Sermons on Maximize Joy:

What Is Jesus Praying For Us? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2022

Jesus prays for His disciples and for those who will believe through them. What does He pray?

REVEALING THE HEART: You can learn a lot about someone from how they pray for you. - John 17:9. - I learn a lot about people when I ask “what’s the most important thing I can be praying for you?” That tells me a lot about what their priorities and loves are. - Do they ask for prayer for their ...read more

Scripture: John 17:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Then Were The Disciples Glad When They Saw The Lord Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 6, 2025

True Christian joy is not rooted in self, others, favorable circumstances, or abstract doctrine—it is rooted in a personal, present encounter with the risen Christ. Joy begins then—when we see Him.

“Then Were the Disciples Glad When They Saw the Lord” (John 20:20; Based on Chapter 2 of Vance Havner’s The Secret of Christian Joy) Key Text: John 20:20 – “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” Thesis: True Christian joy is not rooted in self, others, favorable circumstances, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:20

Denomination: Pentecostal

When They Saw The Lord Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 6, 2025

Christian joy is found not in comfort or certainty but in seeing Jesus. And the Jesus who brings joy is not a sanitized, sentimental figure—but the crucified and risen Lord. When we truly see Him by faith, everything changes.

Title: “When They Saw the Lord” (John 20:19–20, KJV) Text: John 20:19–20 (KJV) “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sermon 7 - Great Is Your Reward In Heaven Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 14, 2025

The promised rewards of heaven are given to us from God to inspire and empower us towards faithfulness and perseverance.

A. Do you know who holds the record for the most homeruns in a single MLB season? 1. The answer is Barry Bonds – he hit 73 home runs in 2001. 2. Mark McGwire holds the #2 and #4 spots with 70 home runs in 1998 and 65 in 1999. 3. Sammy Sosa holds the #3, #5, and # 6 spots with 66 home runs in 1998, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Although To Yet

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 21, 2025

Based on the prophet Habakkuk's journey from honest complaint to unshakable praise, this sermon explores how faith can find joy not by denying suffering, but by making a radical choice to rejoice in God even when everything has fallen apart.

From Barren Fields to High Places: The Unshakable Joy of Faith Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19 Introduction: A Prophet's Honest Struggle I want to invite you into the world of a man who was not afraid to argue with God. His name is Habakkuk. We often come to the prophets and see them as untouchable ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

"the God Who Speaks To Storms"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Nov 18, 2024

Breast care is a storm in life

I. The Context of Job’s Suffering The book of Job presents us with an incredible narrative of suffering and divine mystery. Job, a man of great integrity and faith, finds himself in the midst of unimaginable loss and affliction. He grapples with profound questions about suffering, justice, and the ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1-3

Denomination: Methodist

Kept By The Power Of God - 1 Peter 1:4-5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 25, 2024

Not only is our inheritance kept for us, we are kept for it.

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:4-5

What Makes You Hang Up Your Harp?

Contributed by Robert Tallent on Nov 29, 2024

What stops us from living the life God wants us to live?

What makes you hang up your Harp? Psalms 137:1-3 1. Living in the past. Vs 1 Harry Truman, “Men who live in the past remind me of a small wooden toy bird called the ‘Floogie Bird.’ Around the Floogie Bird’s neck is a label reading, ‘I fly backwards, I don’t care where I’m going. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Smelling Salts - Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 21, 2025

The deepest joy comes from living in reality, not the stupor of trivia. So God gives us smelling salts to wake us up.

How do you enjoy life when things go wrong in this bent, twisted, crooked world? This passage teaches us a half dozen crucial principles on how to maintain our joy even in the face of hardship, disappointment, and even death. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is ...read more

Wise Up - Ecclesiastes 10:1-11 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 28, 2025

This chapter is loaded with gems of wisdom that are crucial for learning how to enjoy life in a fallen world. This message covers topics like how to bring calm to a hot confrontation, how expecting trouble can help you in life, and how to find the balance between study/preparation and action.

10:1 Dead flies make a perfumer's oil ferment and stink; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart goes to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense, and he shows everyone he is a fool. 4 If the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1-11

Joy Contest: God Vs. World - Psalm 4:2-8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 6, 2025

David gets more joy from the smile of God than unbelievers would have even if they got everything they desire.

Psalm 4:1-8 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God (lit God of my righteousness). Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 4:2-8

We Ought To Pray For Our Children Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Feb 1, 2023

As parents and ones who love that child, we ought to pray daily for him or her.

We Ought to be Praying for our Children Introduction In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 11, Jesus says about John the Baptist “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” Wow, what a compliment from Jesus to John the Baptist. Now think about John the Baptist’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

More Than I Deserve Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 20, 2023

Message 4 in an overview series through Philippians focusing on the theme that joy is not based on circumstances.

Since the early 1970’s there have been dozens of books and hundreds of articles written from a supposedly Christian perspective that tell us how to build our self-esteem, our mate’s self-esteem, and our children’s self-esteem. We have been assured by the supposed “experts” on human behavior that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

All The Wrong Places Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 20, 2023

Message 5 in an overview series through Philippians focusing on the theme that joy is not based on circumstances.

ILLUSTRATION – Doing the brakes on my daughter’s car…lost the lug nut key. After searching for DAYS in the garage, I eventually found it at the end of the driveway 100 yards away… I was looking in all the wrong places. And this illustration is the picture I want to paint this morning of our quest ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learning How To Enjoy The Journey Series

Contributed by Ron Auch Jr on Jan 26, 2025

Joy is not based on circumstances but is a fruit of our relationship with God. Lets look at how scripture teaches us to embrace joy and abundant life throughout the journey.

Learning How To Enjoy The Journey Introduction • Key Question: How do we, as children of the King, truly enjoy the journey of life? • Joy is not based on circumstances but is a fruit of our relationship with God. • Lets look at how scripture teaches us to embrace joy and abundant life ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, John 10:10, Psalm 16:11, 1 Peter 1:8, Romans 14:7, Luke 15:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:7, Luke 15:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God