Donald Sunukjian

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Transforming Joy

Jan 9, 2025 | preachingtoday.com | Anthony Delaney |Donald Sunukjian

Introduction Around 100AD, the churches in and around Ephesus underwent all kinds of turmoil, tension, and conflict. This was not so much to do with external persecution as internal strife because of false teaching. Early records indicate that the Apostle John (the “Beloved”) lived in Ephesus at this time, and that he wrote his Gospel and three letters partly to counter some of the false views that were going around.
Weathering the Storms of Compromise

Jul 29, 2024 | preachingtoday.com | Ajith Fernando |Matt Woodley |Donald Sunukjian

Introduction People wonder, Is it really possible to be a Christian in today's world? So much of the values of this world are inimical to Christian values. Many people think it's not possible. The Bible, of course, gives us a resounding yes to that question. Yes, we can live as Christians in a fallen world. Daniel and his friends give us a good example of this. So that's what we are going to look at today—the way Daniel and friends weathered the storms of compromise in their life.
Pointing Fingers

Jul 18, 2024 | preachingtoday.com | Dan Meyer |Donald Sunukjian

Introduction We live in an age of finger-pointing. Some of this finger-pointing is regrettable, I think. One expression of it is inspirational, I believe. And one dimension of it is now essential, I'm convinced. I'd like to reflect with you on all three of these senses of "finger-pointing," because each of them bears upon the ministry of Christians in a time when the role of religion in American life is again on the front burner.
The Resurrection Matters-Really Matters!

Mar 18, 2024 | preachingtoday.com | John Johnson |Donald Sunukjian |Mark Mitchell

Introduction Like many of you, this Easter, I celebrate a radical truth—that Jesus died and rose to pay the price for our failures and affirm he is in fact the Son of God. But this is a different Easter for me. My father died this past Monday night. After a few days in the hospital and a weekend in hospice care, his life on this earth ended. When you face death with family, you realize you are in a journey in some darkness and some mystery, lots of mystery.
The Joy You've Always Wanted

Oct 2, 2023 | preachingtoday.com | Donald Sunukjian

The topic today is joy. And the chief question is: how do we get it? How do we have more joy more often? How can we be happy? We are looking at Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. Philippians 1:3-6 reads: "I thank my God every time I remember you.
Becoming a 'Thanksgiver' at Thanksgiving

Oct 2, 2023 | preachingtoday.com | Chris Rappazini |Donald Sunukjian |Lee Eclov

Introduction "Don't forget to say 'thank you.'" If you are like me, then you probably heard this phrase often when you were a child. If you are a parent, you probably give this advice to your children regularly. "Don't forget to say 'thank you.'" But if we are honest with ourselves, even adults—and yes, even Christians—need to be reminded of this as well. I want to talk to you about being a "thanksgiver" at Thanksgiving. Why is it that many of us struggle with remembering to give thanks?
The ABCs of Praise

Jun 20, 2023 | preachingtoday.com | John Koessler |Donald Sunukjian

Introduction This is a Psalm that begins with a commitment that on the surface seems rather simple: "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever." "I am going to praise you, God" is the Psalmist's promise. What could be easier than that? But when we examine his language more closely, we discover a clue that the art of praise may involve more than we thought.
Don’t Fall Away!

Apr 4, 2023 | preachingtoday.com | Anthony Delaney |Dan Meyer |Donald Sunukjian

Introduction A survey from Barna shows a large percentage of churchgoers have “stopped engaging.”[1] One leader here in Manchester told me some in his church were saying “I’m all Zoomed out – I’m fed up – I can’t be bothered.” He’s talking about Christians. He even admitted, “I’m starting to feel the same way.” Immediately I thought, How do we keep people engaged online? What do we do to get people coming back to church? Then I had another thought.
Comparison: The Thief of Joy

Feb 2, 2023 | preachingtoday.com | Anthony Delaney |Donald Sunukjian |David Karsten Daniels

Introduction Whenever I have preached on John 21 I have tended to speak about the kindness of God shown through how gently the Lord restores Peter, and as we know for every spoken denial of the past there is the opportunity given to express love and recommitment because Jesus did not come to rub it in, but to rub it out.