Sermons on Oswald Smith:

Understanding From The Whirlwind Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 11, 2003

First person pulpit drama, with "Job" responding to Elihu’s counsel and God’s probing. Designed to lead worshippers to the Communion Table as a sign of God’s understanding of human suffering.

Do you hear? Do you see? The wind, the wind, the whirlwind?! Do you feel it? Is its hot breath on you as it is on me? The whirlwind, the whirlwind! I can scarcely stand up, it is so strong! Are you not blown away with these winds? Are you not devastated? No. No. I suppose not. Few there ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Doing A Slow Burn Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 12, 2003

Elihu listened to Job as long as he could, but finally erupted with the contention that Job had too little faith, was too hypocritical, did not know how to cry out to God to ask for help with his needs, and offered no witness.

32:1-10 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Available For Life-Shaping Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 12, 2003

If we want to be worthwhile, trustworthy, respected people, we must be available for life-shaping. That means to downplay disappointment, pick perceptive people, consider consequences, and accept affirmation.

Worthwhile lives are made, not born. No one gets to get be great just by dumb luck or by the genes they inherited. Worthwhile people, trustworthy people, respected people are made. They are formed. They are shaped. Somebody has to take raw material and shape it into something useful. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

No Better Than We Are Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 13, 2003

It is a dangerous illusion to excuse our selves by claiming that we are no worse than anyone else. We find faults in people who look too perfect or who don’t give us what we want when we want it. But help comes from Jesus, who IS better than we are.

When you get caught in some sort of blunder, how do you get out of it? How do you take care of your guilt when you are weighed in the balances and found wanting? Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, that you’ve shaded the truth. I will not suggest that you have lied; you have shaded the ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:1

Denomination: Baptist

Yearning To Breathe Free

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2003

We yearn to be free. In Christ we can be transformed from a slave mentality, we can become agents of liberation, and we can come forth from self-imposed bondages. For Transfiguration Sunday and for Black History Month; uses poems (not replicated here)

The plan of God is that all should be free. All free. Free from the things that keep us from what God intends us to be. Free from oppression, free from hostility. Most of all, free from sin and death. That is the ultimate plan of God. We who have yearned to breathe free have not been ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44, Ecclesiastes 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Slippery Rocks

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2003

Even the fundamentals of our faith -- the Bible, prayer, the church, spiritual experience -- can become slippery, unsure. The way to certainty is through obedience.

Although generally I stay away from stories that begin, “There were a Baptist minister, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi,” today I’ll make an exception. Sometimes you just have to be corny to get your point across. So, sure enough, there were a Baptist minister, a Catholic priest, and a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

It's Not About Power Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 16, 2003

In the Kingdom of God, the rules about power are different. We value humility, spiritual security, and service. Sermon for Deacon Ordination and for Super Bowl Sunday!

May I take you on a small fantasy this morning? May I just tease your imagination a little? It is a 6:30 this evening. You are seated in Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The ritual coin tosses have been performed, the national anthem has been sung, and we are ready to start Super Bowl 32. Out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Pattern For Praying & Receiving

Contributed by Gary Smith on Jan 5, 2003

This sermon takes a look at a story which serves as a good pattern for all who are seeking God for a miracle

“A Pattern Of Praying And Receiving” TEXT: II Chr. 20:1-5 (KJV) 1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Am-mon, and with them other beside the Am-mon-ites, came against Je-hosh-a-phat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Je-hosh-a-phat, saying, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-26

Denomination: Church Of God

Philadelphia: Que Sera Or Carpe Diem? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 5, 2003

It’s hard to go forward if we continually look back. God puts before us an open door of opportunity, but we must know that we are capable of good, and we must know our identities.

Well, let’s get this over with. New Year’s resolutions: how many of you made New Year’s resolutions? Now how many of us have already broken at least one resolution? Come on, hands up, confession is good for the soul. How many have already, five days into the new year, broken at least ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Sardis: Alarm Bells Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 12, 2003

God is working to get our attention. Sometimes He uses alarm bells when we must respond immediately. Sometimes He uses alarm clocks to focus us on our daily disciplines. What is best, however, is the inner body clock, the inner drive to be a Kingdom pe

The greatest challenge any speaker has is to gain and to hold the attention of his audience. Speech teachers tell us that if we are going to practice anything, practice both the opening and the ending of a speech. That may be all that anyone remembers. So how does a speaker gain and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Checking Your Spiritual Status

Contributed by Gary Smith on Jan 15, 2003

What is your spiritual condition? Steps to improving your realtionship with God.

“Checking Your Spiritual Status” TEXT: Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Introduction: The Word ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Church Of God

Transfusion

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 18, 2003

Funeral sermon for Henry Allen, who had lingered in weakened condition for many months, and who had become distanced from everyone, particularly his family.

What you see is not always what you get. What your eyes tell you is not always the whole truth. Sometimes there is more going on than you can see. Have you ever been tricked by an optical illusion? An optical illusion is something that, when you first see it, you think you know exactly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Smyrna: Some Things Money Cannot Buy Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 19, 2003

Money may actually distract us from Kingdom priorities. Some things money cannot buy are compassion for the needy, passion for the lost, and love for one another.

I begin this morning with an invocation from my favorite poet, the bard of Baltimore, Ogden Nash, who addressed our favorite god in prayer: “Oh, money, money, money; some may think thee holy. But I cannot figure out how thou goest out so fast and how thou comest in so slowly.” Ogden Nash, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

God Wants You To Succeed

Contributed by Gary Smith on Jan 25, 2003

There are many people today who find themselves wondering if God is willing for them to be successful or if He has destined them for failure. This sermone gives encouragement

“God Wants You To Succeed” TEXT: Jer. 29:11, Deut 28:13, 2 Chron 26:5 Jer 29:11 (KJV)11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Deut 28:13 (KJV) 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Deuteronomy 28:13

Denomination: Church Of God

Thyatira: 'tis The Gift To Be Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 3, 2003

True simplicity is a focus on the fundamentals of love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Getting caught up in theological guesses or emotional highs diverts us from "this one thing I do".

Some things are so simple they are hard to understand! Some things are so direct and obvious that we don’t want to accept them as they are. We want to make them complicated. Have you ever tried to describe to someone how to tie a shoestring? It seems simple until you start to teach it. Left ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist