Sermons on Exceeding Expectations:

Don’t Be A Lost Sheep (Bible Study) – Judgement Day Series

Contributed by Christi Campione on Sep 11, 2025

Judgement Day, what’s expected of us, take communion, and talk about how the study changed you.

Download Sermon PDF for easy reading and printing: https://myprayernotebook4life.wordpress.com/sermon-pdfs/ Password: SermonCentral (This study is a little shorter to leave time for discussion and communion. The week before, ask someone to bake or buy a celebration loaf of bread {sweet and tasty ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:5-7, Acts 9:4, James 2:14-18, Matthew 25:1-46, Revelation 20:7-8  (view more)  (view less)

Cain & Abel PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 5, 2023

To understand God's expectations for sincere and obedient worship, as illustrated by the story of Cain and Abel, and to learn from the consequences of disobedience.

Good morning, Church family! Today, we're diving deep into the intriguing story of Cain and Abel, as told in Genesis 4:3-5. We'll be exploring God's expectations for worship, Cain's rebellion against God's word, and the tragic consequences of disobedience. From the very beginning of time, God has ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:3-5

Topics: Good, Bad

Does God Have Our Best? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 15, 2023

This sermon emphasizes understanding God's expectations, striving for faithfulness over perfection, and recognizing the boundless nature of God's grace.

Good morning, everyone! I'm so glad to see each one of you here today. I'm excited because we're going to be talking about something that I believe is really important for all of us as followers of Christ. There's a quote from Philip Yancey that really struck me and I want to share it with you. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

Topics: Being The Best, Not Perfect

And Then Some!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

James Byrnes, Sec’y of State under FDR, said that the difference between successful people & average people can be summed up in 3 words, "and then some." He said, "Average people do what is expected. Successful people do what is expected, & then some."

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH BROWNSVILLE, TX A. When we read the Bible, one of the things that has to impress us is that God is often calling upon His people to do things they normally couldn’t do by themselves, but that they can do with His help. God is always saying, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Easter Sunday 2020

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Apr 6, 2020

Maybe it has been a while since you’ve heard the Easter story. Why is this story so important? A discouraged group of women came with little hope and low expectations to honor a dead rabbi. This is how many of you feel today - no hope and very low expectations.

Easter Sunday 2020 What have we learned? 1. Church is more than a building. 2. Church is also not less than the gathering. 3. Our hope is certain. Maybe it has been a while since you’ve heard the Easter story. Why is this story so important? What difference does this story make in my life? What ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, Romans 8:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The King, The Temple, And The Tree - Matthew 21.1-22 (Part 1) Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 15, 2025

The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is both pure and fruitful. JESUS enters as the rightful KING, calls His people to pure worship, and expects genuine faith that bears spiritual fruit.

2025.08.17. Sermon Notes. The KING, The Temple, and The Tree_Matthew 21.1-22 (Part 1) Welcoming the KING, Purifying the Heart, Bearing Fruit in Faith BIG IDEA: The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-22, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 118:25-26, Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23, James 1:6, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Mark 11:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Answer To Prayer Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 19, 2008

God is not some kind of celestial slot machine. You don’t pop in a quarter or two’s worth of prayer, hit a button, and expect to receive exactly what you want. God is not a genie in a bottle. You don’t rub the bottle with your prayer, and expect God to

Introduction: A fifth grade boy who had heard a sermon on persistence in prayer was praying by himself in his room one night. As his dad passed his door, he heard the boy praying over and over again, "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo." The next day, the dad asked his son what we were doing. The boy replied that ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fruitful Spirit Series

Contributed by Bart Leger on Jul 27, 2007

When you see a Christian you expect them to be bearing fruit don’t you? You expect each believer to be winning souls for Christ and training others to serve Him right? Not so sure about that one, huh? The apostle Paul, as he is writing to the Roman Chr

A Fruitful Spirit “Where’s the beef?” Those of you old enough, do you remember that Wendy’s commercial with the little old lady asking “Where’s the beef?” barely tall enough to see over the counter? That commercial is a commentary on expectations. You go to a fast-food restaurant and they serve ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Then!

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

Life maybe difficult as we follow Jesus, but then one day when we least expect it, God will grant us times of great blessing and peace.

Then! Acts 9:31 Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born in 1834. Charles' father was a minister, so Charles was influenced by the Word of God from an early age. Charles was a bright boy. Even as a young boy in Essex he had been an avid reader, he read Pilgrim's Progress when he was only six years old - a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christian Adversity

Contributed by Orvel Barker on Aug 2, 2003

Adversity is to be expected in the life of a Christian, but how we handle adversity will determine it’s effect and outcome in our life.

Intro: Paul’s main emphasis here seems to be that God has opened a door for effective ministry and that he has faced much opposition. Opposition was not new to Paul neither is it uncommon for any believer, for the Bible tells us that we have an adversary the devil, who goes about as a roaring ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Secured To The Dock

Contributed by Brian Shelley on Sep 3, 2001

If, in your spiritual immaturity, you go back to your old religion, expect that God will keep you there.

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 Secured to the Dock Intro William Hazlitt, 19th century English essayist said, “When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest. If Hazlitt was right, this will be one of the most interesting sermons I will ever preach because it comes ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Above And Beyond

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 20, 2001

When we do more than what’s expected, we put ourselves in the place to be used greatly the God.

Above and Beyond Genesis 24:1-9 Matthew 5:38-48 Test Genesis 24:9-20 Sometimes in order to obtain things that are truly worth having, we have to go above and beyond the call of duty. We’re often touched when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2003

People expect only the ceremonial from the church. But God wants to give us a rich, varied, and outward-reaching life.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The End Of Time

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 19, 2003

The book of Daniel contaians many prophesies. Concerning the end of time Daniel tell us to expect: Resurrection, Retribution, and Reward!

The End Of Time Scott R Bayles, preacher I’m sure several people here this morning have seen the bumper stickers, "In case of rapture this car will be unmanned," or some else like that. While such statements are intended to be funny to some, there are confusing to others. Many people have read the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Sit Here Until We Die?

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 10, 2005

When you’ve got no other options, surrendering (to God) won’t be as bad as you expect it to be.

THE WINDOW Bible Teaching Ministry of CEDAR LODGE BAPTIST CHURCH Thomasville, NC -------------------------- January 9, 2005 -------------------------- 1Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist