Sermons on Surprise: showing 1,201-1,215 of 27,705

The Call To Priesthood

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 12, 2015

There is a special set of charisms and sufferings for those called to pastoral office in the Church.

Christians, especially Catholics, should never be surprised by suffering and pain. If we are surprised, it ought to be if we do not suffer pain and disappointment and grief. Jesus told us that during His absence, we would weep and lament while the secular world rejoices. St. Teresa commented ...read more

Scripture: John 16:16-22

Denomination: Catholic

Part 1 - Matthew 11:2-6 - Jesus-In-A-Box! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 29, 2010

My grandchildren sometimes play with a Jack-in-a-box. Sometimes we want a JESUS-IN-A-BOX too. We want Him to fit into our pre-conceived ideas of who He should be and how He should act.

Part 1 - Matthew 11:2-6 - JESUS-IN-A-BOX! I get the privilege and opportunity to speak to many old people in the course of my day. Being a chaplain and Pastor in an aged care facility (fancy name for old people’s nursing home) I am fascinated by the amazing lives that they have led. Last week I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Satisfying Summary

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jul 29, 2010

When looking at the parables, we have to make sure we get the main points and don’t get lost in the details. Here is the main point.

Passage: Matthew 13:47-58 Intro: I love summaries! 1. something really satisfying about gathering info and drawing conclusions. 2. we have been looking at the parables from Matthew for some weeks. 3. and we have found some repetition. 4. so here at the last of these parables in this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Pearls Of Joy In The Ocean Of Pain: Three Reasons For Rejoicing In Suffering Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Feb 6, 2014

Living as a Church in a Foreign Land Pearls of Joy in the Ocean of Pain: Three Reasons for Rejoicing in Suffering

Living as a Church in a Foreign Land Pearls of Joy in the Ocean of Pain: Three Reasons for Rejoicing in Suffering 1 Peter 4:12-19 David Taylor We are in our last mini-series in 1 Peter, “Living as a Church in a Foreign Land,” where Peter tells us how to live life of discipleship ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sheep Or Goat Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 7, 2020

This is the 12th sermon in the "When Does It End?" Series. This series is from Jesus' Olivet Discourse.

Series: When Does It End? [#12] SHEEP OR GOAT? Matthew 25:31-46 Introduction: The Lord Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse with a parable about the end of The Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. He predicts the destiny of 2 groups of people- Sheep and goats. Jesus insists ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Last Raps Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 8, 2018

As he concludes his letter, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us to give special care to three relationships in our spiritual lives.

Last Raps (Hebrews 13:7-23) 1. A game warden catches an unlicensed fisherman in the act. "You're going to pay a big fine for all those fish in your bucket" But, officer, I didn't catch these -- they are my pet fish and I just bring them here to swim. When they're done they jump back into the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Is Jesus God? The Old Testament Answer Series

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Nov 19, 2018

A message showing how the Old Testament was looking for God to come to earth as a human being.

IS JESUS GOD? THE OLD TESTAMENT ANSWER “For to us a child is born ... and His name will be called wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6f) Jesus does not just reveal God. He is God. When we look at the Old Testament it gives hints and express ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Baptist

The Proud, The Powerful, And The Squandering Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 26, 2021

Wisdom helps us recognize corruption, avoid corruption, and work around corruption.

The Proud, the Powerful, and the Squandering (Proverbs 29:1-4) 1, A little girl asks her father: "Daddy, what is corruption?" -- Go bring me a beer and I'll tell you. -- But mommy said you should stop drinking! -- Get yourself an ice-cream too while you bring me that beer. -- Oh, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living A Questionable Life - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Jan 22, 2024

When people look at me, do they see what they expect, or someone that is "odd?" When I am so close to Jesus that my life reflects his actions and attitudes it causes people to ask, "Why are you like this?"

Living Questionable Lives – Pt 1 (Acts 16:29-34) Intro: A. I grew up with some great tools like the Jule Miller filmstrips, Open Bible Study, and teachings about Friendship Evangelism. All them had a great place in the ministry of reconciliation, but they didn’t all work for me. Maybe it was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is The Significance Of The Three Trees?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jun 11, 2023

Long ago there were three trees. One was a fig tree, one was a sycamore tree, and the last tree we know not what type it was. Regardless of what the last tree was made of, we want to look at the significance of the three trees.

John 1:45-51 – One Man Under A Tree Nathanael – Under Condemnation Nazareth was scorned by the Jews due to the Roman army that was stationed there. Nathanael's remark undoubtedly mirrored the public view. Philip found Nathanael and said that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, the one Moses ...read more

Scripture: John 1:45-51, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 23:40-42

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time- Weeds And Wheat

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 27, 2023

Sanctity is less about the evil we resist than the good we embrace.

There was an interesting report in the news a while back. It was about an event designed for college kids. The purpose was to get them to take weeds seriously. One pundit called it “the World Series of weeds.” Agriculture students from universities in the U.S. and Canada competed in being able to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Catholic

What Everyone Needs At This Point Is … A Bar Of Toberlone.

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Apr 14, 2023

On Good Friday all the churches in our area of all the different denominations go on a Walk of Witness - ending at the top of Northala Hill - the huge steep artificial hill built out of the rubble of the original Wembley station. This sermon was preached there.

What everyone needs at this point is … a bar of Toberlone. Toblerone is of course famous for its picture of the Matterhorn on the packet . (although as you may have seen in the news, they are about to change the picture. Perhaps they are about to replace it with a picture of Northalla Hills - after ...read more

Scripture: John 3:13-15, John 12:27-32

Denomination: Anglican

The Three Trees

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 29, 2022

Long ago there were three trees. One was a fig tree, one a sycamore tree, and the last tree we know not what type it was. Regardless of what the last tree was made of, we want to look at the significance of the three trees.

John 1:45-51 Nathanael One Man Under a Tree Under Condemnation Nazareth was scorned by the Jews due to the Roman army that was stationed there. Nathanael's remark undoubtedly mirrored the public view. Philip found Nathanael and said that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, the one Moses and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:45-51, Luke 19:1-10, Luke 23:40-42

Denomination: Independent/Bible

David And His Prodigal

Contributed by Jim Nicodem on Jul 22, 2009

A message to encourage parents from the story of Amnon and Tamar.

INTRO: Parenting is hard work! To do the job well requires a lot of time and effort and intentionality on the part of moms and dads. -Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for parents to become increasingly lax about their child-raising responsibilities over time. It’s not uncommon for parents to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trial By Fire Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 2, 2007

These verses direct believers to 1) Expect suffering, 2) Exult in suffering, 3) Evaluate suffering, and 4) Entrust suffering to God

This week, Firefighters rescued the marble temples and stadiums of ancient Olympia from raging flames but forest fires ravaged nearby villages and the death toll from Greece’s three-day inferno rose to 58. "The church bells are ringing. It’s hell here," a resident from Oinoi village north of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Other