In Sermon Illustrations: "Eternal Joy"

Richard Carlson Is Well-Known For His ...

Contributed by Martin Kim on Oct 25, 2004

Richard Carlson is well-known for his best-selling series of books called Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff. According to this psychologist, happiness comes when we can lessen the gap between what we have and what we want. Our problem is that once we get what we want, we have a bad habit of letting our ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Joy

Denomination: Adventist

Where Are The Rotten Ones!?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2004

WHERE ARE THE ROTTEN ONES!? There was once a lady who complained about everything and everybody. Finally, her minister found something that she couldn’t complain about. The lady’s crop of potatoes was the finest for miles around. He said to her, “For once you must be pleased. Everyone is saying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Dear Abby, Happiness Is Knowing That Your Parents ...

Contributed by Martin Kim on Nov 22, 2004

Dear Abby, Happiness is knowing that your parents won’t almost kill you if you come home a little late. Happiness is having your own bedroom. Happiness is having parents that trust you. Happiness is getting the telephone call you’ve been praying for. Happiness is knowing that you’re well dressed as ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Joy

Denomination: Adventist

Not For Words Alone!" Ephesians 2: 8-10 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 24, 2004

“Not for Words Alone!” Ephesians 2: 8-10 Key verse(s): 8a: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . . ” Did you ever receive a gift, a gift so unexpected and so exciting that you just couldn’t contain the level of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Tags: Joy, Giving General

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Sunday School Director Shared This And I Am ...

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jun 4, 2005

Our Sunday School Director shared this and I am not sure of the source but it does reveal some wonderful truths: Perhaps you are thankful for you wife who says it’s hot dogs tonight, because she is home with you and not out with someone else. Or, for you husband who is on the sofa being ...read more

Tags: Joy, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The Six-Inch Nail  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 5, 2005

The Six-Inch Nail At one time at the City Temple in London, there was in the congregation a wealthy restaurateur named Emil Mettler. Mettler would often do not allow a Christian worker to pay for a meal in his restaurant. Once he happened to open his cash register in the presence of a ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Joy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Things Are Just Working Out! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 24, 2005

When Things Are Just Working Out! (10.26.05--Making It!--Judges 18:27) IF life is going well and I am in all things successful, does that me that God is pleased with me? That’s a good question! If I am successful in the things that I do, does that necessarily mean that God is behind that success? ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:27

Tags: Joy, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

John Piper Put It This ...

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 16, 2009

John Piper put it this way: God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people. God really means for the body of Christ, the church, to experience some of the suffering he experienced so that when ...read more

Tags: Suffering, Suffering Joy In

Denomination: *other

Sending The Very Best  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 18, 2011

SENDING THE VERY BEST Someone has composed the following list of "Cards You'll Never See at Hallmark": "Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder.... What was I thinking?!" "I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love.... After having ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25, Philippians 1:3-30, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Joy, Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I'm That Clown!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 1, 2016

I’M THAT CLOWN It is said that in a great city there was a physician famous for his wisdom. A man came to him one day and said, "Doctor, I want you to see what is wrong with me." The doctor checked him over and said, "Your heart is all right. Your lungs are all right. Your blood pressure is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-12

Tags: Happiness, Joy, Emptiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saved From The Guttermost To The Uttermost

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 11, 2019

Introduction: Larry Johnson was an oil field hand. Big, loud, cursing, drinking, woman chasing and completely anti-God. He worked on one of the dirtiest jobs in the old field – he ran a workover crew. Those guys NEVER came home clean. They were covered in grime, sludge and oil from head to toe ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-13

Tags: Love, Salvation, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Jonathan Goforth

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

The reason we preach the Gospel is because we love God our heavenly Father and not to gain brownie points in heaven. Yes it will be hard work at times. Story: The well known Canadian missionary, Jonathan Goforth told this story about the joy that God has - when we are faithful in doing what he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Father's Joy, Goforth

Denomination: Anglican

[100]. A Message From A Poem – Glory And Adoration To The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 8, 2025

[100]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GLORY AND ADORATION TO THE LORD WHAT ABOUT THIS POEM? This poem, of all my poems, is my number one favourite and the most satisfying for me. It was a joy to write and a joy to contemplate the Lord while doing so. I think it speaks for itself in the meditation ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:12-13, Revelation 21:3-4, Revelation 22:3

Tags: Tears, Crying, No More Curse, Christian Poetry, Poem Messages, Pain, Light, Heaven, Joy, Eternal  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Pledge Of Allegiance: The Apostle's Creed ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Vertein on Oct 27, 2004

GOD’S PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Apostle’s Creed is not a pledge of allegiance, which we speak before God. We are remembering the gospel. We are remembering God’s pledge to us. The Creeds are nothing different from the 23rd Psalm. They simply explain how our Good Shepherd has ‘restored my soul,’ ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Love, Death, Faith General, Equal, Eternity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Is There Life After ...

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 24, 2012

IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH? In Randy Alcorn’s book In Light of Eternity he imagines two twins having a conversation in their mother’s womb. “You know,” one says, “there’s a whole world out there--grassy meadows and snowy mountains, splashing streams and waterfalls, horses and dogs and cats and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Tags: Death, Eternity, Heaven, Afterlife, Hope, Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is The Fire In Hell Literal Or A Figure Of Speech?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 6, 2022

Brian Bell has an interesting note on as to whether or not it is real flames in Hell or just a figiure of speech: "it seems it is a real torment, thus a real thirst, which desires real water, from a real finger, to touch ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Scripture, Judgment, Inerrancy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Once Shaved, Always Shaved!!!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 23, 2022

After twenty years of shaving himself every morning, a man in a small southern town decided he had been doing that long enough. He told his wife that from then on he’d let the local barber shave him each day.The man went to the barbershop which was owned by the pastor of the local Baptist church. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39, 1 John 5:10-13

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Humor, Eternal Security, Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just A Second!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 5, 2023

A young man once asked God how long a million years was to Him. God replied, "A million years to me is just like a single second to you." The young man asked, "Then what is a million dollars like to you?" God replied, "A million dollars to me is just like a single penny ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:9-10

Tags: Eternity, Heaven, Time Management, Time, Clocks  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am More Alive Than Ever - D. James Kennedy

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

D. James Kennedy wrote a book called "Skeptics Answered" and in this book, he made this observation that has always stuck with me. It reminds me of a quote from D.L. Moody many years before. Kennedy wrote, "There will, in fact, come a time when some of you will probably be standing ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Death, Easter, Resurrection, Life, Eternal Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Will

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 12, 2014

Charles Swindoll from his book The Mystery of Gods Will (pgs 44-51) gives us the following insight in how we can know: 1. God leads us through His written Word. 2. God leads us through the inner prompting of the HS. 3. God leads us through the counsel of wise, qualified ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: God's Agenda, Eternal Destiny, God's Will, Serving The Lord

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational