In Sermons: showing 31-45 of 870

Available For Life-Shaping

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

We can become what God wants us to become if we downplay disappointment, pick perceptive people, consider consequences, and accept affirmation. Revised from a 2003 message.

Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, June 5, 2005 It is said that the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo could sense that in a rough block of marble there was an angel struggling to get out. He said that his job was to free that angel. Isn’t that remarkable?! To know ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Creating A Loving Community For The New Millennium

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Thinking about what the church must be in the future raises four questions: who are we, who gets in, who leads, and where are we going?

First Baptist Church (New Hampshire Ave), Washington, DC May 31, 1998 Can you believe that it won't be long until we cross over into the third millennium, a full two thousand years after the birth of Christ? Can you believe that we are still here to see it? Why, it seems like it was only ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't You Get Weary, Children

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2010

Revision of earlier sermon, done for Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church, Washington, DC. Spiritual weariness comes when we see obligation instead of privilege, or when we see no results from our efforts. But God in Christ will bring ultimate victory.

Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church, Washington, DC, February 6, 2005 Last May our son got married. He and his bride passed out little bottles of soap instead of the traditional rice, so we all celebrated at the end of the wedding by blowing bubbles. Well, my daughter’s child, a little less ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Ark, Anger, And Assurance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 24, 2010

We become angry at God because our prayers are self-centered, but when they are not answered we shut down and avoid God. Until we see that the blessing is in the presence of God we will not reap joy.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, September 8, 1991 (this version); preached in slightly different form at Luther Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, July 30, 1978; Calvary Hill Baptist Church, Fairfax, VA, August 6, 1978; Forest Heights Baptist Church, Oxon Hill, MD, Sept. 9, 1979; ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-15

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

The Hands Of The Living God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 20, 2010

When we are unwilling to finish our spiritual growth, we are inviting judgment. We need to seek the counsel of others and remember and learn from our victories. The same hands that hold us in judgment are nail-scarred for mercy.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC March 9, 1985 My house, I’m afraid, is a museum of unfinished masterpieces. Unfinished masterpieces. In every room of the house, in every nook and cranny you will find unfinished masterpieces. Now that is not to say that I have found the last ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-26

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

Be Still, My Foolish Heart

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 18, 2010

There is a worldwide awareness that God exists, but also a worldwide infection of sin. God in Christ comes to get our attention so that never can anyone say, in foolishness, that God is absent or does not matter.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC October 5, 1986 In some of the more strict religious communities there is the practice called “shunning.” When someone is shunned, usually because he or she has violated the moral code or has broken the way of behaving expected in that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 17, 2010

The popular notion of "the spirit of Christmas" does not recognize that pain and suffering are involved. But the coming of Christ foreshadows His cross.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC December 2, 1984 Here it is only the second day of December, and already we are bombarded with Christmas carols in the stores. Already the annual countdown of only so many more shopping days until Christmas has taken on an urgent tone, and some of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Aquarius: Pointing The Way

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 16, 2010

The anonymous water-carrier whom Jesus asked Peter and John to watch for is like a sure signpost because he was available for God's purpose, immune to ridicule, and credible.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC March 29, 1987 When you are lost and do not know the way, nothing is as reassuring as a timely and well-placed signpost. You are roiling down the highway and suddenly you come to a place where the sign says, "Road Closed Ahead - Detour". Aside from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Drowsy In The History Class

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 16, 2010

For both Transfiguration Sunday and Black History Month: We must not fall asleep to our racial and ethnic history, to the history of action for justice, or to our own personal histories and who has shaped us.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC February 13, 1994 This, as you know, is Black History Month. Black History Month. What image does the word "history" conjure up for you? It may be that you are with industrialist Henry Ford, who said, "History is mostly bunk". Well, that's short and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Baptist

Builders

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 16, 2010

For Remembrance Sunday, honoring those who had died the previous year. Some dreams are deferred but not forgotten; we can prepare those who come after us to fulfill them. And the future of our church needs to share in the magnificence of its original dr

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC May 17, 1992 Today is Remembrance Day in the life of our church. We take a Sunday each year following Easter and remember in a special way those who of our worshipping congregation who have passed away since the previous Easter. In this way we hope ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Peacemaking Owns The Future

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 16, 2010

Our dedication to arms-building reflects our personal insecurity and our lack of faith. God is Lord of History and efforts to make peace build His Kingdom.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC May 3, 1987 It’s a great gift to be self-contained, to be so secure within your own person that whatever is happening around you just does not get to you and shake you. It's a great gift to have the presence of mind to focus on what you need ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Baptist

Requirements? What About Grace?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 15, 2010

Rearranging Micah 6 shows us that Micah had characterized the religiosity of Judah in ways that are comparable to our religiosity. But justice, compassion, and the humble walk are much more than we expected, and are our responses to grace.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC August 24, 1986 Several years ago I went back to school for work on a graduate degree. Although I had been around schools and colleges and students all of my life, this was the first time in about a dozen years or so that I had actually enrolled in a ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Warm Fuzzies

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 15, 2010

Done on the Sunday when all members were asked to bring sweaters to support a Southern Baptist missions project for North Korea. As preacher I wore a couple of sweaters and took them off to illustrate points. We are to do more than mouth encouragement.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 26, 1986 The classroom teacher talks herself blue in the face, teaching the mysteries of algebra to reluctant junior highs, who are silently saying to themselves, "Why do I need to know this stuff? I never met an algebra and I hope I never do." ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Denomination: Baptist