Sermons on Expectations:

Leaning Against Legalism

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 20, 2011

We often measure our success by how closely we stick to a set of expectations - whether on the job, at home, or in our walk with the Lord. We do good, we feel good - we do bad, we feel bad. But measuring success is really much different in a relationship

When you apply for a job you supply your resume—it’s that collection of information that tells why you are qualified for a particular position. Until not too long ago, a very important thing to have when going to a new area was a letter of recommendation. We still use them occasionally. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

That You May Know Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 22, 2010

John tells what we can know or expect to know when we know the Lord. 1- When we know Him we will know we have eternal life 2- When we know Him we will know we can ask anything of Him

INTRO.- ILL.- A man jumps out of an airplane with a parachute on his back. As he’s falling, he realizes his chute is broken. He doesn’t know anything about parachutes, but as the earth rapidly approaches, he realizes his options are limited; he takes off the parachute and tries to fix it himself ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer For Power, Knowledge And Love Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 28, 2016

Paul prays for the Church, he prays for us, and says God can do more than we ask for or imagine, and he prays for none of the things we may want or expect, nothing even in such categories. He prays we'll have power, knowledge of God and love.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: *other

Fix Your Eyes On Jesus

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 9, 2022

In this account, Jesus’ disciples neither totally believed nor totally disbelieved His power to rescue them. We can’t ride the fence. We must keep our eyes fixed only on Jesus before we can expect to see Him work in our life.

Os Guinness tells us in his book In Two Minds, “To believe is to be ‘in one mind’ about accepting something as true; to disbelieve is to be ‘in one mind’ about rejecting it. To doubt is to waver between the two, to believe and disbelieve at once and so be ‘in two minds’.”(1) This morning we are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

God Does Marvelous Things Without Number Series

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 17, 2020

Wonder reveals God’s ability to do things beyond the powers and expectations of human.Every new baby is a miracle from God--a unique new person who has never lived on the earth before and there will never be another one like him or her.Amazing God

GOD DOES MARVELOUS THINGS WITHOUT NUMBER “Who does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9) The works of God are manifold, and not to be counted; the stars of heaven, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, and cattle on a thousand hills, the ...read more

Scripture: Job 5:9, Psalm 104:25, Job 9:10, Isaiah 55:7, Psalm 51:1, 1 Chronicles 16:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Provoking Divine Visitation

Contributed by Apostle Izu Ulu on Jun 19, 2017

A time of Divine visitation is a period of meeting God and discussing all our issues with him or a time when all our expectations are delivered to us. When God visits you, everything about you changes for better. As God visited Sarah, may He visit you als

I. WHAT IS DIVINE VISITATION? Divine visitation refers to when the heavens and the earth collaborates. The superior – the heavens decides to show mercy, and pay the created – the earth, a visit. Divine visitation can bring about reconstruction (Jeremiah 4:23-24), where a wilderness, barren land ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:1

The Internal, External And Eternal Goal Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 22, 2017

You might say we get God’s heart in our hearts. What greater encouragement could there be? And we can expect the infusion of God’s Spirit in our hearts will result in a change in how we behave toward each other. For the fruit of the Spirit is love.

Colossians 2 1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-3

Denomination: *other

To Hell And Back

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 6, 2021

When Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me!" He admits he has been forsaken by the one Person we expected to be his supporter to the end. But God cast his vote with the rest and says, guilty.

One of the greatest paradoxes of history is the story of the young English sailor by the name of Noble. His job was to deliver a large cannon from Portsmouth, England to Boston in the Colonies in the mid 1700's. After two days on the ship HMS INTREPID, they encountered heavy weather. Ensign ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Growing In God's Image SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 9, 2023

God created us in His image and commanded us to grow and multiply. Our spiritual growth and fruitfulness are conditions to remain in Christ. We can only grow and be fruitful by staying connected to Him. We are expected to show growth and fruitfulness in every area of our lives to glorify Him.

The purpose of God for us as Christians is to be ambassadors of heaven on Earth, ensuring the realization of the Kingdom of God. God wants us to be fruitful and multiply in all areas of our lives: spiritually, intellectually, physically, maritally, professionally, financially, ministerially, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27-29

Topics: Spiritual Growth, Fruitfulness In Christ

God's Timing: Perfect And Worth The Wait SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

Life often presents us with situations where our desires are not met in our expected time, even after prayers. It's during these times that God is patiently waiting for a reason. Don't give up, but rather, wait for Him. His timing is perfect and always worth the wait.

Introduction: In the story of Lazarus' resurrection found in John 11, we see that Jesus performed a great miracle by raising him from the dead. However, there are deeper lessons to be learned from this story. One important lesson is found in verse 6, where Jesus waits for two days before going to ...read more

Scripture: John 11:6

Topics: Faith, Patience

When Deliverance Is Delayed

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 29, 2003

What about when the answer doesn’t come right away? What happens when we get a different answer than the one we expected to get? What happens when we pray and things get worse instead of better? What happens when deliverance is delayed?

How many know that we serve a mighty God? Does everyone agree with that statement, this morning? We all love to talk about the wonderful miracle working power of almighty God. Truly He is a mighty God. He has all power in His hand. There is nothing that is too hard for God to do. ∑ Any ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:22-23, Exodus 5:22-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Using What God Has Given Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 26, 2003

God gives each of special abilities and expects us to be faithful in using what we’ve been given. Instead of “hiding” our gifts we’re to invest them in kingdom service. There’s no getting around the fact that we are responsible for what we’ve been given

Using What God Has Given A man from out east had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch and had finally saved enough money to buy his dream spread in Wyoming. His best friend flew out to visit and asked, “So, what’s the name of your ranch?” His buddy told him that he had a really hard time ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 25:14-25, Romans 12:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

"We Need To Remember That God Is In Control Of Our Lives.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Dec 27, 2001

Epiphany of our Lord January 6th, 2002 Isaiah 60: 1-6 Heavenly Father, what makes us miserable is not so much the circumstances of our lives, but our expectations of what and how life should be. Empower us Lord to see your reality. Amen.

Epiphany of our Lord January 6th, 2002 Isaiah 60: 1-6 Heavenly Father, what makes us miserable is not so much the circumstances of our lives, but our expectations of what and how life should be. Empower us Lord to see your reality. Amen. Title: “We need to remember that God is in control of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Five Sticky Fingers

Contributed by Scott Ridout on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

Everything we think, say and do flows out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 The second big monster is GREED. Greed says, “I owe me”. Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Hidden Chamber Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

What Lies Beneath The Hidden Chamber Matthew 15:16-20; Proverbs 4:23 What is the difference between a moralist and a Christian? A moralist follows rules. A Christian follows Jesus. 16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational