Sermons on expectations:

Unexpected And Expecting Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 26, 2018

The Holy Spirit works quietly within us, bringing new things into being

Unexpected and Expecting Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I had the good fortune of attending a baby shower a week ago. Baby showers are joyous occasions. Everyone celebrates the advent of this little one soon to enter our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Lutheran

Easter Expectations

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 14, 2023

This is a message I preached along with our Easter program, I wanted to build the excitement of Easter, relating how the first Easter brought this expectation.

INTRODUCTION: Happy Easter to you! We are so glad you came to worship with us today. Please turn in your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke. As we read about the disciples and what they expected on that first Easter morning, we should ask ourselves, “What are our Easter expectations?” Text: Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Expecting Miracles

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 8, 2023

We are not unsuspecting people who came to Jerusalem and walked into a miracle. We are already part of an ongoing miracle - and don’t want to miss a minute of it!

Three times a year, every Jewish man was supposed to come to Jerusalem to give thanks. Their Thanksgiving, like ours, was in the fall. They called it the Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths, though, because people built temporary shelters out in the fields to sleep in overnight, that is if they slept ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, Ezekiel 37:10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect The Unexpected Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 6, 2023

Life is unpredictable, so expect to be surprised.

A few years ago (2017), authorities apprehended a group of Minnesota teens for attempting to steal a cake from a local grocery store. The teens were embarrassed, but even more so when they discovered the cake was fake—it was a cardboard display cake. The grocery store owner decided not to press ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18, Ecclesiastes 10:1-20, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Exceeding Expectations Series

Contributed by Boomer Phillips on Jun 16, 2023

Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. This means that He wants us to exceed the spiritual expectations prescribed by the Law; as we are to strive for excellence in our walk with God.

I have entitled our message, “Exceeding Expectations,” and I want to begin by sharing a true story. A contractor in Mexico was hired to build a Catholic Church, but he used cheap materials in order to make more money. He reasoned that the quality of the materials did not matter, so long as the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

Great Expectations

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 23, 2023

John the Baptist's followers struggle with changing their allegiance to Jesus.

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

Expect The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

There is no such thing as a hopeless case. The lease likely people in this world can become children of God, and can become leaders in the kingdom, as did this Samaritan sinner.

The unexpected is the source of so much of the joy of life. Our three year old granddaughter, Jennifer, was praying at the table a couple of weeks ago. I noticed she was going faster than usual, and she came to the end saying, "In Jesus name, amen." Then she shouted, "I win." ...read more

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 27, 2022

Life is full of unexpected moments—it would be boring without them. But what happens when that unexpected moment is huge? It affects you personally, and it’s something that seems unbearable. It causes you to doubt. That’s what we find in Luke 7 with John the Baptist.

Has something unexpected ever happened to you? —you find a 20 dollar bill in between the cushions on your couch —you bump into someone at the store that you haven’t seen in 5 years —the forecast says it’ll be sunny, but it pours —the dog decides to bring you a gift from the outside world, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Expectations Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 9, 2023

We should not miss the Truth that Jesus has expectations of us as His disciples.

JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE Expectations of Jesus Luke 9:57-62 #JustJesus INTRODUCTION… THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO HALF-WAY (P) There are some things in life that we should never do halfway. Most things in life we should give our best effort, persevere, and see to completion. * Giving ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Expect Opposition Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Apr 16, 2024

Based on 2 Kings 18:13 & other Scriptures - Reminds hearers that those who live for the Lord & serve Him can expect opposition & should take it to the Lord.

“EXPECT OPPOSITION” 2 Kings 18:13 FBCF – 4/14/24 Jon Daniels INTRO – Isaac Watts – pastor, theologian in 1700’s. Also hymnwriter – wrote 750 hymns including “Joy to the World”, “O God Our Help in Ages Past, our hope for years to come,” & “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” Ian Bennett shared ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:13

Denomination: Baptist

Great Expectations

Contributed by Bobby Brewer on Jun 27, 2021

Having warned the elders of the Ephesian church about false teachers Paul also provides some final words of encouragement not the least of which is our everlasting inheritance.

OLActs20-Great Expectations Series: Acts: We’re on a Mission from God Message: Great Expectations Text: Acts 20:32-38 Date: June 27, 2021 Big Idea: The Bible talks about there being an inheritance for believers but what exactly does that mean? It was Dr. Seuss who said, “Don’t cry because it’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:30-38, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 25:14-30

An Exhortation Of Expectation Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 16, 2020

Having shared his heart and burden for the church, Paul now shifts his focus to the lives expected of believers. They were no longer their own, and were expected to live in a way that honored and glorified the Lord.

An Exhortation of Expectation 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 In the previous chapter Paul devoted a substantial portion of this letter revealing his heart and desire for ministry. In case there was any doubt, Paul assured them of his love and devotion for the Lord and His church. He presented a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Reasonable Expectations

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 25, 2022

Life has become very frustrating for many professing Christians, primarily because their EXPECTATIONS ARE NOT REASONABLE.

Illus: Reaching the end of a job interview, the Technical Recruiter asked a young Engineer fresh out of college, "And what starting salary were you looking for?" The Engineer said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The recruiter ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Expecting God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 10, 2022

Many people have expectations of what God can do for them. But that's not how it works. We were saved to do things for Him. Why?

I’ve been told that when people come to God –– they have certain expectations. They have certain opinions of what they think God should DO for them. They visualize a God who is going to do what they want done. ILLUS: A woman named Donna had a conversation with her 4 year old niece. The little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Expectation And Identity

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 3, 2021

This sermon illustrates how those on the crowd of Jesus's triumphant entry misunderstood the significance of the way He entered riding on a donkey.

EXPECTATION AND IDENTITY (Palm Sunday 2012) Text: Mark 11:1 – 11 Mark 11:1-11  And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,  (2)  And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist