Sermons on Joy And Meaning:

Jesus Among Secular Gods, Part 5 - When Pleasure Becomes Perilous Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Nov 14, 2019

This is part 5 of Jesus Among Secular Gods, based on the book by Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale. This week the dangers of hedonism in our lives, churches, and cultures are discussed.

Hedonism is all about happiness or pleasure. Happiness and pleasure are good things, but when we make happiness and pleasure the highest forms of good, we miss out on the best God has for us. In the movie, The Matrix, it is discovered that machines have taken over the world and are channeling ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:3-9, Galatians 5:19-20, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Luke 8:14, Proverbs 21:17, Philippians 4:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

All Those Who Wander Are Not Lost: A Study In Nothingness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

Much of my early life was lived by such reverberations. I don't want to bash it. It had it's appeals. No burdens, no responsibilities. Just drift about. Ironically enough I live in a similar way today at times. I'm in the arms of God. I have no idea what will happen today.

"When Monday comes I want nothing Come Tuesday morning I want the same The days and nights fly by Looking to embrace the nothing of the everyday...." -Yo La Tengo, "Everyday" from the album: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. Much of my early life was lived by such ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-9

Denomination: Salvation Army

Oh No! I’m Becoming Mean! Help Me! Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on May 29, 2022

How do you live when you've got mean people around who are doing things that are mean or critical?

In your bulletin you have an insert about the family summer family nights. Notice that one of the choices you have for adults is the Complement option. I'm concerned about your marriage. It's a small group about marriage. And I would encourage you if you're married to sign up for that. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Becoming A Sprinkler Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 13, 2008

Jesus moves from talking about being in the vine to abiding in his love, words, and joy. Learn about what it means to have so much of Jesus in you that you just can’t keep it in any more!

The themes in this chapter are: abiding in the vine, pruning, bearing fruit, experiencing love, joy, a new type of relationship with Jesus, persecution, and the witness of the Spirit speaking out of our lives. We’re going to talk about abiding mostly—abiding in Jesus, in His Word, His love, His ...read more

Scripture: John 15:3-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Advent | When The Fullness Of Time Had Come | Hope, Peace, Joy And Love | Second Advent | Dr. Madana Kumar

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Dec 12, 2023

Advent is a season when we remember the fulfilment of the prophesies and promises of God about Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. The Bible says that When the fulness of time had come God sent Hs Son... What does this mean? Dr. Madana Kumar, PhD analyses this

Advent : When the fullness of time had come… We are entering into the advent season today and it is appropriate that we look into the topic of advent . Let us look at how Paul describes the advent as But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5, Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:14, John 14:27, Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 2:10, Luke 2:41, John 15:11, Jeremiah 31:3, Isaiah 43:4, John 3:16, Isaiah 9:2, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 1:20-23, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heavenly Scent

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 15, 2025

Joy becomes the fragrance of a heart touched by the gospel, where obedience grows not from pressure but from Christ living within us.

INTRODUCTION — CHILDREN’S SONG I want to begin tonight with something simple— something every one of us learned before we could spell “theology.” A children’s song. We didn’t realize it at the time, but that little song was preaching to us long before we understood it: “I’ve got the joy, joy, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14, John 14:15, Hebrews 8:10, Romans 8:13, Psalm 40:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Genuine Faith In The Midst Of Trials Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Feb 8, 2016

This is the first message in a series through the book of James. This messages is the first looking at the subject of genuine faith when we face persecution.

GENUINE FAITH – PART 1 GENUINE FAITH IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS JAMES 1:1-4 JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE TWELVE TRIBES SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS: GREETINGS. 2  CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, 3  BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

You Are Never A Failure Until You Quit.

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Aug 16, 2003

Well, the Bible says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace and then the next quality is long-suffering. The word long-suffering means patience.

YOU ARE NEVER A FAILURE UNTIL YOU QUIT. Galatians 5:22, James 1:3 08/17/03 I want to start by asking you a question? Are you a patient person. Some of you are saying Oh no, this is going to be one of them sermons. Well, let me ask you again, are you a patient person? Maybe I ought to ask your ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, James 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Was Dead And Now He Lives Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Oct 27, 2016

Sunday Morning and the women approach the tomb where Jesus was. They encounter the angel, they encounter Jesus. The women - the last to leave the place where Jesus lay and the first to return. The conspiracy of the Roman guard and the Jewish leadership.

I. Introduction A. One man commented, I was a little taken aback when I got my receipt from the funeral parlor for my father’s funeral, on the bottom of the receipt, after the bill, it read, “Thank you. Please come again.” B. Andrew was watching his father, a Vicar, write a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Turned A Funeral Into A Celebration

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jun 30, 2008

Jesus made it clear in His teachings that you are not really ready to live until you have faced the reality of death.

Jesus Turns a Funeral into a Celebration (Theme for this message came from "Outflow" by Sjogren and Ping) Luke 7:11-17 Can you imagine the shock of the widow of Nain and the crowd surrounding the funeral procession when Jesus walked up and stopped the procession? Jesus saw the widow and had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Restoration Of Israel – Jeremiah – Part 7 – Chapters 32 And 33 – The Everlasting Covenant Means Regathering And Restoration Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2025

In this message we look at beautiful actions by God for His earthly people. They will call on Him, and He answers with transformation of the people and the land. He (Messiah) will be their God and they shall be His people, regathered and restored.

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL – JEREMIAH – PART 7 – Chapters 32 and 33 – THE EVERLASTING COVENANT MEANS REGATHERING AND RESTORATION Having ended the momentous Chapter 31 we move on. It amazes me that biblical teaching in so many churches has been reduced to 20 minutes of some placating message that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:36-38, Jeremiah 32:40-42, Deuteronomy 6:5, Jeremiah 33:1-3, Jeremiah 33:4-9, Jeremiah 33:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Curing Church Conflict-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 6, 2014

2 of 3. James revealed the solution to conflict within the local church body. Church conflict can be cured. But how? The cure for church conflict is challenged/hindered by....

CURING CHURCH CONFLICT—II—James 4:1-17 Attention: A man limps into a hospital to have his foot X-rayed, & is asked to wait for the results. Some time later an orderly appears & hands the man a large pill. As he’s handed the pill, a mother with a small child in need of immediate ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

What Did Jesus' Resurrection Mean To The Religious Leaders Of The Day? Series

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Mar 22, 2002

Take a look with me about what the Pharisees may have thought about Jesus’ Resurrection.

What Does The Resurrection Mean? Series Sunday March 24 What Did Jesus’ Resurrection Mean To The Religious Leaders? Intro: Did you know that when Jesus was here on earth that there were a group of people who did not like him & what he was doing? What many people don’t realize is that not only did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Father, What My Church Family Means To Me

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Feb 12, 2003

Taking the Lord’s prayer and demonstating the importance of having a Church family.

Text: Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Christian--What Would It Mean? What Would It Cost? Series

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Apr 22, 2007

Before becoming a Chrstian we need to count the cost. What would it mean once we make the decision and how would our lives change?

April, 2007 Series: What is Christianity #3 Being a Christian--What Would it Mean? What Would it Cost? Luke 14:25-33 INTRODUCTION: It is said that “the entrance fee to the Christian life is nothing at all, but the annual subscription is everything you have.” In this scripture large crowds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Methodist