Sermons on High Expectations:

Unexpected Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on May 5, 2025

Jesus faced some things that we may see as unexpected as he dined with a Pharisee and welcomed a motley group of followers.

There are a variety of ways in which we set expectations. Sometimes cultural norms - like a handshake or a hug - set certain expectations. Sometimes we have expectations based on tradition - for example how to set a table or what you do on holidays. You may have performance expectations set by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Anticipate, Participate

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Oct 17, 2003

Just when we think we know exactly what God is going to do next, He wants to do something new. Putting God in a box could prevent you from receiving great blessings.

October 5, 2003 Morning Worship Text: Numbers 20:1-13 Subject: Water from a rock Title: Participate, Don’t Anticipate. As members of the human race, there are things that we share in common. We like to remain comfortable. We are resistant to change. We like to have an indication of what the future ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 20:1-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Seeking 101 Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Oct 18, 2005

Don’t seek miracles. Seek God and miracles will happen.

A Course in Miracles: Seeking 101 05.05.05 Pastor Mark Batterson This evotional begins a new series of evotionals titled A Course in Miracles. To check out old evotionals, visit the evotional archive @ www.evotional.com. During this series, Pastor Mark will be blogging his way through the book ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preparing For Easter

Contributed by James Tetley on Apr 5, 2006

To prepare for Easter we must not go straight to the cross and the resurrection but remember that the battle for Easter was fought and won in the Garden of Gethsemane

Preparing for Easter (Matthew 26:36-46) If Easter were to have a logo – it would be most associated with bunny rabbits, and chocolate eggs, chocolate coins, in fact chocolate anything. And for many chocoholics after 4 months of famine since the Christmas gluttony, Easter comes as a welcome ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Baptist

Conditional Versus Unconditional Love.

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jan 20, 2001

Year C. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. January 28, 2001

Year C. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. January 28, 2001 Lord of the Lake Lutheran Church Web page http://lordofthelake.org By The Rev. Jerry Morrissey, Esq., Pastor E-mail pastor@southshore.com Luke 4: 21-30 Heavenly Father thank you for Jesus’ unconditional love. Amen. Title: “Conditional ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Worship In Spirit & Truth

Contributed by Brien Sims on Sep 6, 2006

The true meaning of worshipping in Spirit and Truth as shown in the story of Cain and Abel

I think we’ve all done it at least one. We get up just a short while before the Sunday morning service, rush to get our clothes on, and zoom out the door we go. Many of you with children know how time consuming just getting the children ready to head out the door can be. I can note many times when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Three Men And A Baby Series

Contributed by Greg Hanson on Jan 15, 2007

The Magi - their openness and responsiveness to God’s leading is an example for us today.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, don’t you think? The lights, the songs, the decorations… they all seem to add so much. And there are a lot of traditions and a lot of other things that have become a part of the whole Christmas experience. And there’s always such a build-up toward the big day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Unanswered Prayers Part 1 - The Dead Zone Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 21, 2008

Sin can create a "dead zone" where our calls to God will not be answered. Find out what they are, and how we can move out of the zone of unanswerable prayer.

OPEN: About 3 years ago Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had an idea! He was eager to get in touch with the people of his country so he gave out his personal cell phone number during a speech and urged Indonesian people to contact him directly with any complaints about the government’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Face Up To Life And Death

Contributed by Victor Yap on May 5, 2008

Paul, Pt. 17

FACE UP TO LIFE AND DEATH (PHILIPPIANS 1:20-26) A man was out of town on a trip and he asked his brother to take care of his cat for him while he was away. The cat was a beautiful Siamese and meant a great deal to the man, although the brother who was caring for the cat didn’t like cats at all. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Discouragement - Talk To The Hand Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 16, 2010

Our discouragement over our apparent lack of success reveals our lack of faith.

Our discouragement over our apparent lack of success in telling others about Jesus Christ, or in living our Christian life reveals our lack of faith. We must remain obedient to Jesus and continue to share who Jesus is, even in the face of no success. In our Scripture this morning, Paul, Silas and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keeping A Sweet, Sweet Spirit In Our Church

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Sep 11, 2009

God will give us a sweet, sweet spirit in our church when we let Him get our heart right and we rejoice in His love and mercy as God’s people.

KEEPING A SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT IN OUR CHURCH--Philippians 2:1-5 Proposition: God will give us a sweet, sweet spirit in our church when we let Him get our heart right and we rejoice in His love and mercy as God’s people. Objective: My objective is to challenge God’s people to keep a sweet, sweet ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5, Philippians 2:1

Denomination: Baptist

A Messiah Who Does The Right Thing Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Feb 4, 2011

Jesus teaches us to do the right thing because it is the right thing.

A Messiah Who Does the Right Thing Text: Matt. 17:24-27 Introduction 1. Illustration: There is the story of a taxpayer who needed to ease his conscience. "A taxpayer wrote to the Internal Revenue Service, "I have not been able to sleep well for two years. Here is my check for $1,200 for back ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27

Denomination: Methodist

A Pattern For The People Of God

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Mar 2, 2009

It is amazing to look at how even the arrangement of the camp in Early Israel provides a message about the need for leadership, vision, and devotion among God’s people.

Many churches are going through difficult transitions, whether due to the graying and silvering of their constituents, the changing demographics of their neighborhoods, the scheduling demands of a time-shifting society, a change in leadership, a change in vision, a merger with another congregation, ...read more

Denomination: *other

Pharaoh's Dreams

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 22, 2008

God used a dream to reveal to Pharaoh an event that was going to take place in Egypt and the surrounding countries.

Text; Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do…” (Genesis 41:25). When you or I have a dream, it usually involves one incident and then we awaken. We might be having a pleasant dream that places us in a happy or joyful environment ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

The Antioch Affect Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 5, 2009

The Antioch Affect - Obedience to the Holy Spirit in small things, leads to far reaching blessings.

Note to reader: I have hot-links to various subjects in this sermon. The document with the active links can be found in PDF form at this web address: http://www.firstpresanchorage.org/Sermons.htm (The sermon is titled the same "The Antioch Affect") The links are not active in this document on ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:19-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational