Sermons on Surprise:

Dealing With Montezuma's Revenge Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 9, 2014

God tells us to rejoice when the world persecutes us and makes people give us a hard time about our faith. Why on earth would I want to rejoice? What possible advantage could my being persecuted do for God?

OPEN: Next week Ryan and Trisha Seybold will be here to present their new ministry at Show Low, Arizona where they’ll be managing the American Indian Christian Mission (AICM). It’s a ministry to the Navajo and Apache tribes in that area and they’ve done a great job there for a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cat's In The Cradle - Father's Day 2020

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jun 21, 2020

Many of us, as Christians, grow up with a "blind spot" just like the Dad in "The Cat's In The Cradle" song. Are we failing to build spiritual relationships just as the Dad in the song failed to build a real Father-Son relationship?

The Cat’s In The Cradle Today we will be reading from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Today is Father’s Day. To me it is a confusing day but at the same time it makes sense. It makes sense because a Biblical father is what God planed for the human family. A father who provides for the needs of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Nazarene

What In The World Is God Doing? Series

Contributed by Vance Elzinga on Jun 22, 2007

How do we get on board when we don’t understand what God is doing (compares Jonah with Pentecost)?

20070527 – What in the world is God doing? (Jonah/Acts 2) INTRO– How many of you like surprises? Think, now… Jonah is full of surprises – or God is… • Tomorrow morning you’re going! • Nineveh • The fish is a surprise – oh no you don’t • And Nineveh holds still more surprises – Jonah is sick of ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Encounter Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 13, 2009

After encountering Jesus the women were commanded to go and tell. We carry on this mission because we too have encountered Jesus.

Mark 16:1-8 “The Encounter” INTRODUCTION Routines, even in the face of death, are a part of life. They were present during the time of Jesus just like they are present now. The women were involved in a routine activity as they made their way to the tomb. They had not had time to properly ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

I Stand Amazed

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Sep 5, 2003

We get too board with the amazing things about Jesus, We know his stories and how to end. We need to be re awakened and be astonished again.

I stand amazed Acts 2:1-7 This morning I want to talk about astonishment. The dictionary gives this brief definition - a cause of amazement or wonder - to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise. There are a lot of things about Jesus that were pretty astonishing. The first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-7

Denomination: Congregational

Resurrection Observations

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Apr 8, 2004

This is not the typical Easter sermon. It is specific to our church and where we are. It looks at some different implications of the events surrounding the resurrection.

This is a slightly different Easter message than you may be used to. It’s not typical. There are some observations that are appropriate for where we are as a church and where we’re headed. Read Luke 24:1-12. Many of us have read or heard this passage a million times. We heard a number of sermons ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Facing The Firey Ordeal Series

Contributed by Dan Morrison on Aug 10, 2002

Experiencing the True Grace of God in our Fiery Ordeal

Facing the Fiery Ordeal: studies in Peter about the True Grace of God Review the reason for the writing: The True Grace of God What were the circumstances of the believers he was writing this letter to? They were suffering beyond anything most of us have known. What was the point of this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Grace In The Graveyard

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Feb 24, 2002

Easter Sermon on the hope of the resurrection

GRACE IN THE GRAVEYARD Luke 24:1-6 Life is full of surprises. From meaningless good fortune of winning free food with your whopper, to grandiose life-changing circumstances like winning the Publisher’s Clearing House. As Solomon in his wisdom observed, “that the race is not to the swift, nor the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

The Ultimate Easter Egg

Contributed by David Dewitt on Aug 20, 2002

The empty tomb of Jesus is God’s ultimate Easter egg!

The Ultimate Easter Egg Luke 24:1-12 March 31, 2002: Easter morning Introduction Recently, an article was published that revealed the secrets of hidden “surprises” in computer software and video games. Programmers add these surprises to give the programs an added appeal. Some of the examples were ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Church Of God

Listening To The Woman At The Well

Contributed by Evelyn Weston on Feb 25, 2005

Lent 3A: First person sermon. The Samaritan woman recounts her meeting with Jesus, and how sharing with others what God has done in your life can help your faith grow.

Grace to you and peace, sisters and brothers, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus— who is * the Messiah. Amen I have a story to tell you today about something that happened when I was much younger, a few thousand years younger. It happened when I was living in the small town ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Lutheran

Dealing With The Devil's Kids Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 13, 2009

This is the 6th sermon in the series "Moving With God".

Sunday Morning February 1, 2009 Bel Aire Baptist Church Series: “Moving With God (Exodus)” [#6] DEALING WITH THE DEVIL’S KIDS Exodus 5:1-6:1 Introduction: It has always been interesting to me how Christians seem so surprised of how lost people behave. It should never be a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Warrior Returns Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jan 23, 2013

Jesus rose from defeat to be the Victor.

The Warrior Returns October 21, 2012 There is a distinctive facial expression that is common to people from all countries and cultures. It doesn’t matter what language you speak, what color your skin is, or what country you live in. The response is always the same. The expression is known ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

"An Unlikely Mother"

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 11, 2002

Today we honor Mother’s certainly Mother’s it is after all Mother’s day….but we would be remiss if we didn’t take the time to celebrate the tenderness warmth and kindness that can be found in women. Women who love the Lord!

West Greeley Baptist Church May 10 2002 “An unlikely mother” Genesis 18: 10-15 Pastor Mark Hensley 10 Then the Lord [3] said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:10-15

Denomination: Baptist

Thinking Outside The Crib Series

Contributed by Bob Gillchrest on Dec 29, 2008

Fourth in a series of sermons developed around and following the Magnificat (Luke 1)

Thinking Outside the Crib Luke 2:4-7 INTRODUCTION: What was God thinking? Why did God choose the time and place He did for the birth of his son, the savior of the world? To quote Victor Hugo in Les Miserables, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” What he said about eighteenth ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

Predicted

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jul 31, 2011

Looking at an advent story through Isaiah.

PREDICTED December 5, 2010 ISAIAH 40-55 I love surprises, but I don’t let anyone know that. Debbie could buy a present for me, tell me it’s in the next room, and I’ll shrug my shoulders and go about my business and I won’t go looking for that present. Why? Because ...read more

Denomination: Baptist