Sermons on Expectations For Clergy:

Look Like Light, Taste Like Salt

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 6, 2017

In explaining life following Jesus (discipleship), Jesus uses two elements from everyday life to explain His expectations and the results of being a disciple. The first is salt. The second is light.

Look like Light, Taste Like Salt MATTHEW 5:13-16 #discipleship READ MATTHEW 5:13-16 [congregation reads along aloud] "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Satisfying Meal Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Following Jesus is not easy. Sometimes what he expects of us seems too difficult; sometimes it just doesn’t seem to make sense. It is then that we need to obey.

Introduction You have heard the term Christ-figure. It is a literary term for a character in a story who is like a savior or sacred figure. Those of you who have read John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath might remember Jim Casey, a fallen preacher who helps migrant workers. It is no ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

Look Like Light, Taste Like Salt

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 20, 2017

In explaining life following Jesus (discipleship), Jesus uses two elements from everyday life to explain His expectations and the results of being a disciple. The first is salt. The second is light.

Look like Light, Taste Like Salt MATTHEW 5:13-16 #discipleship READ MATTHEW 5:13-16 [congregation reads along aloud] "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Is Able

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Nov 15, 2016

God is able to exceed your expectation, He is able to do exceedingly above all you can ask or imagine. God is able to do the humanly impossible in our lives

GOD IS ABLE Study Text: Ephesians 3: 14 - 21 Introduction: - The word “Able” refers to the power one has by virtue of inherent ability and resources. - “Able” describes that which has sufficient or necessary power, means, skill, or resources to accomplish an ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tempering Our Understanding Of Miracles

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 21, 2023

Miracles do happen. However, not all the time. Faith can be shattered by the expectations of miracles occurring. Not all prayers can be answered. Tough lesson I learned early on.

Tempering our Understanding of Miracles John 11:1-45 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: United Methodist

Joy Of Palm Sunday

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Apr 22, 2022

Don’t allow your way of thinking or your expectations to distance you from God. Lift your heart to Him right now and surrender your life to Him.

As we all know, today is Palm Sunday. Today is the day that Jesus Christ made His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. And today marks the beginning of the last week our Lord was on the earth. At this point in time, Jesus was very well known. Many people spoke of His popularity and fame. In other ...read more

Scripture: John 12:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"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

Go Thy Way, Daniel: When Your Questions Aren’t Answered Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 1, 2020

Daniel was known for his wisdom and abilities to make things known. But when he asked a certain question of the Lord, he didn't get the answer he was expecting!

Introduction The Book of Daniel is a favorite book for many people. The story of how he stood for God in a pagan land is familiar to most believers. Some of my relatives used to read from “The Bible Story” collection stories about Daniel and his friends, many times over. I’ve never forgotten those ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Envision: The Great Commission

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 25, 2024

Jesus doesn’t send us into this world, lost world without any resources. He doesn’t expect us to accomplish this Great Commission in our own power.

Opening illustration: When Jesus spoke these words directly to His disciples, and indirectly to us, He was giving the church her marching orders. He was telling exactly what He expected us to do in His physical absence. The disciples took the Lord’s command seriously. They went into the world and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

When God Crosses His Hands

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jan 17, 2024

One commentator writes about God’s crossed hands of blessing -- sometimes God chooses to bless that which we don’t expect Him to bless in our lives.

TITLE: WHEN GOD CROSSES HIS HANDS SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 48:14 As we look at our text we read here where Joseph is presenting his two sons Ephraim and Manessah before his father JACOB/ISRAEL who by now can hardly see because of his advanced age. He is presented these two boys in whom he is going to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 48:14

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Dedication To The Work Of The Lord

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 7, 2025

Dedication to the work of the Lord is not an option; it is a divine expectation. In a generation where many are lukewarm or distracted, God is raising committed vessels who will abound in His service with passion, endurance, and integrity.

DEDICATION TO THE WORK OF THE LORD By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Corinthians 15:58 Supporting Texts: Romans 12:11, Colossians 3:23-24, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 6:10, Revelation 3:15 INTRODUCTION: In a world filled with distractions and declining spiritual fervour, the call for unwavering ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Assembly Of God