Sermons on Lifestyle Expectations:

Don't Strike The Rock - Speak To It!

Contributed by Vera Hughes on Oct 16, 2013

As a child of God, there is no longer any reason to wonder if God wants to bless you. The waters are flowing from the Rock (Jesus Christ). Because of this eternal truth, we can expect to be blessed, redeemed and healed in every area of our lives.

As a child of God, there is no longer any reason to wonder if God wants to bless you. It was forever settled that issue at the cross. The waters are flowing from the Rock (Jesus Christ). Because of this eternal truth, we can expect to be blessed, redeemed and healed in every area of our lives. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Look Around And Hang On!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Oct 20, 2014

Don’t worry when nothing happens as expected! Don’t worry when you don’t get a royal welcome and you are given cold shoulder treatment, despite you being in the will of God!

Look around and hang on! Acts 16:9 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Don’t worry when nothing happens as expected! Don’t worry when you don’t get a royal welcome ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Evicted But Not Abandoned Series

Contributed by Preacher Fo Real on May 12, 2011

God loves us and gives us a generous portion of His grace and mercy to be able to feed, clothe ourselves, and exist in our right mind. However, God’s favor or goodwill goes farther than we expect it should.

Early this morning, I sat looking into the dark sky and the verses from Psalm 30: 5 entered my mind. I watched the shadows of darkness flee from the coming morning light and heard the word of God speak, ‘For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life.’ Suddenly, the noise of daybreak ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:1-5

Denomination: *other

Gentleness & Goodness Series

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Jul 20, 2010

We live in a ‘dog-eat-dog’ world. There is not even much gentleness or goodness where you might expect to find it: nurses and doctors have become preoccupied with lawsuits and their paychecks, homes are toxic environments, and churches are full of bitter

Do gentleness and goodness seem like qualities on the top of many lists? What do these words mean to you? For some, it might mean being a push-over or a marshmallow… to others, it might be a coveted virtue. Needless to say, these character traits are as scarce as water in a summer Arizona ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Surprised By Prayer Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 19, 2012

Even as I’m concerned about people who misunderstand the purpose of prayer, I’m also concerned about those who do understand, but who seem to pray with no expectation of God honoring prayers or acting on our behalf.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (In preparing this message as part of a sermon series on “Prayer” I have borrowed heavily, and adapted, from an outstanding sermon of the same title by Mike Hays of the Britton Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do It On God's Appointed Time

Contributed by Dr. Ade Oyeyemi on Feb 15, 2013

Often we run our program and expect God to comply with what we are doing, but the easiest way to get things done and right is to work with God's timetable. Christians are to learn patience and reliance on God, anytime we operate on the permissive will of

The Ultimate Substitute God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham’s precious son, to Him. Abraham did not ask any questions but obeyed because he trusted wholeheartedly in God and believed something was going to happen. God, in response to Abraham's faith and obedience, provided a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

Go In To Possess

Contributed by Bala Samson on Mar 12, 2013

Sometimes we expect God to spoon-feed us! We want the ‘blessings’ wrapped with colorful, glossy paper and given to us; it does not happen that way, there are times we got to just move forward and possess it.

Go in to possess! Nehemiah 9:15”You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them.” Observe the title once more, it is not 'go in and possess' but it ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Dumb Dogs Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 14, 2013

Jesus is not impressed with the outward trappings of self-righteousness. He is impressed with a heart full of simple faith, which we find most often in the hearts of those we least expect. So like Jesus feed the "dogs" and touch the "dumb."

Dumb Dogs (Mark 7:24-37) I like this thought posted by Mike Atkinson in his daily email humor list some time ago. "If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining and boring ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical Free

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

Who Needs The Church? Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 20, 2012

The Bible clearly supports and expects Christians to be a part of the church. Church is a community of believers who come together on the Lords Day to worship God and to support each other. Scripture does not show Paul, Silas or Peter going into a city ju

Opening - Video Clip: The church matters (bluefishtv) Remind the church of the $12 commitment: A spiritual mile marker moment How are you doing with the $12? Have you doubled it? Done nothing with it? Buried it in the ground? Or found a way to multiply it for the Kingdom of Heaven? New ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter: Do You Believe In The God Of Surprises?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Apr 3, 2010

Do you believe in the God of surprises? I do - but there is no way the friends of Jesus expected him to rise from the dead. No way! But the Good News is that he did and it is Good News for all people. Do you believe in the God of surprises?

Do you believe in the God of surprises? Now, let’s be clear, just in case anyone’s not sure. Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of my favourite books, and one of my favourite films, I know that it’s only make-believe; but just like the parables that Jesus told – the stories he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

New Year's Reflection & Preparation

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Dec 30, 2019

As you consider the last 12 months, was it what you expected? Life is turbulent, but our God prepares us for it all. See how the words of Psalm 46 calm troubled hearts, give Godly perspective, and prepare us for the future.

I want you to think back to one year ago, December 29, 2018. At that point in time, what were you expecting or hoping 2019 would bring? Maybe you were hoping that it was going to be the year to lose a few of those unwanted pounds, to start exercising more, to eat healthier. Maybe you hoped that ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Example Within Suffering

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 8, 2020

Peter had dealt at length with the life believers were expected to live, even in the midst of trials and suffering. Looking to the greatest example he had, Peter offered a challenge for the church to follow in the path Jesus had set before them.

Our Example within Suffering 1 Peter 2: 21-25 Our text today is a rich passage that deals with much of what Christ endured on our behalf. Peter also speaks of the abundance believers receive through a relationship with Christ. While these truths are universal, and foundational elements of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Denomination: Baptist

'amend Your Way'

Contributed by Patrick Agbonkpolor on Oct 13, 2020

Our walk with God is predicated on our being obedient to Him. No one lives in disobedience and expect the blessings from God no matter how religious he tries to be. We need to amend our way in conformity to the Word of God.

"This saith the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel,Amend your ways and your doings,and I will cause you to dwell in this place" (Jer 7:3) This message came to Judah through Jeremiah about 612 BC. There was a show of public worship without a corresponding transformation in the lives of the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Truth Lives Forever Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on May 17, 2021

Truth lives forever, because Christ lives forever, who is the embodiment of Truth. He expects his disciples to reflect on him in their day to day life. Three things are said: Be a Faithful Witness, Have faithful Lips, and Be a Truthful Person.

Theme: Truth Lives Forever Text: Proverbs 12:17-27 Greetings The Lord is good; His love endures forever. So far, we have meditated on the themes of Kingdom of Truth, Truth will set you free, Worship in Truth and Spirit, and on Three Faithful Men. Now we will meditate on the theme “Truth Lives ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:17-27

Denomination: Methodist