Sermons on Choosing Joy:

From Bitter And Better I Series

Contributed by Jeremy Poling on Apr 21, 2012

Trouble will make you better if you do not allow it to make you bitter.

From Bitter And Better Exodus 1:11-14 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Heart Trouble Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 26, 2012

Let’s look at the Book of Proverbs & see some of the different ways heart trouble in the inner person affects us. Perhaps you will recognize one of these symptoms which is warning you of heart trouble in your inner being.

HEART TROUBLE PROVERBS 12: 20, 25 Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in America. Heart failure accounts for 40% of all U.S. deaths. That’s more than all forms of cancer combined. Why is heart disease so deadly? One reason is that many people are slow to seek help when ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:20-25, Proverbs 20:5, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

So, You Had A Bad Day?

Contributed by Richard A. Bradley on May 3, 2012

We all have had bad days; even believers. How we react to those bad days testify to the depth of our spiritual maturity.

“SO, YOU HAD A BAD DAY” Acts 16:16-25 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

Handcrafted By God

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 17, 2012

Is God bending, shaping, or polishing me right now? What’s my attitude: Am I thanking and praising God, or am I complaining about the process? Trials are intended not to provoke us but to prove us. See the present from the perspective of the future. Look

Opening illustration: The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt—and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sufferings Invitation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 5, 2011

Adam and Eve invited suffering into the world. By disobeying God's direct command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they asked for discipline from God. The discipline "I will greatly multiply your pain." Both for woman and man.

Intro: Gianna Jensen is a survivor of a later term abortion. Her mother was in the third trimester of pregnancy when a saline abortion was performed. Through the grace of God she survived and was taken at 2lbs to a hospital and an incubator. Because of this botched abortion she was not supposed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Purpose Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2011

Is there a purpose in suffering? The earthquake and subsequent tsunami make us ask many questions especially if we have not trusted Jesus. Suffering reveals the good that we ignore before disaster. Suffeing calls us to examine the shortness of our life

Intro: Just three weeks ago we began the suffering portion of this study called incarnate. Today as we draw to a close on our teaching of suffering it is in the face of large scale disaster in Japan that will cause an extended period of suffering for many. If you remember we talked about the ...read more

Scripture: Job 36:15, Job 36:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Handling The Ups & Downs Of Life Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Mar 14, 2011

I used to like roller coasters, but last summer, I got off of a roller coaster and didn't care if I ever rode one again or not. Up. Down. Up. Down. Round and round. Then we exited right where we got on. It's too much like life. Life is full of ups and dow

I used to like roller coasters, but last summer, I got off of a roller coaster and didn't care if I ever rode one again or not. Up. Down. Up. Down. Round and round. Then we exited right where we got on. It's too much like life. Life is full of ups and downs, yet most of the action is an illusion ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

For The Lord Watches Over The Way Of The Righteous

Contributed by Jose R. Hernandez on Apr 9, 2011

Developing and nurturing a defeatist attitude is something that we can’t afford to do. We can’t develop and nurture a defeated mind, because to do so will stop us from seeing and appreciating the blessings that God pours out upon His people.

Seeing what’s happening around us, in other words, the conflicts and wars in the Middle East; the financial problems in Europe; and the financial problems here in the U.S., where the government is at the brink of a shut down, unemployment continues to grow, and foreclosures continue to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Taking The Focus Off Of Ourselves Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 25, 2011

In sermon four of the series, What am I Missing Here?, we continue to answer the question, "Why have I lost my joy?" This message deals with the importance of "looking unto Jesus" instead of constantly focusing on self. Peace is promised to those whose mi

What am I Missing Here? Steps to Recovering Your Joy October 24, 2010 Calvary Baptist Church Hebrews 12:2 SERMON 4: Taking the Focus Off of Ourselves What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord? • First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Baptist

Navigating The Surprises Of Life

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Aug 29, 2011

God can and will help us change so we can be better equipped to handle change. If we will go all in with God and give our lives to Him, He will help us learn to navigate the surprises of life in a way that brings Him honor and produces something good in o

Navigating the Surprises of Life Intro: How many of you enjoy surprises? I know, I know – it depends on what the surprise is. For example, your tax return comes back with $500 more than you expected – that is a good surprise! Or, back when we used VCR’s… one day you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Are You In A Storm"

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 14, 2011

This sermon teaches how we can have joy in a storm and not fret. How we can not let our past failures in a storm dictate our future responses.

I love to watch a storm coming. I do not know if it was from all my days flying or the weather courses I took but a storm is impressive. Storms in our lives can arrive much the same way as storms clouds that bring rain and thunder. Matthew 8:23-27 “Then he got into the boat and his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Don't Lose Your Praise

Contributed by Apostle Bobby Hogan on Sep 19, 2011

One of the greatest weapons we have as a child of God is our praise, the devil knows this to be true and will do everything possible to silence you.

“And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:20-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Bring It On

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 21, 2011

Too often, we run from challenges. Yet the people we love to read about in the Bible are impressive because they battled challenges. If God sends you on stony paths, He will provide you with strong shoes.

Opening illustration: A TV program on the History Channel featured the world’s most extreme airports. The one that caught my attention is no longer open, but it is one I had flown into. I agree that Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport was definitely a thrill ride for passengers and surely a challenge for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:22-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rejoicing In God's Lagniappe Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 8, 2011

Paul wanted the Philippians to know how wonderful it was to serve Christ and praised their efforts to be the servants God called them to become...

Sermon Brief Date Written: October 6, 2011 Date Preached: October 9, 2011 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: A Series from Philippians Sermon Title: Rejoicing In God’s Lagniappe Sermon Text: Philippians 4:10-20 [ESV] Introduction: Here as Paul concludes his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

We've Come Too Far To Turn Back Now

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Oct 30, 2010

This message is a celebration and refocusing message for my congregation as we enter into our new sanctuary.

We Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16 Introduction: My message this morning is a simple one and it is titled: “We’ve Come Too Far To Turn Back Now.” Last week Jackie told us that we must look forward and that we cannot look back on where we were. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational