Sermons on Joy In The Lord:

It's A Worthy Race Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Oct 4, 2018

If you’re a Christ-follower, God has called you to be a runner. Are you running? If you’re a Christ-follower, God has called you to be a runner. Did you know that? And Are you running the race well?

It’s a worthy race. Hebrews 12:1-3 Story of someone who was running for their or someone’s life… Hebrews 12:1-3 Are you a runner? I ran track and cross country in high school. When I got out of college and moved to Houston to work for Shell, I began to run to maintain my health and weight. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Use It Or Lose It

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 19, 2017

Jesus' parable of the talents is a call to us to invest all that we are and all that we have in God's kingdom building work. The story reminds us not to compare, but to faithfully invest what we have, and to get to know the Master's heart.

Matthew 25:14-30 Use It or Lose It Today’s parable is a story about investments. Sometimes we think it’s about using our natural abilities to serve God. Why do we think that? Because the story uses the word “talent” throughout. Our English word “talent” actually comes from that interpretation of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

Why Does God Allow These Struggles?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 28, 2017

A look at the Christmas passage - specifically, the struggle of Mary and Joseph having the baby in Bethlehem far from home. A look at four ways God uses our struggles in our lives.

Mary And Joseph’s Road Trip: “Why does God allow these struggles in my life?” - Luke 2:3-6. - The trip to Bethlehem under such difficult circumstances had to be a struggle. Did they have questions? I know I would have. “God, why are You allowing this?” “God, have You forgotten us?” “God, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Advent: The Preparation For Divine Intervention

Contributed by Ezekiel Ette on Nov 29, 2017

Advent in the postmodern period

In the Christian community Advent has seen changes. The word is taken from the Latin Adventus, meaning to move towards. We Christians are moving towards the birth of Christ which will come at Christmas. In the Church, we are called upon to prepare our hearts and minds to receive Christ. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Dec 7, 2017

John the Baptist helps us get ready for Advent. He points us to baptism, repentance, and the Mighty One, Jesus Christ. This sermon looks at the text and then shifts into an application with two illustrations.

To borrow the words of Meredith Wilson: “It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.” Thanksgiving is done and the leftovers are consumed. Black Friday is over. Cyber Monday and Cyber week are finished. This week, we had our first real taste of winter and Minnesota weather ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Everybody’s God

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jan 7, 2018

The story of the wise men reminds us we worship a God above political might, a God over religious complacency, and a God over cultural prejudice. Often God colors outside the lines, moving in ways that shatter our assumptions. Our God is everybody's God!

Matthew 2:1-12 Everybody’s God Today we conclude the “twelve days of Christmas,” that period of time between Christmas day and Epiphany, celebrated just yesterday. In church history, Epiphany marks the arrival of the wise men, the magi from afar bringing gifts to celebrate the newborn king. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Next Step Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Jan 9, 2018

Discipleship, Obedience, Faith, Light

FOLLOWING JESUS INTO THE UNKNOWN - The Next Step January 7, 2018 Philippians 3:12-14 (p. 819) Introduction: The letter to the Philippians, as well as Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians were written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome. He would spend two ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"There Are No Perfect People” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Jan 29, 2018

Christians are sinners saved by grace.

Many have a hard time imagining a God who wants to be close to us. They think that maybe God insists we clean ourselves up first. But God says don’t bother to get cleaned up. Just come as you are. Come with all your defects, faults and flaws. Come with your guilt and bad habits. Come as you are and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Where Everybody Knows My Name

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

importance of having relationships where people and God know our names

How many of you have watched the television show, 'Cheers'? For eleven seasons, from 1982 to 1993, Cheers was one of the highest-rated shows on television set in a bar with a mishmash of characters came every day after work: an alcoholic ex-pro baseball playing bartender, know-it-all postman, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-8, James 4:11-12, Colossians 3:12-14, John 13:34-35

Denomination: Episcopal

"Come As You Are But Don’t Stay As You Are” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Feb 5, 2018

In light of the cross of Christ, how should be as believer's live?

We’ve been talking about sharing our faith. About taking the command of our King seriously: “go and make disciples of ALL nations,” (Matthew 28:19-20). We’ve talked about how we must be passionate and obedient about sharing the Good News with everyone. Then we said we need an attitude of acceptance ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Predecessor From God

Contributed by Dr. Jeffrey Dukeman on Dec 3, 2018

John the Baptist was a predecessor from God at Jesus' Baptism. We today should reflect on all those who have preceded us and helped us to know God, and we should also strive to be predecessors from God for others.

Historian David Barton has an interesting discussion in an article entitled “Christmas—as Celebrated by the Presidents.” Barton writes, Even though Christmas did not become a national holiday until 1870, it has a centuries old history in America. Interestingly, in colonial America, the southern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Love: The Greatest Characteristic Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Dec 5, 2018

Love is the greatest characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ. This messages focuses on the meaning of love in the life of a disciple.

All You Need is Love Love: The Greatest Characteristic 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a, 13 Whoever thought love could be such a lucrative business? Retailers, that’s who! According to the National Retail Federation, the average amount spent on Valentine’s Day is $134/person in 2014, with a total spent ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Denomination: Methodist

What Does It Mean That Christ "reconciled" Us? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 9, 2018

Paul here uses an interesting and unusual phrase: "reconciled." What exactly does it mean that Christ has reconciled us?

WHAT DOES "RECONCILE" MEAN? It is bringing two things into agreement. - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. - The key word in this passage is “reconcile.” This is not a word that we use much in sermons or Bible study, but it’s a good Bible word and it has an important truth to teach us. This ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

Wise Men Seek A King Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Dec 10, 2018

Wise Men Seek a King

SEEKING A SAVIOR - Wise Men Seek a King December 16, 2018 Matthew 2:1-12 (p. 676) Introduction: I’m not sure why but my favorite Christmas song is “We Three Kings.” Don’t get me wrong…“Silent Night” is more awe inspiring and “Away In a Manger” is more poignant…but there’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"getting Ready For Christmas: Whose Child Is This?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 18, 2018

A sermon for Advent with a focus on the mercy shown by Joseph.

“Getting Ready for Christmas: Whose Child is This?” Matthew 1:18-19 There can be no doubt that the story of Jesus’ birth begins with a Scandal. Matthew is straight and to the point: while Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married, Mary became pregnant and Joseph was not the father! Can you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-19

Denomination: United Methodist