Sermons on Joy In Pain:

Embracing Uncertainty: Finding Joy In Life's Twists And Turns

Contributed by Justin Dietel on Jul 12, 2024

Today, as we gather in worship, I want to share with you a reflection on the journey of life—its challenges, its uncertainties, and the profound lessons it teaches us about trust and faith.

Good morning, beloved congregation. Today, as we gather in worship, I want to share with you a reflection on the journey of life—its challenges, its uncertainties, and the profound lessons it teaches us about trust and faith. As many of you may be aware, I'm still relatively new to the Zion ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:2-4

The Boy’s Sneeze And The Mother’s Joy (October 9, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 6, 2022

Today we are looking at how God works beyond our ability to understand! In our scripture for today, we hear about a childless family who had a child and later lost that child until God showed up and showed out and brought that child back to life!

THE BOY’S SNEEZE AND THE MOTHER’S JOY (October 9, 2022) Text: 2 Kings 4:18 -21, 2 Kings 4:28 – 37 2 Kings 4:18-37 When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. (19) He complained to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:18-21, 2 Kings 4:28-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Making The Jail House Rock

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 25, 2022

God needs to shake things up in the church and free us from our self-imprisonment.

Making the Jail House Rock Acts 16:16-34 The text we read this morning has been a popular one for Vacation Bible Schools for many years. The cardboard props of the wall of the jail house and the barred windows has “imprisoned” many a child or saint in the skit. someone pulls the string, and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Suffering & The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 27, 2009

Is God to blame? We find in Job that this life is often unfair, but there is a difference between the unfairness of this life and the just character of God.

Sovereignty And Suffering, Job 1:13-20 Introduction A minister’s son was caught skipping school for three days. His father reprimanded him and prayed for him and though the boy wept and was truly contrite, he was still punished. “Son, one of the facts of life is that where there is sin, there is ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:13-20

Denomination: Christian Church

What Can God Say? Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 11, 2012

Joylessness is transformed into joy by the coming of Christ.

“Questions About God: What Can God Say?” Is. 40:1-11; Mk. 1:1-8 More than two hundred years ago in the industrial ghetto of Liverpool, England, a sophisticated young man climbed the steps of a stone monument called the “market cross”. Leaning against the cross and looking ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Giving Thanks: The Will Of God For Your Life Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 23, 2012

Thanksgiving, joy, God's will, prayer

GIVING THANKS: THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE! 1 Thess 5: 16-18 (p837) Nov. 13, 2011 INTRODUCTION: I have some genuine questions as I approach this text this morning…As Paul wraps up his first letter to the church in Thessalonians he hits on some specific but essential ingredients for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Bring You To God

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 23, 2012

Sermon for the first Sunday in Lent, Year B

I Peter 3: 18 – 22 / To Bring You To God Intro: 2 inexperienced hunters went hunting in the woods. The game warden had warning them that they might get lost said that if the got lost to shoot 3 shots in rapid succession. They did get lost. One said to the other, “You’d ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Transformed By Truth: Joy In God's Presence Psalm 16:11 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on May 1, 2024

In Psalm 16:11 we discover the transformative power of abiding in God's presence and the joy that emanates from walking in His truth.

Transformed by Truth: Joy in God's Presence Psalm 16:11 Introduction: Today, we embark on a journey through Psalm 16:11, discovering the transformative power of abiding in God's presence and the joy that emanates from walking in His truth. Psalm 16:11 (NLT): "You will show me the way ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, John 10:10, John 14:6, Psalm 21:6, Psalm 84:10, Revelation 21:3-4, John 17:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God, Why Do You Allow Suffering? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 24, 2006

How can a just God permit suffering in our lives?

OPEN: A woman who was employed as a dental receptionist told this story: I was on duty when an extremely nervous patient came for root canal surgery. He was brought into the examining room and made comfortable in the reclining dental chair. The dentist then injected a numbing agent around the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sarah: Beautiful Believer Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 5, 2016

If you want to be a truly beautiful woman, embrace your barrenness and let God use it for His glory, enhance your beauty with a gentle and quiet spirit, and believe in the promises of God.

Since it is Mother’s Day today, I thought you might appreciate the advice given to mothers in the Mother’s Day issue of Housekeeping Magazine 51 years ago (May 13, 1965). They called it “The Good Wife’s Guide,” and it said in part: Plan ahead, even the night before, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Have You Forgotten To Be Grateful? Series

Contributed by Alis Cerrahyan on Jun 23, 2019

As citizens of heaven; we already know this is not the right territory for us. We are simply passing through. And if we are able to lead a few others along the way; God will continue to provide all that we need for our leadership.

If we have already made it to a point in life when we're kind of wondering about what else there is to life; that only means that we have already experienced a few terrifying moments, a few scabs as well as a few scars in the past. If we have been lucky enough to get up and dust ourselves off; ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:8, Job 2:9, Philippians 2:15, Luke 17:15

Restoring Godly Relationships Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Mar 15, 2021

God desires godly relationships with Him and with other people; how is it broken, how is it restored?

We will finish our Message Series on Job next week. We will focus today on restorations and next week on blessings. Please open your Bibles to Job 42… Let us again remind ourselves, in general, the story of Job. God allowed Satan, Job and his friends with their sins but God eventually spoke out ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:10-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Story Of Stephen Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

When Stephen was being condemned on earth, he knew he was being commended by the true courtroom of heaven. When no one on earth spoke up for Stephen, you can be sure Someone in Heaven did.

We resume our yearlong study of the book of Acts today. Acts is a bridge book. It is a bridge between the Gospels, which describe the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and the letters, which unfold the life and nature of the church. And in the early part of Acts, we are introduced to five brief ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Handcrafted By God

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 17, 2012

Is God bending, shaping, or polishing me right now? What’s my attitude: Am I thanking and praising God, or am I complaining about the process? Trials are intended not to provoke us but to prove us. See the present from the perspective of the future. Look

Opening illustration: The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt—and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Elated Series

Contributed by Charles Cockroft on Mar 17, 2008

Biblical joy is not a simple feeling but a frame of mind

“BE ELATED!” TEXT: 1 Thess. 5:16 One of the 3 great promises of the Declaration of Independence (i.e. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”) is the pursuit of happiness ... or joy. Biblical joy goes far beyond mere happiness ... in fact it is much greater than simple happiness! For ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Denomination: Assembly Of God