Sermons on Joy In Pain:

Glory In Persecution [rated - R]

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 6, 2009

The time is coming when Christians will be persecuted right here. How do I know it? I have already traveled that road before. How will you deal with it? Let us not try to run and find a way to escape persecution but face it like Jesus did.

Opening illustration: Video clip of persecuted Christians worldwide. Let us turn to 1 Peter 4 and check out what to expect while being persecuted for Christ. Introduction: In the nature of things persecution must have been a much more daunting experience for Gentiles than it was for the Jews. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Defining Love - Sacrifice Isn't Optional Series

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Jul 16, 2013

The people of Jesus know how to sacrifice. Genuine followers of Jesus know what it means to be faithful and experience joy in suffering. How about you? Are you weird like that?

We're in the second week of our series "defining love" last time we talked about how genuine love, God's love, isn't normal. We defined love as faithful and that the result of faithfulness is joy. We talked about how our culture defines love in a million different ways, but, God defines love much ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thorn In The Flesh

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 8, 2005

Some people become defined by their hardships while others rise above their pain. We may suffer broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations, but we don’t have to become broken people. Pain is inevitable--misery is optional.

No one knows for certain about the nature of Paul’s thorn, and there has been extensive speculation about the nature of his affliction. Explanations range from persistent temptation, dogged persecution, chronic malaria, migraine headaches, epilepsy, or a speech disorder. Because Paul dictated his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Congregational

Yep, It's In Heaven Series

Contributed by Kelly Benton on May 10, 2010

To share some of the wonderful joys to look forward to in heaven.

Yep, It’s in Heaven Scripture: Revelation 21: 1-4 Date: 28 February 2010 Purpose: To share some of the wonderful joys to look forward to in heaven. VIDEO: “What is Heaven Like?” Illustration: A Sunday School teacher was teaching ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4

Denomination: Other

Persecution Makes Perfect Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jan 8, 2010

Like Paul, we must be prepared to suffer to present others perfect in Christ

Colossians 1:24 – 2:5 Richard Wurmbrand was a Christian pastor in Romania in the middle of the communist era. In 1945 there was great conference run by the communists where one by one the church leaders of Romania got up and pledged allegiance to Stalin and the communist system. Although ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Always Be Joyful? Never Stop Praying? Be Thankful In All Circumstances? Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 13, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it says: Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Easier read than lived isn’t it.

DO YOU EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS? Do you ever have you ‘one of those’ days? You know the type of day I mean. One of those days when you could have a lie in and the postman gets you out of bed at 7am. Or one of those days when you sleep through your alarm and wake up 5 minutes after you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

God And Suffering: The Role Of Prayer In Suffering

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 31, 2010

How can prayer help us when we're feeling pain, when we're overwhelmed?

God and Suffering: The Role of Prayer in Suffering Today we’re continuing our series on God and Suffering. For the first two weeks of this series we looked in some depth at why there is suffering in the world, and then we looked at God’s role in the suffering human race, how it is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Focusing On The Positive! Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 5, 2001

How you look at something can make a world of difference in how you behave. Life is like that. What you focus upon in life will generally determine the kind of decisions you make.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2011) ILL. Have you heard the story of the farmer who was discouraged with his farm? So he decided to sell out & move somewhere else. He engaged a realtor to look the farm over & prepare a sales ad. But ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26, Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faithful To The End Series

Contributed by David Welch on Mar 30, 2009

Fourth in the Revelation series focusing on the church at Smyrna-- the Suffering Church

REVIEW I.PROLOGUE 1:1-20 II.Messages to the Seven churches 2-3 (Things with are) A. The Message to the church in Ephesus 2:1-7 The passionless church 1. Characteristic The one who guards the leadership in each church as He walks among them. 2. Commendation Jesus commended their ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Christmas - A Gift Of Love

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Dec 17, 2020

This message explains that the gift God gave us was based on His love for us and therefore the best gifts that we can give and/or receive in this life is love.

Christmas: A Gift of Love Scripture: John 3:16; First Corinthians 13 John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” On Friday we will celebrate Christmas, that day of the year when ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Practice Of Celebration Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Dec 4, 2007

In this last of the practices we find that the final product of the spiritual disciplines is joy in the Lord and we need to express joy in celebration.

We’ve finally come to the end of our series focusing on the practices God has given us to grow spiritually. We’ve looked at the practices of prayer, reading and reflecting upon God’s Word, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, living simply and giving generously, serving others, confession, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Denomination: Methodist

Why Worry?

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 2, 2019

It’s hard to be full of joy when everything is wrecking, But if you keep your JOY everything will work out

Why Worry YOU CAN Be Happy (PROVERBS 17:22) ILLUS: Alarm clock didn’t go off A case of the depressed blues is headed your way You’re late for work, have a flat tire, try to take wife’s car it wont start she left the lights on, Get the jumper cables jump it off, in a hurry, Blue light special ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Cost Of Service Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 20, 2009

The cost of serving Christ includes insult, rejection and death for some, but those who want to be powerfully used by Christ must pay the price.

Cost of Service (Mark 6:1-29) Linda, who teaches first grade in Dallas Texas, has an interesting job, especially when it comes to helping children adjust to their first whole day of school. Little Ryan was used to going home at noon in kindergarten; so when it was time to go to lunch with the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Why In The World Is This Happening To Me?

Contributed by Moy Hernandez on Oct 26, 2009

We must consider it all joy when we face trials and tribulations because God is trying to get our attention. He is attempting to restore His purpose in us, He is trying to increase our patience because He wants us to mature so that we may be restore back

One of the most difficult questions at times of troubles is the question of why. Now it is question that comes easy, but it is one that is often a difficult one to answer. Why did this have to happen now? Why in the world is this happening to me? Perhaps some of us have been taught that it is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-6

Denomination: Salvation Army

Out With The Old, In With The New

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Oct 7, 2009

“Jesus revealing power forced a new decision for His kingdom people: choosing between old or new ways of doing things & between fasting for show or fasting for refreshing."

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Luke 5:33-39 Proposition: “Jesus revealing power forced a new decision for His kingdom people: choosing between old or new ways of doing things & between fasting for show or fasting for refreshing." Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s people to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Baptist