Sermons on Josephs Process:

Promises To Keep Before I Sleep

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 8, 2007

We find it difficult to keep promises because we are focused on dealing with today’s issues. We back off our commitments to God because they are hard, but we can receive help from accountability partners, and can know joy and fulfillment.

To be a saint is not to be perfect; to be a saint is to be someone who makes promises and keeps them. Sainthood is not some magic status, conferred by the church for merit or miracles; sainthood is ordinary people living in extraordinary faithfulness, making promises and keeping them. Did you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 1:48

Denomination: Baptist

Gifted For Ministry

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 10, 2007

We are a gifted church, with diversely gifted members, and we need to turn that into creative expressions of love for our community.

I don’t get to watch the Miss America pageant any more. Used to be, every September I would hunker down in front of a TV set and prepare to ogle. Gorgeous gals, we called them, in those Neanderthal days, before our language had to become politically correct. Beauty contest, we called it, before ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Enough

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 12, 2007

Wealth leads us to illusions wherein we lose sight of God; poverty leads us to spiritual disease. Pray for enough to satisfy real needs and to be able to give for others.

You don’t have to raise your hands on this one. But I do wonder how many of you spent some time this week fantasizing about that Powerball lottery. What would you have done with $250,000,000? What dreams would you have indulged? What unthinkable thoughts did you think? Well, now, I, being a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Living With A Ministry Outlook

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 17, 2007

Pulpit drama monologue as if Naaman the Syrian were reporting his healing. God’s gifts are free, contrary to what Gehazi thought.

It’s incredible. Truly remarkable. That I should look this good, after all I have been through. Maybe you wouldn’t understand. You did not see what I looked like only yesterday. Leprosy! I had leprosy! Great scabs on my skin. Whitish blotches here and there. Horrible sores, everywhere. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Living At Four Corners

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 25, 2007

For Christ the King Sunday and in support of international missions: using a metaphor of a complex intersection, we are to give, teach, heal and share as the four corners of our Christian life.

May I introduce you to my neighborhood? For two months now I have been burning up the Beltway and 270 coming up to your place two or three times a week. It would seem only fair that you should come down to where I live, if only in your mind’s eye. Let me introduce you to Four Corners. Four ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

Welcome

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 1, 2007

Memorial service message for James M. Wright, volunteer for a Florida Shriners Hospital. Focus on the welcoming of children meaning the welcoming of Jesus.

Images cross our television screens, and we turn away instinctively. Photos jump out at us from the newspaper, and we quickly turn the page. Brochures from charities arrive in our mail, and almost automatically we pitch them in the recycle bin. All because the media continue to show pictures of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Semper Paratus Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2007

The inbreak of God, whether now or in the day of His return, is both judgment and blessing. But if we are always prepared, we can handle the judgment without being destroyed and can receive blessings even though disguised.

If we prepare, we can handle just about anything. Preparation allows us to handle both negatives and positives. If we are ready, we can take the negatives and deal with the blows that fall on us. And if we are ready, we can also enjoy the positives and receive the blessings. When I was growing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

Robbed By Relationships Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The first of four messages on the threats to spiritual identity theft.

Identity Theft March 12, 2006 Robbed By Relationships Intro: I need a volunteer. Did you ever take the ACT/SAT? This will be kind of like that. Have you ever seen one of these? I want you to take a few seconds to put these shapes into the canister. According to our Vandy alumni this is ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:4-22

Denomination: Baptist

Flip Your Lid

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

A challenge to go deeper in worship.

Flip Your Lid January 1, 2006 Romans 12:1-2 Video: What is Worship? I can think of no better way to start the New Year than to set our hearts and minds on honoring God. To make a decision to Flip our Lids for Jesus! Story: A few months ago, we had some guests from the Netherlands. While ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

People Who Have Never Heard Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The first of five messages on the reliability of Christianity.

A Ready Defense – People Who Have Never Heard February 20, 2005 1 Peter 3:15 Intro: Several years ago a Peanuts comic strip had Linus and Charlie Brown in engaged in a serious conversation about God. Linus says, “I have a theological question. When you die and go to heaven, are you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Baptist

Is The Bible Reliable Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The third of five messages on the reliability of Christianity.

A Ready Defense March 20, 2005 Is the Bible Reliable? Review: This AM we’re going to finish our series entitled A Ready Defense. 1 Pt. 3:15 says, “But set part Christ as Lord of your life, and if you are asked about your Christian hope, always being ready to explain it.” This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of A Changed Life Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The fourth of five messages on the reliability of Christianity

A Ready Defense – The Amazing LIFE March 27, 2005 Video: Amazing Trans: Today we celebrate the most amazing event in the history mankind remembering the most amazing man ever to live – who in His amazing love offered His life to give each of us life that we might live an amazing life both here ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

Is Jesus The Only Way To God? Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The final message ina seires on the reliability of Christianity.

A Ready Defense April 3, 2005 Is Jesus the Only Way to God? Intro: Why believe in Jesus? What makes him so different from Socrates, Buddha, Mohammed, or any of the others? After all, don’t all religions lead to God? According to the teachings of Jesus – the answer is a definitive ...read more

Scripture: John 14:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Wise Guys

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

Lessons we can learn from the wise men.

Wise Guys – Christmas Message Matthew 2 Intro: To: All Southern USA Residents From: Santa I regret to inform you that effective immediately, due a growing population, I will no longer be able to serve the southern USA on Christmas Eve. However, I have provided a replacement for you, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A View From The Cross Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

A three weeks series looking at the cross cross different perspectives.

A View from the Cross Intro: What did Jesus see as He hung there between heaven and earth? There amidst the throng of people, I think He saw His accusers and His abusers – He saw the faithful and the fearful – He saw the hopeful and the hopeless – He saw you and me. Trans: Jesus saw many faces, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:56-75

Denomination: Baptist