Sermons on Designed For Joy:

Running Your Race

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Oct 25, 2025

“Running Your Race” calls believers to reject comparison and discouragement, embrace their God-given lane with faithfulness and joy, and keep their eyes fixed on Jesus—the One who empowers, sustains, and rewards every step of the journey.

Running Your Race I remember the first time I attended a large Christian conference. Though we all shared a love for the Lord and His Word, this “unknown” attendee quietly wondered if anyone could see past the mask of confidence—past the polished smiles and ministry talk—to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:45-46, 1 Samuel 18:7, Mark 12:43-44, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Beauty Of Belonging To God - You Belong To God Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jun 21, 2022

To belong is to feel loved and secure. Humanity’s greatest desire is to know and be known, to love and be loved and to feel confident that those who know and love us will be there for us through joy and trouble of life. This desire for connection, God has filled.

Sermon - You Belong to God I Corinthians 6:19,20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Psalm 100:3 “Know that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 43:1

Denomination: Methodist

Heaven Pt-1 Series

Contributed by Brian Menear on Feb 23, 2007

Every Christian wants to go to Heaven, but few could describe it to someone if asked. This series is designed to educate us about exactly what Heaven will be like, what will we do there. The CEV is used for ease of understanding. PT 1-Why should we want

Understanding Heaven As a Christian you know you want to go to Heaven. Even people who don’t believe in God think they can go to Heaven. Yet most Christians would not be able to describe Heaven to someone or don’t have a clear understanding of it themselves. If someone asked you “So what will ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:10-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Body Relationships I Series

Contributed by Todd Leupold on May 26, 2007

Friends, a successful, joyous, life-long marriage truly is a miracle! And that is why we so need to live our lives together according to the design and plan our Great Architect has given us! As our marriages go, so does the rest of our relationships!

THE SUPREME MYSTERY – THE BODY OF CHRIST ACT III: The Supreme Mystery In Action 5. BODY RELATIONSHIPS I (Eph. 5:21-33) INTRODUCTION: It’s been wisely said that “relationships are everything!” So, why is it that our relationships, whether they be with family, friends, co-workers, bosses or new ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 7:12 – Stop Following Me! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 17, 2012

There’s a shop on the corner of OBLIGATION STREET and RECIPROCITY. It advertises free tickets, scratch-its, gifts, invitations, free samples, biros, key-rings, 2 for one. All designed to make me feel OBLIGATED to give or buy or comply or compromise in som

Matthew 7:12 – STOP FOLLOWING ME! I was looking at Instragram photographs recently. On the most popular photographs, so many people made comments such as “I will like you 5 times if you like me”. It was as blatant as that (and as pathetic). They scream “Make me popular, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Stones Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 19, 2011

If we want to influence our friends and family members to follow Jesus, then we must KNOW who we are and BE who we are in Christ. We are God's holy temple and God's special people, designed to be living displays of His greatness, so let's live that way.

Howard Hendricks, one of my professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, sometimes talked about his days when he was a student at the same seminary. In one of those stories, he tells about the time he was invited to preach in west Texas. “You’ve all heard of Nowhere? Well,” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-12

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Fresh Fire: Presence, Prayers & Power Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Dec 11, 2012

Each of us is different. But every single one of us is designed to be empowered by The Holy Spirit. If you feel like your not operating properly, if you are always saying to yourself “there must be more to the Christian life than this” than maybe the pr

Fresh Fire: Presence, Prayers & Power Do you like gadgets? I love gadgets. I think it is safe to say that if you took away my Computers, iPod, iPad and iPhone for a day I would find it difficult to survive without going crazy. The ability to communicate is important to me. The other day our ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jephthah: Dealing With The Spirit Of Rejection

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 9, 2020

God Made Each Of Us For & with A Purpose. He designed each with specific skills, gifts & talents that are unique for the divine assignment & destiny He has placed within us. But there are Satanic spirits put on assignment to hinder us. One of such is the Spirit of Rejection.

JEPHTHAH: DEALING WITH THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION 1. Judges 11: 1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-11, 1 Samuel 2:8

Denomination: Charismatic

Heading To The Feast Series

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on May 16, 2021

This message looks at Jesus' final observance of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus had been avoiding going to Jerusalem since Passover six months before this. We will look at this feast using three time periods designated in the text (beginning, middle, and end of the feast).

“HEADING TO THE FEAST!” John 7:1-52 Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ May 16, 2021 Video Link: https://youtu.be/C7Au0CF8tLI INTRODUCTION: 1.) Today’s text in the Gospel of John is in the final year of Jesus’ ministry. A.) By this time, the religious leaders had already decided to kill ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:16, Acts 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living In Babylon: The Right Mindset Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jun 1, 2022

Pretty much everything in our culture is designed and is conspiring to distract you, impact you, and draw you away from God. You need to be ready. You need to prepare your children. You need to prepare your grandchildren. Prepare by having the right mindset.

FAITH FOR EXILES: LIVING IN BABYLON RIGHT MINDSET DANIEL 3:17-18, ESTHER 4:12-14 INTRODUCTION… Right Mindset (p) There are certain activities and events and things that we do that you absolutely need a particular mindset to do. I happen to think that a fighter pilot needs a certain mindset. ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:17-18, Esther 4:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Places An Importance On All Life! Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jan 22, 2023

The animals and the fish were created to demonstrate God’s glory, and they were each given a command to multiply and reproduce according to their own kind. We must see that God's design for Creation is intentional, and done to show His majesty even in the smallest things!

Alpha and Omega, Part 4 God places an importance on all life! Genesis 1:20-25 Introduction - We’ve begun the year with “one purpose”: Knowing there is a God! -- Just as a building requires a builder, a creation must have a Creator - Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; looking at ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:20-25, Nehemiah 9:6, Revelation 21:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sadducees Sadly Mistaken (2004)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 23, 2022

The intention of the question of our "case in point" (Luke 20:27-40) was designed by those who composed it to make a fool of Jesus. It backfired. The scripture tells us that when Jesus answered that question, no one dared to ask Him any other questions.

SADDUCEES SADLY MISTAKEN Text: Luke 20:27-40 Bruce Larson made the comment that the question that the Sadducees posed to Jesus was a test that was designed to determine whether or not He was a conservative or a liberal. (Bruce Larson. Mastering The New Testament: Luke. Dallas: Word Publishing, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-40

Denomination: United Methodist

Noah's Ark: A Symbol Of God's Sovereignty

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 2, 2023

The idea for the design and building of the Ark did not originate in the mind of Noah. The Ark was God's idea and preconceived plan of rescue for anyone who would enter to escape the wrath to come. God has everything under control and will bring everything to a conclusion on His terms.

The Bible says that Noah built the Ark, but did not come up with the idea. The Ark was from the mind and heart of God. If God had not spoken to Noah, he would have died in the flood along with his pagan neighbors. Genesis 6:8 says that Noah "found grace in the eyes of the LORD". This ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:8, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 5:20, Ephesians 4:30, John 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Everything Is Ready

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 25, 2025

Jesus pictures the kingdom as a banquet—an invitation to joy. In Luke 14:7–24 He confronts pride, exposes excuses, and calls for a humble, wholehearted response to His invitation—today, not “someday.”

The next couple of weeks we're going to be spending time in Luke 14, in a mini-series called "Come to the Table." I named the series this because - don't you just love invitations to eat? At first I thought that "Let's Eat" may have been a better title for this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Causes Fights & Quarrels? - James 4:1-3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 3, 2021

When we have flashes of anger or irritation, very often we find ourselves asking, “Where did that come from? Why did that bother me so much?” This message will answer that and show the way to refreshment of soul

James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3