Sermons on Surprise:

They Will Not Meet You Where They Left You

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Apr 20, 2025

The story of the lame man reminds us that when heaven intervenes, your identity and your situation can change in a moment.

THEY WILL NOT MEET YOU WHERE THEY LEFT YOU By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Acts 3:1-10 Supporting Texts: Psalm 40:1–3, Isaiah 43:18–19, Job 14:7–9, John 5:1–9, Zechariah 4:6–7 INTRODUCTION: There are moments in life when people mark you by your condition, your limitations, or your failures. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

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

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

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

The Suffering Of A Christian

Contributed by Joel Santos on Sep 23, 2004

You can be sure that a person is saved when overcoming trials!

You can be sure that a person is saved when overcoming trials. I. The characteristics of trials a. Trials are painful v.12a b. Trials cause sufferings v.12,15,16 c. Trials sometimes strange v.12b II. The Christian attitudes toward trials a. Do not be surprised v.12a b. Rejoice in trials ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

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

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

Serving And Struggling Together Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Feb 10, 2025

It’s worth it to live a worthy life.

Serving and Struggling Together Philippians 1:27-30 Rev. Brian Bill February 8-9, 2025 When we bought our house in Central Illinois, one of the things that came with it was an obnoxious doorbell chime. Not only was the unit big and ugly but when someone rang it, it would blast out Beethoven’s 5th ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Brother

Contributed by Larry Breeden on Oct 11, 2006

The older brother was suppose to be the good boy

The Good Brother? Lk 15:11-32 INTRO: A. Prodigal’s Steps of Self-destruction 1. Self - Will 2. Selfishness 3. Separation a. Rather be with others than be with the Father 4. Sensuality - Sin 5. Spiritual Destitution **Bad to worse Down on luck *Raffle Hat tag A group of well-intentioned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Traits Of A Good Friend

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Aug 8, 2002

A message preached by two friends Karl and Ryan. Works well if someone could dual preach with you.

Traits of A True Friend Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 This message was a dual preached sermon. As one person preached the other braided a cord of three strands. OPENING: RYAN:* I wonder why it’s such a compliment to tell a woman she looks like a breath of spring, but not to tell her she looks like the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Kept The Law For Us!

Contributed by Chad Wright on Apr 15, 2002

This sermon focuses on Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the wilderness.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, "I’m starving!" Have you ever said that phrase or heard someone else say it? Most of the time, the person who says it is far from malnutrition! The human desire to eat, hunger, can at times be very strange and cause people to act very strangely. You’ve all heard ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

"Hold On!"

Contributed by Fred Mueller on Dec 13, 2002

An advent sermon about the Day of the Lord, waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The call to be faithful witnesses while we wait for God’s consummate action.

The Reformed Church of Locust Valley Advent II December 8, 2002 Is. 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15a “Hold On!” “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Love A Parade!

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Apr 12, 2003

Palm Sunday - moving quickly from the joy of the moment to the Journey of Jesus life. From Light to heavy.

I love a Parade! Mark 1: 1-11 Palm Sunday always reminds me of parades when I was a kid in Douglasville and especially since I have lived here. Personally, I don’t like being in them as much as watching them. This week I immediately thought of my favorite parade. It was on the Fourth of July ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Congregational