Sermons on Designed For Joy:

Laughter, Little Things, And The Lord

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 27, 2010

A sermon on how to have some zest for life with laughter, enjoying the little things and fearing the Lord. Sermon based around Proverbs 15:13-17

HoHum: In writing about Lincoln’s Civil War years, author Richard Hanser says that on September 22, 1862, the War Cabinet was summoned to the White House for a special session. Lincoln was reading a book as everyone came in. Secretary of War Stanton later said this of the meeting: “Finally the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2009

Suffering, endurance, character, hope: the formula is not automatic. All depends on whether we learn to live in the resurrected Christ.

One of my friends begins nearly every conversation with the phrase, "You just can’t win.” "You just can’t win." One day recently he was wearing a long, long face. He had just gotten his car repaired, but some inebriated partygoer had slammed into it. He had just worked off his debts, but suddenly ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering And The Human Condition: Where Was God? Series

Contributed by John Barry on Jun 12, 2009

The editor-in-chief of Bible Study magazine addresses the topic of suffering and God’s place in it and through it.

I was in a room close to 7:00 AM playing Jazz with my High School Jazz Band. We had band practice at 6:00 AM Monday to Friday mornings. (What kind of deranged person came up with that idea?) As I was sitting there at the drum set playing along half-asleep, the intercom began to come on and off. It ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Glory Of God In Suffering Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 24, 2009

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Glory of God Series June 1st, 2008 Glory of God in Suffering How are you doing? Bunch of liars. Now I am sure that for some of you that is true. Life is good and you are happy. By some of you are liars. When someone asks you at church: “How are you?” You know the proper Christian answer is: ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:3-10

Denomination: *other

Navigating The Ups And Downs Of Life

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 5, 2012

James expresses the fact that life is made up of triumph and tragedy, of sorrow and joy. Sickness can trip us up and sin can entangle us. We rarely know what to expect. Life is often very unpredictable. Our trust level in Christ will impact our response t

Navigating the Ups and Downs of Life James 5:13-18 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bethlehem, Newtown, And Incarnation

Contributed by George Durham on Dec 23, 2012

There are many similarities between the darkness into which Jesus was born in Bethlehem and what we now face in the darkness of the Newtown massacre of the innocents.

Bethlehem, Newtown, Incarnation? So what does this mean to me today? Luke 2: 1-7 (current news tie in: Did you know that NEWTOWN, Connecticut was listed as #5 in 100 SAFEST CITIES! 14,612 MURDERED last year in U.S. 281 Every Week!/ 40 Every Day! IT SHOULDN’T SURPRISE US THAT WE NEED TO ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

The Liturgy And Our Learning Obedience Through Suffering Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 19, 2013

Just as Jesus learned obedience through suffering, so St. Agnes and all the saints; we celebrate this in every Mass.

Monday of 2nd Week in Course 21 Jan 2013: St. Agnes Sacrosanctum Concilium Jesus offered up prayers and supplications during his mortal life, with loud cries and tears, to the one who could save Him from death–His eternal Father, and He was heard. And He learned obedience through suffering. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Church At Smyrna Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 31, 2011

A study of the letters to the 7 churches - #2 Smyrna

Revelation 2: 8 – 11 The Church At Smyrna 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Wonder Of Forgiveness

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 14, 2013

David said, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” What makes forgiveness such an incredibly valuable thing? Where does it originate? What are 3 wonderful effects of being forgiven?

THE WONDER OF FORGIVENESS Ps. 32:1-11 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Forgive Your Enemies 1. Preacher preached on “Forgiving Your Enemies.” Halfway through the service, He asked his congregation, “How many of you have forgiven their enemies?” About half held up their hands. 2. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Good Can Come Of This? Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Mar 12, 2012

We don't have to look far to see that suffering exists. Truth is, that tragedy enters into each of our lives. When it does we tend to ask: "Why did this happen to me?" But we should really be asking a different question.

What Good Can Come of This? - 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Care Home and Hospital Service – February 2012 Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Those words were written nearly 2000 years ago by a man named Paul. Paul was what we call an apostle and he was a man that God used to do great things during the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: *other

The Blessing Of Suffering Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 9, 2011

Don’t fear people. Fear Christ and follow Him from grief to glory. Look to Jesus alone to keep your conscience clear even in the midst of your pain. Then you will enjoy the benefit of pain.

Joanna Lerud of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, was standing up to leave a restaurant when she hit her head hard on a lamp hanging above the table. As she staggered away, she heard an older gentleman, who was sitting nearby, say, “It will feel better when it stops hurting.” (Joanna Lerud, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

High Seas 2 - Paul Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Jul 11, 2011

Because we live on a fallen planet with other fallen human beings it is possible to find ourselves in the midst of a life shattering storm through no fault of our own. The effects of the fall visit themselves randomly upon the creation.

Dakota Community Church July 10, 2011 High Seas 2 - Paul Luke 6:46-49 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:9-44

Denomination: Mennonite

Groans To Glory

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 17, 2011

There’s times when we’re seemingly dealt one crummy hand after another. It’s in times like these when there’s really not much we can do but groan with deep frustration in prayer, and place our hope in in God that he’ll turn our groans to glory.

INTRO The other day I needed to take my mind off things, so I opened my computer and played a game of hearts. Now, for those of you who’ve never played hearts, the object of the game is to score as few points as possible. You do this by trying to pass all your hearts to your three ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-30

Denomination: Lutheran

An Enemy Is Responsible

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 17, 2011

A sermon on the problem and end of evil from Jesus’ parable of the weeds and wheat.

An Enemy Has Done This Matthew 13:24-30 The world has been staggering from the overwhelming catastrophes that have taken place since the beginning of this year. The devastating earthquake and resulting tsunamis in Japan left over 28,000 people dead or missing. There are mudslides in South Korea ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

High Seas 4 - The Disciples Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Jul 24, 2011

Jesus has an agenda that is more important than our personal comfort and ease of life.

Dakota Community Church July 24, 2011 High Seas 4 – The Disciples Luke 6:46-49 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Denomination: Mennonite