Sermons on Victory Through Knowledge:

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

Pain At The Threshold Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

Interactive sermon on the anxieties involved in sharing our faith and on the power of being prepared, both intellectually and emotionally.

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Closed doors intimidate me. If your door is closed, I want to leave it alone. I don’t like to knock and ask for admission. I want somebody to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Dead Man Walking

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 26, 2003

There is a kind of death in family life today. Jesus offers unconditional compassion, used His authority to give life, and gives us as gifts to one another.

One sweltering afternoon, on the dirty streets of a dangerous section of New Orleans, a man approached a woman with some papers in his hand. He asked Helen if she would agree to write letters to a man on death row at Angola prison. Helen agreed, rather absent-mindedly. She was used to people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Down To Earth Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual laziness comes from poor theology and from creating the illusion of activity, leading to burnout. The grace of Christ takes us beyond such posing.

My topic today is spiritual laziness. Spiritual laziness. Now we are all familiar with physical laziness. Physical laziness is like spring fever, when the warmth of the air and the sound of the birds is far more attractive than the piles of paper on your desk or the lectures in your classroom. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Willing To See

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jun 10, 2003

We must face the darkness in order to see.

WILLING TO SEE John 9:1-41 S: Belief Th: Spiritual blindness Pr: WE MUST FACE THE DARKNESS IN ORDER TO SEE. ?: Inductive KW: Phases TS: In the study of the man born blind found in John 9:1-41, we will find seven phases that will aid us in understanding spiritual blindness. The _____ phase ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Father's Day

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 11, 2003

We need to be thankful to our fathers for many things.

Father’s Day 2003 Ephesians 6:1-3 INTRO.- ILL.- A small boy said, "Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t spend as much on the gift." And I say, "What gift?" ILL.- Mark Twain said, "When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3, Ephesians 6:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Dissatisfaction Or Fulfillment? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 2, 2003

Like Judas, despite all we have, we feel dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction comes from too small a vision of where our lives must go or depending on others to give us meaning. A relationship with Jesus gives us redemption and release.

Willy Loman is the central character in Arthur Miller’s play, “Death of a Salesman”. Willy had known only one thing all his life, and that was selling. Selling, pitching, cajoling, persuading, making the sale. That was it. His wife played second fiddle to selling. His children tried to please, ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Withering?

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Jul 11, 2001

How would you describe your Christian life? Is it a life that is vibrant and exciting or a life that is tired and withering? If it is the latter, why? And if it is the former, be careful...

"ARE YOU WITHERING?" (have Hebrews 6:1-12 read at beginning of service) Read John 15:1-7 SHOW PLANT (needs to be planned ahead!!) How many of you have ever felt like this plant? You notice that it appears to still be alive but there are some branches that have no leaves. If there was a word that ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-7, Hebrews 6:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Presenting Hands: Taking, Working, Giving Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2001

Follow the hands of Jacob, as they are involved in taking (because of his insecurity), in working for that which does not satisfy, but finally, in giving, as a result of their having wrestled with God. An appeal to struggle with God’s will.

Last week I began by giving you an eye test and an ear test. I wanted to help you discover that sometimes we don’t see what there is to see and we don’t hear what there is to hear. But God provides us vision and offers His word to help us with the “too much” in our world. Today I want to examine ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Man With The Backyard Son

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 16, 2001

There is a danger in being an absentee dad.

Well, it has been a year since many of us first met because a year ago today was the day I candidated here. It was a day of you were checking me out and I was checking you out. The year has gone quickly by and I hope that you have been as pleased as I have been about the coming together we have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5, Luke 15:11-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Service

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Aug 5, 2001

What does it mean to serve as Christ did?

If I were to ask you to describe yourself in one word; if I were to ask what one adjective best sums up your identity, what would you say? If you met someone for the first time, and they asked, "What are you?" how would you answer? What single term would you give in response to that question? You ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

Fire And Hammer

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Aug 31, 2001

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

FIRE AND HAMMER Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29 a [Is not my word like as a fire ... like a hammer] Two symbols of the Word of God: 1. Like a fire, a great purifier which destroys all that is ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:29

Denomination: Pentecostal

Like Your Labor

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 1, 2001

A Labor Day message about work and learning to like it.

LIKE YOUR LABOR Col. 3:23-24 INTRO.- ILL.- When John F. Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency in the late 50’s, he visited a coal mine in West Virginia. One coal miner said, “Mr. Kennedy, is it true that you’re the son of one of the wealthiest men in America?” Kennedy said, “yes, it ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Put Your Pencils Down

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 1, 2001

A Labor Day and Communion message, dealing with the sources of satisfaction in work. Designed for audience participation.

Labor Day, and school is starting again. I wonder, do they still do the same things as when I was in school? Do they still have the same rituals? Maybe not. Things do change. Dodgeball, for example. Now that was THE game in my day. You had the right to throw the ball as hard as you could and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist