Sermons on Somebody:

I Know You Are Watching Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 10, 2002

When we consider that God is watching us, we may ask, as Job did, whether He is watching us to hurt us, to humiliate us, or to rescue us. Actually He is watching us in love to empower us.

“I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many parents here have ever said that? “I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute.” How many have said it at least a thousand times? You said it to a small child, bent on doing something that would hurt. You said it to an older ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22, 2 Timothy 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

Consider The Source Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 16, 2003

Job, struggling to find his source of meaning, is frustrated with Bildad, who finds meaning in the past; and with his own feelings, looking for meaning in the present. Look to Christ, who provides meaning from the future.

Sooner or later, we all come to a point where we wake up and ask ourselves what life means. This life we are living: does it matter? All this energy we are putting in on studying or working or church or family or whatever: is it really necessary? I submit to you that most of us at one time or ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

I Never Saw That Coming

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 2, 2003

As a nation we are being blindsided by things that destroy us. Yet if we were to look more carefully and see Jesus at work in all things, we would learn to be wholistic, we would identify with the needy, and we would deal with both the physical and the s

Have you ever been blindsided? Something happened, but you never even saw it coming? The snow, for instance. After several mild winters, did you think we would be hit by repeated snowstorms? Did you see that coming? I didn’t. I laid out seven super Sundays of sermons on the churches ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Real With Your Self Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 9, 2003

Lenten series based on Mark 14 and Jesus’ encounters: Jesus was so comfortable with Himself that He could encounter threatening people without being threatened; could correct hostile people without being destructive; and could receive the heart of a tortu

We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes – This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see us, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

Holiness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 12, 2003

Holiness is the gift of an identity, appearing to be too good to be true, but received by accepting forgiveness.

Today’s message is framed by incidents provided by two church members. I will not be naming the players, but they have given me both the beginning and the ending of this message on holiness. The beginning: a few days ago one of you told me that you came to worship each Sunday so that you could ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Let Your Light Shine

Contributed by Tommy Davis on Jun 4, 2001

This sermon explores our responsibility to the world as little lights shining for Jesus Christ.

Let Your Light Shine Text: Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

"Seduction"

Contributed by Kevin Smith on Dec 21, 2005

This sermon discusses how the enemy tries to seduce us and cause us to stumble into sin using the example of Samson & Deliliah.

Judges 16:1-21 Ushers, you may admit the door, as the worshippers enter in to hear a word from the Lord. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. This text is getting to me on today. And it’s getting to me for several reasons. Here we have this beast of a man Samson and this crafty ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Encountering God Face To Face Series

Contributed by Bob Lentz on Sep 13, 2006

Giving answers for what to do when you hear God’s voice.

Moses: Encountering God Face-To-Face 8-6-06 Exodus 3:1-4:14 Video Clip – Close Encounters Intro. In 1977 everybody was talking about “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind”. Spielberg’s movie was a run-a-way hit because it seemed to answer a question that we all ask sooner or later. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Walk The Walk, Sing The Song

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 17, 2009

To have singing joy in our hearts, we must be ready to serve when God’s time comes, to discern the will of God, and to avoid all escape mechanism.

I would wager that most of you can finish this sentence. You will have heard it a thousand times. Try it. "If you are going to talk the talk, then you have to what?" "Walk the walk". If you’re going to talk the talk, then you have to walk the walk. It means, of course, that what you profess ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

Escape-A-Sin Series

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jun 29, 2005

Number 2 in the series "What’s Holding You Back?" Learn how to Escape-a-Sin: Realize the seriousness of your situation. Evaluate your available options. Take decisive action.

ESCAPE-A-SIN What’s Holding You Back? – Part 2 Romans 6:12-23 July 3, 2005 Introduction: How do you escape from a date that has gone sour? For most of us here today dating is a distant memory, but most of us can probably remember those social experiments that went bad quickly. The kind where ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-23

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

Alpine Christianity

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on Dec 14, 2007

Applies a "mountaineering" metaphor to the Christian journey to illustrate the difference between a burden ("boulder") and a load ("backpack"). First person perspective, honest illustrations from my own experience. Engaging stories, easy applicability,

In 1953, John Hunt organized an assault-style expedition to Mt. Everest. He enlisted an army of Sherpas to serve as porters. The porters established the climbing route, built bridges across the glacier, and stockpiled supplies at strategic locations up the mountain. One of the Sherpas was named ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

I Will Give Thanks!

Contributed by Frank Jackson on May 7, 2006

I made up in mind every time I get a chance, every time I get an opportunity, to say thank you unto God, I am going to open up my mouth, I am going to raise my hands, and I am going to tell God, “thank you!” Is there anybody here that just wants to tell

My father’s children there is not doubt in my mind, that the reason I am able to stand here before is because God has blessed me with two wonderful parents. There is some thing about my parents that I need to let you know, my parents believe in the scripture, “If you spare the rod, you’ll spoil ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-16, Luke 17:11

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Paul And Anania: From Goodness To Going

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 25, 2009

God’s call is for those of us who think that looking good is sufficient to go share the Gospel; and to those who are discipled to be alert to the potential in those whom God has placed in our paths.

I heard this week about a very, very special automobile. It was built in the 1920’s by the Italian manufacturer Bugatti, and it was designed to be sold to the outrageously wealthy. This car was equipped with 450 horses under the hood; it was some 22 feet long and weighed about 6000 pounds. It was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist