Sermons on Joseph: showing 1,936-1,950 of 21,510

Crossing Over 5 Series

Contributed by Joseph Schuck on Sep 6, 2003

This series focuses on crossing over obstacles, problems, situations, and the like which can impede our walk with God.

CROSSING OVER 5 Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 - “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Church Of God

You Were Shaped For God's Service Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 6, 2003

Part of a series on Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life. Worship without service is idolatry; fellowship without service is self-indulgence; discipleship without service is perfectionism. Pay the price of service.

Not long ago an insurance salesman called, wanting to sell me long-term care insurance. I was tempted to tell him I had an unbeatable plan for long-term care, called heaven, but I didn’t. Not this time, anyway, because some aches and pains we had been feeling did remind us that we might actually ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

You Were Made For A Mission Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 13, 2003

One in a series on Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life book. Our mission is to drive with others toward a destination. But between invitation and destination there is hesitation, born of diversion, dissension, and dissipation.

People who are on a mission move; people who are on a mission let nothing stop them. They are not distracted by side issues, they focus all their energies on getting their mission accomplished. People who are on a mission do whatever it takes to get to their goal. But people who are not on a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Ignorant Errors, Careless Mistakes, Or Plain Old Sin

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 9, 2004

Message on the First Word from the Cross, for a Good Friday Seven Last Words service. Jesus prays for forgiveness for the anonymous "they" who permit a society to be valueless, for those who profit from the misery of others, for those who pride themselve

One of life’s scariest moments comes when, two or three days after you have taken an exam at school, the teacher shows up ready to pass out the results. Maybe you sit poised on the edge of your chair, if you think you’ve done well; or you slump down in the seat, trying to look as though you’re ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of One

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 12, 2004

One person can work tremendous damage; can one person also create great positive change? She/he can if empowered by the One, who is teacher, forgiver, and conqueror of death.

The other day, my son was visiting his fiancee, and heard a noise outside. It sounded a bit like thunder. So he went out to investigate. There he found a mess. The fellow who lives across the parking lot from Jackie had come home after an evening of “celebrating”, and was driving, if you call ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Definitely

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2004

Funeral sermon for Michael Ellis, avid golfer and new believer. God has done definite things in Michael’s life, has provided a definite plan of salvation, and has given the definite gift of eternal life.

I know almost nothing about the game of golf. I do know that Michael Ellis was an avid golfer. Even there in the hospice it seemed to comfort him to watch golf on television. I’m not sure he appreciated it when I compared looking TV golf to watching the grass grow. He laughed, but I’m not sure ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Three Crosses Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Apr 13, 2004

The final message in a series leading up to Easter on the Passion of Christ. This meesage focuses on the difference between the three crosses.

A Tale of Three Crosses April 11, 2004 The Passion - Luke 23:39-43 Sunday AM Intro: In reviewing the last hours of Jesus’ life, we often only see one cross dotting the Jerusalem skyline – but to the casual observer that day, the middle cross carried no special significance – just three men dying ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:38-43

Denomination: Baptist

Tomorrow Is Today

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2004

Preached at a rescue mission. Some face tomorrow in fear, some in denial. But you can face tomorrow by discovering what God is giving you today.

The other day I heard about a woman who was so upset because she was about to be forty years old that she got on an airplane, flew out over the Pacific Ocean, and crossed the International Date Line, where as you may know the calendar changes, just so that she would not actually be anywhere on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

Judgment On Our Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2004

For our Remembrance Sunday, when we recall church members deceased during the past year. Memories that are all positive or all positive leave judgment on our hearts. The gospel means that we learn and rejoice from them, but recognize that their lives we

The way in which we remember those who have gone before us can either empower us or it can disempower us. The way in which we grieve for those we have loved and lost can either enable us to greater things, or it can disable us and hold us back. It all depends on what we do with the judgment that ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 28:29-30

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