Sermons on High Expectations:

Surprised By Prayer Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 19, 2012

Even as I’m concerned about people who misunderstand the purpose of prayer, I’m also concerned about those who do understand, but who seem to pray with no expectation of God honoring prayers or acting on our behalf.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (In preparing this message as part of a sermon series on “Prayer” I have borrowed heavily, and adapted, from an outstanding sermon of the same title by Mike Hays of the Britton Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Example Within Suffering

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 8, 2020

Peter had dealt at length with the life believers were expected to live, even in the midst of trials and suffering. Looking to the greatest example he had, Peter offered a challenge for the church to follow in the path Jesus had set before them.

Our Example within Suffering 1 Peter 2: 21-25 Our text today is a rich passage that deals with much of what Christ endured on our behalf. Peter also speaks of the abundance believers receive through a relationship with Christ. While these truths are universal, and foundational elements of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Denomination: Baptist

Call Out To God In Prayer Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 14, 2018

Often when we pray, we expect God to answer even before we say Amen. God knows the end from the beginning and everything in-between He knows the perfect time for everything that happens in our lives.

We continue in our series Hope found Here and on this Healing and Wholeness Sunday what I want to do is encourage you to Call out to God in prayer. Psalm 34:17-20, The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:17-20, Acts 3:19, Psalm 103:1-5, Psalm 103:10-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Judas Iscariot

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Mar 13, 2018

Why did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus - was there an ulterior motive? Did Judas Iscariot see something in Jesus that the other disciples missed? Was Judas Iscariot trying to kick-start Jesus into action as the real and promised Messiah, the expected Messiah

Judas Iscariot John 12: 1-8 Today’s gospel from John is set in holy week, the anointing of Jesus with precious ointment – a poignant scene; but Judas reacted that it was a terrible waste, the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. John's comment is that Judas said this, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:47-50, John 12:1-8

Finding God In The Wilderness

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 2, 2019

Have you ever wanted to experience God fresh and new? God shows up up at times you don't expect so you have to be prepared and ready to be sensitive to identifying God doing a new thing

Finding God in the wilderness Exodus chapter 3 Introduction- Last week as I came to this pulpit, there was a medical emergency and Norma almost lost her life. She was one step from CPR and I believe is a miracle to be here this morning. The lesson of last week service was God still does miracles ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

Finding God In The Wilderness

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on May 2, 2019

Have you ever wanted to experience God fresh and new? God shows up up at times you don't expect so you have to be prepared and ready to be sensitive to identifying God doing a new thing

Finding God in the wilderness Exodus chapter 3 Introduction- Last week as I came to this pulpit, there was a medical emergency and Norma almost lost her life. She was one step from CPR and I believe is a miracle to be here this morning. The lesson of last week service was God still does miracles ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

If It's Going To Be, It's Up To Me.

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 30, 2018

My life took a giant leap forward when I got the revelation of personal responsibility. Noah didn't expect God to build his ark. God is the master planner, but he has left the building up to us.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Around the ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Go In To Possess

Contributed by Bala Samson on Mar 12, 2013

Sometimes we expect God to spoon-feed us! We want the ‘blessings’ wrapped with colorful, glossy paper and given to us; it does not happen that way, there are times we got to just move forward and possess it.

Go in to possess! Nehemiah 9:15”You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them.” Observe the title once more, it is not 'go in and possess' but it ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Look Around And Hang On!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Oct 20, 2014

Don’t worry when nothing happens as expected! Don’t worry when you don’t get a royal welcome and you are given cold shoulder treatment, despite you being in the will of God!

Look around and hang on! Acts 16:9 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Don’t worry when nothing happens as expected! Don’t worry when you don’t get a royal welcome ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Do It On God's Appointed Time

Contributed by Dr. Ade Oyeyemi on Feb 15, 2013

Often we run our program and expect God to comply with what we are doing, but the easiest way to get things done and right is to work with God's timetable. Christians are to learn patience and reliance on God, anytime we operate on the permissive will of

The Ultimate Substitute God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham’s precious son, to Him. Abraham did not ask any questions but obeyed because he trusted wholeheartedly in God and believed something was going to happen. God, in response to Abraham's faith and obedience, provided a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who Needs The Church? Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 20, 2012

The Bible clearly supports and expects Christians to be a part of the church. Church is a community of believers who come together on the Lords Day to worship God and to support each other. Scripture does not show Paul, Silas or Peter going into a city ju

Opening - Video Clip: The church matters (bluefishtv) Remind the church of the $12 commitment: A spiritual mile marker moment How are you doing with the $12? Have you doubled it? Done nothing with it? Buried it in the ground? Or found a way to multiply it for the Kingdom of Heaven? New ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church 12 Pt 1 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 20, 2012

The Bible clearly supports and expects Christians to be a part of the church. Church is a community of believers who come together on the Lords Day to worship God and to support each other. Scripture does not show Paul, Silas or Peter going into a city ju

Series: The Church Sermon: Church 12 Tag line - 12 reasons why we all need The Church of Jesus Christ active in our lives. Open with video: We are ---The Church! Scripture Text: Hebrews 10:19-25: 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Producing Fruits Of The Kingdom

Contributed by William Baeta on Sep 24, 2011

“What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” Is. 5:4

Theme: Producing Fruits of the Kingdom Text: Is. 5:1-7; Phil. 3:4b-14; Matt. 21:33-46 In recent years it has become evident that the focus of many people in the world is no longer on Christ. Even in so called Christian nations Christ is being denied again and again in spite of constant reminders ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Strike The Rock - Speak To It!

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Oct 16, 2013

As a child of God, there is no longer any reason to wonder if God wants to bless you. The waters are flowing from the Rock (Jesus Christ). Because of this eternal truth, we can expect to be blessed, redeemed and healed in every area of our lives.

As a child of God, there is no longer any reason to wonder if God wants to bless you. It was forever settled that issue at the cross. The waters are flowing from the Rock (Jesus Christ). Because of this eternal truth, we can expect to be blessed, redeemed and healed in every area of our lives. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Jealous God Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Mar 1, 2015

God is “jealous” in the sense that He expects complete, exclusive devotion; not merely a partial, lukewarm, half-hearted religious observance. Worship belongs to God. He is worthy of worship and has a right to be “jealous” of it.

The Bible clearly teaches that God is a jealous God. That doesn’t sit well with us; the very notion of the jealousy of God sounds offensive. We think of jealousy as an entirely negative quality--a sin. Yet God declares that He is jealous. God restricts allegiance to Himself alone: ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-6

Denomination: Congregational