Sermons on Designed For Joy:

The Purpose In Suffering Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

Why? Isn’t that the question most of us ask when we experience suffering? Is there a purpose for suffering? If so, what is it? The answers to those questions are not easy to discover. And many times, when we find the answer, we don’t like what we find.

I’m sure that many of you were doing the same thing that I was doing on Thursday evening. We had finished with the evening session of the pastors conference and I was planning on going back to the room and doing some studying. My laptop had other plans. It crashed. So I turned on the TV to catch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

It's All Good

Contributed by Steve Keeler on May 9, 2010

No matter how hard it may seem, as Christians we also are supposed to rejoice in all things.

It's All Good by Steve Keeler Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." "Once upon a time." How long has it been since you heard a story that began like that once upon a time? Well, we're ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Chasing Happiness Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 29, 2015

In order to find true joy, let God's Word touch your mind, heart and will. In other words, understand it, celebrate it and do it.

In his book, Dangers, Toils & Snares, John Ortberg talks about the days when he took his children to “the shrine of the Golden Arches”, where they always lusted for the meal that comes with a cheap little prize. In a moment of marketing genius, McDonalds executives christened it the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Faithful Servant’s Final Words Series

Contributed by Ron Tuit on Apr 11, 2015

John the Baptist ends his testimony and ministry with some humble words.

“A Faithful Servant’s Final Words”: John 3:22-30 Charles Spurgeon once said: “Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.” We all recognize that humility is one of the great Christian virtues being the opposite of pride, but where does humility come from and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

Night Light

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 6, 2015

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Night Light Philippians 2:14-17 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/nightlight.html This letter is all about joy. It's like bells keep ringing each time we study. It's like a light shining in the midst of deep darkness. The world says to get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Our God Of Restoration Series

Contributed by Jerry Owen on Oct 1, 2016

Yahweh is the God who delights in restoration.

OUR GOD OF RESTORATION 1 KINGS 17:17-24 In our passage today, we are going to study our Lord as the God of Restoration. The Hebrew word for “Restore” is “Chayah”. The root word is “Chai” which means “life”. Every morning Mrs Lana wakes up but ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Just What I Needed (Mother's Day)

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on May 3, 2016

Things you might just need for Mother's Day or for "Other Mother's Day" Encouragement for the different aspects of motherhood. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

Title: Just What I Needed Text: 2 Cor. 1:3-11 Purpose: Mother’s Day Message ********************************************************** Introduction: Quotes from my daughter Brittney Things I never thought I'd hear myself say: 1. Stop biting the dog! 2. Don't lick the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Denomination: Nazarene

Trust Me

Contributed by Matthew Blau on Jan 22, 2015

Do we Trust God? Really? We need to examine our lives every now and then to see if that is true.

Trust Me These are two very loaded words. Trust is not something we do easily. And in this world of identity theft, on and offline scams trust can be a dangerous thing to give. In the days of youth group past I have participated several trust exercises. One is the trust walk where one person is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 62:5-12

Denomination: Methodist

Create In Me A Clean Heart O Lord Series

Contributed by Bill Walker on Aug 7, 2017

Be sure your sins will find you out. Whether it was a duck or David sin always has its consequences.

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART O LORD Psalm 51 A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are Unique!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Aug 27, 2015

Failures, disappointments, emptiness, hollowness, pain and betrayals are God’s tools for building! Don’t panic! Season of dancing would surely follow!

You are Unique! Psalm 126:5”Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Hey friend, God’s plan is unique in each one’s life! Others stay away when the Master is at work ! Don’t try to give your inputs and foil the plan! Job’s friends tried to give ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Way Of Beauty Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 19, 2015

There can be no tension between devoting ourselves to love of God and love of neighbor.

Thursday of 25th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel There is a very old argument in the Church that contrasts what we owe to God with what we owe to our neighbor. These days, it goes like this: we don’t need ornate churches with lots of stone and pipeorgans and marble altars and Italian ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

Jesus, The Friend Of Sinners

Contributed by Curtis E. Nester on Sep 19, 2016

Grumbling Pharisees are taught a lesson about loving the lost and what it is that makes Heaven rejoice.

TITLE: Jesus, the Friend of Sinners TEXT: Luke 15:1-10 INTRO: Do you remember the nursery rhyme, Little Bo Peep? The rhyme says: "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep And doesn’t know where to find them Leave them alone And they'll come home Wagging their tails behind them" But, lost things do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

What Easter Gives Us Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 8, 2018

It is Paul’s greatest declaration of Christian truth; he says that the great results of Easter are: 1. Easter confirmed Christ’s identity. 2. Easter cancelled sin’s penalty. 3. Because of Easter, we can celebrate eternal life.

3-29-04 Title: What Easter Gives Us Text: “Declared to be the Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:3-4). Bible Reading: Romans 1:1–4, 4:24–25, and 8:11 Introduction: Just after World War II, a Preacher by the name of William Sangster, came down with a disease ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson # 2: Thanksgiving And Prayer Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 18, 2018

Philippians is a letter of appreciation for the faithfulness of Christians in Philippi, and is essentially a thanksgiving for the work of grace in Philippi, and for their thoughtfulness in sending Epaphroditus with a gift for Paul in prison in Rome.

Date: 4/3/18 Lesson # 2 Title: Thanksgiving and prayer Text: (Philippians 1:3-11) Scripture: (Philippians 1:3-11, NIV) 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking The Savior

Contributed by Paul Davidson on May 5, 2018

An Advent message - God seeks after us and wants us to find Him… Seek the Savior while He can still be found!

(Note for readers: There is a short Children’s Message at the beginning, followed by the sermon for an adult audience) CHILDREN’S MESSAGE There is a game we used to play when I was a kid… It’s called “Hide and Seek”… Do you know that game? One person will be “it” and try to find the other people ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10-12, 1 Peter 1:8, Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 2:20, Revelation 3:20, Deuteronomy 4:29, John 4:13-14, Luke 19:10, Ezekiel 34:11-12, Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 2:1-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist