Sermons on Joseph Stowell:

On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 28, 2009

Growth can come by pruning, cultivating, or simply letting it happen. God wants the church to grow, and all these methods are used.

Growth takes place in one of three ways. Things grow because one of three things happens. First, some things grow just because it is in the very nature of those things to grow. You don’t have to do anything, you don’t have to feed them or nourish them or encourage them. Some things just grow. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-16

Denomination: Baptist

Rahab: Marked By Scarlet Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2009

God is ready to forgive all sinners and use them for His purposes; and God’s people must receive them, no matter the nature of their sin, for all have sinner and are forgiven. (Spools of scarlet thread were distributed for people to unroll and hold).

Soon through your hands will be passing a scarlet thread, a scarlet cord. I do not say a red cord, but a scarlet cord. Scarlet, you see, is a special kind of red color. The art books tell us that scarlet is a bright red with just a tinge of orange in it. And scarlet has some special ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Promises: Barnabas

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 30, 2009

As we grow older we find meaning in encouraging others, especially the young. Trusting them is equivalent to trusting God.

We like to say that age is a state of mind more than it is a set of numbers on the calendar. We tell each other, "You’re only as old as you feel." But you know, I’m finding that it is important to know what you feel. It is important to listen to yourself as you age. I am not referring to aches ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Love People, Use Things

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve sermon 1989: We have a hard time giving up our attachment to things material. We do need to feel, however, that what we use makes a difference for someone -- a way to love them.

When we read that the city of Washington is going to get everybody out of an infamous homeless shelter by Christmas, because that shelter is no longer fit for human habitation, we have a variety of reactions. Some react at the thought that we still have not come very far at settling the issue of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Land Of The Midnight Sun Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 1, 2009

Our culture has lived in sheer optimism, but that time is fading. We must seize the opportunity to minister while it is here; and if we do so, we will see bountiful rewards.

My besetting sin, if you must know, is procrastination. Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow, for somehow tomorrow always seems to be even more than only a day away. It seems to be an eternity away, and so what if I do not do today what my To-Do list says I am to do? Who will know ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Men And Their Macho Machines

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2009

Men have sadly learned to use machines as status symbols and instruments of power, but that only leads to destruction. Learn from Him whose ride was a lowly beast and whose symbol is a cross.

I had been away from home for about three months, working in Akron, Ohio, as an engineering student. The three months were over, and it was time to go back home. I went back the way college students traveled in 1957 … not in a plane, not in a car of my own, not with my father coming to transport ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 9:14-28

Denomination: Baptist

Promises To Keep Before I Sleep Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2009

We make promises to God but do not keep them because we let life overwhelm us, but if we listen to those who care for us, they will bring us back to our promises.

The shouts of today are so loud that I do not hear the echoes of yesterday, nor do I listen to the faint whispers of tomorrow. All I really know is what is clamoring in my ear right here, right now. That makes me lose perspective. The shouts of today are so insistently loud that I do not hear the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 1:48

Denomination: Baptist

Pressing On Or Just Pressed

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2009

Remembrance Sunday: living out of others’ expectations for us just makes us feel pressed. Relief from grief comes when you pursue what you know God wants for you.

One place I am quite sure I can stay away from is the National Museum of Beverage Cans. No matter how many times I may travel to and through Nashville, Tennessee, whether it be on Baptist business or as an accidental tourist, I feel quite certain that I can avoid even so much as a swift glance ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Playing The Fool

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 5, 2009

Sarcasm betrays anger at ourselves or at others, but we cannot let it fester. We need to come to the Cross, where there is reconciliation.

Words have power. The things we say to one another have power. Kids may deal with smart-mouths in the schoolyard by chanting, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." But that’s rubbish! Don’t you believe it? Names do hurt. Words hurt. The things we say to each other do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Playing It Safe: Job's Friend Zophar Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 7, 2009

For Lent and Annunciation: Zophar’s counsel is to "play it safe" by sticking to ideas rather than engaging persons. He thinks that security is the goal. God in Christ takes the risk of loving us and living with us.

Every human heart is so made that it can be hurt. Of that I have no doubt. Every human heart is subject to hurt, to pain, to shock. Every one of us is subject to feelings that we do not enjoy -- disappointment, anger, despair, guilt, anxiety -- a whole range of painful feelings. And we either deal ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Building A Better Body Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

Part 1 of a 6 part series on Building a Better body, church building.

BETTER BODY BUILDING INTRO part 1 Can you believe that we are headed for the holiday season already? Very soon we will be looking at celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas and it will be another new year. I am praying that 2009 will be a year when we see great growth and decisions as we have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Listen To Your Trainer Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

A six part series on Making a Church Body Better

BETTER BODY BUILDING (part 2) All my sermons use illustrations from SermonCentral.com I also use the NIV Bible unless stated. LISTEN TO YOUR TRAINER Back in November I spoke of a series of sermons I was writing entitled “ Better Body Building.” With the start of the New Year many people ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Eating Right, What's On Your Plate? Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

A six part series on making your church a better body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 3 All my illustrations come from SermonCentral and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. EATING RIGHT - WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE ? We are in the middle of building a better body! I introduced this series back in November, and we spoke about how, we, you and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Working The Prayer Master Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

a six part series on building a better church body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 4 All my illustrations come from Sermon Central unless otherwise noted and the scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. WORKING THE PRAYER-MASTER The Body of Christ is compared at times by the Apostle Paul to physical body we have here on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:21-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rowing The Growing Machine Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 12, 2009

A six part series on building better church body

BETTER BODY BUILDING Part 5 all my illustrations come from Sermon Central unless otherwse noted scripture is NIV unless noted ROWING THE GROWING MACHINE I hope that you have enjoyed this series of sermons as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Building a Better Body is the theme of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ