Sermons on Surprise:

A New Beginning Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 28, 2018

Even after Peter's wonderful surprises when Jesus was raised from the dead, he was still struggling to get past his failure. In John 21, we see Jesus giving Peter the opportunity to be reinstated to his role of apostle and leader.

A. I want to begin this morning with a poem by Louisa Fletcher: “I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again. Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all of our poor selfish grief Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door And ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-23, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Tabernacle Series Series

Contributed by Dr. Steve Newton on Oct 3, 2017

The tabernacle series was taught on Wed evening at our church. 2 Cor.5:19 reads, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to him." From the Tabernacle God reached out to sinful man. We should not be surprised to see Jesus in the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness Introduction: I. WHY STUDY ABOUT A SKIN-COVERED TENT THAT COVERED APPROXIMATELY 3/8 ACRE ANYWAY? 1. It Is A Type. (A type is a divinely purposed illustration of some truth.) A type may be: a. A person (Rom. 5:14) b. An event (I Cor. 10:11) c. A ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of God Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 17, 2014

What kind of power does God have? How is that power given to those that belong to Jesus? The answers may surprise you but in the end they will encourage you to give your life even more to the most powerful person who ever lived.

Paul has been telling the Ephesians about his prayers for them. Though he uses many words to say it, his real prayer is that they would be able to perceive in their minds three things: The hope of their calling The riches of their inheritance The “immeasurable greatness of His ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:20-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

You Feeling Sheepish?

Contributed by Craig Benner on Jul 27, 2021

Sheep have unique characteristics. Some you may know about and others may surprise you. The Bible refers to us as christians as being the sheep of His pasture. Let us see how much we act like sheep.

Sheepish? Timid, shy? Sheep-like? Ps 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Ps. 23:2,3 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:3, Psalm 23:2, Isaiah 53:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mary, Now You Know Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 12, 2024

Mary was surprised when Gabriel visited her and gave her some unexpected news. Now Mary knew exactly what the Lord wanted her to do. Best of all, she agreed to do God's will for her life!

Mary, Now You Know (Edited from a sermon preached December 8, 2024 at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO. This is not an exact transcription). Introduction: Mark Lowry’s Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know?” has been a blessing for several years now. It’s a song which, I think, captures the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Gaal Driven Out Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 21, 2020

There is nothing surprising about what is related here. The drunken celebration of the previous night had left Gaal and his men both mentally and physically unprepared for any kind of effective military activity, and Abimelech and his army easily defeated them.

Chapter 43 Gaal Driven Out [Judges 9.34-9.41] Scripture: Judges 9:34-41 (KJV) 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 9:34-41

Denomination: Baptist

Workers In The Vineyard

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 16, 2019

It's the moment that Bruce Willis sees his wedding ring roll across the floor in The Sixth Sense, or when Dorothy wakes up in her own bedroom back in Kansas ... surprise endings make movies and stories memorable.

Introduction It's the moment that Bruce Willis sees his wedding ring roll across the floor in The Sixth Sense, when Charleston Heston looks up at the beach and sees a semi-submerged Statue of Liberty in Planet of the Apes, when a psychotic Norman Bates puts on his dress and wig, or when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Enjoying God's Countless Thoughts About You - Psalm 139:17-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 28, 2025

What does God think about you? Explore Psalm 139's encouraging message of God's intimate, infinite thoughts about you and the surprising call to stand boldly for His honor in a world that rejects Him.

For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson. Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:17-24

Who Shall Roll Us Away The Stone?

Contributed by Grant Adams on Sep 13, 2025

The women on their way to apply spices to the body of Jesus were concerned because the inability to roll the stone away. To their surprise they discovered the stone had already been rolled away, leading to their encounter with the angel who announced Jesus's resurrection.

Here in our text, we find 2 ladies going to the grave side of someone they love very much! As they approached the place where Christ was, or so they thought, they brought him sweet spices to show remorse, regret, and respect for who he was. As they approached the grave site they were forced with a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Denomination: Baptist

Title: "Calm In The Chaos: Trusting The God Who Knows It All” Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Jan 10, 2026

God’s presence does not change with the headlines. He is not taken by surprise by world events or personal trials. While governments and political forces shift power from one hand to another, God holds all things in His unwavering grip.

Title: “Calm in the Chaos: Trusting the God Who Knows It All” Text: Hebrews 4:13 “He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done. LB Introduction: ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Ultimate Daylight Savings Program

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 14, 2004

God created time, and will someday end it, and in heaven time will be no more. In the meanwhile, we shouldn’t be surprised at the fact that God can stop time if He so desires. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Ultimate Daylight Savings Plan Joshua 10:8-14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DaylightSavings.html God created time, and will someday end it, and in heaven time will be no more. In the meanwhile, we shouldn’t be surprised at the fact that God can stop time if He so desires. Sometimes I wish ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 10:1-25, Joshua 10:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Prayer Of Sorrow Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 5, 2006

Why would Jesus pray to have the "cup" taken away, if He knew that wasn’t going to happen? Was His prayer simply an excercise in futility, or was there something more to it? I learned some surprising truths as I prepared this sermon.

OPEN: A minister noticed a young boy kneeling off to the side of the room after youth group and praying very fervently. As the preacher came within earshot of the boy, he was surprised to hear the boy saying: "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo." After the boy finished his praying the preacher approached him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Test 6: Pride Test, Part 1 Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 30, 2007

James asks his readers where their continual desire to fight amongst themselves comes from. And his answer is surprising. Rather than point his finger at an outward cause of their strife, he tells them it is because of each of their individual selfishne

1. What are the Prevailing Symptoms of selfish pride (4:2-5) 2. What is the Primary Source of selfish pride (4:6) 3. What are some Practical Solutions for selfish pride (4:7-12) JAMES 4:1 Two old friends were sitting on the front porch one Sunday afternoon when one of them began to confess to the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Leadership Traits Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 8, 2009

What do you picture when you think of a leader? What traits do you think a leader should have? Our passage today tells us what Nehemiah’s leadership traits were, and they might surprise you.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com/ It’s time for us to rethink our picture of leadership in the church. And, by the way, when we talk about leadership in the context of Nehemiah, we’re not talking specifically about pastoral leadership. If anything, Ezra is the model for pastoral leadership. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Why Worry

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Oct 2, 2009

As Christians, we can find comfort in knowing that things do not happen by accident, they happen on purpose. Nothing catches God off-guard. Nothing surprises him. He is carefully, and with great skill, weaving all the events of life together into hi

Worry Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, "What are you going to do?" "I’m going to take 100 people," Death replied. "That’s horrible!" the man said. "That’s the way it is," Death said. "That’s what I do." The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death’s plan. As ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Christian Church