In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 56

Clueless On Purpose

Contributed by Joel Smith on May 18, 2009

Choose Christ rather than cluelessness.

When I was growing up one of the highlights of the year took place every September. We were all euphoric when the Davidson County Agricultural Fair rolled into town. As a kid I liked the rides and the cotton candy and candy apples. As a teenager and young adult, I enjoyed the fair because it was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Baptist

Plight Of The Living Dead Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on May 13, 2009

"I see dead people."

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Sixth Sense. It stars Bruce Willis as a child psychiatrist working with a young boy played by Haley Joel Osment who claims to be able to see dead people. The kid figured out that the dead people, who he alone can see and converse with, don’t know that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Prayer For People Who Have Everything Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on May 4, 2009

Jesus must be the source of your confidence if you’re ever going to stand up and stand out for God.

Back in my teen years a co-worker at the Red Barn Fish Camp #2 in Tyro, NC introduced me to a club that he said I never wanted to be a member of if I could help it. It’s called the WSC Club. The subject came up because one of our buddies in the kitchen wanted to ask a girl out on a date, but he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours! Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Apr 24, 2009

Genuine worship informs the mind about God, inundates the heart with the Spirit, and initiates the body into Christ-likeness.

On April 21st of last years the Associated Press reported: Another round and amen! Beer was on tap and a mechanical bull inspired the sermon as a new church held its inaugural service in a western Ohio bar. The Country Rock Church drew about 100 people to Sunday night’s meeting at the Pub Lounge ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Here Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Apr 19, 2009

You can’t get to where you need to go unless you know where you are.

Back at the tender age of 19 I landed an assistant manger job at the Radio Shack in Thomasville. As a lifelong Lexington boy I only knew enough about Thomasville to find my way to work. But I didn’t get out much and anything further north than DCCC was unknown territory to me. One day at work I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Waking The Dead

Contributed by Joel Smith on Apr 11, 2009

A resurrected Christ changes everything

Here we are gathered together on another Easter Sunday and a question arises in my mind: “Do we really get it?” A Sunday School teacher asked her class on the Sunday before Easter if they knew what happened on Easter and why it was so important. One little girl spoke up saying: "Easter is when the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel According To Genesis Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Apr 4, 2009

Surrender absolutely to the God who is absolutely committed to your good.

“Surrender: verb 1 a: to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand b: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another” During the First Gulf War a common occurrence was the immediate, unconditional surrender of members of the Iraqi Army. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Your Blessed Life Now Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 27, 2009

This sermon answers the question, "How did I get here?"

Have you ever had one of those moments where you stopped, looked at your life, and asked, “How did I get here?” This usually occurs when life doesn’t turn out as we expected. Divorce, bankruptcy, job loss, mid-life crisis, broken relationships, failure to obtain a goal or dream, health problems, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Pharaoh's Economic Stimulus Package Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 21, 2009

Put your trust and hope in God, not government.

As a political libertarian I found myself somewhat irritated with the section of scripture we’re studying this morning. The Egyptians lost their money, their livestock, their land, and their freedom. The Egyptian government assumed control of their property and their persons. How did Pharaoh ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 47:13-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Faith On Display Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 15, 2009

Faith lived out has far reaching effects.

A new survey came out last week which reveals that Christian are losing their influence in the United States. “The nation has grown less religious in the last two decades … with a 10 percent drop in the number of people who call themselves Christians and increases in all 50 states among those ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Playing God Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 8, 2009

You are God’s catalyst for change.

Several years ago a movie came out called Bruce Almighty staring Jim Carrey. It’s a good movie about a guy who is frustrated at the way his life is going, so he blames God and tells Him he could do a better job if he were in charge. God, played by Morgan Freeman, grants Bruce all of His powers. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Total Reliance Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Mar 4, 2009

The more God can direct you, the more He can use you.

To what type of person does God give success? What kind of person is God able to empower and use in a mighty way? Is it the man or woman with the most talent or skill? Are looks or leadership ability the necessary traits? Is a high IQ essential to do great things for God? Obviously, the answer ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Caution! God's Favor ... Handle With Care Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 23, 2009

God’s gifts are ultimately for God’s glory. Use them well.

This week I’ve begun reading a new book by one of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell, titled Outliers: The Story of Success. The premise of the book is simple: no successful person is a self-made man; everyone who gets to the top had a lot advantages, help, and luck. He devotes two chapters to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Rehab For A Scoundrel

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 18, 2009

God has some bitter medicine that can kill or cure the scoundrel in you.

Airport security personnel have a fairly mundane job. They scan people with metal detectors, look through their bags, check their shoes, and sometimes pat them down. It’s probably not uncommon to find a knife accidentally left in someone’s pocket. On rare occasions they might find drugs or fire ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 38:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Funeral Sermon For Geneva Peterson: "I Can Do That!"

Contributed by Joel Smith on Feb 9, 2009

A funeral message about an exceptional woman.

I believe that everyone’s life has a theme. Patterns emerge over the years that are true of us all the time. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out your theme, but with Geneva it’s pretty easy. When facing a challenge or a task or a new direction she was often heard to say, “I can do that.” ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Baptist