Sermons on High Expectations:

First Things First

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Half our miseries are caused by fancying things that we think are coming upon us: half the things that we expect to come upon us never come at all. Where is our faith? “Do not be worried about tomorrow” that is the commandment of Christ, and it is the way

Opening illustration: A seminar leader wanted to make an important point, so he took a wide mouth jar and filled it with rocks. “Is the jar full?” he asked. “Yes,” came a reply. “Oh, really?” he said. Then poured smaller pebbles into the jar to fill the spaces between the rocks. “Is it full now?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ Is Born!

Contributed by Daniel Haas on Dec 24, 2008

Why did they have to lay this poor child in a manger? It’s not said that they were too poor to afford a decent place, but there simply was no place in the inn. Come on: They knew she was pregnant. Traveling with an expecting woman you make reservations, d

Sermon on Christmas Eve 2008: Christ is born Birth: Luke 2:1-7 * Down-to-earth story * Political context * Not a cute family scene, but privacy issues * The powers of the time: Roman Emperor and Governor, Oppressors * Joseph and Mary humbled themselves and followed the order to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Congregational

Keeping Warm At The Enemy's Fire Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 19, 2004

When we see an apparently strong Christian face a spiritual defeat, we tend to think, "I would have expected that to happen to anyone but him." Peter’s denial while keeping warm at the enemy’s fire creates a similar surprise.

Title: Keeping Warm at the Enemy’s Fire Text: "Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them" (Luke 22:54-55 NIV). Scripture Reading: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 Introduction When we see an apparently ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Be A Good Father

Contributed by Ron Callen on Mar 9, 2007

Whether or not you’ve had a good earthly father, all Christians have a heavenly Father that has set the perfect example for us. This message instructs a young man as to what is expected of him. It instructs fathers as to what they should be. It can ins

FATHERS Tonight I’m going to preach to myself. I’m going to invite you to listen. I’m going to talk about fathers. The responsibility of fathers. The responsibility of a child to his or her father. Ladies, you would do well to listen in. Someday, not that far from now you will pick ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Passion Of The Magi Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Nov 3, 2008

Today, we look at the wise men. There is one thing which sets this God encounter apart from the others in the Nativity story. Mary, the shepherds and Joseph weren’t expecting or looking for anything special to happen in their lives. The Magi weren’t eithe

The Passion of the Magi Matthew 2:1-12 Jeff Vanderhoof writes, Earlier this month I was privileged to fly to England with the incoming class of ordinands, the Bishop, and others from our Conference. It was an outstanding experience, one that I will treasure for years to come. Part of me expected ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Plateau? Accepting The Little?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 9, 2015

I use a rubber band to illustrate how faith must stretch us... Will we keep doing things the same old way and expect a different outcome. Lot settled for less than what God had planned. Faith reaches beyond...

PLATEAU? CHOOSING TO LIVE IN ZOAR, THE PLACE OF LITTLE... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Thanks Garry Brackett for the trail to this lesson... I USE RUBBER BANDS FOR THIS LESSON... The real value of a rubber band is when you STRETCH IT. Discuss how a rubber band must feel when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Introduction To Romans

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Aug 22, 2013

When you open the Bible, do you expect God to speak to you personally? If you truly believe that the Bible is God's word then you should. You see, because God loves His people, He communicates His truth to them.

Romans An Introduction to Romans Romans 1:7a (Romans 1:7a) It is probably safe to say that there is no consensus in our society concerning God. Ideas concerning God are probably as numerous today as in any time in history. Various theories about God have always been in vogue. There is the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:7

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

God’s Grace Toward People You Can’t Stand

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 18, 2013

We want God's grace given to us but we're not as happy when God's grace is extended to the person who hurt us. This message looks at Jonah's anger and what God expects of us toward those who've hurt us.

WHAT GOD BELIEVES: We want God’s actions to line up with our pre-existing beliefs. - We want God to work within the confines of our pre-existing beliefs and values. We don’t want to have to go through the hard work of changing what we think and believe. - We want to love God and be a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

“let My Children Go, For It Is The Year Of Jubilee”

Contributed by John Teem Jr. on Jun 18, 2013

God expects us as parents to first make Christian disciples of the Children he has given us, instead we have sold them into slavery so that we can chase the American Dream. God is calling us out. This is the year of Jubilee.

“LET MY CHILDREN GO, FOR IT IS THE YEAR OF JUBILEE” EXODUS 3:1-10 & LEVITICUS 25:8-18 JOHN TEEM JR. JUNE 18, 2013 CHAPEL OF REDEMPTION LEXINGTON SC INTRODUCTION: Discipleship Defined: Embracing and Assisting in Spreading the Teachings of another. Actively Adhering to Such Teachings ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: *other

God's Shield

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Jul 6, 2013

God’s perspective on matters and not the way man looks at things, we can then expect wonderful things to manifest in our lives. There are special rewards for those who seek God’s view rather than the view man takes.

God’s shield Man’s ways are not God’s ways The Bible teaches us that man’s ways seem right, but they actually lead to failure and disappointment. However, God’s ways lead us to success and blessings. God’s ways and man’s ways are poles apart. If we as ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1

Denomination: Charismatic

Since We Have This Ministry Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 13, 2012

Did you know that you have a ministry calling? Paul is not writing to a group of pastors but to a church. Do you know what your ministry calling is as a member of the Body of Christ? Do you know what to expect as you go out to minister?

4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, Bernard L. Brown, Jr., president of the Kennestone Regional Health Care System in the state of Georgia once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient’s bed. The patient was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Experience The Spirit In The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 11, 2011

Today is the greatest celebrated day of the Church of Jesus Christ. The validity and the message of Easter is what set’s Christianity apart from all the other religions in this world. It’s a day filled with joy, it’s a day filled with eternal expectations

Series: Experience the Spirit Theme: The Body of Christ needs to learn to experience the Spirit in their everyday lives so that they grow spiritually. We can learn to experience true spirituality as we see the Spirit at work in our daily lives and activities. As we learn to recognize the Spirit ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just Remember Who The Star Of The Show Is…..it’s You

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jan 31, 2013

Just how does God expect us Christians to live in such a dark and evil time that we live? Paul says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Everything in prayer….I believe thankfulness motivates prayer and prayer in turn motivates than

Just remember who the star of the show is…..it’s You Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Hardening Of The Hearteries

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2010

October 1986: We are like Pharaoh; we become stubborn when our plans do not go as we expected, and we attempt to force our way. But the difference between being merely good and being great is to be radically obedient to God's will.

The physicists used to speak of the hypothetical question: what happens when an irresistible force meets an immoveable object? What happens when a force defined as beyond the capacity of anything to resist it comes into collision with an object so firmly fixed, so deeply rooted, that it can, by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Grow A Church

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Nov 29, 2010

God wants His church to be fruitful. He wants and expects growth, both spiritual growth and numerical growth. If we are to be obedient to our commission from Christ we must grow. Let’s look at what it takes to grow a church.

toHow to Grow a Church Matthew 16:13-19 Introduction: God wants His church to be fruitful. He wants and expects growth, both spiritual growth and numerical growth. But the sad reality is that that according to one survey 81% of America’s churches reported stagnant or declining membership. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Baptist