Sermons on Joy In Pain:

Enjoyability - Ecclesiastes 1:4-2:26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 12, 2025

Why is it that sometimes you are capable of enjoying God’s gifts, and other times you just can’t seem to get any enjoyment out of those very same gifts? And if we are to find our joy in the Lord, what role do the pleasures of this world play?

Ecclesiastes 1:1 The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Absolute futility," says the Preacher. "Absolute futility. Everything is futile." 3 What does a man gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4 A generation goes and a generation ...read more

7 Things That Help You Smile

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 3, 2025

Today we are going to talk about “7 Things That Help You Smile.”

7 Things That Help You Smile “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalms 34:5 Intro: Today we are going to talk about “7 Things That Help You Smile.” The most well rounded people you will ever meet have learned to have happiness, and victory, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abundant Life!

Contributed by C Jordan on Apr 22, 2008

Jesus said He came to destroy the works of the devil, and to bring us abundant life. However, we still have an enemy who is a thief, murderer and destroyer, and we must be vigilant if we want to experience that abundant life, joy and peace.

ABUNDANT LIFE! ILLUSTRATION: A little girl once went to visit her grandmother in the country. Things were fine until Sunday. This lady went to a very old fashioned church that kept the Sabbath by forbidding all work, fun, playing. The little girl woke up Sunday and started right off playing and ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: *other

Choosing The Best Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 27, 2013

Paul penned this letter to the Philippians from a prison. Yet he was overjoyed at how God was his adverse circumstances to advance the Gospel. Paul's joy was completely centered in His realtionship with Jesus.

Intro: An old dog was watching a young dog chase his tail. The young dog stopped to rest, and told the older dog, “I believe happiness is in my tail, and if I catch it, then I will have happiness!” The older, wiser dog said, “I caught mine once. . . and I found out that happiness ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Your Joy Back - Psalm 51:8-19 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 19, 2025

How do you get joy back after a major failure?

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:8-19

Big Party Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 20, 2011

A look at the dedication ceremony after the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt. A sermon to remind us that there is a necessary place for joy in the Christian’s life

Nehemiah 12:27-43 Introduction: We’ve been taking this trip through the book of Nehemiah, talking about what we’re supposed to do when life gets big – Big Ideas, Big Leaders, Big Strides, and this morning, Big Party. The whole idea comes from Nehemiah ch12, and the massage ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 12:27-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Praise Of Laughter Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The Bible links laughter to joy and to feasting, and these are both vast subjects in the Bible, making laughter a major aspect of the godly life.

Have you ever praised God for the enjoyment of laughter? Some of the greatest of God's people have. When Theodore Cuyler, the American preacher, visited the great London preacher, Charles Spurgeon, they told each other the crazy things that happened in their respective ministries. They ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:1-6

When Our Faith Fails Part 3 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Sep 4, 2010

Part 3 focuses on Paul's thorn in the flesh.

When Our Faith Fail – Part 3 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Joshua 13:11-13; Judges 2:3 Introduction: In my message last week I continued with the second and third faith equations: o Faith + Unbelief + Action = No Results o Faith + Wrong Belief + Action = Wrong Results Last week ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"joy's Light Outshines Mere Happiness"

Contributed by John Huyser on Dec 20, 2022

Compared to the other holidays, why is it significant the words Merry and Christmas are tied together?

This morning, seeking joy’s light, I selected a prophecy from the minor prophet Habakkuk. Given his prophecies are unfamiliar, a quick overview is in order. Habakkuk lived in Israel’s Southern Kingdom as the countdown clock to the Babylonian invasion and their exile was hitting 0. The Northern ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19

The Evil Man’s Guide To Success Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jul 1, 2016

A study of the book of Job 21: 1 – 34

Job 21: 1 – 34 The Evil Man’s Guide to Success 1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Listen carefully to my speech, and let this be your consolation. 3 Bear with me that I may speak, and after I have spoken, keep mocking. 4 “As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it ...read more

Scripture: Job 21:1-34

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Life To The Extreme Series

Contributed by Art Good on Nov 6, 2008

Tired of the hamster wheel? This is how to get off the wheel and start living according to His will!

Life to the Extreme (Clip) Ken Hannah snowboards off cliffs, flies 40 feet straight up on a bicycle, and jumps out of airplanes on a snowboard. Someone once asked him how he learned to do all those incredible things. He answered, “I’m an extreme person. When I was 6 years old I rode my bike ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10, John 10:9-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Making Lemonade From Lemons Series

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on May 9, 2008

Life sometimes gives us lemons, Paul teaches us how to make lemonade from lives lemons.

This morning we continue our study of Philippians. Last week we studied Philippians 1:1-10. Here we discovered a man who had every reason not to be happy, but yet he was filled with joy. Over 18 times in this short four chapter book Paul talks about rejoicing or joy. Last week we observed that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Methodist

God Just Wants Me To Be Happy Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 21, 2023

This is a common myth that is repeated often - it indicates that our personal happiness is the paramount good - what God wants more than anything else. Like each of the myths we will explore, there is a kernel of truth in there - but it is overcome by the misunderstanding of the saying.

- MYTHS CHRISTIANS SOMETIMES BELIEVE - God Just Wants Me To Be Happy Introduction We are continuing our series of Myths Christians Sometimes Believe. In the last message, we talked about the myth that “God Won’t Give Me More Than I Can Handle.” Our myth in this message is a common one: “God Just ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Defining Trials Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 4, 2010

Trials are designed to teach us so that our conduct and character changes.

Defining Trials Hebrews 12:5-11 Rev. Brian Bill 7/4/10 About two weeks ago I received a phone call from someone who was in great distress. After recounting the details of what had happened, the following question was uttered in a loud, yet broken voice: “Pastor Brian, does God hate ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Caution: God Working Series

Contributed by John Sears on Sep 15, 2011

Is the idea that God is working just wishful thinking? What does that look like if he is?

(Introduction) (Other ideas might be the pains of road construction: and the signs that say, “Completed in 2011 as promised) The grief of my grandfather’s loss was still fresh. His wife, my step grandmother, had passed away unexpectedly. She was alive and well as they went to bed. He awoke ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Christian Church