010

We tend to see only what we expect to see, and thus at Christmas we do not see the glory and majesty of the Christ child in the homeless, the downtrodden, the ashamed.

They say that "seeing is believing". Well, that depends. That depends on whether you can trust your eyesight. And it depends on whether you have decided to see what is really there or just what you think is there. "Seeing is believing." It depends on whether you can trust your eyesight. My ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-19

Denomination: Baptist

Doing More With Less

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2010

In times of scarcity or stress, two personalities respond: fear, the cup half empty; and faith, the cup half full.

A few moments ago we sang, "Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace." Those are beautiful words; they are lofty sentiments. But how? How can such things happen? In an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Doubt, Dignity, And Discovery

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 10, 2010

Often we are not credible because we do not accept others’ doubt as real, nor do we permit them to retain their dignity. We are called simply to invite them on a voyage of discovery where they will find that their hurts are healed.

What do you do when you try to help, and those you are helping are not sure they want that help? What do you say when someone has a need, you propose an answer to that need, but they don’t believe that what you want to give will really do any good? How do you help people who are not sure they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Driving Under The Influence

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 11, 2010

Energy and passion in worship are fine, but they must push us toward authentic living and toward dedicated mission, else they will be destructive.

I could not help noticing this car that morning. It was a tiny little car, one of those that looks like a sardine can on wheels. The rust spots and the dents suggested that it had survived more than its share of bumps and bruises. But that was not all that made me notice this little puddle ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

To An Unknown God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 15, 2010

Our world is incurably religious and is filled with people on a spiritual search. We find it easy to talk religion, but our calling is to share our relationship with the living Christ.

We are incurably religious! Wherever you go, you will find that people are religious. We are groping for something we never quite find. Ride with me up and down Sixteenth Street, here in the city, or out New Hampshire Avenue, past Colesville. The architecture is ample proof that people are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-33

Denomination: Baptist

Struggling To Be A People Of Integrity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 12, 2009

Preached 1989. A people of integrity will not act as though God is automatically on their side, apart from righteousness; and they will pay attention to the way in which leadership is chosen.

On this Independence Day weekend we think about our nation’s history, our nation’s life. As we do so I want to assure you that we will be wrestling with the word of God, not just scattering political opinions over the landscape like birdseed. I am not here as political pundit, but as a pastor and ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 8:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Three Score And Ten

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 12, 2009

For 1989, 70th anniversary of the church. Three Scriptures with the number "70" in them ... life includes pain and conflict; but we are to forgive without reservation; God knows the plans He has for the next 70 years of this church.

We’ve reached a milestone, a real milestone. Seventy years old. That’s a good long while. That is, in fact, a lifetime, according to one of the Scriptures I’m going to read, the typical, average lifetime of a human being. And it’s not too bad for an institution like a church. We’ve been here, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Faith, Freedom, And The Future

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 13, 2009

God is always giving the gift of freedom. In revolutionary times, value the past, know that the present is incomplete, step forward in faith for the future.

God is always ready to give the gift of freedom. The one thing you can be sure that God is always about is freedom, freeing His people from the things which hold them back. In every time and place, our God is working to give the gift of freedom. When He does that, we call it a revolution. We see ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

First Things First Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 14, 2009

Use what you have before you ask for more; put the work of the Lord first in your priorities; and expect the church itself to live in faith and with godly priorities.

It is very important to put first things first. It’s important to get things in the right order. If you don’t get first things first, life just does not work out right. For example, speech. Language is tricky, and if you don’t get the words in the right order, the meaning can be drastically ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Dawn's Early Light

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 15, 2009

Just as Key saw that the darkness is intense before the dawn, that during battle we see enough to know that our freedom is won, and that we are at our best when we claim freedom for others, so also at the empty tomb we learn of our freedom from sin.

At 9 o’clock the firing from the ships anchored in the harbor slackened and then stopped. It seemed as though the siege of the city might be over for the night. But an hour or so later 20 small beats set out, under cover of darkness, with a driving rain pelting down. Their oars muffled, they ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist