Sermons on God Of Surprises:

If You Look For It, You Will Find It!

Contributed by David Nolte on Apr 21, 2021

Joseph's brothers hated him and gave him plenty of reason to hate them back. Instead he did a surprising thing.

They hated him. They despised him. They loathed the ground on which he walked. They had “good reasons,” to hear them tell it. • He was their father’s favorite. • He didn’t have to work hard as they did. • He dreamed that in the future his father, mother and 11 brothers would all bow before ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is This A Curve Ball? (Advent 2009)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

This sermon is about being surprised by tbd unexpected things much like Jesus seems to have surprised John the Baptist.

IS THIS A CURVE BALL? Text: Matthew 11:2-11 I read about someone’s recollection of a performance that he (Tom Wright) had been rehearsing for on stage at an earlier time in his life. He mentions that all had been going according to plan most of the time. “We had all rehearsed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: United Methodist

The Joy Of Serving God

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Dec 9, 2006

Joy is a stable and ever present attitude in the midst of life. It is more than happiness. It is more than laughter. It is closely related to peace and hope. But it was not a joy that was based on circumstances; it was a joy that was based on the power,

The JOY of serving God Joy is a stable and ever present attitude in the midst of life. It is more than happiness. It is more than laughter. It is closely related to peace and hope. But it was not a joy that was based on circumstances; it was a joy that was based on the power, the person, and the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How God Chooses A Servant-Leader Series

Contributed by Joel Santos on Oct 9, 2007

Let’s notice in this passage as we think about How God Chooses his Servant-Leader: I. GOD’S CHOICES ARE SOVEREIGN II. GOD’S CHOICES ARE SURPRISING III. GOD’S CHOICES ARE SPECIFIC

HOW GOD CHOOSES A SERVANT-LEADER 1 Samuel 16:1-13 This chapter opens with God reminding Samuel of the fact that He has rejected Saul as king of Israel. Saul was chosen as king because the people wanted to be like the other nations around them, 1 Sam. 8:1-5. Up to that point, God had ruled the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Future Of Israel (Romans 11) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Sep 25, 2022

God has not rejected His people Israel. But He has allowed them to be blinded for a time. The reason may surprise you.

The Israel Trilogy, Part 3: The Future of Israel Romans 11 Good morning! Please turn to Romans 11. I want to warn you at the outset that this may be the most difficult part of Romans to wrap our heads around. Did you know that in 2 Peter 3:!6, the apostle Peter admits that sometimes Paul is hard ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Earnest Prayer Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 6, 2007

The power of earnest prayer is amazing. We should not be surprised when God moves.

The Power of Earnest Prayer Acts 12:1-16 Acts 13:1-12 Intro Acts 12-13 offers interesting glimpses of two congregations at prayer. The Jerusalem church is described in Acts 12 and the Antioch church in Acts 13. These chapters show the relationship between prayer and come crucial concerns in the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Success At En-Hakkore

Contributed by Babatunmishe Oke on Dec 8, 2019

God is able to surprise you with more than you require at any time

Babatunmishe Oke Blue Bell Pa 19422 530-630 pm • Oh Lord after the order of Samson, let all the ropes binding me, become as flax that have caught fire in Jesus’ name. • Oh Lord after the order of Samson, let all the bonds shackling my hands melt off by the fire of God in Jesus’ name. Judges ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:1-19

A View From The House Of The Potter

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 7, 2016

The surprise here is that the intention of God can be resisted, and if (we) turn He speaks of changing His mind.

A VIEW FROM THE POTTER'S HOUSE. Jeremiah 18:1-11. On one occasion I was taken to a pottery museum, where one could purchase wares and also see them being made. I had made one or two small pottery items while at school (one of which remained on my mother’s back doorstep long after I had left ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Wake Up And Be”

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Aug 6, 2009

The second coming of Christ will be a surprise to everyone

The 911 Terrorist attacks, the tsunami, more hurricanes in one season then ever before, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Pakistani earthquake, the mudslides in Mexico, fires in California, floods in Bangladesh and China, the war in Iraq, the Asian Bird flu, hundreds of thousands ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

The Hopeless People

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Dec 14, 2006

If there is hope for Ninevah -- surprise, there is hope for you!

My roommate in college wanted to be a missionary. He wanted to go to some distant and exotic part of the world and preach the Gospel. We both had met missionaries and had heard them tell their stories. My roommate and I had become good friends with a missionary to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

To The Praise Of His Glory

Contributed by Clay Gentry on Sep 10, 2013

Why did God send Jesus to save us? It might surprise most Christians to learn it wasn't so we could go to heaven? So what was it? In this lesson we will explore why God saved us.

There is no doubt about, our God is a great God. Need proof of that? Let’s take a quick look through Ephesians 1-3 and learn how He has “blessed us with every spiritual blessing” through Jesus Christ (1:3): - God has blessed us by adopting us as His children (1:5, 2:19) - God has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 1:11-12, Ephesians 1:13-14

Denomination: *other

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

Understanding The Kingdom Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 21, 2007

"The Kingdom" is a mystery to many Christians--Is it physical or spiritual? On earth or elsewhere? Present or Future? The Bible’s answers on some of these questions may surprise you. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Understanding the Kingdom Of Heaven [Prelude to “Parables of Power” Series] Matthew 13:11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/KingdomOfHeaven.html The general "theme" of Jesus’ parables is "the kingdom of heaven" a. Many of the parables start with "The kingdom of heaven is like..." - Mt ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:11

Denomination: Baptist

Advent Iv, Year B

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Dec 11, 2002

God’s ways are not our ways. God has plans for our lives that surprise us all.

Sermon for Advent 4, Yr B 22/12/2002 Based on Lk 1:26-38 Grace Lutheran Church, Medicine Hat By Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson One grim winter day in 1754, Horace Walpole was reading a Persian fairy tale called “The Three Princes of Serendip.” The story touched him, and writing to his friend ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 23, 2018

In the darkness, which we all feel at times, Jacob wrestles with God. He asks for assurances of blessing (which he already had), but instead, he gets God! Jesus also wrestles in the garden, giving up control, and God raises him from the dead.

WRESTLING WITH GOD—Genesis 32 (Children’s Message: afraid of the dark?) Are you afraid of the dark—or the darkness? Maybe the darkness is in the hospital, or a war zone, or you found yourself jobless or on the edge of bankruptcy. Maybe the darkness was anguish over children, or marital ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed