Sermons on Choosing Joy:

Focus On The Finish Line Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 8, 2022

I imagine that all of us have at some time run out of gas - or come close!

Introduction I imagine that all of us have at some time run out of gas - or came close! Ezra Dyer writes for Car and Driver. He wrote about the time he was driving a Lamborghini Huracan. “The first time I fired up the Huracán, the gauge cluster flashed a warning to fill up. But the fuel ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gideon Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 14, 2022

Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Abiezrite clan in the tribe of Manasseh and lived in Ephra (Ophrah). As a leader of the Israelites, he won a decisive victory over a Midianite army despite a vast numerical disadvantage, leading a troop of 300 "valiant" men.

Gideon Facts – Things You Should know Successor • Abimelech Parent(s) • Joash (father) Italics indicate individuals not explicitly described as judges Book of Joshua • Joshua Book of Judges ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Making The Jail House Rock

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 25, 2022

God needs to shake things up in the church and free us from our self-imprisonment.

Making the Jail House Rock Acts 16:16-34 The text we read this morning has been a popular one for Vacation Bible Schools for many years. The cardboard props of the wall of the jail house and the barred windows has “imprisoned” many a child or saint in the skit. someone pulls the string, and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Desert Shall Blossom As The Rose: For The 3rd Sunday Of Advent

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Dec 6, 2022

Let us experience the true joy this season.

The Desert Shall Blossom as the Rose: For the Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10As we continue our Advent study this year from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we come to this passage in chapter 35. as a way of reminder, we have discussed how the book of Isaiah is a mixture of prophecies of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Most Hateful Character In The Christmas Story

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Dec 13, 2022

The Grinch was right, Christmas is not only about presents, but also about God’s gift of His son bringing, light, life and joy into the world. Today, I want to talk about the most hateful character of the Christmas story. Let’s look at Christmas from a different viewpoint.

Sermon: The Most Hateful Character in the Christmas Story Scripture Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12."Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, Matthew 2:13-14, John 3:16-17

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Confidence

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 16, 2023

Can we have confidence and joy in the midst of severe trials? Paul addresses that in Philippians 1.

Intro Paul and Timothy, probably as stenographer, wrote to help the saints in Philippi to find confidence and joy in the midst of persecution. It was an established church, mature enough to have the oversight of a team of elders. In those days the terms bishop or overseer, pastor or shepherd, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Value God's Plans For Our Lives

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Dec 4, 2023

We discover joy in trials. We ask God for wisdom.

future. Even to the end. 2. Stand the test God will provide the crown of life. Freely given to those who love the Lord. D. We face different kind of trials and testing in our lives. Unexpected troubles make an unwelcome visit. Health issues. Economic concerns. Worries. All these events ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Lutheran

#2 A Place Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Robert Malcolm on Jan 8, 2025

Prayer works & prayer changes things and we are that church … a place of prayer

~ Intro: The Journal of Reproductive Medicine reports that researchers at Columbia University conducted a study with 199 women at an in vitro fertilization clinic in Korea. Unknown to the patients and their doctors, groups of strangers from the US, Canada, and Australia were asked to pray for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17, Isaiah 56:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Power Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Feb 13, 2025

James is going to end his book with a call to pray in all circumstances and encourage us to confess our sins to each other

James: Practical Faith (Part 2)  James 5:13-20 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church  02-09–2025 Gumball Theology I love gum balls. If we are somewhere that has gumboil machines, Maxine will make sure to have quarters for me. But what if I just stood there, staring at ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

The God Who Is Worth Suffering For - Matthew 5:10-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 7, 2024

Usually when someone mistreats us because of our righteousness, we think we’re doing well if we simply endure it without getting angry or depressed. But Jesus calls us to far more than that. We are to rejoice greatly! This message will help you do that.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

G.a.p. - Matthew 5:29-30 (Cont’d) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 15, 2024

In this message you will learn how to fight sin in a way that is not burdensome, so that the Christian life is a life of doing what you want, rather than a life of resisting what you want.

Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30

How To Hear From God: The Deaf Heart - Mark 4:1-15 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 9, 2023

Life and joy come from hearing from God. But to hear his voice, we must listen the right way.

Mark 4:1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-15, Matthew 13:1-19, Luke 8:4-12

Bridge Builder: Lost People Matter To God

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 25, 2024

This shepherd was able to rejoice with his friends and neighbors because his lost sheep was found. He was overjoyed with the rescue of this one, lost sheep.

Opening illustration: Did you ever have a kid in your neighborhood that always hid so good nobody could find him? We did. After a while we would give up on him and go off, leaving him to rot wherever he was. Soon or later he would show up all-mad because we didn’t keep looking for him. And we would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Joyful Church (1 Thessalonians 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 27, 2024

Some churches are a joy to be around. Let's look at one such church in 1 Thessalonians 2.

Some churches are a joy to visit, from the moment you enter the door to the final farewell, the welcome, preaching and fellowship refresh the soul. Let’s look at a joyful church in 1 Thessalonians 2. Were Paul and his coworkers bold about preaching the Gospel in Thessaloniki? For you yourselves ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Enjoy Life- Shine Brightly Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Apr 28, 2024

This is the 196th sermon in the series "Action". This is the 4th sermon from Philippians.

Series: Action [#196] HOW TO ENJOY LIFE- SHINE BRIGHTLY Philippians 2:5-18 Introduction: Our text tells us to shine in this evil and corrupt world- “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” I remembered something from Science Class about stars and googled it to see if I was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-18

Denomination: Baptist