Sermons on Joseph The Saviour:

The River Jordan: How We Got Over Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 3, 2009

Many things look impossible, particularly if we are worn down by the "too much" of survival. But there are those who go before us and test the waters and make a way for us. We need to do the same for others. Black History Month

Have you enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics? Isn’t it amazing what those skaters and the skiers can do? Isn’t it astounding that human bodies can plummet down slopes and whiz through channels at what seems like supersonic speed? I’ve only seen snatches of the Olympics, but I’ve thoroughly ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

The River Nile: Drawn Out Of The Waters Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 4, 2009

Racism grows out of the fears of the oppressors and attacks the leaders of those they fear. But God draws out of the waters that were intended to drown those whom He will use to lead His people to victory.

The River Nile. The great river of Egypt, a historic stream that rises in the heart of Africa and flows northward for hundreds and hundreds of miles, bringing life to Egypt. Langston Hughes says, "I’ve known rivers; I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What It Takes To Be Heard By God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 5, 2009

If you want to be heard by God, make sure God and not others are your audience, make sure that it is really you who is speaking, and make sure to forgive and to receive forgiveness.

The morning worship service had reached an emotional climax during the pastor’s fervent prayer. He had carefully crafted it with fine liturgical phrases, hallowed by centuries of use. It was backed up by a throbbing organ, playing a hymn that gently drew worshipers back to thoughts of that amazing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Out Of Our Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Mar 11, 2009

A look at Luke 15 showin the objective of he church and the reason we don’t achieve it.

WHEN WE MOVE OUT GOD CAN MOVE IN Part 2 (Moving Out of Our Comfort Zone) (All my sermons use illustrations from www.sermoncentral.com and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Last week we started a five part series entitled “When We Move Out, God Moves In” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Life Turns Sour Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 15, 2009

When life turns sour, tell yourself the truth, complain to God, and He will deliver. Message focuses on Dylan Thomas’ poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage against the dying of the light."

On a warm spring evening in 1952, at his home in Swansea in Wales, David John Thomas lay on his deathbed. Once a soldier who had fought in the Second World War, later an English teacher, Thomas had become very frail in his later years. There was no doubt that he would die soon. There was no ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Good To Go

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 29, 2010

Funeral service for Alberta Perry Faulkner, the mainstay of the church's missions support efforts and a world traveler, nurse, teacher, Scout leader, senior citizen sponsor.

I had my car repaired not long ago. It took about as long to check out at the cashier’s desk as it did for the mechanics to do the work, because at the desk I had to sign several forms, initial a couple of others, present my credit card and sign the charge slip, and then wait for the clerk ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Entering By The Front Door

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 31, 2010

Annual Theme sermon for 1989. Some of us have entered the fold by the back doors, for all the wrong reasons. We need to get that right, and then obey the Lord's invitation to bring others to the only door to the only fold.

One day as we/were here in the church building we heard a loud banging noise, as if somebody were trying to get inside the building. It was an insistent loud knocking, but at first we couldn't find out where it was coming from. Our secretary went down the hallway to the door on the alley, but it ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Down To Racing Weight

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2010

Delivered March 1986. To run this race of life and faith, you need worthy role models, you need to rid yourself of destructive habits, and you need the pacesetter, Christ.

Beneath this bulky middle-aged body and especially beneath the generous folds of this preaching robe, there beats the heart of a runner, a racer. Surprise, surprise, you never knew that, did you? But it's true. Inside this fleshy disgrace to the human race there lies buried somewhere the soul of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Immanuel: He Drives Away Our Fears

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2010

Advent 1987: Ahaz let fear drive him to sacrifice the best that he had and to mire down in "what if". God through Isaiah offered the ultimate sign of hope, His own presence, who drives away our fears.

The birth of a child has many layers of meaning. When a baby is born into a family, there can be all kinds of different feelings, all sorts of different meanings. For one family, this is indeed a blessed event, filled with joy, running over with excitement, the fulfillment of hopes and dreams and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Absence Of God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2010

January 1985: The psalmist experiences the absence of God, even to the point of denigrating himself as a "worm." But when he takes inventory, he does see evidence of God's presence, opens up his heart, and dares to hope.

Today I am going to take a somewhat different approach to the reading of the Scripture and the way I will be preaching on it. And in fact I hope this will make it come alive for you and will enable you to follow the thought of the Scripture writer as well as my own thought. What I plan to do today ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The War Against Wickedness

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 8, 2010

We are called to be warriors against wickedness, do we do our part?

THE WAR AGAINST WICKEDNESS I think we would all agree that our world is filled with wickedness. It is not something new to our world or our time or this generation even, the world has been filled with wickedness for as long as we have recorded history. The word translated “wickedness” ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

2nd Chance Jesus?

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 9, 2010

Many of become ineffective Christians, because of the sin our lives. God gives us a second chance to get it right.

2 CHANCE JESUS? (All my sermons use illustrations found on sermoncentral.com and passages are NIV unless noted) I have studied many different passages of scripture, I have read and re-read several passages and felt a different leading many times. One of my favorites books in the Bible is the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Plans Of Our Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Apr 9, 2010

Some think they have a grasp on their future and what is best for them. Truly only God knows what is best for us, we must concede to His leadership.

THE PLAN OF OUR HEARTS It has been over 4 months since I have preached a sermon, For ten years I preached almost every week, sometimes two different messages and at least four revivals that I can remember doing. Being away from the pulpit has made me long for the Word, presented with passion, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Game's Not Over Yet

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 10, 2010

Christmas 1985: In our tumultuous world and in our troubled lives, those negatives are not the last word, for God has sent Immanuel to work a work that is not yet finished, but will be eventually.

The morning sports pages brought forth a pearl of wisdom from one Ron Jaworski, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. Jaworski, as it turned out, is something of a prophet. He referred to his team's irritating habit of getting off to a good start in their games, leading right up to the last ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Comes: No Fear

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 12, 2010

Christmas Day 1988: Jesus came into a world full of fears about economics, government, health, and the rest. Our pretty porcelain manger scenes are not realistic. But when Jesus comes today and works through us, He works to drive away all the fears that

A certain family, a number of years ago, as was their custom, lovingly and carefully set out their beautiful porcelain nativity scene for Christmas. They were so very proud of this delicate, fragile thing of beauty; they had paid a good deal of money for it on a trip to Europe, and its value could ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist