Sermons on Moments Joseph:

Give Up Or Get Up?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2009

Never consider anyone hopeless. Pray intensely, watch out for the naysayers or for your own negativity, and then participate in the redemption Christ wants to bring.

He’s just hopeless! She is beyond redemption! I am never going to make it! They have no future whatsoever! They are hopeless! Are you ever tempted to speak like that? Do you ever feel that way about somebody, maybe even about yourself? Hopeless? Watch out. Because there is nothing more ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist

Pontius Pilate: Stuck In People-Pleasing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

Pilate was a classic people-pleaser, who found that his behavior produced popularity that masked contempt, pessimism, and powerlessness.

The story has it that during creation, as God was sitting up in heaven turning out all these creatures, some of the angels asked if they could help. It looked like fun, making plants and animals, birds and beasts. And so God, who had just finished fashioning something, said, "All right. Come ahead. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hidden Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 17, 2008

God always reveals Himself in personal ways. Three times "hidden" appears in Colossians: to show that there is meaning in our suffering, to demonstrate that transformation can come, to call us to personal commitment, all at the right times.

Every child loves to play “Hide and Seek”. And every grandparent loves to play with them. But the lesson I learned is that playing “Hide and Seek” is a delicate operation. It is a test of grandpa’s interpersonal skills. “Hide and Seek” is about more than using your powers of observation to find ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hurry Up And Wait

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 25, 2010

Funeral message for Thelma Harper Brown, who exhibited extraordinary patience during a long decline.

What must it feel like to spend every day waiting? Just waiting. Not going anywhere, not keeping appointments, not concerned about a schedule, but just waiting. Waiting through interminable days and dark nights; waiting to be fed, to be turned, to be spoken to. What must it feel like just to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-39

Denomination: Baptist

Presenting Our Mouths: Swallowing, Spitting, Speaking Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 23, 2001

In order to be effective witnesses, we must first be knowledgeable -- swallowing God’s word; must then be cleansed spiritually -- spitting out whatever is no longer appropriate; and then speak with confidence and passion. Mini-messages with props.

Our mouths get us into trouble. One of you said that to me the other day. You had opened your mouth to voice an opinion about something that should be done in the community where you live, and before you knew it, you were chairing the committee to get it done. Nobody had even noticed you were in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Ezekiel 3:1-11

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

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 3, 2009

Rewritten for Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD: When terrible things happen, pray honestly, in complaint; remember what God has done in the past; and know that He may be forcing us to see how much we need Him.

There is very little justice in the world. Many people feel that they are not being treated fairly. Just about all of us think we deserve a better deal than we are getting. We think that there is very little justice in the world. But that’s old news. We already know that. So what do you do ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Our Arsenal - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Jan 21, 2004

The 3rd message in a series on spiritual warfare focusing on our arsenal for battle.

The Battle is the Lord Our Arsenal – Part 1 Intro: A reporter interviewed a man on his 100th birthday. “What are you most proud of?” The man said, “I don’t have an enemy in the world.” “What a beautiful thought! How inspirational! Tell me how you have achieved such a feat?” The man ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17, 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Stones: Defeat, Help, Victory

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 15, 2009

As Israel found that after their defeat at Ebenezer the way to greatness was through repentance, prayer, and sacrifice, so also this church needs to build, using the same ingredients.

They were a good people if not yet a great people. They were a good people, with much to be proud of. Over the years they had faced many obstacles and had overcome them. There had been dangerous moments, but they had weathered the storms and gone on. They were a good people if not yet a great ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Friend Of The Full Heart Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 23, 2009

Christmas is a time for full hearts: weary, guilty, anxious, sad -- past, present, and future. Mary felt the same things, but Christ comes to forgive our past, empower our present, and assure our future.

Christmas is an emotional time. All kinds of feelings are involved with the celebration of Christmas. If you don’t feel some tension, some excitement, or some pressure, something at this time of the year, you are either dead or you’ve been watching the Redskins, which is about the same thing. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Go Tell It On Mt. Calvary Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 24, 2003

For Christmas Eve Communion: Jesus remembered in the time of trial that He was born for a purpose, and He intentionally declared that purpose. He fulfilled the mission for which God sent Him.

On Sunday I offered the opinion that I was probably the only preacher in town who was using the Old Testament on the Sunday before Christmas. Well, maybe some used those Isaiah passages about a child named Immanuel and the Prince of Peace. But Elijah? Who would have thought that Elijah and his ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-38

Denomination: Baptist

Unstoppable - More Than A Gathering Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 10, 2018

The third message in a series on the book of Acts

Unstoppable – More Than a Gathering 10/1/17 Acts 2:42-47 Video Intro – If You Want to Change the World (6 min.) When I saw this video I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to our text for today. I couldn’t help but think of the many spiritual parallels that might apply. For according to Acts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

From Faith To Power

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 23, 2010

After Christmas, 1985. We alone of creation know that we could be and should be more than we now are. In Christ and in his vulnerability we are empowered to change.

"To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." Power to become … If you ask what it is to be human, if you want to know what separates us as human beings from all other forms of life, one way you could answer the question would be to say that ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

So Filled We Cannot Stand Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2008

The Presence comes not because we manufacture emotions, but because we complete what our history calls us to and because we cultivate holiness and unity.

Prayer, in the words of hymn-writer Charles Wesley: Finish then Thy new creation, Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee! Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Not A Nothing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 21, 2008

We excuse everything with "I don’t care", but when we see the eyes of those we have offended and hear them speak, we know that we have hurt them. When we see Christ and hear Him at the cross, we can no longer pretend that we don’t care.

I “I don’t care.” That was the mechanism I used as a boy to fend off whatever punishment my parents gave. “You’re grounded.” “I don’t care”. “No allowance this week.” I don’t care.” And, to tell the truth, I didn’t care. I would just go to some quiet corner and get a book and read. I was ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:12-14

Denomination: Baptist