Sermons on Beyond Expectations:

Stephen, Love And Truth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 21, 2013

St Stephen's sermon was very aggressive, and would not really be expected to work, but his core truth is real.

St. Stephen December 26 2013 Lumen Fidei I grew up in the fifties and sixties, and being a Catholic was “okay” with the culture back then. So this quote from Jesus about being hated by all seemed to be referring to anti-Catholic bigotry from the early 1900s. After all, wasn’t ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-59

Denomination: Catholic

Following John's Example Series

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Dec 3, 2025

We are called to shine the light of Christ to illumine the darkness of the world while living in expectation of the return of Jesus.

JOHN THE BAPTIST! IT WAS ISAIAH WHO PROPHESIED IN 40:3, “A VOICE OF ONE CALLING: “IN THE WILDERNESS PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD; MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.” NOW, 700 YEARS LATER, JOHN IS PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE, “REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR…THEREFORE, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12, John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:20, John 1:4-5, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

You’re Asking Too Much.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 11, 2021

God expects us to take up our cross. What is that cross He is asking us to carry?

Sermon Title: You’re asking too much. Scripture Text: Mark 8:27-38 ILLUSTRATION: Several years ago I read a story written by a preacher in the Philippine Islands. One day he was passing a large church on Good Friday when he spotted many selling incense, candles, veils and rosaries. He also ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stay True Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 28, 2021

Jesus as a person is loving, caring, compassionate, forgiving and encourages, appreciates and awarding expects us to stay True.

Text: John 15:7-9 Theme: Stay True Greetings: Our theme verses for today is John 15:7,9 People, followers, believers quit because of: - stressed-out people without clear priorities. - Wasting knowledge and skills by keeping in wrong roles - Lack of motivation and experience of negative ...read more

Scripture: John 15:7-9

Denomination: Methodist

Obedience Series

Contributed by Maurice Armstrong on Mar 7, 2025

God is not a man; He cannot lie, therefore, whenever he speaks, obedience is the only expected response.

For centuries, "the Church" has taught “Repentance” as the focus of the Christian experience. A daily confession of all sins. But, from the beginning with Adam and Eve, God has always been much more concerned about our obedience--to His Word. “God is not a man, that he should lie…” ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, Numbers 23:19

Denomination: Apostolic

Unveiling The Power Of Resurrection SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Easter is a time to revisit the empty tomb and marvel at the power of God, who surpasses our expectations and imaginations.

Today, we will reflect on the story of Easter and the significance of the empty tomb. It is a reminder of God's incredible power, surpassing our understanding and imagination. "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Topics: Easter, Resurrection

Journeying With The Divine SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Exploring the essence of embarking on a spiritual journey with God, understanding His expectations, and living out Christian values.

Walking with God is about aligning our lives with His direction and purpose. It means following His way, which is clearly marked and always the best way. Walking with God involves proceeding at His pace, making progress, sharing intimacy, and ultimately arriving at our destination. To walk with ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:8

Topics: Christian Values, Spiritual Journey

Rapture PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 13, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of the Rapture, emphasizing the importance of being spiritually prepared and living in expectation of Jesus' return.

Hello, family! We're here together again, and I'm so glad you've decided to join us today. You know, I've been thinking a lot about what we're going to talk about today, and I think it's something that's really going to hit home for a lot of us. It's about being ready, about living in expectation, ...read more

Topics: Waiting, Christ's Coming

Remember The Poor

Contributed by David Owens on Dec 18, 2006

The poor have a special place in God’s heart, and God expects His people to remember and respond appropriately to the poor.

Introduction: A. As you know, I like the Peanuts cartoons. 1. In one cartoon, Lucy approaches Charlie Brown with a piece of paper and a pen, and says, “Here sign this. It absolves me from all blame.” 2. Then she goes to Shroeder with the same paper and says, “Here, sign this. It absolves me from ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Relationships, The Struggle Is Real: Marriage

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 18, 2016

This sermon provides a theology of marriage and how couples can free themselves from expectations that cause disappointment and frustration in their marriages.

Relationships: The Struggle Is Real: Marriage 7/17/2016 Genesis 2:15-24 Ephesians 5:21-23 We are in the third message of our series Relationships: The Struggle Is Real. We have looked at Dating and Singles. We have upcoming Parenting, Divorce, and Being Single Again because of death. Today we ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Easter Day (Matthew 28:1-7 )

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 12, 2007

The disciples look for the body of Jesus, but He is not there! He has already gone on ahead of them somewhere, just as He continues to keep moving beyond our reach!...

When I went to seminary - to Moore College in Newtown - there was a resident chapel there known as the Cash Chapel (named after the guy who donated it, not after how he paid for it). Now when people set up a church building or a chapel, they tend to design it with the communion table at the centre, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-7

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Help Wanted Series

Contributed by Richard Goble on Dec 30, 2007

Our outreach suffers because too many church members sit in the pew expecting their pastor to do all the work. Here we find three biblical concepts that will challenge us to reconsider our expectations of the pastor as well as our own level of involvement

Title: Help Wanted Series: The Harvest Is Ripe Text: Matthew 9:35-38 Theme: The outreach of many churches suffers because too many church members sit in the pew expecting their pastor to do all the work. In this passage, Jesus reveals three biblical concepts that will challenge us to reconsider ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Baptist

Internal Opposition/Conflict Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 3, 2013

When serving God conflict and attack from the enemy is expected, what we do NOT expect is the enemy using our own to attack. We must meet this challenge of internal conflict and Nehemiah gives us a template on how this can be done... meet it with honesty

Sermon Brief Date Written: January 31, 2013 Date Preached: February 3, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Building with God Sermon Title: Internal Strife and Opposition Sermon Text: Nehemiah 5 [ESV] Introduction: Nehemiah had heard of the great trouble ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Branch On The Tree.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Mar 16, 2024

Israel could not produce the type of fruit that God had intended because they tried to produce it on their own- and not God’s way. God expected to find peace, but instead He found bloodshed; He expected to find justice but instead He heard cries of oppression.

A Branch On The Tree. Charlie Brown, “Snoopy some day we will all die.” And Snoopy says, “True, but on all the other days we will not.” Here's my addendum, -The believer never dies! The grapevine has always been central to Israel’s agriculture and economy and was an important symbol for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Daniel 12:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

For Unto Us A Child Is Born Series

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on Mar 17, 2009

For unto us a child is born gives us a sense of expectancy, it gives us a sense of potentiality, and it gives us a sense of responsibility.

Sunday, December 3, 2006 Text: Isaiah 9: 6 – “For unto us a Child is Born” Isaiah bursts into the Advent Season with these profound words uttered in prophesy in the 8th Century B.C.E. These words have the authenticity of one who has experienced the wonder and majesty of God’s presence in their ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Baptist