Sermons on Expect Trials:

Not What I Expected Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

That's what the Christmas event is all about - God showing up in the midst of the unexpected.

Not What I Expected Isaiah 9:1-2 When I was in seventh grade, like so many youth at that age, music became a huge part of my life. I was awakened to the sounds of music of Elton John’s Greatest Hits, SuperTramps’ Breakfast in America and Led Zepellin 2. So my hope and dream was to build ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Methodist

What God Expects

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Aug 6, 2012

God expects us to behave like the Redeemed of the Lord, not like a bunch of sinners.

What God Expects August 30, 2009 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: God expects us to behave like the Redeemed of the Lord, not like a bunch of sinners. Focus Passage: Matthew 22:34-40 Supplemental Passage: (Micah 6:8 NASB) He has told you, O man, what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Baptist

Hope And Expectation Forever.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 12, 2014

As Christmas approaches many people become discouraged despite the festivities yet we have everything to live for according to all of today's readings. Read on!

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 13th December 2019 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). Summary: As Christmas approaches many people become discouraged despite the festivities yet we have everything to live for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:17-18

Denomination: Episcopal

Easter Sunday, Expectations. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Apr 4, 2015

The day of Jesus resurrection was a day of the unexpected, are we open to the unexpected taht God puts before us so that we might live in understanding of him and by his power?

Easter Sunday, expectations. I may have mentioned Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin previously. But during his day Nikolai was as powerful a man as there was on earth. As Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-23, Acts 1:7-8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Palm Sunday, Expectations. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Apr 8, 2015

On Palm Sunday expectations as to who Jesus was did not meet with reality, Often when expectations don't meet with reality the outcome will be conflict, either internal or external. The religious people already had their minds set on an outcome for Jesus.

Palm Sunday Sermon expectations? In Luke’s gospel as in all the Biblical gospels we are given a depiction of what is often referred to as the “Triumphal Entry”, we have this depiction of Jesus mysteriously instructing a couple of his disciples to head off into town and untie a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:12-19, Mark 11:8, Zechariah 9:9-11, John 12:13, Matthew 2:9, Revelation 19:11-16, John 11:49  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Expecting The Unexpected (Funeral)

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 12, 2017

Funeral for middle aged Christian lady who died unexpectedly.

Song – Glory for Me – Family Enters Song – Lamb of God Romans 8.26-30 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Elijah - Unrealistic Expectations Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Mar 14, 2018

God’s grace is spectacular… even when it isn’t

ENGAGE Fourteen years ago I was a struggling bi-vocational church planter. Because our church plant had gone through some tough times, we were meeting at our house over the summer and praying for God’s direction. During that time I got a phone call from Denny Howard, who was the pastor here at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Not What You Expected

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 7, 2015

Have you ever gotten something for Christmas that was totally unexpected? It could’ve been a special gift or a visit from someone. There were some things that happened on that first Christmas that were quite unexpected.

NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED Have you ever gotten something for Christmas that was totally unexpected? It could’ve been a special gift or a visit from someone. On the flip side have you ever expected a certain gift or visit from someone and ended up being disappointed? I was looking at this online ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Heaven: What To Expect Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Despite what it looks like, heaven will be a place of unbelievable beauty and delight, something wonderful to look forward to. Today I want us to look towards our heavenly home

Heaven: What to Expect Hebrews 11:13-16 Have you ever imagined what heaven will be like? When people come to me and ask that question, I always responded by telling them to think of the most beautiful place they have ever seen. When they ask me what I think it will be like, I usually say that I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Denomination: Methodist

"Expect The Unexpected This Christmas”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jan 2, 2023

As some of said, “If we expect to hear the Christmas gospel without the Advent call to repentance, we will find ourselves surprised by John and unprepared for Jesus.” So, we ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the message and ministry of both John and Jesus.

“It wasn’t what I expected.” Whether you are young or old, a man or woman, a girl or a boy, you have probably experienced something that caused you to have that reaction. Perhaps it was connected to some food that you tried. You were feeling a little adventurous and you ordered something at a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Not What I Expected

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 31, 2023

Are we demanding signs? Do we allow fleshly, carnal desires to define our expectations. Do I focus on external materialism to define what I am expecting? Do we desire spiritual healthy expectations?

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) EXPECT: eager anticipation, probable to occur, to wait on something, think or believe that something is going to happen, anticipate, look forward, to hope, requires faith. WANT: to desire, wish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:22, Mark 8:11-12, 1 John 5:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Expectations & Evidence

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 16, 2023

Yeshua was saying, “Don’t be upset because I’m not what you expected. You’ve got my credentials. Now trust me for the rest of it.”

Zach was tired. He had been coming down to Tiberias every week for almost two months, bringing news and food to John in prison, and it looked like he’d probably be doing it for the rest of the year. Nothing had changed. After Herod arrested John for publicly accusing him of incest and adultery, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Life No One Expected Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Mar 7, 2024

Moses wanted to pass on this lesson from the garden to God’s people so they would learn from it, live by it, and thrive.

Genesis 1-2 begins with the orderly creation which forms the content of the scriptural vision for the future. Genesis 2 is a more detailed account of the creation narrative where we see Adam and Eve in paradise, in the midst of an incredible garden prepared for them by God Himself. At the end of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living With Expectant Hope

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Feb 23, 2025

This is a sermon I used during advent but could be modified for any time of year... It's all about living with the Hope of the return of Jesus.

“Stay Awake: Living with Expectant Hope” Mark 13:24-37 Imagine it’s a dark and stormy night. Rain is pounding against your windows, and thunder rolls in the distance. You’ve just settled into a deep sleep when there’s a loud knock at the door. Startled you sit up, heart pounding, who could be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Expectations And Responses To The Gospel Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 27, 2024

God has placed a hunger in our heart to hear the truth of the Gospel, it is the “missing piece” that we have – it is this truth that draws us to God, and why we too must tell others the Good News!

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 20 The expectations and responses to the Gospel Acts 13:42 – 14:7 Introduction - Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth” -- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise) -- And we looked ahead, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52, Acts 14:1-7, Matthew 5:6, John 3:18, Matthew 10:14, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 9:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational