Sermons on Designed For Joy:

Spiritual Heartburn

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 10, 2009

Spiritual Heartburn--when your heart burns within you because of the presence of the Risen Christ! Unlike physical heartburn which brings misery, spiritual heartburn brings unspeakable joy!

If you’ve ever had heartburn, let me see your hand? Not pleasant, is it? The serious kind is “acid reflux.” It feels like you’re having a heart attack. But praise God, there is relief available through medication. I want to speak to you today for a few moments about spiritual heartburn—when ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Ruth Rejoicing Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 21, 2010

In four short chapters we move from tragedy to triumph, from despair to joy, from emptiness to fullness. This book begins with famine and funerals, and concludes with a wedding and the joyful birth of a son.

The final chapter of this quiet drama takes place before the town gate of Bethlehem, where all important transactions were conducted. Here is where the matter of Ruth the foreigner would be settled. After the late-night rendezvous of chapter 3, Boaz goes right to work; he finds his kinsman and ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Congregational

Mothers Gifted By God

Contributed by Ray Ellis on May 11, 2009

As a woman, single, married, mother, widow you can possess the joy of being alive. God has given your gifts to serve Him and make an impact on your family and community.

Mothers Gifted by God 2 Timothy 1:3-7 Genesis 2:15-25 Today is a special day for all of us to remember our Mothers. For some of us the memories are pleasant and for others not so pleasant. Young Timothy in our Scripture text had the advantage of a Godly heritage. Both his mother and his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-7

Denomination: Free Methodist

When Fasting Becomes Feasting Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 4, 2010

Zechariah announces the divine blessing of faithful obedience to be realized during that time & in full during the future Messianic Age. At that time God's people will rejoice with great joy, gladness & experience popularity.

ZECHARIAH 8: 18-23 WHEN FASTING BECOMES FEASTING In the previous chapter Zechariah proclaimed to the people the mere externals and empty ritualism in their observance of the fasts as well as pointing out to them the sins and transgression which caused their suffering (7:1-7). He also gave them ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Instead Of Worrying

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Aug 4, 2010

God's will for believers is peace and joy, not worry and fear. his message is a practical approach to moving from the former to the latter. Let's bring our actual experience into line with God's word in these matters.

Instead of Worrying… Pastor Eric J. Hanson July 11, 2010 Read Philippians 4:6-7, I Peter 5:6-7, & Luke 12:27-31. It is a real struggle for many or even most people to walk free of worrying about tomorrow, carrying crushing emotional burdens today, and feeling that things will never get ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Messy Christmas

Contributed by C Jordan on Dec 26, 2013

The Christmas story encourages us with the truth that even though our lives and homes may be ‘messy’, Jesus delights to visit us and bring us hope, joy and peace.

A MESSY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SONG: Amy singing “O Holy Night.” OPENING: Christmas… is it really the most wonderful time of the year? • Christmas can be a stressful time for people. • Stress = a force or a pressure that strains or deforms. • One of the things is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: *other

Safe Zone Vs Faith Zone

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 28, 2015

Often we allow problems to define who we are and where we are. There is a river of possibilities flowing from the altar of God. Joy is not freedom from problems, but releasing God's plan.

THERE IS A RIVER --- SAFE ZONE VS FAITH ZONE? PROBLEMS ARE OPPORTUNITIES By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I. INTRODUCTION: DO WE ALLOW PROBLEMS TO DEFINE OUR LIMITATIONS... Have you ever seen a dog that has been chained all his days? There is a dirt ring around his house. He has ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What To Do When The Fireworks Aren't There

Contributed by John Herrmann on Jun 21, 2011

Appropriate for July 4th Weekend, this sermon offers a brief glimpse into where freedom and celebration are perhaps lacking in the Christian life and how joy and freedom are ultimately to be found in Christ alone.

PBS once had an interesting program on fireworks – how they are made, how they work and so on. By way of contrast the newspaper was full of stories about communities and civic agencies canceling their fireworks shows on account of extreme fire hazard and fiscal concerns in a weak economy. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:9-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Own Place

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Jun 10, 2012

Christian humility sees rightly, neither higher nor lower than we really are, and allows Christians freedom to be who they are in Chirst and accept their role and place in His Body with joy.

Today’s reading all speak about humility. Humility is knowing exactly who we are. Pride is thinking that we are someone that we’re not. Humility is all about knowing who we are, not in the world’s sight, but according to God’s judgment. The world looks at a man’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14

Denomination: Anglican

Fruitfulness In The Midst Of Great Pressure Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 30, 2013

How do we have a fruitful life - one filled with joy amidst the pressures of this age? These five psalms of assent give us clues as to how God blesses in the midst of pressure.

Last time we talked about the first five of the Songs of Ascent. They mostly had to do with pilgrims journeying from far away lands, anxious to get away from people who put down the truth of who God is and come into God’s presence in Jerusalem. This time we will see the next five psalms, ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Thorough Thanksgiving

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 2, 2014

3 reasons why thorough thanksgiving works joy in us (Material adapted from Ben Patterson's book, He Has Made Me Glad, chapter 5 Indiscriminate Thanks)

HoHum: Thieves robbed Matthew Henry, the one who wrote a commentary on the Bible that many still use today. After being robbed Matthew Henry wrote this in his diary: “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse (wallet), they did not take ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Emmaus - The Road To Realisation Lk 24:1-35

Contributed by Damon S Adams on Mar 19, 2016

This messages explores the lessons to be learnt from the account of Jesus'meeting with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This was a journey from disappointment to joy. Here is an encounter with the risen Jesus, an encounter available to all.

Emmaus – The Road to Realisation Lk 24:1-35 Introduction This account is one of the most beautiful accounts we have in the Bible. In order to appreciate it we need to live into it! Remember Jesus was just crucified – the Sabbath is over. Two disciples are on the road returning home. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Jesus

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 22, 2013

God’s will for us is to enter into His amazing plan and purpose to have great joy in His presence and in His grace. Now how we respond to this invitation, is very important!

Opening illustration: Suppose you are rushed to the hospital, where a physician examines you and informs you that you are critically ill. He says you’ll die unless you have proper treatment. He then prescribes medicine and says, “If you will take this, I can assure you with absolute ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Profitable Problems Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2018

James teaches us about problems and faith already in the second verse of his letter. This sermon looks at problems and how we can count them as all joy in Jesus Christ.

Theologian Clinton Armstrong tells this story about a lunch that he had that pertains to the Epistle of James. He once had lunch with an expert in the philosophical field of ethics. Once they were done eating, they talked for a little bit longer and then paid the check. Just before they left, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31, James 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 12:10, James 1:1-12, Romans 8:28, James 1:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Lord Jesus

Contributed by Trevor Chuma on Sep 18, 2018

The Lord Jesus is so so awesome, you cannot know him and not fall in love with him. Just to think about him brings joy into the human soul. So amazing is the Lord.

1. His Birth. Jesus is the Son of God because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of Mary. Biologically when a male sperm burrows into the female egg, it begins to fertilize the egg, and once that egg is fertilized, within 24 hours it starts developing into many cells which will become ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:31, John 4:34

Denomination: Charismatic