Sermons on Real Joy:

Encouragement - 4 Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Oct 4, 2025

Looking at various views of biblical encouragement

Encouragement Judges 6, Hebrews 3 October 5, 2025 There’s a story about a farmer who planted bamboo seeds. After planting them, he watered them faithfully every day. Days and weeks went by and nothing grew. Month after month — nothing. His friends mocked him, telling him he was wasting his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-13, Ephesians 5:17-18, Judges 6:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Psalm 23 Part Vi "You Prepare A Table Before Me" Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 8, 2011

How to have joy even when surrounded by an enemy visible or invisible.

Psalm 23:5a “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” King David who wrote this Psalm had quite a history. I think some parts of David’s life we can all relate to. David was also a shepherd and took care of the family sheep. The Lord gave him such strength ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:5

Changed In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Mike Rickman on May 20, 2005

For real change to take place there must be a change in your spirit.

May 22, 2005 Morning Worship Text: Acts 8:26-40 Subject: Change Part 4 Title: Changed in the Spirit This is the last message in the change series. Most of you are letting out a huge sigh of relief. (Now maybe he’ll stop talking about change)! What is it about change that makes people so ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Defining Love - Genuine Love Isn't Normal Series

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Jul 16, 2013

Jesus followers are a weird group of people. We don’t live like other people. We don’t have the same priorities or look at life the same way as everyone else. Genuine love always points people to Jesus Christ.

Let’s just be real here. Jesus followers are weird people. We’re wacked. We say stuff and do things that most people around us find odd, or even dumb. For example, we look for ways to bless the kind of people that others want to avoid. We want to go to prison and love on inmates. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Be Blessed Beyond Measure

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Oct 17, 2014

This message explains why we do not have blessings or joy in our lives and how we go about getting those blessings from God. To do so, we use the passage found in PSALM 1:1-6 as our main authority.

My father used to tell us boys that everyone has someone who is in authority over them. He said that every soldier has a sergeant; every worker has a foreman; and then with a wink, he would add, “And every husband has a wife.” And even though he was joking when he said that, he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: *other

Prayer Power Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Feb 13, 2025

James is going to end his book with a call to pray in all circumstances and encourage us to confess our sins to each other

James: Practical Faith (Part 2)  James 5:13-20 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church  02-09–2025 Gumball Theology I love gum balls. If we are somewhere that has gumboil machines, Maxine will make sure to have quarters for me. But what if I just stood there, staring at ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Heart For The Lost

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

God’s love moves first, searches tirelessly, and rejoices loudly—calling us to join His rescue mission for every wandering heart.

It’s funny how easily we can tune things out. I fly often, and when the attendants go through the safety speech, hardly anyone listens. We’ve heard it all before, and it doesn’t feel relevant—we don’t expect the plane to crash. Sometimes the church sounds that way to the world. The message is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32, Matthew 9:36, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

"Do Not Hold Onto Worry" Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 25, 2014

So many of us do not know how to live the abundant life that Jesus promises us. This lesson will give you some tolls to help you live that life of joy, happiness, gentleness and self control.

The Ultimate Decision July 25, 2014 Many of you could relate to the Ironman Race and Life. One of the top things I took away from the race given to me by a pro athlete was this wisdom. “The race is a long and hard day; too long to think ahead. When you are in the water think about the next ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33-34

So, You Had A Bad Day?

Contributed by Richard A. Bradley on May 3, 2012

We all have had bad days; even believers. How we react to those bad days testify to the depth of our spiritual maturity.

“SO, YOU HAD A BAD DAY” Acts 16:16-25 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-25

Denomination: Baptist

Fear: Weariness, Lose Heart

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 13, 2019

Ever lose heart? Ever lose hope? We must minimize fear and maximize joy, hope, peace and love. We are in a heated spiritual battle. Have the footmen wearied us? The horses are coming. BE READY...Lift up the arms that hang down.

FEAR! WEARING AWAY, LOSE HEART MINIMIZE FEAR, MAXIMIZE JOY By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I have a styrofoam glass from McDonalds. I took a small toothpick and poked a few small holes in the bottom. I ask someone to go get me a glass of water. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:5, Matthew 24:22, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 24:10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Out With The Old, In With The New

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Oct 7, 2009

“Jesus revealing power forced a new decision for His kingdom people: choosing between old or new ways of doing things & between fasting for show or fasting for refreshing."

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Luke 5:33-39 Proposition: “Jesus revealing power forced a new decision for His kingdom people: choosing between old or new ways of doing things & between fasting for show or fasting for refreshing." Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s people to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Baptist

The Triumphal Entry

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Apr 5, 2009

A "joy sucker" is someone who is determined to create either discouragement or hardship on your ministry. "Joy suckers" take on all shapes and sizes, but, most often, they are negative in their outlook, disappointed with their family, in need of attenti

Here is a true story about a nine-year-old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the community. A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. The bus pastor asked ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-44

Denomination: Baptist

Blow The Shofar! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 15, 2016

The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of the blessings that come from aligning ourselves with God, and the losses we experience but stubbornly resisting Him.

Blow the Shofar! (Psalm 81) 1. Pride begets bragging, whether about ourselves, our family, or our nation. 2. Amir: You Americans are always boasting how Paul Bunyan was the greatest lumberjack ever, but we Moroccans know that Ibrim Hassan was the world's greatest lumberjack. Fred: I never heard ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Star Of Wonder

Contributed by David Simpson on Dec 19, 2014

A message about the reaction of the wise men to the star of Bethlehem. The joy they experienced must be ours when we worship Jesus.

Sermon Lanier Christian Church December 21, 2014 David Simpson Star of Wonder Matthew 2:1-11 There are a lot of symbols at the Christmas season. All represent something. Santa Claus, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, etc. I've always admired the beauty of poinsettias, and decided to do a little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian Church

Through Prayer Pt 8 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 27, 2019

Jesus was filled with joy and this inner joy came from His relationship with God the Father through prayer. Prayer and inner joy are linked together because prayer opens a door to the presence and guidance of the Lord.

Series: Find joy in the journey through Prayer! Scripture: Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Thesis: Jesus was filled with joy and this inner joy came from His relationship with God the Father through prayer. Prayer and inner joy are linked together ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:12, 1 Chronicles 4:10, John 16:7-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational