Sermons on Surprise:

Crowns And Rewards

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Oct 20, 2018

When the disciples approach Jesus about spots in his Kingdom, he turns things upside down

A friend of mine this week said something that has resonated with me. She said that in her family, she was the designated worrier. Now, I admit, she has much in her life to be worried about, but that is her story. Our stories are different, but I can’t help but wonder if we have a designated ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 20:20-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Face-To-Face With Death Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 23, 2021

What can we learn from Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus?

THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN: Jesus has definitive power over death. - John 11:17, 25-26, 47. a. This is a sign. - v. 47. - Throughout John we see Jesus doing miracles as signs. This is not just a sign, but the most important sign. - John 11 is the high point of the gospel, in a literary sense. ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus In Trouble?

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Jan 3, 2022

Jesus's family are concerned about Him, but Jesus is doing something new with the whole concept.

Preached: 6 June 2021 at Christ Church, Billericay Reading: Mark 3:20-35 Celebrity -------------- Jesus is already a celebrity. Here he is having healed a man who was mute, if you read the similar passage in Luke. News of these events travels fast, and people are curious. More than that, in a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Anglican

The Day The Sun Stood Still Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 1, 2022

Joshua had the faith to ask God that the sun would stand still. Joshua is asking God to do the impossible. It is a challenge for us to believe God for something so big that it will not happen without a miracle.

Have you acted impulsively in a way that led you to make a huge blunder? Have you had some ups and downs recently? Do you need a miracle to get out of an impossible situation? For Joshua all of the above was true. That is part of why Joshua asked God that the sun would stand still. Joshua believed ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Unanticipated Direction Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Nov 16, 2022

Six Truths for Unanticipated Storms

Jonah was a prophet of God from the northern kingdom of Israel. God called him to go to wicked and cruel people and preach judgment and repentance. Assyria was a rising world power in the mid 740’s BC and was expanding its territory with ruthless invasions of other nations resulting in torturous ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph: His End, His Future, His Faith Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 15, 2022

At the end of life and facing death Joseph is the story of a victorious faith. Hebrews 11 is the hall of faith chapter. In the faith hall of fame are Joseph’s father Jacob, his grandfather Isaac, his great grandfather Abraham.

I find it very inspiring when someone facing death looks forward to heaven by faith. They have the assurance of things hoped for. They know that they will go to heaven when they die. They have faith in God. At the end of life and facing death Joseph is the story of a victorious faith. Hebrews 11 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:24-26, Exodus 13:19, Joshua 24:32, Hebrews 11:22

Denomination: Baptist

Be Like... Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Apr 2, 2015

This is the 8th sermon in the series "Are You Real?". Who are you like?

Series: Are You Real? [#8] BE LIKE… 1 John 3:11-24 Introduction: On this Mother’s Day, I want us to continue in our series in 1 John. When God put Adam to sleep and took a rib from him, He created a very different creature- Woman. The old saying, “Boys are made out of snips ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

Forewarned Is Forearmed Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 1, 2016

Jesus warns his followers about hard times near at hand, in the current age, and in the future end times. Today we will look at the “then” and the “now.” Next time we will begin to address the “later.”

Forewarned is Forearmed (Mark 13:1-13) 1. A woman blogs, “Today, I learned that my daughter's gerbils are not afraid of the vacuum cleaner.” 2. That is not normal. All animals should be afraid of the vacuum cleaner. And all people should know how to spell it. One c, two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why The Phenomenal Advent!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 20, 2017

In this Message, Yours truly aims to glean some lessons from the phenomenal advent of Christ. None before Him were born to a Virgin and none after Him. So why did Christ come into this World in such a miraculous way?

Why the Phenomenal Advent? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.- Isaiah 7:14 (a prophecy roughly about 750 years before the birth of ...read more

Denomination: *other

Not A Picnic, A Purpose! Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 4, 2017

The Christian walk is not picnic! It involves purpose which extends beyond the lite and breezy. In it we are serious about our Influence; Mercy; Faith; and Service.

1. Entebbe Raid On July 4, 1976, Israeli commandos made a daring on the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, rescuing 103 Jewish hostages. In 15 minutes, the soldiers killed the seven kidnappers and set the captives free. But three hostages were also killed during Operation Entebbe. As the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Irony Of Confession

Contributed by Pedro Trinidad on Jun 24, 2024

Confession can be a difficult spiritual discipline, yet confession is also liberating

Now it’s time to confess... What’s it like to have to confess? When’s the last time you had a heavy burden to confess? When’s the last time that you were so burdened with your sense of wrongdoing that you felt you just had to confess to get it off your chest? Confession is an important part of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:5, Psalm 38:18, Proverbs 28:13

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Scholars And Apostasy

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 13, 2024

You can be highly educated and still spiritually ignorant.

Scholars and Apostasy Question: MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT YOU ACTUALLY. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ARE CONSIDERED A BIBLE SCHOLAR. I SEEN YOU HAVE A DOCTORS DEGREE IN BIBLE OR THEOLOGY, ARE YOU A SCHOLAR? MY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT DR. ______ LEAVING THE FAITH. HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Philippians 3:8

Denomination: Baptist

Nicodemus Visits Jesus By Night

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 14, 2025

Why did Nicodemus visit Jesus by night and why did Jesus throw him an intellectual hand grenade

John 3:13-17: You must be born again A report in the newspaper CoventryLive on 19th Dec 2020 ran this article Che Williams was using his magnetic fishing rod in an attempt to find an old rod he had once lost in that area of the river. Instead, he ended up pulling up a hand grenade. He pulled ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Anglican

"I'm Embarrassed To Talk To God About That"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 24, 2003

This message deals with the decision Christians often make to avoid prayer because they don’t want to talk to God about that particular sin.

Sometimes as Christians we let things that shouldn’t be in our life linger in our hearts because we’re embarrassed at the thought of talking to God about that problem. We’d rather just not talk to God at all than have to talk about that particular issue. Let’s be honest: one of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1

Denomination: Baptist

Simple Promises For Life' Storms Series

Contributed by Keith Crouch on Apr 30, 2005

Third sermon in a series that looks at dealing with life’s storms from a biblical perspective.

Simple Promises for Life’s Storms John 6:15-21 I. We are Governed By His Providence “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go to the other side before Him…” – Matt. 14:22 A. Our storms are never incidental B. Our storms never surprise our Lord II. We Have the Potential to ...read more

Scripture: John 6:15-21

Denomination: Baptist