Sermons on Surprise:

The Stone Was Rolled Away

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 17, 2008

This Easter message answers the question: “What stone is blocking a person’s life and keeping the person from being all that God wants the person to be.”

“The Stone Was Rolled Away” Mark 16:1-8 The theme of today’s message comes from the Easter Cantata the choir is singing next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, “Arise and Reign.” One of the songs the choir is singing is titled, “He is Risen – Alleluia.” The words go like this: “Look! The morning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Battle For The Vineyard (Matthew 21:33-40)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 6, 2007

Like so much of life, the parables of Jesus are often stories of violence. Here the violence is between a landlord and his tenants. ...

“We were told that this [operation] was against armed people and against people climbing on our armed vehicles. Our APCs (armed personnel carriers) were cruising 24 hours a day close to buildings (in Jenin), waiting for kids to climb on them, trying to dislodge the top -mounted MG (machine gun) and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Read And Heed Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jun 7, 2016

The first of the seven beatitudes in Revelation reminds us that we need to pay attention to who the revealed Jesus is.

1. "Happy as a Clam" -- Meaning: Very happy and content Why would clams be happy? It has been suggested that open clams give the appearance of smiling. The derivation is more likely to come from the fuller version of the phrase, now rarely heard - 'as happy as a clam at high water'. Hide tide is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"jesus Was Baptized Too"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 11, 2019

A Sermon for Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

“Jesus was Baptized Too” Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 John White tells the story of his days as a medical student. For one of his classes, he missed a practicum about venereal disease and had to make it up at the clinic. When he arrived at the clinic he ended up in a line with a bunch of patients who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22

Denomination: United Methodist

The Triumphant Entry Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 25, 2023

The Roman authorities paid little attention to Jesus riding in on a donkey, but in the scheme of all eternity it was the most significant event.

This passage that we know as Jesus triumphant entry is also well known to all Christians because it is the focus of Palm Sunday the week before Easter. It is an annual tradition of the church to make this an emphasis at the beginning of holy week. Almost every Sunday School child has carried a palm ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

No Other Gospel Series

Contributed by Roger Griffith on Jul 15, 2003

Paul stands against the works-based religion of the Judaizers who were attempting to corrupt the gospel in Galatia.

NO OTHER GOSPEL TEXT: Galatians 1:6-10 (NIV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

God Will Make A Way, Where There Seems To Be No Way

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 23, 2003

The three principles from the Feeding of the 5,000

Saxlingham 27-07-03 “God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.” (Don Moen) Don Moen wrote a famous Christian song, "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way" – and I think this could well sum up this evening’s Gospel reading -"The Feeding of ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-21

Denomination: Anglican

Love Is A Verb

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Feb 15, 2009

Love is willing to undergo or endure long. It’s compassionate and generous, it’s humble, open, gentle, thinks good of others, rejoices in righteousness, open, simple child like faith, believes in the success of others, doesn’t give up, love is a survivor

Love is a Verb I Corinthians 13:4-8a Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Is That You, Lord?"

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 27, 2005

We wonder whether the plans we are considering are from God or from another source. Here are four distinquishing marks of the call of God.

Passage: Judges 6:33-40 Intro: So Fred was walking along a narrow mountain path when he slipped over the edge, but saved himself by grabbing a branch. He called out for help, and the Lord answered by calling him to let go of the branch, and God would catch him. “Is there anybody else up ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:33-40

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God's Purpose In Deliverance

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Oct 4, 2005

We usually want deliverance, but God has an additional purpose beyond just rescuing us. In this famous battle passage, the purpose of God is clear.

Passage: Judges 7:1-22 Intro: As we have followed the faith adventure of Gideon, we have seen something. 2. God’s purpose was much more than the deliverance of Israel from the Midianites who visited annually like unwelcome in-laws 3. it was to deliver them with the goal of teaching a positive ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Are We Committed? Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 16, 2015

If we have accepted the name of Christ as our own, it means we have repented of our sins, given up our desires and our preferences and submitted fully to Him. Are we submitted to Him or still trying to live fulfilling our own selfish needs?

Are we committed? 1 Peter Sermon Series, Part 12 1 Peter 4:12--19 Introduction - Peter now ties these two chapters (sufferings of Christ and living for Him) -- There is a huge implication here about adopting the same attitude as He did -- He suffered, was broken, and died because of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Losing A Lifelong Mate

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jan 12, 2014

When Sarah, Abraham's sister of 127 years and wife of who knows how long, dies, he loses a soul mate. Genesis 23 tells how he established a family burial plot and began to move on after this loss.

Can you believe it? Here we are making history at the Signal Mountain Church of Christ! This is the first day for two Sunday morning Worship services in our history. May the Lord give us all courage and commitment to go out and bring others in so that the house may be filled… twice! For ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Ancestry.com"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 29, 2017

A sermon for the 1st Sunday of Advent.

“Ancestry.com” Matthew 1:1-17 “Holy Crow! I’m related to George Washington.” ***Put up Picture of Woman holding George Washington Picture*** Just days after beginning her family history search, Emily discovered a truly legendary ancestor. With the help of Ancestry.com, she traced her family ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist

David - God's Sovereign Choice (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 4, 2024

David, an anonymous shepherd boy living in the hills of Judea, was the person whom God would raise up to be Israel's greatest king, the author of numerous psalms, and be referred to as "a man after God's own heart".

Three thousand years ago, the LORD God chose a young man by the name of David to be the king of Israel. Out of all the sons of Jesse, God's favor came to rest on David. He was the youngest son of Jesse, a poor farmer from the tiny hamlet of Bethlehem. David, on the surface, was a nobody ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Matthew 1:1, Acts 13:22, Hebrews 11:32

Denomination: Baptist

Praying With The Early Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 8, 2004

Acts Series: About the importance of corporate prayer as a church family. Great alliteration [borrowed] and a cameo by Rhoda, the only blonde mentioned in the Bible!

Praying with the Early Church Acts 12:1-17 [comedy of Rhoda, only blonde mentioned in the Bible!] Introduction: In Connecting with God, Herb Miller tells the story of a nightclub opening on Main Street in a small town. Upon hearing the news, the only church in that town organized an all-night ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist