Sermons on Shattered Expectations:

One Way We Accidentally Trip Up New Believers Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 14, 2018

The Christian life is challenging and one way we trip up new believers is by giving them false expectations about what the journey will be like. This passage details the difficulties Paul encountered and serves as a good summary of the struggles any believer may encounter.

HOW WOULD THEIR MINISTRY BE DISCREDITED? If their children in the faith didn’t continue the race. - 2 Corinthians 6:3b – “. . . so that our ministry will not be discredited.” - Paul talks elsewhere about his children in the faith being his joy. And certainly they were. Here we see another truth ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

First Things First

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Half our miseries are caused by fancying things that we think are coming upon us: half the things that we expect to come upon us never come at all. Where is our faith? “Do not be worried about tomorrow” that is the commandment of Christ, and it is the way

Opening illustration: A seminar leader wanted to make an important point, so he took a wide mouth jar and filled it with rocks. “Is the jar full?” he asked. “Yes,” came a reply. “Oh, really?” he said. Then poured smaller pebbles into the jar to fill the spaces between the rocks. “Is it full now?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plateau? Accepting The Little?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 9, 2015

I use a rubber band to illustrate how faith must stretch us... Will we keep doing things the same old way and expect a different outcome. Lot settled for less than what God had planned. Faith reaches beyond...

PLATEAU? CHOOSING TO LIVE IN ZOAR, THE PLACE OF LITTLE... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Thanks Garry Brackett for the trail to this lesson... I USE RUBBER BANDS FOR THIS LESSON... The real value of a rubber band is when you STRETCH IT. Discuss how a rubber band must feel when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Faith That Works Miracles

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Nov 15, 2021

To receive our miracles, God expects a demonstration of our faith. Even when God appears to be silent, faith doesn’t walk away. Faith catches God at His word. Faith finds reasons to believe when there are reasons to give up.

Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-25

Repent At Christmas

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 7, 2021

Does the Christian meaning of Christmas get lost? Purpose: What can we do to make it more meaningful? Plan: Let’s see what profound changes John expected with preparation for Christ’s coming in Luke 3:7-18.

Prelude Does the Christian meaning of Christmas get lost? Purpose: What can we do to make it more meaningful? Plan: Let’s see what profound changes John expected with preparation for Christ’s coming in Luke 3:7-18. Vipers Luke 3:7 “So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Sacrifice Should Cost

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 5, 2022

Sometimes we feel that life is spinning out of control. In order to receive a spiritual breakthrough we might have to make a sacrifice, and a sacrifice must cost us something; for we can’t cheat the Lord and expect Him to bless us for it.

Our message this evening is entitled, “A Sacrifice Should Cost.” A “sacrifice” is defined as “an offering made to God . . . as an acknowledgement of His power and provision.” It’s also defined as “surrender or loss made or incurred for gaining some object, or for obliging another.”(1) Based on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 21:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

An Unexpected Journey

Contributed by Curtis Mathis on May 20, 2022

The reasons we journey are as numerous as the places to which we travel… But regardless of the where, how, and when, all our journeys have something in common…they provide us with opportunities to see, hear and learn new things…some expected…some not!

Introduction: Many things factor into the direction I take as I prepare my weekly messages. Foremost is the direction the Holy Spirt leads as I pray and seek God’s will concerning these words. 0ther factors like the Jewish calendar that leads us to Advent, Lent, and Easter as well as the changing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord Whose Name Is Jealous Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jul 21, 2022

The way this name of God is used here is unique and only as part of the ten commandments or in the giving of the ten commandments. You could sum up the name of the Lord, Jealous as: it is his nature to give and expect us to obey the first two of the ten commandments.

The Lord Whose Name is Jealous Exodus 34:14 God is without sin. He is perfectly Holy. He is perfectly righteous. There is an exclusivity of worship God desires from his people. There are two of his names that reflect these aspects of his character. The Lord is our Holiness. The Lord is our ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:14

Denomination: Baptist

Purposive Will Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Aug 18, 2023

There is a purpose for every act of God in the lives of the redeemed children of God. God does with a purpose. Those who live in Christ are guided by his spirit. Most of the times, may be boring, not creative and may not to the expectations of the times. But God leads to the best of our lives.

Theme: Purposive Will   Text:  Isaiah 46:1-13 Greetings: The Lord is good, and his love endures forever. Joke: A young man asked his pastor to pray for the will of God. . The Pastor, laid his hands on his head and said, “By the will of God, you will walk today!” The boy smiled at ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Dead But Now I'm Alive Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jul 16, 2025

Can you imagine Mary and Martha pacing the floor, waiting for Jesus? They were at the deathbed of their beloved brother. Can’t you see Lazarus struggling to breathe? The whole time, they’re looking out the window expecting to see Jesus arrive.

What if I told you that surveys suggest that nearly three-quarters of doctors in the United States believe in miracles? And what if I told you that over half of the physicians surveyed noted that they had witnessed what they considered to be miracles?1 Find John 11 with me, if you will. Ed ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

A Year Of Excellence – Divine Acceleration And Overflow By Joseph Ondu

Contributed by Joseph Ondu on Jan 29, 2025

Beloved, this is the year when the plowman overtakes the reaper—when God’s blessings will come so quickly, you’ll hardly keep up! Walk in faith, prepare with diligence, and live with the expectation that God is about to do something extraordinary in your life.

Scripture: Amos 9:13 – "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes." Introduction: Beloved, we stand at the threshold of a new season—a season of excellence, divine acceleration, and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

A New Phase Of Life-1(:14-16)(2024)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 28, 2024

1 of ? Joshua recognized a major benchmark in Israel’s progress toward inheriting the Promised Land. Graduates have reached a benchmark in their societal expectations toward opening up their future. But, How do we enter/begin a new phase of life?

A NEW PHASE Of LIFE-I—Joshua 24:14-28 Attention: Graduates of High School, & College. Need: If your work continues without serving God, then you’ve chosen your god, & your god is YOU! Every grade-school graduate has reached a benchmark in their societal expectations. They have exited ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-16, Joshua 24:14-28

Denomination: Baptist

Be Found Faithful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2025

God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. Someone has said, “True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone can sing or preach, but all can be faithful.” Another observed, “The world crowns success; God crowns faithfulness.”

Alba 3-30-2025 BE FOUND FAITHFUL I Corinthians 4:1-5 There is a story of a choir director who was so stressed out because at least one or more members of the choir were absent at every rehearsal for a concert. Finally came the last rehearsal and he announced: “I want to personally thank the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Celebration Of Passover Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Apr 7, 2025

Evening arrived and all the disciples were there. A sense of expectation filled the room – something special was about to happen – they just knew it!! Maybe Jesus was FINALLY going to establish his kingdom and announce his cabinet (which, of course, would be them).

April 05, 2025 The disciples had been with Jesus for more than 3 years. They had listened as he taught and watched as he worked. They had witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, the raising of the widow’s son, the healing of the lame, the restoring of sight to the blind. Peter had even walked with ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Requirements For Holy Communion Service (Accompanied With Prayer Points)

Contributed by Akinsanya Adubi on Apr 18, 2025

We observe Holy Communion or the LORD Supper in our different churches as a memorial of our Lord Jesus taking our sins away. However, there are certain things expected of us to have a good and an acceptable Holy Communion Service or the Lord’s Supper.

Exodus 12:1-28 (NKJV) “12 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal