Sermons on Gods Surprises:

Be Ready

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 6, 2009

We must be ready for His return!

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5:11 A man called 911, saying, "My wife is pregnant, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?" the doctor queries. "No, of course not, this is her husband!" Someone said ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Child Is Born Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Apr 21, 2007

The Christmas Story is full of surprises: Surprises that reassure us that GOd uses ordinary people, is in control of history, gives us significance and accepts all people.

What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you? Is it lunch with your family? Is it singing carols? Probably not after you’ve been hearing them in the shopping centres for the last 2 months! How about Christmas presents? Are you like Garry’s wife in this cartoon? Does it matter whether you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

God Has Some Big Windows...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 19, 2014

GOD IS NEVER CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.Do we really trust his plan? The plan may take us to the back side of the desert? Is that still God? Beware the negative message can be deadly?

GOD HAS BIG WINDOWS... IN ONE DAY... ACCEPT NOTHING LESS... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Job 14:14 If ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Unexpected Miracle In Zarephath Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 16, 2025

God's miracles do not always come from obvious places or expected methods. In Zarephath, He used a poor widow to provide for His prophet and turned her last meal into a river of abundance.

THE UNEXPECTED MIRACLE IN ZAREPHATH By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16 Supporting Texts: Psalm 37:19; Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 4:19; Luke 4:25-26 INTRODUCTION: When the brook Cherith dried up, God redirected Elijah to a place no one would expect—Zarephath, a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Turning The Tables Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2015

The path to meet Jesus may come as a surprise to some. Instead of being cloaked in robes of religion, Jesus is clothed in rags of need.

Matthew 25:31-46 “Turning the Tables” INTRODUCTION Whether in high school or college most of us have had the joy of taking a “final.” We studied hard for the final, because a large percentage of our grade was determined by this one test. More than a few all-nighters ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran

The God Of Great Turnarounds Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on May 22, 2023

The story of Esther and Mordecai is full of plot twists, unexpected outcomes, and surprise endings, all reminding us that we serve a God of great turnarounds. Do we have “Hamans” in our lives? From the story of Esther and Mordecai we can draw encouragement for our lives today.

Introduction Video Ill.: The Story of Esther - Second Look Films (segment 4) We are continuing our study today based loosely on Max Lucado’s book, You Were Made for This Moment. When we started, we saw that Esther and Mordecai just wanted to blend in — to be cosy in the Persian culture. Don’t ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 35:17, Jeremiah 12:1, Acts 17:31, Psalm 7:11, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 5:43-45, Isaiah 58:6-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When God’s Promises Seem Too Good To Be Real Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 23, 2019

Mary's response to Gabriel's message is surprising. The message is unexpectedly encouraging, yet the Bible says she was deeply troubled. Are there times when God gives us good news but we don't treat it like good news?

THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE: Gabriel’s message was unexpectedly encouraging yet troubling to Mary. - Luke 1:28-29. - The message and the response don’t immediately line up. Let’s start with the response: v. 29 tells us that Mary was greatly troubled. Given that response, you would presume that the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-30

Denomination: Baptist

His Needs, Her Needs, Part 1 Series

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 25, 2001

Men and women are different. Surprised?

[The "Rules"] 1. The Female always makes the Rules. 2. The Rules are subject to change at any time without prior notification. 3. No Male can possibly know all the Rules. 4. If the Female suspects the Male knows all the Rules, she must immediately change some or all of the Rules. 5. The Female is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:4

Denomination: Baptist

If You Missed Easter ...

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 3, 2007

Surprises related to the Easter story.

How many of you like surprises? If you are very young, your immediate response is, "Oh, boy! I love surprises!" If you are a little older, you’re probably a little more cautious. You have learned that not all surprises are happy ones. If you missed Easter, I have a surprise for you. I want us ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Helpers In Unlikely Places Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 11, 2025

God often provides help from unexpected sources and through people we least expect. Divine helpers do not always come as wealthy benefactors or influential figures. Sometimes, they are found in unlikely places—individuals whom society has overlooked, rejected, or considered insignificant.

DIVINE HELPERS IN UNLIKELY PLACES By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 22:1-2 "David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Living Lyrics Of The Lowly Life

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Dec 21, 2002

One of the great surprises of Christmas is God’s propensity toward working thru the lowly.

- - - - - - - - - - Unless noted otherwise all scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation of the Bible. - - - - - - - - - - "Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

Denomination: *other

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

The Remnant Lives Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 24, 2021

The general purpose of Romans 9-11 is to explain Israel’s unbelief and the growing gentile population of the church; the great doctrines about God’s sovereignty are important, but the main point is this: God has temporarily set aside Israel to accommodate the church age.

The Remnant Lives Romans 10:13-11:12 1. It is not often that Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, so this means I am obligated to begin my sermon with a Valentine’s story, a true one. 2. “Every Valentine’s Day our campus newspaper has a section for student messages. Last year my roommate surprised ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Redempton...no Afterthought With God

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Feb 6, 2003

Man’s sin and it dreadful consequence did not catch God by surprise. When God created Adam, He knew that Adam would sin and that to redeem mankind would necessitate the death of His own dear Son.

OUR REDEMPTION…NO AFTERTHOUGHT WITH GOD "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Baptist

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