Sermons on Expectations For Clergy:

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

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

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

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 Surrendered Life

Contributed by Jimmy Giffin on May 4, 2004

The Surrendered Life is what God requires. Anything else falls short. If we expect victory we must surrender.

THE SURRENDERED LIFE Text: Galatians 2 : 20 The word surrender conjures up many pictures. We think of Japan’s surrender at the end of WW II. Maybe we picture the celebrations in Times Square. To some it may be the image of Saddam Hussein and his spider-hole. And to others just a simple wrestling ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Church Of God

#10 -- Opposition Series

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Nov 17, 2006

As followers of Jesus, we should expect to face opposition, but we can trust that God has "cut the cords of the wicked."

Introduction Pastor Eugene Peterson tells a story from his childhood—a story about having to deal with enemies. For him it came in the form a school bully who beat him up every day after school. It seemed no matter how young Eugene tried to avoid him—in the forms of alternate routes and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 129:1-8

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

Parable Of The Tares - 1 Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Feb 7, 2005

The advice Jesus gives in this parable about what to do with evil is so different from what we would expect

Living Under Grace – 3 – Parable of the Wheat and the Tares - 1 Half acre of 6 foot high thistles in the paddock • You won’t believe the nice clean solution I came up with to get rid of those thistles – run the trail bike through them to create a path so I could walk through and spray them • Got ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Christian Church

"The Invisible Guest At Our Wedding" Series

Contributed by Ken Harris on Apr 22, 2007

The purpose of this sermon is to motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God expects believers NOT TO DEFRAUD (or cheat on)their spouses.

Malachi 2:10-16 (MSG) 22 April 2007 (Kenny Harris III’s Birthday) U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris Fort Ord Chapel Seaside, California BIG IDEA: God expects us to protect the spirit of marriage, within us, by not defrauding our spouses. References: Malachi 2:10-16 (MSG); Deuteronomy ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:10-16

Denomination: Pentecostal