Sermons on Suspects:

Getting On God's Agenda

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 16, 2007

God’s agenda is to give freedom to the oppressed, and He will not be stopped. But our disobedience can frustrate Him. The church needs to get on God’s agenda quickly.

A little book called “Kids’ Letters to Pastors” provides some fertile ground this morning for us to begin thinking about getting on God’s agenda. You see, you and I know the words we are supposed to say, whether we mean them or not. But kids say what they think, without editing. And so I suspect ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

War Of The Walls

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 26, 2009

Just as God used two American generals to rebuild a wartorn world after WWII, so he used Nehemiah to build Jerusalem and will use us to rebuild our society and our church, despite the naysayers and those who say it cannot be done.

No one was quite sure when sundown came, for it was already too dark too see. The enormous clouds of dust and debris had filled the air for hours, and a choking darkness engulfed the sky. The moments of destruction had been so horrible, so swift and so complete, that those left alive could ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Price Of Peace

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 6, 2008

Conflict is fundamentally spiritual, not just interpersonal, founded in insecurity and elusive. But persistence in prayer will ultimately provide peace.

When Jesus spoke of those who cry, “Peace, peace” when there is no peace, He must have foreseen the pain of the present time. Never before in human history, I would suspect, have more people felt less peace than now. Everywhere you turn there is the evidence of a generation which is deeply ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Late, I'm Late

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 19, 2010

Our witness is compromised because we dash about with urgency but no direction. We have not yet gotten past our fear of embarrassment when sharing our witness, nor have we acknowledged the urgency of witnessing.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 12, 1986 It was the Mad Hatter, wasn't it, who in one version of “Alice in Wonderland” spent his energies darting around the scene, here and there, hither and thither, screaming at the top of his voice, "I'm late, I'm late, for a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Living The Gospel: Black And White

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 21, 2010

We are prone to reduce tensions by choosing not to live in diversity. But the Gospel calls us to embrace diversity and yet to recognize that all sin, all are worthy, all need the Gospel. Our issue is our own insecurity, which Christ’s death can address.

Takoma Park Baptist Church February 21, 1988 All of us, it seems, have a tendency to choose comfort. All of us appear to prefer to choose a way to live that involves as little tension, as little discomfort as possible. I am not talking just about luxuries and material things; I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

In And For The World

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 15, 2011

God calls us to follow the example He set in loving the world, not simply reproaching it; and it loving it with self-giving and the intent to redeem.

Initially preached at Central Baptist Church, Lexington, KY, June 9, 1968; subsequently, with minor variations, at Capton Baptist Church, Campton, KY, August 18, 1968; Reid Village Baptist Church, Mt. Sterling, KY, March 1, 1970; Campbellsville BSU Retreat, Sept. 1970; Berea BSU Missions Banquet, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Two Peoples, One Nation

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 25, 2009

Blacks and whites must develop together and learn from one another; we will also be judged together. Together we must work on issues of justice and righteousness.

The world is full of divisions. Every sort of difference and distinction you can imagine has been magnified. Who of us knew anything a few years ago about six or more different ethnic groups in Yugoslavia!? About all I knew about Yugoslavia was that they made a little car called a Yugo, which ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Bountiful Buffet

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 16, 2009

Juy 31, 1988. When we don’t have enough, materially, it’s easy to be spiritual, and we respond with gratitude. When we have enough, materially, it’s still easy to be spiritual, and we respond with responsibility.

You may not know it, but we may be in the vicinity of a piece of history. We may be in the neighborhood that gave rise to a revolution in the restaurant business. I cannot really document this, but at least in my limited observation, it was right here in this neighborhood that one enterprising ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Schemes Of The Devil Part 3: Miranda Rights Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 18, 2007

Part 3 focuses on how Satan uses our words against us.

The Schemes of the Devil Part 3: Miranda Rights Scripture: Eph. 6:11-12; Prov. 21:23; 18:21; Matt. 12:33-37; James 3:8-10 Introduction: I have shared with you previously that our adversary the devil cannot read our minds or know what is in our hearts until we show him. Once we show him, then ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit Of Conviction Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 7, 2015

Conviction, Sin, Guilt, Judgment

HOLY ISN’T HIS FIRST NAME – The Spirit of Conviction John 16:5-16 (p. 753) April 12, 2015 Introduction: I have a feature of my smart phone that immediately alerts me if there is a missing child in the area. It’s called an Amber Alert...It shows up on my screen with a ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Covenant's History Series

Contributed by Josh Foster on Feb 19, 2014

This is a message about God and His heart towards us. It’s also a message for all followers of God – in terms of how to shape our hearts and responses in the face of rejection and pain.

Covenant Connections: A Covenant’s History ~ The Love of the Father Scripture Text: Hosea 11.1-11 INTRODUCTION I want to tell you two stories. They are two stories that are almost-as-old-as the hills, …but these stories still capture the hearts and imaginations of ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11

Denomination: Nazarene

Do I Need Revival? Series

Contributed by Jay Tigner on May 7, 2016

Life has a way of wearing us down but Jesus calls us to experience renewal and revival.

America’s Greatest Need (Billy Graham) The most popular mega-preacher/evangelist of our time, Billy Graham, while being interviewed by a cultural magazine, was asked what he perceived to be America’s greatest need. His answer somewhat shocked the interviewer especially coming from a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

The Sin Of An Achan Heart

Contributed by Larry Turner on Sep 22, 2013

The sin of an Achen heart will deafen us, blind us to danger, lead us to sin, and bring shame and destruction to ourselves and others.

I was 18 years old when I stole my first and only item. I was a bagger at a local grocery store. The store had some small battery operated record players that played 45s. (For those too young to remember what 45s were, they looked like bid CDs with a hole in the middle.) Many of the record players ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8-10

Denomination: Foursquare

A Man And His Wife

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Aug 13, 2018

A good wife is a gift from God.

A MAN AND HIS WIFE “Valuing And Keeping A Good Thing” Used in Men Of Integrity Meetings by Luther Sexton SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.” INTRODUCTION: A good wife is a great blessing to a man. I. FINDETH A WIFE A. A ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18, 1 Peter 3:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Have A Scandalous Christmas

Contributed by Joel Smith on Dec 11, 2008

Mary was willing to be scandalized so that God would be glorified.

Isn’t it amazing how we have sanitized Christmas? Over the centuries we’ve cleaned up the story significantly. Christmas cards bear evidence of this. Most of them depict tinsel, holly, Christmas trees, bells, female angels, and Santa Claus. If they do get around to an image of the real ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

Denomination: Baptist