Sermons on Unexpected Joy:

Psalm 23 Holds The Secret To Beating Loneliness - Psalm 23:5-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 15, 2025

Discover the path to comfort in times of loneliness in the most beloved psalm in Scripture.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:5-6

New Beginnings

Contributed by Terry Hovey on May 16, 2025

They lived in fear, but rather than starting immediately on rebuilding the wall for protection, they instead built an altar and began to worship. They worship despite their fear of the surrounding people! They worship because they are afraid!

New Beginnings Ezra 3 You know, I used to be into refinishing old furniture, but not so much anymore. It takes time, a lot of work, and space and the proper tools to do the job well. Terri and I have an old wooden bed with matching wash cabinet with a really old tilt mirror and another old dresser ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Godly Contentment

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 21, 2025

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall NOT WANT. There seems to be a dissatisfaction among people. Are we thankful and content?

GODLY CONTENTMENT By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 (NLT2) You ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 26:3, 2 Corinthians 10:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Muzzle Eeyore - Psalm 42-43 Part 4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 13, 2025

Be careful what you say to yourself because no voice has more influence on you than your own. Don't talk to yourself about your troubles. Talk to God about your troubles, talk to yourself about God.

Psalm 42 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day ...read more

The Thirst Of The Soul - Psalm 63 Part 3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 23, 2025

One attribute of God you won't see in the theology books, even though it is mentioned more often in the Bible than other, more celebrated attributes, is the food-likeness of God. And before you laugh--consider how often God compares himself to food and drink.

Psalm 63:1-5 A Psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Therefore I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1, Psalm 63:5

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

Guard Your Heart

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Sep 5, 2025

God, through His servant Solomon tells us in Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.." Why is this important advice? How can we successfully do it?

Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Philippians 4:4-9, Hebrews 12:2, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Why Are You Downcast?

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 7, 2025

Many Christians stumble, not because they never believed, but because they stayed too close to the place where they first got in. God calls us not only to begin the journey of faith but to grow in joy, perseverance, and victory through Christ.

Introduction: Too Close to Where We Got In A mother tucked her little boy in bed. She kissed him goodnight, pulled up the covers, and went downstairs. Not long after, she heard a loud thump and then crying. She hurried upstairs and found him on the floor. “What happened?” she asked. Through ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7, Nehemiah 8:10

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Treasury Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 8, 2025

This sermon reveals that praise should be our primary response to God, who has already provided every spiritual blessing we will ever need.

Introduction We often think of blessings in terms of what we can see and touch—health, a good job, a happy family. But the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by lifting our eyes to a higher reality. He erupts in praise not for earthly comforts, but for a vast, inexhaustible spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

A Goodly Heritage - The Path Of Life Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 27, 2025

This sermon argues that the only cure for humanity's deepest ache for security and joy is to follow the "path of life," which involves radically trusting in God, finding contentment in Him as your inheritance, and embracing the hope of resurrection through Jesus Christ.

Introduction: The Soul's Deepest Ache Brothers and sisters, if you look at the heart of humanity, you will find a deep and constant ache. It is the ache for security, for a joy that lasts, for a purpose that death cannot erase. Our modern world offers a thousand prescriptions for this ache. It ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Peace, Peace, God’s Wonderful Peace!

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 22, 2025

Anxiety seems to be a problem today for both the saved and the unsaved. While we can understand it might be a problem with the unsaved, we have a difficult time understanding why it is a problem with the saved.

WHY IS ANXIETY SUCH A PROBLEM TODAY? Someone printed these words under a tranquil scene on a calendar: "Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." We do spend a lot of time worrying about tomorrow. So many in our society insist on trying to carry the… • Burdens of the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

Hope At Christmas Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Dec 6, 2025

This sermon proclaims that the heart of Christmas is God’s promised hope fulfilled in Jesus—the Light who breaks our darkness, conquers sin, and invites us to live in the peace and confidence of His eternal reign.

The Heart of Christmas: Hope Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-25; Romans 15:4 Christmas is almost here! It truly is a special time of year. Before we open God’s Word together, I’d like to invite you on a short journey into the past—to remember what Christmas has meant to you through the years. Many of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 15:4

Denomination: Baptist