Sermons on Joy Of Fellowship:

"I Just Love People" Series

Contributed by Eric Sellgren on Feb 25, 2002

Or are you afraid of them? - A Sermon in a series on RELATIONSHIPS.

Some time ago Jill (my wife) and I attended a workshop given by the Sacred Dance Group at Longmead in Dorset, England. At one session we were asked, "What things do you find enjoyable?" ( Later we were going to praise God for them in movement as well as words). One girl said, "The colour of the sky ...read more

Scripture: John 2:23-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Grace Discerned: Gratitude Demonstrated

Contributed by Dana Chau on Sep 3, 2001

When we discern God’s grace, we will demonstrate gratitude to God.

We are looking at Psalm 116 this morning. The content and relationship described in this Psalm cause one to think that the psalm writer is King David. This psalm is a personal testimony of thanksgiving to God. Over 30 times, the writer uses "I," "me," and "my." The words contrast the difficulties ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-19

Denomination: *other

To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain Series

Contributed by Craig Simonian on Sep 4, 2001

This sermon demonstrates that the abundant life really can only happen in Christ.

FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN 1. If we could interview anyone… - I wouldn’t have chosen Paul b/c intimidation. Now I see him as a man who loved J. - Tell us about yourself, Paul? - Can you tell us your favorite HS story? - What were some of your toughest times? - How would ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-20

Live As God's Children

Contributed by Jason Zahn on Sep 6, 2001

God has set us free from the control of sin so that we might freely live as his children.

When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation he freed the slaves. They could live as free people. Their whole lives had changed. They were no longer subject to the oppression of their masters. They would no longer be punished by the authorities if they chose to leave their ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:11-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Lighten Up!

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 5, 2001

A message encouraging Christians to live lives characterized by joy rather than grumpiness.

Lighten Up! Various Scriptures Introduction We all like being around people who are generally upbeat, don’t we? I mean, if you had your choice of being with someone who had a smile or someone who looked like he was weaned on sour lemons, who would you most likely pick? I’d pick the smiley guy ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Rejoice In The Lord

Contributed by Steve Gladwell on Dec 29, 2001

How christians can be joyful.

Rejoice in the Lord! Sometimes, you make the most amazing discoveries when you are preaching. When I received the preaching plan for this quarter and discovered which passage I was to preach on, I was reminded once again, about how God listens and remembers all that goes in this place. The last ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Prayer At New Year's

Contributed by Jason Zahn on Jan 2, 2002

Even in tumultuous times God’s people have every reason to offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for all of the gifts he pours out on us daily!

“We Will Never Forget.” Like never before that phrase has a chilling significance. Perhaps that phrase crystallizes the events of the year 2001. While it is a year that we’ve vowed never to forget, strangely it’s also the one we wish we had never experienced. So we look forward to a new year ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7

Denomination: Lutheran

Celebrate God's Grace This New Year's Eve

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jan 4, 2002

Isaiah invites us to look back on a year of God’s grace drawing to a close and to look ahead to another year of God’s grace that is just beginning.

In the ancient calendar used by the Romans, from which our calendar was created, the name of each month had a meaning. For example the month of February was so named because that was the time of the year for a feast called Februa. Some of the months were named for the false gods that the Romans ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9, Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

How Jesus' Joy Gave Him Strength

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Without the joy of the Lord any ministry can become a burden. Believers soon learn that in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy and in His right hand are pleasures forever more. (Psa. 16:11) Joy works as a magnet to bring other people to faith in C

Without the joy of the Lord any ministry can become a burden. Believers soon learn that in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy and in His right hand are pleasures forever more. (Psa. 16:11) Joy works as a magnet to bring other people to faith in Christ. Yet, Jesus knew that eternal joy ...read more

Scripture: John 15:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Get Better - Not Bitter

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Everyone has a tendency to grow bitter with life’s difficulties. Bitterness is like a cancer that deteriorates the mind and heart. If left unchecked, this tendency can eventually poison a person’s perspectives toward just about everything. Even the writer

Everyone has a tendency to grow bitter with life’s difficulties. Bitterness is like a cancer that deteriorates the mind and heart. If left unchecked, this tendency can eventually poison a person’s perspectives toward just about everything. Even the writer of Hebrews wrote, "See to it that no one ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Turn Our Focus Away From Pain And Toward Positive Thoughts

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How to turn your sorrow into joy with the Spirit’s empowerment, enabling and enrichment.

Illustration: Dr. Henry Pope tells a story of one his students who learned how to change her perspective. It seems that one young girl while attending college spotted a young man who seemed very handsome and someone she would like to get to know. One day she was sitting in the library and spotted ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Live In Full Freedom

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How to Live in Full Freedom - Rom. 8:2-8 Americans love freedom, yet many do not know the true freedom found in Christ Jesus.

How to Live in Full Freedom - Rom. 8:2-8 Freedom: The condition of being free or unrestricted; personal, civic and spiritual. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Illustration:The divine "scheme of things," as Christianity understands it, is at once extremely elastic and extremely ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lord Of The Dance

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Oct 28, 2001

Get back your dance once again and rejoice in the Lord!

I. Dancing in the Ditch? A. Text: II Kings 3:9-20 B. There were only two reasons why people danced in the OT (1) At a time of celebration because of a victory. (2) Or in the presence of God (as with David and the Ark of the Covenant). C. Dance represents joy. D. The Psalmist David spent much time ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 3:9-20

How To Handle Difficult Times

Contributed by David Dewitt on Nov 15, 2001

This is a devotional given to my leadership board for the month of November.

How to Handle Difficult Times Selected Passages November 13, 2001 Three Ways to handle difficult times I. Be Thankful 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 A. God has blessed us The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Mark 12:30-31

Denomination: Church Of God

Looking For Pennies

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 19, 2001

Looking for Pennies (story from Annie Dillard) is important because: 1. The created world is a window into the heart of God. 2. The created world provides opportunities to praise the goodness of God. 3. The created world is a source of joy for thankful

Annie Dillard, in her wonderful Pulitzer Prize winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, tells a story about pennies. It was in her chapter entitled “Seeing” that I read her wonderful childhood story. I will let her tell it in her own words: “When I was six or seven years old, growing up in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17

Denomination: Methodist