Sermons on Joy:

Boat Was Now In The Middle Of The Sea…

Contributed by Bala Samson on Nov 25, 2012

We need to know how to deal with unexpected scenarios!

Boat was now in the middle of the sea… Mathew 14:24”…the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” We need to know how to deal with unexpected scenarios! "Who would expect to face a complex day? None of us! We expect smooth, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:20-32

Denomination: Pentecostal

Navigating The Ups And Downs Of Life

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 5, 2012

James expresses the fact that life is made up of triumph and tragedy, of sorrow and joy. Sickness can trip us up and sin can entangle us. We rarely know what to expect. Life is often very unpredictable. Our trust level in Christ will impact our response t

Navigating the Ups and Downs of Life James 5:13-18 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

Secrets Of A Happy Life Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Aug 30, 2012

Christians live lives contrary to the world. We are filled with the spirit. We live in community. We have purpose in our lives, and we celebrate God's abundance.

Ephesians 5:15-20 “Secrets of a Happy Life” INTRODUCTION Warren Buffet is one of the richest men in the United States and in the world. He is known as the oracle of Omaha, because of his ability to read the economic tea leaves, predict the future, and offer advice on what to do. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:12-29

Denomination: Lutheran

Faithing - Faith Without Works Is Dead

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Sep 9, 2012

In the Christian life faith and works go together like inhaling and exhaling. Billy Graham stated it in these terms: Faith is taking the Gospel in; works is taking the Gospel out.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 ; Psalm 125 ; James 2:1-17 and Mark 7:24-37. Alexander Graham Bell was an amazingly talented person. He invented the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

Why Does God Allow Pain? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 8, 2010

If God really is there and loves me, why do I still hurt?

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Jeremiah 15:18a It’s always helpful at the start of a journey to know where you’re headed! Let me share some of the “roadmap” for our series on ‘WHY’ – the questions people ask. The well-known artist and songwriter Bill ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:18

Denomination: United Methodist

"From Suffering To Surrender"

Contributed by Frankie Melton on Jul 12, 2010

God uses suffering to turn lost hearts to Him.

“From Suffering to Surrender” In 1 Kings 17:8-24, God sent Elijah to Zarephath, the heart of Baal worship. Though it was behind enemy lines, Elijah promptly arose and went. He was obedient regardless of his lack of understanding. Complete knowledge is no prerequisite to obedience. God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Purpose In Our Problems Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 25, 2010

God loves to bring out His purposes through our problems.

God’s Purpose in our Problems 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Rev. Brian Bill 7/25/10 Lydia and I went to the Demolition Derby at the 4-H Fair this past week and had a blast. I loved watching drivers take aim at each other with the attempt to demolish or disable one another. We saw some great smash ups ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Purpose In Suffering Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 16, 2009

Why? Isn’t that the question most of us ask when we experience suffering? Is there a purpose for suffering? If so, what is it? The answers to those questions are not easy to discover. And many times, when we find the answer, we don’t like what we find.

I’m sure that many of you were doing the same thing that I was doing on Thursday evening. We had finished with the evening session of the pastors conference and I was planning on going back to the room and doing some studying. My laptop had other plans. It crashed. So I turned on the TV to catch ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

It's All Good

Contributed by Steve Keeler on May 9, 2010

No matter how hard it may seem, as Christians we also are supposed to rejoice in all things.

It's All Good by Steve Keeler Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." "Once upon a time." How long has it been since you heard a story that began like that once upon a time? Well, we're ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Long, O Lord? Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jun 21, 2010

Habakkuk asks the main question, ’How Long, O LORD?’ through a very confusing time in Judah’s history. Deals with suffering, hope, and our LORD’s sovereignty

How Long, O LORD? Written in 2007, Sterling C. Franklin Feel free to use (and not take credit for) this message, but please do necessary preparation for your congregation’s sake! :) TEXT Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 (ESV) 1:1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Suffering And The Human Condition: Where Was God? Series

Contributed by John Barry on Jun 12, 2009

The editor-in-chief of Bible Study magazine addresses the topic of suffering and God’s place in it and through it.

I was in a room close to 7:00 AM playing Jazz with my High School Jazz Band. We had band practice at 6:00 AM Monday to Friday mornings. (What kind of deranged person came up with that idea?) As I was sitting there at the drum set playing along half-asleep, the intercom began to come on and off. It ...read more

Denomination: *other

Things Seen In Paul

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Oct 8, 2009

Are the things seen in Paul, also seen in us? Are we living such that we could say to others: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you”?

Things Seen In Paul 10/09/05 AM Text: Philippians 4:9 Reading: Philippians 4:4-9 Introduction 1. A description of our Heavenly Father frequently used by Paul is “the God of Peace”... a. “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen” - Romans 15:33 b. “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ