Sermons on Joyful Anticipation:

Offer Yourselves As Living Sacrifices

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

As God’s kingdom of priests and his holy nation, this is the joyful work we can be busy with—no matter our age, condition or standing. We’re called to be holy, just as He is holy; and we’re called to freely and joyfully offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God through Christ.

Have you ever come to a Bible book, and decided that you’d rather skip it? Maybe you were reading through Scripture in your personal devotions, or around the supper table as a family, and you’d finished Genesis, and slogged through the latter parts of Exodus, and finally came to Leviticus. What did ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 22:17-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

1: More Than A Feeling Series

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Nov 21, 2025

Christmas is often filled with pressure to feel joyful, peaceful, and festive — but what happens when we don’t feel it? In this message, we explore the story of Mary in Luke 1:26–38 and reminds us that real peace isn’t about how we feel, but who we trust.

Need: Box full of Christmas decorations, a torch, a candle ________________________________________ Opening: Setting the Scene (walk up holding a box of Christmas decorations.) Well, it’s that time of year again. The Christmas adverts are on, the lights are going up, and the shops are playing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Mystery Of The Manna

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Nov 15, 2011

Jesus often broke bread with His disciples, the early church broke bread from house to house, the Lord’s Supper He took bread and said, “This is my body” believe Jesus waited with baited breath in great anticipation of when the time would be right for Hi

Introduction: A The first shadow we see of Communion is found in Genesis 14.18, Melchizedek (King of Salem) offering Abraham And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. Gen 14:18 (NASB) 1 Jesus was declared to be in the order of Melchizedek ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

How Giving Works (Re:gift)

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Oct 15, 2019

Many people give out of guilt. The apostle Paul says we should give with joy! The only way we can do this is if we first realized just how joyfully generous God has been to us. When we see His joyful generosity, that encourages us to be joyfully generous ourselves.

Opening and Introduction In our lesson tonight, we hear about farmers that plant seeds. If a farmer doesn’t plant, there won’t be anything to harvest later in the year. His livelihood depends on generously planting as many seeds as he can. This passage uses a lot of farming imagery. But what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Why God’s Good News Is Great

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 13, 2011

1. It’s stronger than our worst enemies (vs. 16-18). 2. It’s worth the worst suffering (vs. 19-23). 3. It gives a joyful song in our darkest night (vs. 23-25). 4. It will save anyone who believes in Jesus (vs. 26-34).

Why God’s Good News Is Great Acts 16:16-34 Sermon by: Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - July 11, 2010 *If you came to the United States from another planet last week, you might think the greatest thing in the world was basketball superstar Lebron James going to the Miami Heat. A ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrate Salvation!

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

This impulse must always live among us: a joyful seeking after the LORD. For we’ve seen how God has saved us through his only Son. We have such great reason for joy, even if we possess little, or even if we have much to grieve. Even so, there is great joy in Christ.

If there’s ever a special occasion, we like to celebrate it with a meal. If someone graduates from school, or has a significant birthday, or if there’s a wedding, we get together for something to eat and drink. For food can be very festive. We see this in the Bible too. Think of all the feasts God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-23, Ezra 6:19-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Future Restoration Of Israel - Part 6 - Scriptures In Isaiah Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 14, 2022

There'll be great comfort in Israel's restoration. We have terms like "everlasting joy" and "joyful shouting" as the redeemed return to Zion, Messiah welcomes these as they arrive with, "Here I am". They'll know, peace, happiness and salvation.

THE FUTURE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL - PART 6 - SCRIPTURES IN ISAIAH We begin Part 6 and continue in the book of Isaiah looking at more scriptures dealing with the future restoration of Israel. I hope you can catch the great joy this will be to the Jews when the Lord calls His earthly people ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:1-3, Isaiah 51:10-11, Isaiah 52:4-6, Isaiah 52:7-10, Matthew 24:14, Isaiah 54:1-3, Joshua 1:2-4, Exodus 23:31, Genesis 15:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Do Everything In The Name Of The Lord Jesus”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jan 1, 2024

It’s that time of year once again. December 31st brings reflections on a year that is ending. There may be anticipation mixed with some anxiety for a new year that is just beginning. If we really want to keep our New Year’s resolutions we need to learn God’s way of making changes in our lives.

It’s that time of year once again. December 31st brings reflections on a year that is ending. There may be anticipation mixed with some anxiety for a new year that is just beginning. Whether you have plans for a “count-down” party with corks popping or flipflops dropping (Folley Beach) at ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Seeing The Word Of Life Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 17, 2016

The Word of Life is 1) Unchangeable (1 John 1:1a), 2) Historical (1 John 1:1b–2a), 3) Communicable (1 John 1:2b–3a), 4) Relational (1 John 1:3b), and 5) Joyful (1 John 1:4).

We live in an era that looks with suspicion on any type of certainty or conviction about the truth. Our society has abandoned the idea of absolutes, choosing instead to arbitrarily grant equal validity to every opinion and philosophical musing. Sadly, today’s church, influenced by the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Other

God Gives Us Great Reasons To Rejoice! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 24, 2018

Life gets hard, but God gives us great reasons to rejoice! 1. God gives us joyful reunions (vs. 21-26). 2. God gives us good results (vs. 25-26). 3. God lets us hear good reports (vs. 27). 4. God gives us rest (vs. 28).

God Gives Us Great Reasons to Rejoice! The Book of Acts - Part 48 Acts 14:21-28 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - July 13, 2014 *Church: There is a joy that belongs to us, because we belong to Jesus Christ. Yes, life gets hard, but God gives us great reasons to rejoice! And ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

What Gave Jesus Joy? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 29, 2012

Do you know the difference between the "Joy of the Lord" and the "Joy of the World"? What does this text teach us about both of those?

OPEN: In my files I have comments by several people about what they felt would make someone happy. Daniel Boone - “All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife.” Albert Schweitzer - “Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.” Johnny Carson - “Happiness ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-21, Ephesians 2:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ministry, Truth, Gospel, Treasure

Contributed by John Huyser on Feb 8, 2023

Feeling always seeks something in itself; but faith keeps itself occupied with what Jesus is.… When feeling says, In myself, I am sinful; I am dark; I am weak; I am poor; I am sad, let faith say, In Christ, I am holy; I am light; I am strong; I am rich; I am joyful.

It was 1848 when Andrew Murray was ordained into the Dutch Reformed Church. With a remarkable 60-year ministry, he was one of the first Dutch Reformed pastors in South Africa following France’s colonial exit. He pastored four churches, wrote over 250 books, and established what is now today ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The Day Isaiah Saw Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2018

The Gospel of John tells us Isaiah saw Jesus' "glory." When did that happen, and what can it mean to us?

A preacher was showing his young daughter pictures from a book on famous art. They got to one of the famous paintings of Christ and, not wanting to mislead his child, the preacher gently explained "It's not really Jesus. It’s just an artist's conception of him." The girl looked a ...read more

Scripture: John 12:37-43, Isaiah 6:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Resurrection Of Deliverance-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Apr 22, 2025

1 of? Mark records some of the historical events that surround the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ. True Deliverance is found in the resurrected Jesus....He IS our Deliverance! ?How” or “Why? is true deliverance found in Jesus’ resurrection? The Resurrection of Deliverance informs your...

The RESURRECTION Of DELIVERANCE-I—Mark 16:1-14(:1-20) Sunday & Wednesday the week before last, we looked at: ‘The DEATH Of DELIVERANCE’—Mk. 15:1-47 Today, we’ll delve into: The RESURRECTION Of DELIVERANCE—Mark 16:1-14(:1-20) Need: People struggle with various means of so-called ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-6, Mark 16:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Rules Are Rules Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 1, 2014

The Pharisees of Jesus' day died long ago. But their spirit lives on in congregations across the land. How can we recognize if we have become like the Pharisees, and what did Jesus teach us about what we need to know to avoid becoming like those men?

(Before reading the text I noted that the stories in this section of Mark detailed the conflict between Jesus and a religious group known as the Pharisees… and I emphasized the word "Pharisees" as I read through the text) OPEN: Back in the 1980’s, the Minnesota Twins had this ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ