Sermons on Margaret Pole:

Work To Eat Or Eat To Work?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 17, 2003

Why work? Work has meaning as a witness, as a way of focusing our efforts for the Kingdom. Look at the work of Christ, so that you do not lose motivation to work.

Is there anyone here today whose name is Rockefeller? No? Then maybe there is a member of the Kennedy family, other than Mrs. Currie – and I don’t think she is of the Hyannisport Kennedys? No one? Well, let me try someone else – the Sultan of Brunei, possibly the richest person in the world. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

Cost Of Church Growth

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Nov 27, 2006

We all want our churches to grow but have we actually considered the cost?

Well it’s been a year. Hardly seems possible in some ways and yet on the other hand it seems like we’ve been here forever. Now understand that while we have only been here for a year in this church building this church body has been in existence since six of us started meeting in our living room ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

Time Out, Time In Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

After vacation -- time out -- it would be ridiculous if there were no "time in", engagement. God calls us to full engagement with Himself, which in turn calls us to live in newness and not in old habits. There is no time for anything that is not a serio

There are certain intense situations in which the best answer, maybe the only answer, is to take a “time out”. Time out, to get perspective; time out, to get emotions under control; time out to back off and take a better look. There are certain serious situations in which your instincts tell you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Spiritual Amnesia Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2004

Knowing the Bible helps us remember how to navigate through life issues, how to interpret what is happening in our lives, and how to find hope in bleak times.

At the very end of the longest chapter of the Bible, 176 verses about God’s word, comes this stout declaration, “I do not forget your commandments.” “I do not forget your commandments.” That is a tall order, to promise that you will not forget. How can you promise that you will not forget? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:167-176

Denomination: Baptist

Can't Shake Off Mom's Voice

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 14, 2003

Mothers (or parents) communicate an atmosphere as much as they communicate specific ideas; we as children cannot rid ourselves of that atmosphere, good or bad. But faith in God can lift us to a new self-esteem.

Just about everybody has a story that involves Mom’s voice. Just about anyone can tell you something distinctive about the things Mother used to say. We can remember not only what she said, but also the way she said it, the tone of voice she used. It’s surprising how many of us can remember ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

How To Lie With Statistics

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 5, 2008

For the Festival of Christ the King; We rely on false comparisons or we use half-truths to justify ourselves. Far better to find justification in committing ourselves to what God is about in the world.

There are lies, and then there are lies. Little lies and big lies. Deceptions of all kinds. Some say it was Mark Twain, others British Prime Minister Disraeli, but someone remarked that there are three kinds of lies: plain lies, flat-out lies, and statistics. Plain lies, flat-out lies, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Letting God Be God Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 20, 2008

To pray as Jesus prayed is to have the same understanding of God as He did: a firm but compassionate father, a giver who expects us to learn appreciation, and an empowering forgiver.

Introduction to Series Praying As Jesus Prayed Every fall I like to take at least two Sundays to focus on some aspect of that most basic of all the disciplines of the Christian life, the discipline of prayer. I do this for several reasons. First, building in a specific emphasis on prayer in our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

En Route To A Better Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 24, 2009

For Remembrance Sunday, celebrating the lives of those who had passed away during the previous year: We resist change because we fear failure and we fear temporariness. But faith launches us and God equips us to new things.

Why do some of us embrace change and others of us resist change? Why do some people look for new things to do, search for new things to learn? But others of us resist until our dying breath doing anything but what we’ve always done? Why is that? Why do we approach to life so very differently? ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-16

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting For Full Joy

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 22, 2010

Delivered 1989, on the 25th anniversary of the reception of the church's first black member. We wait for full joy and unity, which come from embracing all people and from being the agents of redemption for all needs.

Exactly twenty-five years ago, two things happened which were destined to have a profound effect on my life, and I want to share them with you this morning. These two unrelated happenings took place without the people involved in either one being aware of the other one, but, as I have said, both ...read more

Scripture: John 17:6-18

Denomination: Baptist

Romantic And Religious Roses Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

It is no wonder that our Lord is identified with flowers. He is called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.

Ernest Hemmingway wrote about the experience of Mungo Park, who, on one of his travel adventures, got lost in the vast wilderness of an African desert. He was all alone, and so dead tired he could not go on. His legs were numbed, and he gave up, and laid down to die. He opened his eyes, and right ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:1

Pharaoh And Gender Politics Series

Contributed by John Dixon on Oct 7, 2018

Israel's status quickly deteriorated from welcomed guests to feared aliens and oppressed slaves.

Exodus 1, 2 (NASB) 8 A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are more and mightier than we. 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Will You Pay The Price Of Righteousness? Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 18, 2020

This sermon is for Dr. King Sunday and challenges us to be willing to pay the price to stand for righteousness. Justice and Righteousness must go hand in hand.

Will You Pay The Price Of Righteousness? Jeremiah 7:1-12 Luke 23:13-24 January 19, 2020 Have you ever gone into a store and saw something you really wanted, but you looked at the price tag, and even though you wanted it, you decided the price was too high to pay. Today and tomorrow all over ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:1-12, Luke 23:13-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Both Kings Die (1 Kings 14)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 1, 2025

Why did both kings of Israel and Judah die? Let's explore 1 Kings 14.

Why did the kings of Israel and Judah face punishment? Did either of them repent? Do we? Let’s look at 1 Kings 14. Did Jeroboam’s wife visit the prophet Ahijah about her sick son Abijah? Did she come disguised, not realizing that God sees all? About the same time, Abijah son of Jeroboam got sick. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping Your Head More Than Above Water

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on May 21, 2007

We are not called to just exist in life but we are to thrive. The secret is to focus on Christ with Praise

PowerPoint Available + New Slide > Transistion ___________________________________________________________ Ps 27:6; Lk 21:1-28 On most days, Elkhorn Creek is a narrow stream that flows placidly through southern West Virginia of McDowell and Mercer counties. But on July 8 2002, after a flash ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:6

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday: Jesus The Lion! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 29, 2010

Jesus Christ is the multi-faceted center or our faith. Although we cannot take in all His glory, we must embrace what God has revealed to us about Him.

Jesus the Lion! (Revelation 5:2-10) 1. People love exciting events: A recent (March 2010) AFP article hit the presses this week: CHICAGO (AFP) – People fell onto a bag of cash like a pack of hungry piranhas after more than 100,000 dollars tumbled out the back of an armored truck onto an Ohio ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:2-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible