Sermons on Joy In The City:

Bethlehem, Newtown, And Incarnation

Contributed by George Durham on Dec 23, 2012

There are many similarities between the darkness into which Jesus was born in Bethlehem and what we now face in the darkness of the Newtown massacre of the innocents.

Bethlehem, Newtown, Incarnation? So what does this mean to me today? Luke 2: 1-7 (current news tie in: Did you know that NEWTOWN, Connecticut was listed as #5 in 100 SAFEST CITIES! 14,612 MURDERED last year in U.S. 281 Every Week!/ 40 Every Day! IT SHOULDN’T SURPRISE US THAT WE NEED TO ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

When Heaven Came Down Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 26, 2012

God exalts those who will be humbled. So when He humbled Himself to become a man, God did magnify & honor Himself to those who in humbleness would seek out the Christ. The significance of the event made it fitting that Heaven should come down & give God G

LUKE 2: 8-14 WHEN HEAVEN CAME DOWN [Eph. 2:12-18, Isa. 65:1, 61:1f, 1 Pet. 10:21, Zech. 9:9-12, Rev. 5:9-14] Christmas is a drama of the exciting invasion of earth by infinite God, the Eternal Spirit, Who became flesh in order to become man. His purpose was to personally reveal Himself to us, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Letter To The Church At Sardis: Appearing Alive, But Actually Dead Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 15, 2023

Sardis was a large and beautiful city in it’s time, with powerful defenses that made the residents over-confident in their ability to defend themselves from invading armies.

"In an address I lately heard, the speaker said that the blessings of the higher Christian life were often like the objects exposed in a shop window, one could see them clearly and yet could not reach them. If told to stretch out his hand and take, a man would answer, I cannot; there is a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1

Denomination: Salvation Army

Part 26: Getting Back To The Joy Of Jesus - Sermon 2: The Miraculous Works Of The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 8, 2025

Seven miraculous works of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, and the major difference between having the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament versus the New Testament.

Great Prayers of the Old Testament Part 26: Getting Back to the Joy of Jesus Sermon 2: The Miraculous Works of the Holy Spirit Psalm 51:11 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared July 8, 2025) (Revised August 31, 2025) BACKGROUND: *Last time we start a series of sermons to cover three great themes in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:11

Denomination: Baptist

Letting Go Of Loneliness

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 4, 2005

Loneliness and feelings of abandonment can rob us of life’s joys. The Bible offers clear paths that we can take to overcome loneliness and regain the joy of life.

Psalm 22:1-2, 19-21, 27-31 “Letting Go of Loneliness” INTRODUCTION In the book, Clan of the Cave Bear, by Jean Auel, the main character Aila commits an unpardonable sin. She is a woman, but she likes to hunt, which is the domain of the men. The Clan passes a death sentence on her, and cast ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Partnering With One Another PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Explore the interconnectedness of partnering with God in proclaiming the Gospel, fellowship in suffering, and the joy of knowing Christ, emphasizing that our joy, purpose, and strength come from our union with Christ.

Good morning, family! We're going to be diving into a passage from the book of Philippians today – a passage that speaks about partnering with God in proclaiming the Gospel, fellowship in suffering, and the joy of knowing Christ. It's interesting how all these elements are interconnected, and as we ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6-8

Topics: Fellowship, Suffering

A Psalm Of Proclamation

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 12, 2014

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy is sown for the upright in heart (Psalm 97:11).

A PSALM OF PROCLAMATION. Psalm 97:1-12. I. This Psalm is not just another enthronement Psalm: but a declaration of the One whose kingdom has been - and is being, and will yet be - revealed in creation, providence, and redemption. “The LORD reigns” (Psalm 97:1) - not because I say so, or because ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 97:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Redeemed Shall Walk There PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 8, 2023

We have a promise of God's redemption and the joy of walking in His eternal peace and safety.

Good morning, family! Today we will be diving deep into the glorious message of redemption, the promise of a new Jerusalem, and the blessing of walking with the Lord, as found in the prophetic book of Isaiah. Our guide will be Isaiah 35:9, which says, "No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:9

Topics: New Jerusalem

Scary Movie: Fear Of Control #3 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 25, 2019

A relationship w/God makes our lives bigger or Surrender to win – love, joy peace & hope.

Does a faith in God mean I lose myself? We all have a really scary movie playing in the theater of our minds. An unredeemed imagination which left unmonitored will take us into all kinds of darkness and despair. Fear is defined as an anxious feeling, caused by our anticipation of some imagined ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why It Matters Exactly Who Jesus Is Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 4, 2008

God gives eternal life and joy to those who die “in the Lord.”

Scripture Introduction The relationship between Jesus and the religious leadership continues to deteriorate. By refusing to acknowledge their importance, his ministry threatens their power and prestige. Therefore, they turn on him: attempted arrest, entrapment, theological tests, dismissing his ...read more

Scripture: John 8:21-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The River Of Heaven

Contributed by Glenn Dale Pease on Aug 29, 2014

In John's vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, he shows us that all the hopes of a sacred city on a sacred river will be fulfilled, and we will have peace like a river forever.

THE RIVER OF HEAVEN based on Rev. 22:1-2 By Glenn Pease Kipling's book, Kim, has been called the greatest story of a river that has ever been written. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha shot an arrow into the air, and where it fell, a river sprang up. The river was sacred, and whoever ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Church At Smyrna Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 31, 2011

A study of the letters to the 7 churches - #2 Smyrna

Revelation 2: 8 – 11 The Church At Smyrna 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Characters & Images Of Christmas

Contributed by Christopher Martin on Dec 22, 2006

A sermon preached for Christmas Eve Candlelight services in 2003, 2005, and 2006 at Forest City LCMS Mission, Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, and North Prairie Lutheran Church.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. "Characters & Images of Christmas" Luke 2:1-20 Tonight’s the night! The last few weeks, during the season of Advent, we’ve heard a lot about preparation, and the time leading up to Christmas is indeed a time of preparation. That’s really the theme of Advent, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Hope Does Not Disappoint

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2009

Suffering, endurance, character, hope: the formula is not automatic. All depends on whether we learn to live in the resurrected Christ.

One of my friends begins nearly every conversation with the phrase, "You just can’t win.” "You just can’t win." One day recently he was wearing a long, long face. He had just gotten his car repaired, but some inebriated partygoer had slammed into it. He had just worked off his debts, but suddenly ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"Walk This Way!"

Contributed by Rick Finitzer on Feb 9, 2016

After we are Born Again we have two ways we can live our lives. We can live for the flesh or we can yield daily and Walk by the Holy Spirit. Being led daily by the Holy Spirit is the way to the greatest happiness and joy (not trouble free) with Jesus.

Cornerstone Church January 3, 2016 “Walk This Way” Galatians 5:16-25 “A boy from the country was going to the city to get a job. Before he left, his mother ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free