Sermons on High Expectations:

Sermon # 36 - Learning To Forgive Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 20, 2024

Jonah was happy to receive God’s forgiveness for his disobedience, but was unhappy when God did the same for the people of Nineveh who repented of their sins. Jesus paid with his life for our forgiveness, and God expects us to extend this same forgiveness to those who wrong us in any way.

For our meditation we will study Jonah 4:1, “Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry.” (GNB) When the prophet Jonah preached to the people in the city of Nineveh, they took his words seriously, repented, and had a change of heart. God relented from punishing the people of Nineveh, and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1, Jonah 2:1-2, Jonah 2:6, Romans 5:6, Romans 5:9, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 18:23-28, Matthew 18:32-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

I Was Blind But Now I See Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jul 14, 2025

When this man was healed, you would have expected a celebration, but instead all he got was confrontation. You would have thought that everyone would have been happy for the blind man. You would have thought this story would have been on the front page of the Jerusalem newspapers.

Liz wanted to catch an earlier flight, but her work meetings ran long. She was the valedictorian of her class and graduated from Georgetown law firm. She had been texting with her mother throughout the day and looking forward to returning home to DC for her 33rd birthday. When she was supposed to ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming The Real Deal Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 10, 2021

Watch out for fakes! Whether we're talking about counterfeit products from the internet or people, the results are similar. We're disappointed, angered, distrustful. Fake stuff doesn't live up to our expectations. Become the "real deal."

Authentic: Becoming The Real Deal   • Fake Rolex in NYC for $50. (real deal is anywhere from $10-$15K USED) That street corner Rolex will eventually turn your wrist green and quit right after that. • If you shop online at all, chances are good you’ve bought counterfeit or fake ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:11-24, Matthew 23:3-7, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Ephesians 4:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Beginning Of The End Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The first lesson we learn from this last book of the Bible is from the author. We learn that every year of our lives should be a year of labor for the Lord, and a year of expectation that He will use us for His purpose. The rest of life can be the best of life is to be our motto at any age.

The Apostle John is the patron saint of everybody, for he is the hero of young and old alike. Jesus called him to be His disciple when he was likely in his late teens. He was the youngest of the 12, and is an example of the faith that Christ had in young people. John also lived the longest of the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-2

Five Sticky Fingers

Contributed by Scott Ridout on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

Everything we think, say and do flows out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 The second big monster is GREED. Greed says, “I owe me”. Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Hidden Chamber Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

What Lies Beneath The Hidden Chamber Matthew 15:16-20; Proverbs 4:23 What is the difference between a moralist and a Christian? A moralist follows rules. A Christian follows Jesus. 16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Shadows Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

What Lies Beneath The Shadows 1 John 1:5-10; James 5:16 Everything we think, say and do flows out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 The first big monster is GUILT. Guilt says, “I owe you”. 5This is the message we have heard from ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abundance- Traits

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jan 21, 2011

Solomon and the people of God are dedicating God’s temple. God is well pleased, so He gives Solomon some instructions pertaining to His expectations on how His people should live and obey in and out of His temple. God even tells Solomon how the Hebrews sh

Abundance- Traits 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Solomon and the people of God are dedicating ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Is Always Darkness Before Deliverance!

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Mar 23, 2015

Peter and the church experienced great darkness before God brought deliverance! Today we as we experience darkness God has promised He will deliver those who serve Him! His deliverance may not what you expect, or when you desire it, but its always best!

SERMON BRIEF Date Written: March 21, 2015 Date Preached: March 22, 2015 Church: OPBC (AM) Sunday FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS Title: There is ALWAYS Darkness before Deliverance! Text: Acts 12:1-19 (NASB) ETS: Peter and the church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Are We Really Living In The End Times?

Contributed by John Lowe on Dec 31, 2014

Ever since Jesus ascended back to heaven, His return has been eminent. Ever since that day, you could have said, “Jesus can return at any moment.” God wants His children to live like they expect Jesus to return at any time.

8/20/2005 12:29 PM Are We Really Living in the End Times? Matthew 24:3-8; Daniel 12:1-4 Today, I want to get into the nitty-gritty of biblical prophecy. And so I shall. But first, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

Zacchaeus The Transformed Man

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jun 21, 2016

There's an interesting story in Luke about a man named Zacchaeus who just wanted to see Jesus as He passed through Jericho but Zacchaeus got much more than he expected. and it transformed his life. Have you pursued Jesus. Has Jesus transformed your life?

Luke 19:1-10 (Please look this up in your Bibles and follow along) As we take a look at the salvation story of Zacchaeus it is always good to turn the attention inward and examine our own heart and our own motives. Luke19:1 NIV “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.” Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Nazarene

The Woman At The Well Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 18, 2017

God can see into the depths of our hearts. He wants us to be honest with him. But he doesn’t just leave us there. He expects us to worship him in spirit. So he gives us his own Spirit to dwell in us and cleanse us.

If you were here last week you may remember how John saw his main role as telling people about Jesus. You may also remember that that task of proclaiming Jesus is also our task. Well today we move on to the next episode in John’s account of Jesus’ ministry. Here we find Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Anglican

The Feast Of Tabernacles Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 23, 2017

Jesus is the Messiah, the promised one who would rule over an everlasting kingdom as God’s anointed king. We are called on to make a response to Jesus. Do we acclaim him as our king or reject him because he doesn’t meet our expectations?

You probably won’t be surprised to discover that there’s a link between this chapter and the previous one. Last week we saw how some people find it hard to believe in Jesus, because faith is a spiritual activity and they’re basically materialists, or because they don’t ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-52

Denomination: Anglican

"Listening, Learning, Loving”

Contributed by Bruce Lee on May 28, 2025

Today we celebrate the Installation of Church officers for the year.

“Listening, Learning, Loving” “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18a KJV Intro: Today we celebrate the Installation of Church officers for the year. With a Reaffirmation or Remembering of your Baptism. Every one of you is called to Christian service by the higher ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 6 Of 7 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

Parts 5 and 6 go together but had to be split. Here we look at the results of harvest 100-60-30, contention in churches, and gospel preaching. The parable of the sower is a remarkable one and we are seeing this as we go. We look at how the parable of the talents are related.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 6 of 7 This next message continues from the previous one. We begin by looking at why some seed produced 100, some 60, some 30. [[EXAMINING THE HARVEST RATES FROM THE SOWING]] One very primary application of this parable ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 13:8, Matthew 13:23, Mark 4:8, Mark 4:20, Luke 8:8, Luke 8:15, Isaiah 32:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 1 Kings 19:19, Isaiah 28:23-29, Matthew 25:14-18, Matthew 13:3-9, Matthew 13:18-23, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational