Sermons on Exceeding Expectations:

Nonviolence In Early Christian Thought Through The Fourth Century

Contributed by Daniel Keeran on Apr 3, 2019

If nonviolence is indeed the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, we would expect to find it in the earliest writings of Christians including and after the apostles and prophets of the Lord. What do we find?

If nonviolence is indeed the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, we would expect to find it in the earliest writings of Christians including and after the apostles and prophets of the Lord. What do we find? First Century There is no example or teaching in the New Testament that Christians can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying Through A Pandemic

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Feb 2, 2021

The church ought to pray with great expectation because (1) God sees our trials, (2) God hears our prayers (3) and God will take care of our enemies.

Acts 12:5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” The graphic scene of Acts 12 is not strange to the Church. The church has always faced opposition. Since its inception, the devil has been trying to stop the church and even to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:5-25, Luke 18:1, Luke 21:36, Mark 11:17

Denomination: Methodist

Disciples Of Jesus Are Devoted To Jesus Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 30, 2020

Disciples of Jesus are all about following Jesus and helping others follow Jesus. Therefore it is important for disciples to know and teach the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus expects.

Introduction: A. One Sunday after coming home from worship, a mother asked her young son, “So, who was your Bible class teacher today?” 1. The little boy replied, “I don’t know her name but she must have been Jesus’ grandmother - all she did was talk about Jesus.” 2. I love that – don’t you? And ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 2:14-18, 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Ephesians 2:4-10, 1 John 2:22-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abraham- No Child, No Problem--Or So They Thought Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 13, 2021

The LORD had promised Abram and Sarai a child. After ten additional years, and no child, they decided to help God out. The results weren't exactly what they expected.

Introduction: Genesis 15 has the story where Abram asked God a question after God had told him, “I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward (Gen. 15:1, paraphrased). Abram’s question was “What will You give me? I’m childless, and the only heir I have is Eliezer of Damascus (Gen 15:2, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Invitation

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 4, 2020

What is our response to God’s invitation? What does God expect us to wear? Let’s look at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22:1-14.

What is our response to God’s invitation? What does God expect us to wear? Let’s look at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew 22:1-14. Matthew 22:1-2 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Administration And Spirituality Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Oct 12, 2020

The newly accepted believers made a complaint in the early Church, and they expected Apostles would visit them and care for them. There was a cultural clash based on ethnicity, and language, and background of their previous identity.

Acts 6:1-7 Administration and Spirituality 6:1 Complaints of Believers 6:2-4 Concentrations of Apostles 6:5-6 Contributions of Deacons 6:7 Contours of the Church Acts 6:1 Complaints of Believers The newly accepted believers made a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Interracial Marriage Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Only the believer can see race from within the kingdom of God, and through the mind of Christ. We cannot expect that non-Christians will share this view. It is an exclusive Christian view.

A boy in Harvard College, many years back, got his father in Maine to come to Cambridge and see the football game between Yale and Harvard. As they sat down, the boy slapped his father on the back and said, "Dad, for three dollars you are going to see more fight than you ever ...read more

No Greater Reward

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Apr 14, 2024

Even during our time here on earth, we can already expect a reward from the Great Rewarder. So, what kind of reward can He give now?

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

After Easter: On The Road To Emmaus

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 8, 2021

A pair of discouraged disciples left Jerusalem for their home in Emmaus. While going there, they met a Stranger Who walked with them and gave them something they weren't expecting!

Introduction: On Resurrection Day, the first day of the week, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Mary Magdalene had seen and spoken with the Lord, and had shared this news with the other believers (John 20). As the day went on, a pair of disciples decided they would go back to their home at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

"A Simple Matter”

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jan 15, 2023

As God gives freely to the unworthy, so he gives richly, like himself, more than we are able to ask or think. His gifts outdo our requests and expectations.

2 Kings 3:9-18 “A Simple Matter” January 15, 2023 The Division King Jehoram of Israel was not an honorable man. “He did evil in the sight of the Lord” Though he was not like his father Ahab or his mother Jezebel because he put away the sacred things of the false god Baal, we are told that he still ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 3:9-18

Denomination: Baptist

No One Will Take My Place

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 28, 2025

God has a divine assignment for each of us, and He expects us to fulfil it. However, when people fail in their calling, God can replace them with someone else.

NO ONE WILL TAKE MY PLACE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 16:1 "And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1, Revelation 3:11, Matthew 25:28, Acts 1:20, Esther 4:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Weary Of Waiting On The Lord?

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on May 13, 2021

Have you ever asked or trusted the Lord for something; and you fully expected He would give it to you. But instead, what response you receive from the Lord is to be patient?

Have you ever asked or trusted the Lord for something; and you fully expected He would give it to you. But instead, what response you receive from the Lord is to be patient? Truth is, you don’t want to patient for the Lord to bless or deliver you, or at least not patient for long duration of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-9, Jeremiah 1:11-12, Habakkuk 2:3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We Waiting For?

Contributed by Ian Bullock on May 18, 2021

Are we waiting in eager expectation for the gift of the Spirit? A heavy re-work of a much earlier sermon from many years ago, which is looking to provoke a change in peoples perspectives.

In the Name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Very, very occasionally I will head off somewhere on a train, and as I look around the platform, it doesn’t take too long to see that there is a difference between how adults and children wait for its arrival. As you stand ...read more

Scripture: John 15:26-27, John 16:4-15, Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Anglican

Good News In An Unexpected Place Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jul 17, 2021

In this message, we will see how the birth announcement of the King of Kings wasn’t delivered to the rich or royal, but it was instead delivered in the least expected place. It was delivered to some lowly shepherds.

When people send out baby shower invitations, they primarily mail them to family and friends. I once saw a really funny movie, a comedy, where a couple sent out fake shower announcements when they weren’t really going to have a baby. They were in debt and needed some money to pay off their bills, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Why Are We To Teach Our Children To Obey God?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Sep 27, 2023

To enable every age to learn how to obey God and to set their expectations in him, God directed that his laws and acts be instructed to children and that they ought to be passed from age to age.

Monotheism is the faith in only one God. It was an unmistakable component of the Hebrew religion. Numerous old religions trusted in a large number of divine beings. However, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of the entire earth, the only genuine God. This was a significant knowledge ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible