In Sermon Illustrations: "Joy In The Lord"

Joy In The Midst Of Rough Waters

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 13, 2011

JOY IN THE MIDST OF ROUGH WATERS I’ve spent a fair bit of time in recent weeks doing funeral pre-planning for my parents. Making decisions about final disposition of the remains of people you have loved all your life is not any fun at all. It can be overwhelmingly sad. After spending hours with ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loss Of Joy = Incomplete Obedience

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2012

LOSS OF JOY = INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE F. B. Meyer: Sometimes a soul comes to its spiritual adviser, speaking thus: "I have no conscious joy, and have had but little for years." "Did you once have it?" "Yes, for some time after my conversion to God." "Are you conscious of having refused obedience to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15

Tags: Obedience

Anger Where There Should Be Joy

Contributed by Christopher Sweeney on Feb 19, 2017

When I was five years old, my sister was born. My brother’s birthday was March 7 and mine was October 6th. The logic of a five-year-old was that the older person’s birthday came earlier in the year. So when my little sister was born on August 9th before my birthday, I was naturally upset. Instead ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Joy, Anger, Selfish, Jealousy, Jealously  (view more)  (view less)

Pure Love Brings Joy

Contributed by Christopher Sweeney on May 19, 2017

Many of you may have experienced this but I have from my two nephews and my time in youth ministry that there are times when you are having the worst days and then a child will run up to you and give you a hug or say I love you and everything goes away. Why, why is it that a hug can help erase the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Love, Joy

Joy And Peace From A Child

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Dr. Bryant Kirkland, pastor of 5th Ave. Pres. Church in NY was traveling to do a series of sermons on the west coast. He needed time on that 3 hour flight to study and prepare, so he buckled down and let everyone near me feel the tension. His body language said, "Don't bother me, I'm a busy man ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Tags: Peace, Joy, Christ Child

Denomination: Methodist

The Christmas Scale - Joy To The World

Contributed by William Akehurst on Dec 10, 2022

The Christmas Scale is a message to the song, Joy to the World, and our need to take pause during the Christmas season to understand the Greatest Gift to the World. THE CHRISTMAS SCALE can be found on youtube by searching the name, or using ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Scale

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Joy Of Hearing Your Name

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 26, 2023

This week is the National Football League Draft, a day that thousands of young men have been anticipating for years. I love to watch as the player hears his name called. The smiles. The hugs. Going to the platform and being congratulated by the commissioner. And then donning the jersey and cap of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Heaven, Reward

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Larry Kiser – The Joy Of Sacrificial Giving To ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

Larry Kiser – The joy of sacrificial giving to the Lord’s work is one value easily lost in the presence of prosperity. I regularly saw my parents give beyond what was comfortable for them. I don’t know how frequently my children see me give sacrificially to God’s kingdom. Proverbs 3:9 tells us to ...read more

Tags: Cost

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praise Be To The Lord, The God Of Israel, ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Jan 3, 2010

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people" (Luke 1:68 NIV). A little child plays innocently in a park. Suddenly a man grabs her from behind and drags her into a van. She’s gagged. A bag’s pulled over her head. Dust stings her eyes. The smell of sweat ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Lutheran

In The Last Movie Of The Lord Of The Rings ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Marsh on Mar 18, 2005

In the last movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy “The Return of the King,” there is a scene where a man is dying of his wounds, and his daughter runs to his side. As she places her face over his, he fixes his eyes on her, and in the midst of his shock and pain, his bearded face breaks into a ...read more

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take It First To The Lord In Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Palitha Jayasooriya on Apr 3, 2017

Take it to the Lord in prayer My mobile phone crashed a few months ago and I had to switch to my wife's old one as a temporary measure. On the first day of using the phone, there was one particularly important feature that neither I nor my wife could grasp, though we tried to figure it out for a ...read more

Scripture: John 16:24

Tags: Prayer, Trusting God, Trusting Christ

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christians: We Should Be Jumping For Joy!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 3, 2025

Christians: We Should Be Jumping for Joy! Acts 16:34 says, "Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." The saved jailer rejoiced in His salvation! And that word "rejoiced" has the great ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Evangelism, Paul, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Joy Of Christ Forgiveness: A Member Of A Major ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

Joy of Christ Forgiveness: A member of a major non-Christian religion said to a missionary to India, "Tell me one thing your religion can offer the people of India that mine can’t." The missionary thought for a moment and replied, "Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" Unlike the followers of all other world ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Francis Of Assissi Teaching On Perfect Joy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

Francis of Assissi teaching on perfect joy: “Perfect joy he taught one of the brothers does not come when their groups succeeds in giving a great example of holiness and edification to all lands. Nor would a great ministry of healing and raising of the dead. Nor would possession of all languages ...read more

Tags: Joy

Psalm 119 - The Testimonies Of The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Psalm 119 repeatedly refers to the testimonies of the Lord (Meditate on these uses [Ps 119:99] - Especially ask how does the psalmist respond to God's testimonies?) 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your ...read more

Tags: Testimony, Lovingkindness, Faithfulness Of God, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Way, O Lord?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Way, O Lord? "This is what the Lord says; 'Stand at the crossroads and look... ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) The way many people attempt to determine the will of God would make a great new television ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 9, 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

Squanto: A Picture Of Forgiveness--Communion ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 18, 2002

SQUANTO: A PICTURE OF FORGIVENESS--COMMUNION MEDITATION In 1605, Squanto, a Native American from the village of Patuxet and a member of the Pokanokit Wampanoag nation traveled to England with an explorer named John Weymouth. He experienced high adventure and learned some English. But on his ...read more

Tags: Joy, Lord's Supper, Thanksgiving Holiday

The Secret Of Joy In Work Is Contained In One ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word excellence. To know how to do ...read more

Tags: Workplace