Sermons on Joy In Pain:

Why Are You Downcast?

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 7, 2025

Many Christians stumble, not because they never believed, but because they stayed too close to the place where they first got in. God calls us not only to begin the journey of faith but to grow in joy, perseverance, and victory through Christ.

Introduction: Too Close to Where We Got In A mother tucked her little boy in bed. She kissed him goodnight, pulled up the covers, and went downstairs. Not long after, she heard a loud thump and then crying. She hurried upstairs and found him on the floor. “What happened?” she asked. Through ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7, Nehemiah 8:10

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Treasury Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 8, 2025

This sermon reveals that praise should be our primary response to God, who has already provided every spiritual blessing we will ever need.

Introduction We often think of blessings in terms of what we can see and touch—health, a good job, a happy family. But the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by lifting our eyes to a higher reality. He erupts in praise not for earthly comforts, but for a vast, inexhaustible spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Six Steps And Praise. Tethered To A Hitching Post

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 22, 2024

THIS IS A PALM SUNDAY LESSON. It is a lesson about the role of praise in daily living. This sermon is always in season. Few ever learn the value of real praise. (Two part lesson) Palm leaves are cheap at a flower shop.

SIX STEPS… TETHERED, THE HITCHING POST. THE MASTER NEEDS YOU! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com ( I have palm leaves for each person. Palm leaves represent PRAISE. I have horse reins I will use.) THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN WIN… KING JEHOSHAPHAT KNEW THE ENEMY WAS MUCH STRONGER THAN ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:21, Matthew 21:1-7, Luke 19:38, 1 Samuel 4:2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mission Of Christmas

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

The story of Christmas shows how God's missionary heart sent Jesus to be our Savior. You can share that message of hope this Christmas with your congregation.

Opening illustration: Play video of Office Christmas. Introduction: We know that the church is supposed to be about Christ's mission on earth - preaching the gospel, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them. But have you considered that it is God who is the true Missionary? The story of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persecuted & Joyful (2 Thessalonians 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 1, 2024

Can a church be both persecuted and joyful? Can they be faithful? Let's find out in 2 Thessalonians 1.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy encouraged the church in Thessaloniki during persecution. They encourage the saints not to be shaken by those who say that the day of the Lord has begun but to stand firm. They encouraged the brethren to work to earn a living and not live an idle life. Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Then Were The Disciples Glad When They Saw The Lord Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 6, 2025

True Christian joy is not rooted in self, others, favorable circumstances, or abstract doctrine—it is rooted in a personal, present encounter with the risen Christ. Joy begins then—when we see Him.

“Then Were the Disciples Glad When They Saw the Lord” (John 20:20; Based on Chapter 2 of Vance Havner’s The Secret of Christian Joy) Key Text: John 20:20 – “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” Thesis: True Christian joy is not rooted in self, others, favorable circumstances, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:20

Denomination: Pentecostal

When They Saw The Lord Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 6, 2025

Christian joy is found not in comfort or certainty but in seeing Jesus. And the Jesus who brings joy is not a sanitized, sentimental figure—but the crucified and risen Lord. When we truly see Him by faith, everything changes.

Title: “When They Saw the Lord” (John 20:19–20, KJV) Text: John 20:19–20 (KJV) “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Goodly Heritage - The Path Of Life Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 27, 2025

This sermon argues that the only cure for humanity's deepest ache for security and joy is to follow the "path of life," which involves radically trusting in God, finding contentment in Him as your inheritance, and embracing the hope of resurrection through Jesus Christ.

Introduction: The Soul's Deepest Ache Brothers and sisters, if you look at the heart of humanity, you will find a deep and constant ache. It is the ache for security, for a joy that lasts, for a purpose that death cannot erase. Our modern world offers a thousand prescriptions for this ache. It ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Peace, Peace, God’s Wonderful Peace!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 22, 2025

Anxiety seems to be a problem today for both the saved and the unsaved. While we can understand it might be a problem with the unsaved, we have a difficult time understanding why it is a problem with the saved.

WHY IS ANXIETY SUCH A PROBLEM TODAY? Someone printed these words under a tranquil scene on a calendar: "Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." We do spend a lot of time worrying about tomorrow. So many in our society insist on trying to carry the… • Burdens of the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

Secrets To Joy In The Midst Of Trials (1 Peter 1:6-9) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Aug 2, 2014

Exposition of 1 Peter 1:6-9

Secrets to Joy in the Midst of Trials In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being Thankful In Hard Times

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Dec 7, 2009

Reasons why Christians can find things to be thankful for even in hard times

BEING THANKFULIN HARD TIMES Romans 5:3-5 Bob Marcaurelle www.meadowbrookbaptist.cc “In everything give thanks because this is God’s will /Give thanks always for all things.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 / Ephesians 5:20) “Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and said; ‘This is My blood’.” (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Participating In All The Mysteries Of Christ

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 13, 2008

We need to imitate Mary, Mother of Jesus, especially by participating in the suffering of Jesus.

Participating in All Christ’s Mysteries Sept 15, 2008 When the Vatican Council schemas were laid out initially, the Blessed Virgin Mary was to have her own separate document. But Pope John and the Council Fathers wisely placed her within the context of the Church, as “Mother of the Church.” The ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Catholic

Hannah's Vow Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Oct 3, 2013

Prayer, Discouragement, Joy, Commitment

1 Samuel 1:11 (p. 185) October 6, 2013 Introduction: What is the most painful thing God has told you to accept, or deal with? Something which you cannot fix or make go away? Something you will have to deal with on a regular basis and it might never change. In the new ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Brings Good From Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Oct 29, 2008

God points us through the cross to the wonder of his glory in order to understand evil and suffering in this present world.

Scripture Introduction Who killed Jesus? The Apostles’ Creed says he “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Or maybe the blame belongs to the soldiers who drove the nails? Or should we condemn the Jews who demanded freedom for the criminal Barabbas and death for this one called, “Christ,” and then ...read more

Scripture: John 13:18-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Resurrection

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 19, 2011

Once the disciples had met the risen Christ, nothing could stop them preaching their message ... The resurrection was the fundamental premise of what they believed and preached. Such is the power of the gospel to change, challenge, and charge men and wome

Opening illustration: Joyce Hollyday tells the story of a school teacher who was assigned to visit children in a large city hospital who received a routine call requesting that she visit a particular child. The teacher took the boy’s name and room number, and was told by the teacher on the other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational