Sermons on Exceeding Expectations:

Gaining Christ's Gratitude

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 13, 2002

I’ve never thought of God as being "grateful" for me, but the intriguing thing is - He is grateful, but only when we meet certain expectations. What are they?

One soldier stationed on an island of the Philippines during WW II told this story: “Although the region was secure, sometimes the enemy tried to infiltrate our food storage area. One such adversary, dressed in GI clothing, once worked himself into the noontime chow line. Our camp cook spotted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bold Witnesses

Contributed by Tony Foeller on Aug 28, 2001

We learn from this sermon what it means to be a bold witness, what bold witnesses can expect to encounter, and what God does through bold witnesses.

BOLD WITNESSES Acts 4:8-20 We recently had an encounter in our church’s regular weekly outreach program where one of the families we visited accused us of harassment. We weren’t guilty, of course. But I still had to spend some very anxious moments at the local police station trying to sort ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:8-20, 2 Timothy 3:12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Tap On His Power Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 21, 2004

From this healing of the crippled man, we see the God’s power flows (1) where there is PRAYER; (2) where there is EXPECTANCY, and (3) where HE WILL BE GLORIFIED.

Look at another event where the power of God flows... Read ACTS 3:1-10 It’s 3.00pm in the afternoon (the hour of prayer in the Temple), Peter & John head up to join the rest. And on the way in, as they came to the Gate called Beautiful (a gate inlayed with gold and precious stones, an entrance ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Serve Faithfully Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Mar 12, 2007

God expects members of His church not just to be spectators, but to participate in what goes on. We are all called to serve where we have been gifted.

“What Is Expected of a Church Member: Serving Where God has Gifted” Introduction: A Few years ago I had the opportunity to go to a Duke basketball game. It was fun and exciting to watch Duke dominate as usual, but something was lacking. I found that I wished I were out on the court playing. I ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fear(Revere) Mom!

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 10, 2011

God expected every individual of Israel to possess a reverence for their mother & father. What motivates the reverence for one’s mother? Reverence for your mother is found in her...

FEAR(Revere) MOM!—Leviticus 19:2-3 Attention: Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, WV, in 1908 as a day to honor one’s mother. Jarvis wanted to accomplish her mother’s dream of making a celebration for all mothers, although the idea didn’t take off until she enlisted the services ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Husband's Side Series

Contributed by Brien Sims on Jun 19, 2008

This is about how the wife should treat her husband and what he feels and expects. These points come from the book Love & Respect by Dr. E. Eggerichs.

Have you ever felt unloved or uncared for by your spouse? He was too busy with his sports game, shop work, chopping wood, etc. to spend time with you. He comes home tired from work and just ready to zone out and watch television for a bit and doesn’t understand why you keep talking and won’t leave ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gospel In A Postmodern World

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Aug 18, 2008

How does Jesus expect us to live in today’s world? DESIRE Him, DENY yourself, DIE to self and DECIDE to follow. Are you doing it?

Matthew 16:21-28 The Gospel in a Postmodern World From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

An Obedient Church

Contributed by Roger Wilson on Oct 26, 2011

In a day and culture when even people in churches believe they get to "vote" on everything we must remember that we are subjects in a kingdom and our King expects obedience.

Act 1:1-5 (ESV) In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-5

Ready To Suffer Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 15, 2011

If we want to be ready to suffer for Christ, we must arm ourselves with His attitude, choose to abandon our sin, expect abuse, and anticipate God's approval.

Recently, I read about a fictitious manual for Peace Corp volunteers headed for South America. It offers advice on how to handle a chance encounter with an anaconda (a large type of boa constrictor). The advice comes under the heading, “What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda”: #1) If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Tempted And Double-Minded

Contributed by Byron Martin on Jan 12, 2010

James Chapter One tells us the results of being double-minded in that we should expect nothing of God unless we can make a clear choice.

Tempted & Double Minded Rev. Col. Byron E. Martin American Rescue Workers DC Corps rescued@aol.com READ James 1: 2-8 Illustration (from sermoncentral.com) What is double-minded? A mother noticed that a friend of her teenage daughter had a tattoo of a Japanese symbol on her back. "Please ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finding Your Calling

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Apr 5, 2007

Are we really listening and expecting God to speak with us or are we too busy being distracted by many things that we can’t hear Him call?

April, 2007 “Finding Your Calling” I Samuel 3:1-10 INTRODUCTION: During three centuries of rule by the judges, the word of God was rare. By Eli’s time there were no prophets speaking God’s message. In fact there had only been two prophets--Deborah (Judges 4:4) and Othniel (Judges 6:8) during ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

The Devil Is A Boring Preacher

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 23, 2009

The message of the preacher blessed by God will disturb the casual, even as it glorifies the Master. Contrary to every expectation, the message presented by the servants of the devil is boring, generating no excitement and no reaction.

“When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection Is Over, Now What?

Contributed by Ronnie Mcneill on Apr 24, 2008

Jesus expects us to be witnesses throughout the world until His return. We are not to stand around wasting time. We are to be the disciples that we were called to be.

Introduction: Listening to our friends or relatives, at times it is hard to believe some of the stuff that they say. Some of the things that they say are so far fetched, that we say to ourselves “Where in the world did they come up this idea?,” or Who did they hear this ridiculous thing from?” ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Get In The Press

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Apr 24, 2009

You are suppose to win in life, but You can’t expect to win without a fight. There are enemies to your destiny, so you must get in the press.

Mr 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Php 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ways You Can Leave Church

Contributed by Chuck Humbert on Aug 17, 2010

A "self-assessment " type sermon with the intent to have the listeners do a personal examination of where they are spiritually at this point in time. As the cliche' says, "Expect what you inspect"

WAYS YOU CAN LEAVE CHURCH * INTRODUCTION A. Ever notice how much emphasis is placed on Entrances? An “Entrance” is filled with anticipation, expectation, and potential. 1. Red Carpet and limousines 2. Boxing – entourage 3. Movie – 15 minutes of build-up 4. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Denomination: Baptist