Sermons on Joy And Meaning:

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Real Meaning Of "blessed Are The Poor In Spirit.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 22, 2022

The other, more important meaning, is that there will be a coming reversal of circumstances for those who are unfortunate, the marginalized, the abused, those who live in poverty, so these beatitudes are not just virtues to attain in this life.

Dear Abby, the popular advice column in the newspaper still published today with authorship changes, once received a letter that describes the "if only" attitude: "It was Spring, But it was Fall I wanted, the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was Fall, but it was Winter I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Catholic

What Does It Mean To Be A Man: Man-Boy Syndrome & A Life Of Greatness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence?

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence? Is it finding true love in a wife? Is it raising children, and caring for grandchildren, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26, Job 4:17

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Does It Actually Mean To Study To Show Thyself Approved Unto God? Series

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on May 18, 2021

As Christians, we are often told we must study to show ourselves Approved unto God rightly dividing the word of truth. But what if, I don’t read that well, I have bad study habits or I just don't understand what I read? Does that mean I'm not approved by God?

As Christians, we are often told, that we must study to show ourselves Approved unto God as workmen not ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth. But, what if, as the image displays of the little boy reading his Bible, we are unable to understand what we read. What about those who don’t read ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean That God Has Given Us An "inheritance"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2025

It's an odd phrase: we have been given an "inheritance" in Christ? What does that mean? It's not like God is going to die! The phrase doesn't actually point us toward death but toward the Exodus. What can we learn from that reference?

WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN? What does Paul mean when he speaks of us having an “inheritance” in the Lord? - Ephesians 1:14; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24. - This is a phrase that has bothered me for a long time and I didn’t really have a great answer to it. There are a few places in his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

It Will Be Worth It All

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Dec 22, 2002

The joy of Christmas morning fades, but the joy of Christ’s second Advent will never diminish.

This week, I read an article in USA Today, in which various celebrities were asked to name their most memorable Christmas present. These were A-list celebrities; people with money and fame; people who can have pretty much anything they want. Catherine Zeta-Jones, for example. You may know her as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Unwasted

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 23, 2022

When human beings ignore the law of God, set up for our benefit, laid down so that human families and societies will be places to grow and prosper, everything is constantly on the verge of utter disorder.

A Life Unwasted The other evening I was watching an old movie, and by that I mean from the eighties of the last century. It wasn’t particularly good, but it dramatized a lot about the culture of Washington, DC residents living at the top of the socio-economic heap at the time. One of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-9, Matthew 5:17-19, Genesis 1:2

Denomination: Catholic

Come To The Party

Contributed by Robert Dovenmuehle on Mar 12, 2013

Joy and celebration are taking place in the streets of heaven. He rejoices over all those who repent of their sins and seek to know Him. He wants you to join Him in His joy. He wants you know His great love for you. Rejoice with Him! Come to the party!

Have you ever thought about why God would create us to have children? He could have created us like the angels who don’t have children. He could have created as many people as He wanted all at once. He could have created a few people and continued to create more as He saw fit to populate His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Lutheran

What Did Paul Mean When He Wrote The Words, "How Beautiful Are The Feet Of

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 28, 2001

What Did Paul Mean When He Wrote the words, “How Beautiful are the Feet of Those Who Bring Good News?”

What Did Paul Mean When HeWrote the words, “How Beautiful are the Feet of Those Who Bring Good News?” In the skeptical world we live there are many descriptions that our media has for gospel preachers, but beautiful is certainly not one of them. Usually, the world thinks of gospel preachers as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tears Of Gratitude Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jun 27, 2014

The joy and tears of forgiveness

Tears of Gratitude Luke 7:36-50 April 6, 2014 Now that the weather is supposedly warming up, it’s also garage sale season. Have you ever had a garage sale, and you’ve wondered if some of the junk you sold is really worth something? Or maybe you’ve been on the lookout for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

Christians Attitude

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 16, 2003

Count trials a joy.

A CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE James 1:1-4 Although we praise the Lord for the contributions that have been made to the world through Martin Luther, his comments about the book of James is in error. He called it a straw book because he thought James taught salvation through works. We know that salvation is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Journey To Bethlehem

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Dec 15, 2008

You can know the joy of being a blessing to others...people who are really hurting...desperately longing to know that their lives have some meaning and purpose. The journey to Bethlehem can set you free.

"THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM" 1 SAMUEL 16:1 13 Christmas is the time of the year when so many people travel all over the country to visit with friends and family. There is something about the holidays that just seems to be missing without the presence of family. But there are also multitudes of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Real Peole , Real Problems A Study Of 1 Samuel Part 3c, Benefits Of Hearing Series

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Jun 19, 2017

Part 3c of our real people real problems series from 1 Samuel

Real People- Real Problems A study of 1 Samuel Hearing God- Part 3c “Benefits of Hearing God” 1 Samuel 3:10 Happy Father’s day Recognize Fathers – Oldest- Youngest- Most-est Today we are going to take just a little different approach to father’s day On Mother’s day we celebrate Moms We ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Rejoice

Contributed by Dennis Fox on Jan 8, 2023

Joy is so much different than happiness. All joy truly comes from God. Chris's birth returned the joy of we lost when we left the Garden. We have re-joyed or in better terms, rejoiced!

A new joy – restore joy During road trips we made up word games to pass the miles as the travel droned. One our favorite games was the prefix game. We pick a prefix and each of us took a turn, and it had to be a real-word, until somebody couldn’t think of one, and they were out. Think of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, Matthew 5:16, John 3:16

Denomination: Other

Mine-Mine-Mine All Mine (The Meaning Behind The Parable Of The Rich Fool)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jul 28, 2016

I hope that this Message brings new insight to the Parable of The Rich Fool. Only in Jesus can we come to the place of "Euphraino" That is a time and a place to Rejoice.

For those not familiar with and Anglican Service; There are four Scripture readings directly before the Message: Today's assigned readings are : Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107: 1-9,43; Colossians 3:1-11 and Luke 12:13-21 God created the physical world ... the material world ... and called it ... "good" ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21, Psalm 42:1-2, Exodus 2:11-15, Acts 5:1-11, Luke 12:13-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

What Did Jesus Mean By "Whoever Loses His Life For Me Will Find It" Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 19, 2013

A look at Jesus' difficult (and frequently ignored) teaching that "whoever lose his life for me will find it." What does that mean? What does it look like to live that out?

WHAT DOES "LOSE YOUR LIFE TO FIND IT" MEAN ANYWAY? It means to pursue Jesus’ path even at the expense of my desires. - Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; Luke 17:33; John 12:25. - This is a foreign concept to many Christians. In the American church we largely ignore this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Baptist