Sermons on Least Expect It:

A Disillusioned Prophet Questions Jesus:matthew 11: 2-11/ Isaiah 35

Contributed by Wendy Gravolin on Dec 16, 2013

This is a sermon in a narrative storytelling style looking at John the Baptist's question to Jesus "Are you the one or are we to look for another? Dealing with the issue of our disillusionment when the way God works shocks or disappoints our expectations.

A disillusioned prophet questions Jesus On Friday night Steve and I attended a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Costa Hall. It was obvious that this was a well and truly practiced and polished performance. Each of the participants had obviously spent hours both alone and together preparing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Anglican

2nd Coming: The Rapture

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

2nd Coming: The Rapture (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13-18. Ill: When General Douglas MacArthur was at Army training college, he tells this story: • The first section was studying the time-space relationship; • Later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity. • The text ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Brethren

Humble Confessions Series

Contributed by Jake Kircher on Feb 8, 2006

Humility is key to bringing about or being part of spiritual change.

***Open with modern day Noah movie clip*** Listen to that last line again. “The creator, from Adam to Noah to now, is still scouring the earth looking for one man or one woman that can actually see past their own nose, to see a world that is in desperate need and do something about it!” From ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ideal Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 28, 2009

Their ENERGY, their ELECTION, their EXAMPLE, their ENTHUSIASM, and their EXPECTANCY. More than a rough draft, Paul’s first letter to any church was the final word on what a church should be. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Ideal Church I Thessalonians 1 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealChurch.html This is Paul’s earliest writing of at least thirteen books. But you couldn’t tell it. It may have been a first draft but that made no difference for he wasn’t the real author. That’s inspiration...perfection from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Minister's List

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 31, 2010

What are God's expectations for His man? What are we supposed to do and to be? And what's this?...oh yeah, all God's people are to be ministers like this! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Minister's List 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MinistersList.html Here's a list God gave for ministers -- what is expected of us, physically, mentally, and spiritually. How we should behave and what we should do and not do. Now, before you get too excited to watch me go ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Living With One Foot In Eternity Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 24, 2017

In Paul's "to live is Christ, to die is gain," we learn a new boldness, a singlemindedness, and a fearless approach to death when God brings it. We can serve God fully with yearning expectation for the life to come.

Philippians 1:21-26 Living with One Foot in Eternity Over the next four weeks, we’ll look at the tiny New Testament book of Philippians. It’s actually a letter the Apostle Paul wrote around 61 AD to the church in Philippi. Paul wrote from prison in Rome, probably during his first imprisonment, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:21-26

Denomination: Baptist

Producing Fruits Of The Kingdom

Contributed by William Baeta on Sep 24, 2011

“What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” Is. 5:4

Theme: Producing Fruits of the Kingdom Text: Is. 5:1-7; Phil. 3:4b-14; Matt. 21:33-46 In recent years it has become evident that the focus of many people in the world is no longer on Christ. Even in so called Christian nations Christ is being denied again and again in spite of constant reminders ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Surprising The World Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon introduction discusses the anxiety some people feel towards evangelism, questioning if faith-sharing should be anxiety-inducing, and referencing Michael Frost's book "Surprise the World" which suggests that not everyone should be expected to evangelize in the same way.

Why does the word ‘evangelism’ cause some people so much anxiety? Do you get images of door-knocking or approaching strangers in shopping malls? Does it make you feel like you’re being turned into a reluctant recruitment officer for the church? Should faith-sharing really be anxiety producing? In ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6, 1 Peter 3:15-16

Topics: Evangelism, Faith-Sharing, Anxiety

Sermon Series: Surprise The World

A Fighting Fundamentalist Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2014

Labels are applied easily--some are undeserved, and some should be embraced. If we stand with Christ and His Word, we can anticipate vilification. Paul obviously expected elders to stand firming on some truths.

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:2-5

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes Jesus' Yoke Light? (Matthew 11:1-30) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 7, 2022

Jesus' expectations are high (Matthew 5-7). So how can he say his yoke is a light burden? Jesus' yoke is not optional, and not secondary. You come to Jesus, in part, by taking on his yoke.

What makes Jesus' yoke light? (Matthew 11:1-30) We were doing family devotions the other night, and I was so proud of two of them, and found their insights so helpful, that I thought I'd sidetrack for a week and just make a record of this for myself. And the best way I know to do that, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-30, Matthew 5:17-48, Matthew 6:19-34, Matthew 7:21-29

Unexpected Events (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 7, 2021

Pivotal events can happen unexpectedly in our lives. If we are able to accept that fact and (at the same time) trust God with the changes that accompany those events, we will manage life better. This message explores unexpected events in Moses's life.

Today I want to talk about two unexpected events in Moses’s life. One was a glorious encounter with God that set him on the course for the last 40 years of his life. The other was a painful experience that equipped him to fulfill the mission given to him in the first encounter. In both cases the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-20, Psalm 23:1-6, John 15:1-5, Luke 12:15-21, 2 Peter 3:11, Hebrews 9:27, Isaiah 43:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 37:1-23, Proverbs 19:21, James 4:7-17, Romans 8:29, Exodus 3:1-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Covenant Concerns Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 13, 2024

God is thoroughly and completely committed to you, so commit yourself to Him, commit yourself to justice, and commit yourself to compassion.

Several years ago, a national magazine assigned a photographer to take pictures of a forest fire. They told him a small plane would be waiting at the airport to fly him over the fire. The photographer arrived at the airstrip just an hour before sundown. Sure enough, a small Cessna airplane stood ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-33, Exodus 24:3-8, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 1:3, Exodus 21:22-25, Exodus 23:24-25, Exodus 22:21-27, Luke 14:13, James 1:27, James 2:5, Micah 6:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Embracing Life And Living Life Among Others Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 31, 2016

Sooner or later, we must revise our expectations downward and realize that it is not God’s will for us to always feel happy. Instead, we must embrace all of life with a view toward loving God and loving others.

Embracing Life and Living Life Among Others (topical) 1. Does your life ever feel like this? 2. I was reading recently about a man who awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size water bed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Grace-Givers

Contributed by David Swensen on Jan 22, 2002

We have been given grace by God. But now what? Did you know He expects us to pass that grace onto others? Learn how to be a better grace-giver.

INTRODUCTION Al Masters lives in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. He is married and he had a little boy and a small business. He considered himself very blessed. And then, just before Christmas, quite some years ago, his little boy was killed by a 15 year old driving without a license. Al Masters ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Consequences Of Disobedience

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Aug 20, 2002

Based on Saul’s partial obedience in destroying the Amalekites we look at the causes and consequences of disobedience in our own lives. God expects total obedience. Partial obedience is equivalent to disobedience.

Introduction: The first King of Israel faced disastrous consequences because he failed to obey God. The hardening of his heart and his casual attitude to the sin of partial obedience caused him to be rejected as King. He lost his kingdom and eventually lost his life. As we analyze the reasons ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Denomination: Charismatic