Sermons on Lack Of Expectations:

What To Expect In 2013

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jan 3, 2013

If you desire to see a change in 2013, you have to be willing to make a change in 2013. You cannot expect to do the same old thing, the same old way , and expect to have a different out come.

What to expect for 2013? Introduction- Good morning everyone, I hope that you have survived the hectic time of present opening, over-eating, being sleep depraved, and sugar overload. All under the heading of Merry Christmas! Truth is when we do calm down, most of us are just plain exhausted ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-17

Denomination: Nazarene

Not What I Expected Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

That's what the Christmas event is all about - God showing up in the midst of the unexpected.

Not What I Expected Isaiah 9:1-2 When I was in seventh grade, like so many youth at that age, music became a huge part of my life. I was awakened to the sounds of music of Elton John’s Greatest Hits, SuperTramps’ Breakfast in America and Led Zepellin 2. So my hope and dream was to build ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Methodist

Expect God To Be God Series

Contributed by Tom Owen on Jan 14, 2011

verse by verse through Acts

Isn’t it funny how we get surprised by things that shouldn’t surprise us at all? [Gaining weight, speeding ticket, pregnancy examples.] Isn’t it funny how we get surprised by things that shouldn’t surprise us at all? Especially when it comes to God-things. Sometimes the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Hope And Expectation Forever.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 12, 2014

As Christmas approaches many people become discouraged despite the festivities yet we have everything to live for according to all of today's readings. Read on!

This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 13th December 2019 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries). Summary: As Christmas approaches many people become discouraged despite the festivities yet we have everything to live for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:17-18

Denomination: Episcopal

Expecting The Unexpected (Funeral)

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 12, 2017

Funeral for middle aged Christian lady who died unexpectedly.

Song – Glory for Me – Family Enters Song – Lamb of God Romans 8.26-30 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At The Intersection Of Expectation And Disappointment

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 16, 2019

John was disillusioned when he questioned whether Jesus was the Messiah. Studying this incident will assist us to avoid becoming disillusioned in Christ.

“When John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6

Denomination: Baptist

Elijah - Unrealistic Expectations Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Mar 14, 2018

God’s grace is spectacular… even when it isn’t

ENGAGE Fourteen years ago I was a struggling bi-vocational church planter. Because our church plant had gone through some tough times, we were meeting at our house over the summer and praying for God’s direction. During that time I got a phone call from Denny Howard, who was the pastor here at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"Expect The Unexpected This Christmas”

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jan 2, 2023

As some of said, “If we expect to hear the Christmas gospel without the Advent call to repentance, we will find ourselves surprised by John and unprepared for Jesus.” So, we ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the message and ministry of both John and Jesus.

“It wasn’t what I expected.” Whether you are young or old, a man or woman, a girl or a boy, you have probably experienced something that caused you to have that reaction. Perhaps it was connected to some food that you tried. You were feeling a little adventurous and you ordered something at a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Keys To Greater Expectations Series

Contributed by Rudolf E. Y. Mensah on Jan 9, 2022

Nothing provokes the blessings of God than "fear of God and walks in His ways".

OASIS POTTERLIGHT CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL OCCASION: Sunday Service, Sermon THEME: My Year Of Greater Expectations SUBJECT: Keys To Greater Expectations PREACHER: Rev. (Prophet) Rudolf E. Y. Mensah DATE: Sunday, January 9th, 2022 TEXT: Psalm 128:1-6, NIV: "...Blessed are all who fear the LORD, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-6, John 14:21, Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Charismatic

Not What I Expected

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 31, 2023

Are we demanding signs? Do we allow fleshly, carnal desires to define our expectations. Do I focus on external materialism to define what I am expecting? Do we desire spiritual healthy expectations?

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) EXPECT: eager anticipation, probable to occur, to wait on something, think or believe that something is going to happen, anticipate, look forward, to hope, requires faith. WANT: to desire, wish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:22, Mark 8:11-12, 1 John 5:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Expectations & Evidence

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 16, 2023

Yeshua was saying, “Don’t be upset because I’m not what you expected. You’ve got my credentials. Now trust me for the rest of it.”

Zach was tired. He had been coming down to Tiberias every week for almost two months, bringing news and food to John in prison, and it looked like he’d probably be doing it for the rest of the year. Nothing had changed. After Herod arrested John for publicly accusing him of incest and adultery, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Is Yours An Expectant Faith?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 23, 2024

Faith means maintaining our trust in God, even when He makes us wait.

Have you ever watched the surfing contests in Hawaii? From what I read, surfing is all about the timing. The environment for surfing is dynamic with the waves, wind, and conditions constantly changing. It doesn't matter how long you spend in the water if you don't have the right timing. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56, 1 John 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Expectations And Responses To The Gospel Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 27, 2024

God has placed a hunger in our heart to hear the truth of the Gospel, it is the “missing piece” that we have – it is this truth that draws us to God, and why we too must tell others the Good News!

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 20 The expectations and responses to the Gospel Acts 13:42 – 14:7 Introduction - Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth” -- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise) -- And we looked ahead, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52, Acts 14:1-7, Matthew 5:6, John 3:18, Matthew 10:14, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 9:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living With Expectant Hope

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Feb 23, 2025

This is a sermon I used during advent but could be modified for any time of year... It's all about living with the Hope of the return of Jesus.

“Stay Awake: Living with Expectant Hope” Mark 13:24-37 Imagine it’s a dark and stormy night. Rain is pounding against your windows, and thunder rolls in the distance. You’ve just settled into a deep sleep when there’s a loud knock at the door. Startled you sit up, heart pounding, who could be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Expectations & Excuses

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 7, 2025

In Genesis 3:8-13, the refining of our expectations and removal of our excuses is shown in three ways through 1) God’s Gracious Call (Genesis 3:8-9), 2) God’s Gentle Question (Genesis 3:10-11), and 3) God’s Grace for Our Excuses (Genesis 3:12-13).

Genesis 3:8-13. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Denomination: Other