Sermons on Happiness:

"There Is Joy In The Lord"

Contributed by David Washburn on Dec 15, 2002

We are called to be oaks of righteousness, for our joy is found in the Lord, not in our circumstances.

The song that some of us learned as children goes, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart, I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.” Another song proclaims, “There is joy in the Lord, there is love in His presence, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Deny Yourself

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 7, 2014

Jesus said some radical things, radical things in his day and in ours. One of those things was, "Deny Yourself."

Back in my teenage years I did volunteer work with the Harris County Emergency Corps. I rode and drove ambulances and that kind of thing. Though it was a volunteer group, working with them had its perks. As part of our needed fund-raising efforts, we staffed the first aid station at various events ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Methodist

Why Will We Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 17, 2025

This is a summons for us to enter into the presence of God with a joyful heart.

The question presented is “Why will we enter His gates with thanksgiving?” A simple answer is, why not. One cannot answer this question solely on verse four. The whole chapter needs to be considered when populating a response. This psalm opens with a solicitation to the entire earth to happily ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bankrupt Before God

Contributed by Bobby O on Nov 30, 2000

Jesus’ Principles for living

"Bankrupt Before God" Matthew 5:1-3 Introduction : 1.Jesus instructed them in view of "entrance" into the coming kingdom (4:17). a) Natural questions on the heart of every Jew would have been, "Am I eligible to enter Messiah’s kingdom?" "Am I righteous enough to qualify for entrance?" 2.The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Let All Creation Sing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 26, 2021

In this sermon, I link Psalm 98 with the Isaac Watts' hymn "Joy to the World." The Advent theme is joy, so I ask: Do you want to have a merry Christmas? Do you want to have a joy-filled Christmas? Then look to Jesus.

T-minus 6 days, amen? Christmas is next Saturday … it’ll be here before we know it, amen? How many of you have all your Christmas shopping done? How many of you have all your presents wrapped and under the tree? How many of you still have to put up your tree, amen? Over the past few weeks ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9, Micah 5:2, Micah 5:4-5, Luke 2:10-11, Romans 8:18-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Discipline Of Meditation Series

Contributed by Kerry Bauman on Oct 4, 2006

This message looks at the blessing of meditating on the Word of God.

Introduction: In 1923 at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, several of the most powerful and wealthy men in the world gathered together for a meeting. These men, if they combined their resources and assets, controlled more money than the U.S. Treasury. In the group were the following: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Outpouring Of Joy (Advent) Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 15, 2007

This Christmas season, let us open our hearts completely to God. As we do that we will open ourselves up to receive the deep and abiding joy that is found only in knowing God.

The Outpouring of Joy, Mark 14:3-9 Introduction (Adapted from Charles Spurgeon, All of Grace) The fames 19th Century English preacher, Charles Spurgeon, tells the story of a minister who called upon a poor woman, intending to give her help; for he knew that she was very poor. With his money in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9

Denomination: Christian Church

Money Is Tricky Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Feb 8, 2009

"In todays world many are struggling financially. this series is to help us understand how to be rich in a way that honors God. (Adapted from a series by Craig Groeschel, lifechurch.tv)"

Illustration Go to Andretti theme park- pay money to play arcade games, when you play earn tickets that allow you to redeem them for the most incredible prizes. Prizes that will make you happy and fulfilled for the rest of your life. So it is exciting to get as many tickets as you can so you can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:25-30

Denomination: Charismatic

The 3 Ingredients Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Chris Beam on Nov 2, 2014

However you decide to celebrate Thanksgiving, the fact remains that it’s a time for us to count our blessings. Scripture is very clear to us that every blessing in our life is a result of God’s provision…

The 3 Ingredients of Thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Thanksgiving is a very special time of the year. Traditionally, it’s a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. The worldly perspective of thanksgiving however has turned it into a time of gathering with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Living The Blessed Life.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Sep 7, 2023

Psalm 1 does not teach the duty of obedience so much as it invokes affection for the Torah. In Psalm 1, the righteous are not those who obey the Torah, but are those who delight in the Torah.

Living the Blessed Life. Psalm 1:1-6NKJV The desert is abundant with life, but there is a stark contrast between plants that are near water and plants that are in the drier parts of the landscape. Those plants near the water display abundant growth. Those plants that are near the water display ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Psalm 92:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Beside Still Waters Series

Contributed by Kevin Broyhill on Oct 2, 2024

We live in a world that constantly craves more. The truth is, peace and satisfaction can’t be found in worldly pursuits, but Psalm 23 reminds us that the Lord is our Shepherd, and in Him, we find the rest, peace, and satisfaction our souls long for.

Beside Still Waters Psalm 23:2b Introduction: Illust: Article – “Baby Boomers – Then and Now Then: Getting out to a new, hip joint. Now: Getting a new hip joint. Then: Acid Rock Now: Acid Reflux Then: Being called into the principle’s office. Now: Storming into the principle’s office. Then: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:2

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Offer: To Eat With You, From Inside Of You (Revelation 3:14-22) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 21, 2025

Rather than chase wealth, and focus on wealth, chase a deeper relationship with Jesus, of mutual indwelling.

Today, we wrap up the part of Revelation, where Jesus has John writing to the angels to the churches. Jesus has clear expectations, and high expectations, for his churches. Every church has its own spirit-- its own angel-- who is responsible for that church. And some angels, and some churches, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Out Of Control Series

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 24, 2006

People who yield to God’s control experience well-being.

#2006-26 Title: Out of Control Text: Matthew 5:5 Truth: People who yield to God’s control experience well-being. Aim: To lead them to submit to God. INTRODUCTION Victor Hugo, who is famous for his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, also so wrote a story called “Ninety-Three.” It tells of a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Denomination: Baptist

Love Does Not Envy!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Sep 10, 2018

An attitude of envy can be a destructive force in any life. Envy is a serious danger, for it can make us unclean & unspiritual & rob us of our salvation. It is not a desirable trait to have in our lives.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13:4; 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Last Sunday, in my sermon "Love Is Kind" I said, "The Apostle Paul comes close to being the composer of a great love song in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Beatitudes As A Pattern For Discipleship

Contributed by Byron Perrine on Feb 15, 2022

The Beatitudes provide a description of the signs to be recognized in the experiences of the Christian who is moving along the path toward mature discipleship.

Seeing the Beatitudes as Steps in Restructuring Your Heart For the past few weeks, we have been thinking about what it means to be followers of Jesus. At the beginning of this series, we were challenged to step out in faith without looking back, just as Peter and the other first disciples did. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-31

Denomination: United Methodist