In Sermon Illustrations: "Lack Of Joy"

Parents, If You Get Angry With Your Kids For ...  PRO

Contributed by Bev Sesink on Feb 5, 2005

Parents, if you get angry with your kids for something they do wrong, and you lose it, do you wait for your children to apologize or do you set the example and go to them? Teenagers, do you find it beneath your dignity to humble yourself to obey your parents’ reasonable expectations? I remember ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cell Phone ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

CELL PHONE INSOMNIA? Radiation from cell phones delays and reduces sleep and causes headaches and confusion, according to a UK study. The research, sponsored by mobile phone companies, shows using the handsets before bed causes people to take longer to reach the deeper stages of sleep and to spend ...read more

Tags: Youth

Accountability Questions For Men  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 22, 2009

ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS FOR MEN Accountability requires being vulnerable enough to allow someone to explore your habits, priorities and neglect. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions that he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with regularly: 1. Have you been with a ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Salvation Army

Are You Tied To This World?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

ARE YOU TIED TO THIS WORLD? Moody said that some people are trying to live by faith as though they are paddling hard in a row boat, while all along their tie-down is still fastened securely to the dock. He declared, "They are tied to this world. Cut the cord! Set yourself free from the clogging ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Tags: Worldliness

I Would Like To Tell Those Who Would Hear My ...

Contributed by John Harvey on Nov 9, 2005

“I would like to tell those who would hear my testimony: Drink the cup that Jesus drinks, for a student is not above his teacher. Our light troubles are temporary, beatings are temporary, pain is also ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

The Highest Pinnacle Of The Spiritual Life Is...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Dec 22, 2008

The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God. A. W. Thorold The more we depend on God, the more dependable we find he is. ...read more

Tags: Trust

St. Proclus Said It Well: "Christ Appeared In ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 8, 2011

St. Proclus said it well: "Christ appeared in the world, and, bringing beauty out of chaos, gave it luster and joy. He bore the world's sin and crushed the world’s enemy. He sanctified the ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Catholic

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An Ancient Jewish ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 8, 2008

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An ancient Jewish parable: One night a poor farmer was awakened by an angel of the Lord who said: "You've found favor in the eyes of your Maker. He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham. He wants to bless you. Therefore, make any three requests of ...read more

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life Affords No Higher Pleasure Than That Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labors in any great or laudable undertaking ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

The Sound Of Silence Can Be Troubling And ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 7, 2008

The sound of silence can be troubling and unnerving. But the sound of silence is also necessary for our faith and confidence in Christ to grow and help us truly live for the Lord despite our circumstances. Let ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

As Clayton J. Schmit Put It In His Commentary On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text, “The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost of baby food and diapers, sleepless ...read more

Responsibility Comes With The Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH THE GIFT As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text: The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

A Beginners Guide To Giving Thanks

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 21, 2023

You would think giving thanks would come easily and naturally but, for me and I suppose others, it often times doesn’t. So, with the season of Thanksgiving upon us I thought I’d write this little guide for my benefit and hopefully for yours. Give thanks for the good things This is the easy one. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:1

Tags: Thanks, Gratitude, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Rick Warren Notes The Mark Of Spiritual Maturity ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Kern on Jun 30, 2002

Rick Warren notes the mark of spiritual maturity occurs when a believer "takes off the bib and puts on an apron." Immature children wear bibs and expect others to meet their needs. Those who don aprons ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-14

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Person Who Has Not Struggled With Difficulty ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The person who has not struggled with difficulty after difficulty cannot know the joy of genuine success. Face the problems and fight your way over them. There is more satisfaction in putting forth effort than in gloating over ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

May The Spirit Of Christmas Ignite In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"May the spirit of Christmas ignite in the hearts of patriotic Americans a determination to redouble efforts at recapturing control of our national destiny, so that our children and their children may know, as we have known, the joy of true ...read more

Tags: Christmas

In Case You Ever Run Out Of Gift Ideas, Heres A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In case you ever run out of gift ideas, heres a little tip: give me your laugh. Whether its mischievous, tender, loud, or quiet, simply give me a laugh from ...read more

Tags: Humor

The Person Who Has Not Struggled With Difficulty ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The person who has not struggled with difficulty after difficulty cannot know the joy of genuine success. Face the problems and fight your way over them. There is more satisfaction in putting forth effort than in gloating over ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

The Heart Is Like A Garden  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 25, 2011

THE HEART IS LIKE A GARDEN John Owen: "The hearts of believers are like gardens, wherein there are not only flowers, but weeds also; and as the former must be watered and cherished, so the latter must be curbed and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Heart

Dwight Morrow, The Father Of Anne Morrow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

Dwight Morrow, the father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once held a dinner party to which Calvin Coolidge had been invited. After Coolidge left, Morrow told the remaining guests that Coolidge would make a good president. The others disagreed. They felt Coolidge was too quiet, that he lacked color and ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General