Sermons on Lonesome Valleys:

Doing More With Less

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2010

In times of scarcity or stress, two personalities respond: fear, the cup half empty; and faith, the cup half full.

A few moments ago we sang, "Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace." Those are beautiful words; they are lofty sentiments. But how? How can such things happen? In an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Too Busy Not To Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 13, 2009

When we think we are too busy to pray, we are succumbing to the issue of control: either we suppose we can manage everything or we want to abdicate. Prayer is the way to find priorities and strength.

Let me throw some numbers at you. Imagine that you were in charge of an operation that involves, on the average, some ten thousand people a week, almost all of whom come together at one time. Of these ten thousand or so, not all will get there every time, but sometimes many more than that will show ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-27

Denomination: Baptist

Finding God For Yourself

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 10, 2013

All the way through the Old Testament we find that God does not want the godly to marry with the ungodly. And the New Testament tells Christians that they are not to be unequally yoked. For example, it says in 2 Corinthians, “Do not be unequally yoked to

Title: Finding God for Yourself The last time we studied Jacob’s life we saw him doing one of the most despicable things a man can do. He did it at the request of his mother. You know, sometimes people excuse themselves ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

Will It Be Worth It All? Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on May 22, 2014

Is what I'm doing and going through worth it?

“The Journey of a Lifetime: Will It Be Worth It All?” Rev. 21:1-22:5 “Hang in there – it will get better!” “Just keep thinking of end results – you’ll be glad you did this.” “It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bona Fide- A Study Of James- Part 3- "The Jake Spoon Syndrome" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Jan 23, 2017

Part 3 in our James series

Bona Fide A study of James Genuine Christian Living Part 3 “The Jake Spoon Syndrome” James 1:5-8 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

Bona Fide- A Study Of James- Part 12- "Our Plans Or God's Plans?" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Mar 27, 2017

Part 12 of our James series

Bona Fide A study of James Part 12 “Your plans / or God’s plans?” As we continue in our study of James this morning We come to another spot in the book of James That may cause us to take a step back just a bit We live in a world where we are taught to plan ahead Right? ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Real People - Real Problems Part 8- "Going Along To Get Along" Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Sep 17, 2017

Part 8 of our 1 Samuel series

Real People- Real Problems A study of 1 Samuel Part 8 “Going along to get along” Two times in the movie lonesome dove we see very adverse reactions to rude behavior The first is Gus whacking a surly bartender with his big walker colt For disrespecting he and Capt Call And for bad service “I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:1-3, Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

He/She That Wins Souls Is Wise

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 5, 2015

Soul winning was Jesus' main mission, ends human emptiness, interrupts the cycle of sin, honors the suffering of Jesus, and is the only brief opportunity of helping people switch eternal destinations.

HE THAT WINS SOULS IS WISE Prov. 11:30 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: AGGIE HELPS SHSU WIN $1 M 1. Mick, a student at SHSU, appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” and won $500,000. He chose to risk it all on the final question. 2. "Which of the following birds does NOT build its own ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Death

Contributed by Pastor Butch Woolsey on Jun 8, 2021

HEALING

Death I want to talk about death this and what the Bible says about it. The Lord laid it on my heart to do a sermon on death. It seems this past year and recently right here at church ,people that we been praying for, or passing away. So what does death mean to you? Are you afraid to die? God did ...read more

Scripture: John 14:17-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, Genesis 1:3-5

A Voyage Of Faith Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 24, 2021

Noah believed God, and he built an Ark to save his family. What can learn from Noah's faith, and what is there in the story of God's judgment that we need to share with the world?

(I opened by pretending to read a children story about Noah. Then I read Hebrews 11:7) “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” PRAYER Now, the first part of Hebrews 11:7 tells us that God WARNED ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Great Need For Compassion!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 7, 2022

Today I want to preach on something that some seem to think is not that important….BUT IT IS! It affects our life everyday.

I want to preach to you about compassion. We miss compassion when we do not have it and we admire it when we see it. Illus: A pastor wrote, "I was in Time’s Square, in New York, during rush hour. Thousands of people were thronging and pushing at the corner, ready to cross at the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Discerning The Body

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2003

The Lord’s Table is a place of connection and community, not of individuality and isolation; a place where one can be understood in the midst of an overwhelming world. It is a place of acceptance.

A number of months ago, Margaret and I had the privilege of touring Italy, along with several of you and a number of other people. It was a wonderful experience, most of it. Most of it, but not all. The part that was less than wonderful came early in the tour, when we had a few free hours in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Denomination: Baptist

Picking Up The Pieces Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 10, 2004

First in a series from Ephesians; and for the Day of Prayer for World Peace. Our lives and our world seem fragmented. But God brings order to our lives by choosing us; He redeems the messes we make; and He calls us to the work of restoration.

Do you experience life in pieces? Do you find that each day is a jumble of bits and pieces, fragments? That most of the time there isn’t any coherence, there isn’t any consistency? Do you feel that each day is a whole lot of things to be done, but they don’t always hold together? I don’t know ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

"The Word Of God Received: Being Doers Of The Word And Not Hearers Only" Series

Contributed by Quintin Morrow on Jan 24, 2002

A message on the application and living of God’s Word.

“The Word of God Received” Preached at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1/27/02 The Rev’d Quintin Morrow, Rector Let us pray: “Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace ...read more

Scripture: James 1:21-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

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