Sermons on Unexpected Joy:

Fruit Of The Spirit (Bible Study) - Joy Series

Contributed by Christi Campione on Jun 14, 2025

This week’s study on joy from the Holy Spirit will change your life and possibly be the missing piece to your answered prayer. We can never produce too much joy! Joy is fun and infectious. Most people are drawn to joy, which is why it’s a very desirable fruit to produce.

Download Sermon PDF for easy reading and printing: https://myprayernotebook4life.wordpress.com/sermon-pdfs/ Password: SermonCentral I’m glad you came back this week. I hope that you have been thinking about love being the foundation in which everything grows, tilling your ground, and pulling any ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 23:5, Proverbs 17:22, Romans 14:17  (view more)  (view less)

Finding Joy In Good And Tough Times SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

An exploration of why we should be thankful to God at all times.

Last Thursday, the United States celebrated Thanksgiving, a holiday that is observed every year. It is good to pause and recognize the blessings and favors that the Lord has granted us. Let me share a story to illustrate the importance of gratitude. A woman was waiting for her connecting flight one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Topics: Joy, Gratitude

Embracing The New Year With Joy And Anticipation SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

As we bid farewell to this year, will we be filled with joy or regret? Will we face the future with anticipation or dread? This sermon encourages us to embrace the New Year with joy and anticipation.

When this year is over, will we look back with joy or regret? Will we face the future with anticipation or dread? Today, I want to share a passage from Ephesians 5:15-17 that can guide us as we approach the rest of this year. The Apostle Paul offers some important lessons for us to consider. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Topics: New Year's Day, Joy, Anticipation

Embracing Joy: From Trials To Triumph SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 8, 2023

Explore four key truths that can guide you from a period of hardship to a time of joy and celebration. Learn how faith can transform your trials into triumphs.

It is a wonderful thing to have reasons to rejoice and celebrate in life. Nobody desires a season of mourning, pain, and sorrow. We all long for moments of celebration and joy. Whether it's the anticipation of a wedding day, the hope for a child, or the excitement of graduation, we all look forward ...read more

Topics: Joy, Triumph, Faith

Worship: Joy Flows, Hope Remains PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 8, 2025

The sermon emphasizes welcoming others as Christ welcomes us, creating a community of grace, acceptance, and hope that reflects God’s love to all.

Have you ever watched a little child run into a parent’s arms after a long day? No pretense, no posturing—just a leap and a hug. That’s the holy heartbeat of the church: arms open, hearts open, doors open. In a world quick to label and slow to listen, the family of God is called to be the place ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7-13

Topics: Joy, Hope

How Do We Live With Joy? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 28, 2025

True joy and belonging are found in knowing Jesus personally, sharing fellowship with God, and experiencing His life-giving presence in everyday moments.

Have you ever noticed how the best news often arrives in the simplest package—a note on the counter, a text from a friend, a voice that says, “I’m here”? First John opens like that. It’s an old apostle’s steady hand reaching for your shoulder, a pastor’s calm voice speaking to a crowded room and a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Topics: Joyful Living, Lord's Joy

Happy Places

Contributed by Monty Newton on May 14, 2013

Happy Christians make for happy places.

Title: Happy Places Text: Acts 16:16-34 Thesis: Happy Christians make for happy places. Introduction It was on one of those old school, whirlwind, whistle-stop political campaigns. A well known politician was riding that train as it passed through a major eastern city. He suddenly produced a $5 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy Stealers – Philippians 3:1-6 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Apr 2, 2022

We learned about “joy stealers.” It’s a concept to which all of us can relate, since life is frequently full of circumstances that conspire to bring us down emotionally.

You know, the biggest problem that parents report that their children have is not being able to handle disappointment well. How do I know that? Because I helped design what's called the Child Behavior Inventory. It's an inventory that measures nine different areas in a child's life that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Not What They Expected Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

How much do you remember about John the Baptist? Camel hair clothing, locust diet, or loaner lifestyle? While those are memorable, John is arguably one of the most significant people in Jesus’ life and ministry. See how the unexpected surrounded John's birth.

While at the children’s hospital this summer in California, my wife Nikky and I were sitting in the atrium to the main entrance one day when I noticed a man in a black suit and an ear piece walking around. He was looking all over the place and talking to people. As I watched him I leaned over to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:39-45, Luke 1:57-66, Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Expectations Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

There is no other holiday like Christmas, where expectation is so much a part of it's celebration. We look forward to Christmas, longer, and with greater anticipation, then all other holidays combined.

Henry McCushy, of the Texas Employment Commission, said they had a hard time getting men to be department store Santa Clauses, one year. The reason was, the high percentage of children who were kicking Santa in the shins for not coming through the year before. They expected Santa to live up to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-32

How To Hit The Curve

Contributed by Rob Culler on May 1, 2007

How do you respond when the unexpected happens?

How to hit the curve Exodus 1:8-22; Job 1-2; 1 Samuel10-15; Acts 6-7 INTRODUCTION I love sports. My passion lies primarily in playing a game and not simply watching one—although I enjoy that also. I have always been a fairly decent athlete. I did well in both high school and college, although ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-22

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Can Anything Good Come From There?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 10, 2018

A sermon about good coming from unexpected places.

“Can Anything Good Come from There?” John 1:43-51 A week and a half ago I drove my mother back to Northern Kentucky. It’s a drive I have made many, many times. It’s a drive through the Cumberland Mountains of Northern Tennessee and Kentucky. I’ve driven it in the summertime and in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: United Methodist

The Impossible Thing - Ii Series

Contributed by Virgil Hurley on Mar 29, 2016

God provided the complete, unexpected victory over Goliath.

THE IMPOSSIBLE THING - II I Samuel 17:4-11, 16, 20-25 Virg Hurley Sermon, March 20, 2016 David had gone to the battle line; heard Goliath’s roaring challenge to Israel; volunteered to engage him; been outfitted in Saul’s gear and found them wanting; dressed in his homespun and went to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Joyful Always

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 7, 2014

A topical sermon on joy based loosely on 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (Outline from Mark Copeland at: http://executableoutlines.com/1thess/1th5_16.htm)

HoHum: I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, Down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, So very happy, I've got the love of Jesus in my heart, Down in my heart, And I'm so happy, So ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unavoidable Consequences When Following Christ Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 10, 2014

AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS, WE APPROACH THE END OF CHAPTER 1, AND IT IS HERE, THAT PAUL REVEALS TO US THAT THERE IS AN INEVITABLE PROCESS FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST. THOSE WHO SEEK TO SERVE THE LORD WITH THEIR WHOLE HEART CANNOT AVOID IT, AND ARE EXPECTED TO THRIVE THROUGH IT.

THE UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES WHEN FOLLOWING CHRIST PHILIPPIANS 1:28-30 IN NO WAY ALARMED BY YOUR OPPONENTS—WHICH IS A SIGN OF DESTRUCTION FOR THEM, BUT OF SALVATION FOR YOU, AND THAT TOO, FROM GOD. 29 FOR TO YOU IT HAS BEEN GRANTED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT ALSO TO ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:28-30

Denomination: Baptist