In Sermon Illustrations: "Having Joy"

I Have A Friend Back Home Named Alison. I've ...

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

I have a friend back home named Alison. I’ve known Alison for several years now, and I’ve noticed something. In fact its hard to help noticing if you’re around her a lot. She loves birthdays. You see, Alison will turn 16 this year. And though her birthday isn’t ‘til August, she’s been talking about ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Baptist

So Much Has Been Given To Me, I Have No Time To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over that ...read more

Tags: Joy

An Outward Expression Of An Inward Experience

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 11, 2012

AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD EXPERIENCE David Ring was born with cerebral palsy. He had complications at birth and he was technically dead for 18 minutes after delivery. No oxygen reached his brain and a portion was permanently damaged. His family’s story was catastrophic – his father had ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mother Teresa Once Said, "Joy Is Prayer - Joy Is ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2012

Mother Teresa once said, "Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ...She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Nazarene

True Peace And Joy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

True Peace and Joy As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Joy

Joy In The Circumstances Of Life

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Dec 4, 2023

The ingredients of our life can lead to joy if we look at them from God’s viewpoint. I am reminded of the family that sat down to a meal with their grandpa and dad, an old farmer. The farmer was asked to ask the blessing on the breakfast of biscuits and gravy. They bowed their heads as the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-11

Tags: Circumstances, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy And Phyllis Diller  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

JOY AND PHYLLIS DILLER A thirty-eight-year-old scrubwoman (cleaning lady) would go to the movies and sigh, "If only I had her looks." She would listen to a singer and moan, "If only I had her voice." Then one day someone gave her a copy of the book, The Magic of Believing. She stopped comparing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:2

Tags: Joy

Joy And Prayer In Suffering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

JOY AND PRAYER IN SUFFERING The fact that God chooses to love the unworthy should move us to loud praise frequently. Margaret Sangster Phippen wrote that in the mid-1950’s her father, British minister W.E. Sangster, began to notice some uneasiness in his throat and a dragging in his leg. When he ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:1-6, Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 30:1-5, Philippians 3:10

Tags: Joy

What Is Needed For Joy?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2011

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR JOY? Max Lucado tells the following story about Robert Reed: "I have everything I need for joy!" Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can't bathe himself. He can't feed himself. He can't brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Joy

The Joy That I Pursue

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 4, 2012

"The joy that I pursue is not the hope of getting rich with things from you. I have not come to you for your things, but for yourself. And this desire I now intensify and demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more, not things. By giving to you what you do not need, and what I ...read more

Tags: Tithes, Joy In The Lord

Denomination: Baptist

Joy Goes Deeper

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 2, 2010

JOY GOES DEEPER "Joy is like the hidden note in the glass. Joy is tuning in to what God is doing around you, seeing the world through his eyes, picking up on his delight in us as his children. Anyone can find happiness for a while...Happiness depends on what is happening to you. Joy is different; ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Nazarene

Happiness Vs. Joy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

HAPPINESS VS. JOY There is a pretty common belief that differentiates between happiness and joy. This is one that I believe. Happiness is based on circumstances. Expensive gifts and good food and parties and celebrations and Christmas lights can bring happiness. But they are only temporary. They ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Church Of God

Kfc Chicken Joy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 30, 2009

KFC CHICKEN JOY A few weeks ago, KFC through Oprah made it possible for every person to get a free meal of KFC’s grilled chicken. People were exuberant. The computer server was overwhelmed with requests. We were able to get the coupons and went the next day. The restaurants were overwhelmed by the ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Church Of God

Joy To All Nations  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

To again quote Charles Spurgeon: "It is joy to all nations that Christ is born, the Prince of Peace, the King who rules in righteousness...Beloved, the greatest joy is to those who know Christ as a Saviour...The further you submit yourself to Christ the Lord, the more completely you know Him, the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 9:6, 2 Peter 1:16-21

Tags: Christmas Advent

Fear, Love, Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 7, 2003

FEAR, LOVE, JOY In the movie First Knight, Lancelot (played by Richard Gere) is a wanderer and highly skilled swordsman who fights for whoever will pay him. Seeing a princess and her entourage under attack in the woods, he decides to save her. Attracted to the princess, Guinevere, he later visits ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Love Of The Disciples, Joy

Surprise With Joy And Delight

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

SURPRISE WITH JOY AND DELIGHT She squealed with joy – I just know she would. She grinned and chuckled while dashing from room to room as she gazed at all the balloons, streamers and other decorations scattered about. Her little fingers mined through the candy, presents, and other trinkets of fun ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-17

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

Joy Vs. Happiness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Dec 15, 2019

Joy (used in "Joy Born at Christmas" sermon - 12/11/2019) From Isaiah 35:8-10 (verses below) Someone once said, “The difference beween happiness and joy is that happiness comes from happenings and joy comes from Jesus.” A few years ago Michael Bublé wrote a song that became very ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:8-10, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Joy

Denomination: Baptist

The Risk—the Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 9, 2003

THE RISK-- THE JOY Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, almost delighted in taking risks for the gospel. He said: "I must take this decision disregarding risks involved and make known the gifts of God and his everlasting consolation. Neither must we fear any such risk in faithfully preaching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Endurance, Great Commission

The Opposite Of Joy Is Not Sorrow. It Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Sep 5, 2005

“The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Congregational