Sermons on Lack Of Expectation:

Answer To Prayer Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 19, 2008

God is not some kind of celestial slot machine. You don’t pop in a quarter or two’s worth of prayer, hit a button, and expect to receive exactly what you want. God is not a genie in a bottle. You don’t rub the bottle with your prayer, and expect God to

Introduction: A fifth grade boy who had heard a sermon on persistence in prayer was praying by himself in his room one night. As his dad passed his door, he heard the boy praying over and over again, "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo." The next day, the dad asked his son what we were doing. The boy replied that ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Tools Of Pentecost

Contributed by Scott Jensen on May 15, 2008

A sermon based on the Pentecost story. God grabs our attention, gives us tools to get something done, then expects us to do it.

The Tools of Pentecost Acts 2:1-4 Introduction The popular Christian author, J.S. Baxter, once said “What God chooses, He cleanses. What God cleanses, He molds. What God molds, He fills. What God fills, He uses.” (J.S. Baxter, http://elbourne.org/sermons/index.mv?illustration+2793) Today’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Lutheran

Looking To 2011

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Dec 23, 2010

As we approach the New Year, are there things that you are willing to change? You cannot do the same things, the same way, and expect things to change.

Looking to 2011 Matthew 14:22-14:32 Wow! Where did this Christmas go? Most people are done opening presents and most will get back to normal routine. Unless… you are like the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-32

Denomination: Nazarene

April: My Month Of Supernatural Lifting

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 28, 2025

Supernatural lifting is a divine promotion that comes from God and not from human effort. In this month of April, May God lift you beyond your expectations!

APRIL: MY MONTH OF SUPERNATURAL LIFTING By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Psalm 75:6-7 Supporting Texts: Isaiah 40:31, 1 Samuel 2:8, Genesis 41:38-44, Daniel 2:21, Proverbs 4:18 INTRODUCTION Supernatural lifting is a divine promotion that comes from God and not from human effort. It is when God ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 75:6-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Casual Christians Will Become Casualties

Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 25, 2023

Barna research contrasted captive & casual believers, which we can see in Abraham & Lot. We'll see how their faith, or lack of it, guided their choices, and see the outcome of their choices.

CASUAL CHRISTIANS WILL BECOME CASUALTIES Gen. 13:1-18 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: BAD-MOUTHING TO THE WRONG PERSON. An elderly woman came into church. An usher asked her where she’d like to sit. She said, “I’d like to sit down front.” The usher said, “No, you don’t want to sit down there; our pastor is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Secured To The Dock

Contributed by Brian Shelley on Sep 3, 2001

If, in your spiritual immaturity, you go back to your old religion, expect that God will keep you there.

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 Secured to the Dock Intro William Hazlitt, 19th century English essayist said, “When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest. If Hazlitt was right, this will be one of the most interesting sermons I will ever preach because it comes ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Above And Beyond

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 20, 2001

When we do more than what’s expected, we put ourselves in the place to be used greatly the God.

Above and Beyond Genesis 24:1-9 Matthew 5:38-48 Test Genesis 24:9-20 Sometimes in order to obtain things that are truly worth having, we have to go above and beyond the call of duty. We’re often touched when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2003

People expect only the ceremonial from the church. But God wants to give us a rich, varied, and outward-reaching life.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Take Heart! Take Courage!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 20, 2006

Sometimes we can get passive and expect blessings to be given to us. It is high to arise and TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS!

TAKE HEART! TAKE COURAGE By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr Kyfingers@aol.com I. WE ARE GOING TO ALWAYS WALK IN DEFEAT IF OUR OUT GOING IS MORE THAN OUR INCOMING! A. YOU CAN NOT ARISE IN PUBLIC BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE IN PRIVATE. Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Parable Of The Tares - 1 Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Feb 7, 2005

The advice Jesus gives in this parable about what to do with evil is so different from what we would expect

Living Under Grace – 3 – Parable of the Wheat and the Tares - 1 Half acre of 6 foot high thistles in the paddock • You won’t believe the nice clean solution I came up with to get rid of those thistles – run the trail bike through them to create a path so I could walk through and spray them • Got ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Christian Church

Why Sit Here Until We Die?

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 10, 2005

When you’ve got no other options, surrendering (to God) won’t be as bad as you expect it to be.

THE WINDOW Bible Teaching Ministry of CEDAR LODGE BAPTIST CHURCH Thomasville, NC -------------------------- January 9, 2005 -------------------------- 1Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Christian Adversity

Contributed by Orvel Barker on Aug 2, 2003

Adversity is to be expected in the life of a Christian, but how we handle adversity will determine it’s effect and outcome in our life.

Intro: Paul’s main emphasis here seems to be that God has opened a door for effective ministry and that he has faced much opposition. Opposition was not new to Paul neither is it uncommon for any believer, for the Bible tells us that we have an adversary the devil, who goes about as a roaring ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

#10 -- Opposition Series

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Nov 17, 2006

As followers of Jesus, we should expect to face opposition, but we can trust that God has "cut the cords of the wicked."

Introduction Pastor Eugene Peterson tells a story from his childhood—a story about having to deal with enemies. For him it came in the form a school bully who beat him up every day after school. It seemed no matter how young Eugene tried to avoid him—in the forms of alternate routes and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 129:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Mephibosheth And Me

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 20, 2006

The story of Mephibosheth is a perfect illustration of the Gospel. I used this sermon on a "Friend Day" when we expected many visitors.

Introduction: A. Today I want to tell the story of a man named Mephibosheth. 1. Now there’s a name for you! Anyone want to use that name for their son? 2. It’s so hard to pronounce that I thought about giving him a nickname for today. 3. I thought about just calling him “M.” 4. Then I thought ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The End Of Time

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 19, 2003

The book of Daniel contaians many prophesies. Concerning the end of time Daniel tell us to expect: Resurrection, Retribution, and Reward!

The End Of Time Scott R Bayles, preacher I’m sure several people here this morning have seen the bumper stickers, "In case of rapture this car will be unmanned," or some else like that. While such statements are intended to be funny to some, there are confusing to others. Many people have read the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian Church