Sermons on Stealers Of Joy:

The Soil Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Aug 30, 2025

This sermon from Matthew 13 reminds us that while the Word of God and the Sower never change, the fruitfulness of our lives depends entirely on the condition of our hearts—whether they are hardened, shallow, crowded, or humble and receptive to the transforming truth of Christ.

The Soil of the Heart Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 To hear and truly understand the words of our Creator is no simple task. This is the One who knit us together in our mother’s womb. Who recorded every moment of our lives before one of them came to be. Who holds together the seen and unseen, past, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Praise From A Cave SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Oct 27, 2023

Help understanding the power of praise

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a new day, a new opportunity to experience the grace and love of our Lord. We are here to share in fellowship, to lift each other up, and to seek wisdom from the Word of God. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-10

Topics: Praising From An Uncomfortable Place

How To Listen To God: The Shallow & Divided Hearts - Mark 4:16-19 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 16, 2023

Coffee mug theology, which generates great zeal until suffering comes, but then ...

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. Immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:16-19, Matthew 13:20-22, Luke 8:13-14

Holy Masks

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

True worship begins when performance ends; Jesus frees us from religion’s stage to live honestly before the Father who sees in secret.

If you’ve ever stood backstage before the curtain rises, you know that trembling hush—the buzz, the heartbeat, the thought: Will they like it? That’s performance. And you don’t need a theater to feel it. The biggest stage ever built fits in our pockets. Every post, every selfie, every opinion ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 23:27, John 4:23

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Reclaiming Your Passion Part 1 Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jul 22, 2009

The challenge many of us find in maintaining passion in life… is that living by duty apart from desire… is like hearing individual notes without a melody.

MOVIE CLIP: MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS – PLAY WITH PASSION Storyline - When we’re young our dreams lie out in front of us, there for the taking, and our plans seem so clear. But like many of us, Glenn Holland never could have predicted the course his own life would take, when he reluctantly accepts a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Absolutely Priceless

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 22, 2000

Being part of the kingdom of heaven, being a disciple of Jesus Christ, is worth whatever sacrifice one has to make

DAN: Hi, Ryan, is there something I can do for you? RYAN: Oh, no, but there is something I can do for you! DAN: What's that? RYAN: Well, I am holding in my hand a ticket for the Packer/Viking game at the dome on Monday night, December 20. DAN: Oh, wow! Are you serious? RYAN: Yep. DAN: Boy, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46

Denomination: Baptist

You Missed The Point

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 23, 2003

Why do we scold fathers on Father’s Day, when it is often that their children simply miss hearing their counsel. The sons of Josiah ignored their grounding in God’s word and the support of the Temple and misunderstood the value of hard work.

The difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is that we honor our mothers but we scold our fathers. We talk of saintly moms, who wore their fingers to the bone to cook and clean and sow for us. We honor them for their industry, their mother wit, and their prayer life. And that is as it ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 22:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Many Facets Of Life

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 26, 2004

There are manny facets to the Christian life.

INTRO.- ILL.- Some wit said the seven ages of man are: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills. Most of us experience some of those, if not all of them. We especially don’t like the bills, the ills, and the pills. And maybe the wills! We probably prefer the thrills over anything ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Servants And Masters" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 13, 2004

Whether we’re at the top of the heap, in the middle, or at the bottom, we serve one Master, to whom we will give account (#13 in The Christian Victor series)

“Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9

Denomination: Orthodox

The Meek Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Feb 23, 2004

The Beatitudes: Building Blocks to Be Like Jesus #3

✎ A professional football team was preparing for the annual draft. As the coaches talked about possible picks the head coach was asked, “What kind of player are we looking for? Do we want the guy that gets knocked downs and gets back up, the guy that gets knocked down at gets up and gets ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Dealing With Life's Dilemmas

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

There are sometimes tough choices that we have to make in life.

Introduction: I can appreciate the frustration Charlie Brown has in the Peanuts cartoons. Like the one where Lucy is philosophizing and Charlie is listening. As usual, Lucy has the floor, delivering one of her lectures. She says, "Charlie Brown, life is a lot like a deck chair. Some place it ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A 'good Enough' Sermon Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 13, 2007

Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican - The church is full of ’good people’ who need to know the difference between self-righteousness and God’s righteousness. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

A Good Enough Sermon Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican Luke 18:9-14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GoodEnough.html You get to write the introduction to this sermon. I need help, and this is just the right crowd to assist me… Honestly, in your own words, write a brief answer to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Sharing Heaven’s Good News Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 10, 2009

All who receive God’s message of forgiveness should help share it with others.

Sharing Heaven’s Good News Acts 16:12-40 Intro: In Luke 2:10-11, God sent angels to give a message to some Jewish shepherds. The message went like this: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:12-40

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Do The Math Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Feb 6, 2006

Spiritual reproduction is the natural outcome of a people with right priorities.

YOU DO THE MATH Acts 2:42-47 S: Church C: Purpose of the Community Th: A People with Purpose Pr: SPIRITUAL REPRODUCTION IS THE NATURAL OUTCOME OF A PEOPLE WITH RIGHT PRIORITIES. Type: Inductive The ____ priority… I. DEVOTION II. WORSHIP [AWE] III. UNITY IV. GRACE [GENEROSITY] V. JOY PA: How ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Series

Contributed by Bruce Gritter on Jan 2, 2006

A message designed to help people experience the wonder of the Christian story in and through the message of Narnia.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Series: God in the Movies By Pastor Bruce Well, we’re in the last week of our God in the Movies series and I can’t think of a better movie to end with than “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”. I am been a big C.S. Lewis fan and I am so glad that so many ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed