Sermons on Joseph: showing 2,521-2,535 of 21,516

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

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

When Jesus Comes: No Grasp Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 13, 2010

We live in a status-seeking world. But when Jesus comes as a tiny infant in a humble set of circumstances, He shows us that the way to live is one of obedience and giving up control.

This afternoon, if all goes as we would like – all of us, that is, with the possible exception of a few traitors and a few folks who for some strange reason do not care about pigskin prowess – this afternoon, if all goes as we would like, our beloved Redskins will do battle with the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes You Think You Can Come Here?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 17, 2010

Lent, 1986, Communion: We should never be intimidated from the Lord's Table by ritual, shame, or weakness. It is hosted by one who offers us mercy and grace, paid for by His blood; so come boldly.

In the South Africa of apartheid, I suppose, nearly anything is possible. And so I do not expect that this story, improbable as it sounds, is untrue. If anything, I expect it could be multiplied many, many times over. At any rate, the story is that one day an Afrikaner, one of the ruling class in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist