Sermons on Joseph Stowell:

Churchill Or Church, Ill?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 29, 2009

As Winston Churchill rallied the British people, so Paul rallies Christians by urging us to review our motivations and to present something solid and not merely entertaining. Such a church will prevail and thrive.

On the fifth of June, 1940, not even a month after he became prime minister, Winston Churchill spoke to the British people to encourage them of their desperate situation. Bear in mind that in September of the previous year the Nazis had invaded Poland, with no effective resistance. Thereafter, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Earthen Vessel, Feet Of Clay

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 29, 2009

Ordination of Troy L. Dixon, Nov. 1989: We pursue the trappings of religion instead of what is truly value. As a common clay vessel, be wary of power games, know that your foundation can crumble, focus on the treasure of the Gospel.

Somehow in men’s minds the paraphernalia of religion get to be more important than the faith itself. It is one of the enduring problems of religious life, how it is that we get far more caught up and invested in the trappings of religion than in the faith itself. In your average church, you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Baptist

Cisterns, Channels, And Stagnant Ponds

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 30, 2009

If we do not share our faith we will not truly learn it. If we take nothing in we will go dry. Truly refreshing spirituality involves both learning and sharing the truth.

A few weeks ago, as the hot weather season got into full swing, I remembered something I had not done to prepare for the season. Last summer we had bought a big plastic garbage container and had set it outside, next to the air conditioner compressor, and I had run the exhaust hose into it in order ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Elbow Test Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 31, 2009

We may test our spiritual maturity by assessing who Jesus is for us, whether we live with a sense of victory, and whose opinions matter to us.

During our stay in England, we visited my wife’s cousin and his wife, who have a nine-month-old baby son. One night they needed to go out for a while on an errand, so they asked us if we would take care of the baby for a couple of hours. Of course we were delighted with the chance to do so, since ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Road Work Is Finally Finished

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 1, 2009

Neither grief nor guilt are productive, take us anywhere. The Cross is God’s signpost that will put an end to our continuing struggles with both.

Just a few days ago we celebrated, if that’s the right word, the thirtieth anniversary of something we all love to hate. Imagine observing the anniversary of something that has cost us dearly in dollars and also in blood and tears. Something we cannot live without, but sometimes wonder if we can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Child-Sized House

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 2, 2009

Let us commit to building a church building with room for personal response to Christ and not business as usual; with room for spontaneity and not control; with room for those who need healing and not for exploitation.

When our children were small, we often took them to the Smithsonian museums, to try and cram a little culture into heads usually preoccupied with cartoons or sports. The best place to go was the Museum of American History, because there were so many different kinds of exhibits and so many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Echoes That Will Not Die

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 3, 2009

In the song of the angels we hear echoes of our ancient problems -- meaning, sin, peace -- all of which are dealt with in the coming of Christ.

The drama of Christmas is focused on a starlit night at a manger, on a mother and a babe, on the small things of life. And yet it is also wide open to eternity, it is a window into past and present and future. The drama of Christmas seems to play on such ordinary things. Tax legislation; taxes, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 14:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

That Old-Time Religion: Job's Friend Bildad Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 4, 2009

When we are in distress, we do not want doctrine. We want a fresh encounter with God, we want listening friends, and most of all, we want, and have, a Redeemer.

Years ago the church of which I was then a member had an evening ice-cream social and service out on the church grounds one summer Sunday. It was a gently warm night, and as the sun went down and a little chill crept into the air, as the stars began to come out and faces began to disappear into the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

He's Always There

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jan 14, 2013

After preaching three point sermon for nearly fifteen years, I am trying a much simpler style, one point, and send it home. This sermon addresses the issue of lonliness and why we can't feel God's presence in our lives.

All my sermons use illustration found at sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. HE’S ALWAYS THERE! I know that I have battled with something many people in our world battle with on a regular basis, and that is the feeling of loneliness. More people in our world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He's Always There

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Jan 14, 2013

After preaching three point sermon for nearly fifteen years, I am trying a much simpler style, one point, and send it home. This sermon addresses the issue of lonliness and why we can't feel God's presence in our lives.

All my sermons use illustration found at sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted. HE’S ALWAYS THERE! I know that I have battled with something many people in our world battle with on a regular basis, and that is the feeling of loneliness. More people in our world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Bootcamp

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Nov 8, 2011

Perhaps the greatest lessons I learned about life came during Marine Corps bootcamp, Paris Island, the Summer of 1978. Christians need bootcamp too.

(All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.) SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP When I was young I was a very active kid, I am sure many of you were as well. We may have to strain a little to remember those days, but most all of us could not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Titanic Thankfulness

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Nov 8, 2011

This Thanksgiving we need to see that God has given us provision, protection and power and be thankful in Titanic proportion.

(All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.) TITANIC THANKFULNESS Thanksgiving is a day set aside each year for us to give thanks, of course most of us know that scripture tells us we should be thankful always and at all times. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:19-20

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

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

Cheap Sunglasses

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Sep 21, 2011

Wouldn't it be great to see things through the eyes of Jesus? Perhaps if we accept the Cheap Songlasses that come with Grace, we could see others differently.

CHEAP SUNGLASSES (ALL my sermons use illustration found on www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture in NIV unless otherwise noted) This morning the puppets performed a song by Brandon Heath called “Give Me Your Eyes” to have the eyes of Jesus. “Give me your eyes for just one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ