Sermons on Surprised:

The Restoration Of Hope

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 3, 2011

To wish is about what we want from God; hope is waiting for that which God wants for us.

Eugene Peterson (Living the Message: Daily Help for Living the God-Centered Life) points out that what a lot of people call hope is in reality something different. It’s wishing, not hoping: and wishing and hoping are not the same thing. "Wishing," Peterson says, "is something all of us do. It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 80:1-19

Denomination: Other

The Power Of The Plumb Line

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Dec 8, 2011

A sermon emphasising the righteousness of God.

The Power of the plumb Line Amos 7:7-8 Amos saw the Lord "standing on a wall." The wall is not identified, but it can be only one wall -- the wall of Israel's capital city, Samaria. The wall at Samaria symbolized Israel as a nation. Amos tells us that this wall "had been made with a plumb line," ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Ready Or Not !!

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Oct 18, 2016

This is a sermon to get people to think about the return of Jesus Christ. Hopefully it will help us realize that Jesus will return whether we are ready or not.

Tell a childhood Hide & Seek Story Read Scripture (Rev. 22:12-17, 20) There are more than 50 passages in the Bible that tell us that Jesus is going to return. In the short passage of text that was just read Jesus says twice that He is coming back and that He is coming quickly. Trust me when I ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:12-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Good, Good Father Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 2, 2018

Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that God is generously, lovingly giving to us.

1. When Linda, Laura, and I were living in Huntsville, Alabama we went out to eat one Saturday at a popular BBQ restaurant. We saw a wealthy couple from our congregation come in and be seated. We exchanged pleasantries and went on with our meal. When it came time to pay we found that our church ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:36-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Happens When We Love Our Sons And Daughters More Than God?

Contributed by Sheryln Miller on Jun 7, 2017

In this message I try to answer the following questions.Has sin infiltrated the church because we have loved our sons and daughters more than Jesus? Have we tolerated sin in our homes in order to show unconditional love?

Jesus said if any man or woman love son or daughter more than Him, he or she is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37). What does that mean? Thomas Coke said the following regarding our passage, "He who preferreth the friendship of his nearest relations, though the sweetest of all earthly satisfactions, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Between Two Kingdoms

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 2, 2017

Christians live within the tension of being in a fallen, broken world, while trying not to be influenced by it.

“He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). As Christians, living between two kingdoms is what we do every single day, regardless of where we are. We face the challenge of living as Christ’s followers in an unholy, fallen ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

Why Are You Afraid?

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 5, 2017

Do you feel God’s presence and love in the midst of the storms in your life?

Storm-tossed waters are a frequently used metaphor for the turmoil of living. In 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald went down, and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot recorded a haunting ballad in honor of and as a tribute to the ship and the men who lost their lives. He called it “The Wreck of the Edmund ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Other

The Holy Family Of Jesus, Mary And Joseph

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 21, 2017

Clear guidelines with reasonable consequences. High school kids are looking for words of wisdom.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Some of you will celebrate New Year’s Eve via your television. I like what some comedian said about that. He said, “I love it when they drop the ball in Times Square. It’s a nice reminder of what I did all year.” Our First Reading is indicative of the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-21

Denomination: Catholic

No Longer Orphans Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jan 1, 2018

The Risen Christ empowers us to change. The change of condition demands a change of conduct.

Researching your family tree can be a fun and rewarding hobby. For one Minnesota man, it was a life-changing experience. Marty Johnson knew he was the product of two young college students who had a brief affair. Neither parent was prepared to deal with raising a child, so Johnson was given up for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:4-7

Denomination: Other

Faith Not Fear

Contributed by Stuart Gibson on Feb 11, 2018

Encouraging listeners to respond with faith when faced with fear.

Stade de France, Bataclan Theatre, Le Carillon, Le Petit Cambodge, Café Bonne Biere, La Belle Equipe. Many of these places I had never heard of before. Unfortunately, the recent events in Paris have brought them to the front of all our minds. People going about their normal business at the end of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-40

Denomination: Anglican

Full - Pt. 5 - Prayer Full Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 26, 2017

We prefer full over empty! Jesus says He came that we might have abundant (full) life. Do we? Do we even know what we should be full of?

Full Pt. 5 - Prayer Full I. Introduction Are you full? If so, what are you full of? Your "fullness" will determine what overflows to every area of your life. And yet the truth is that if we find ourselves closer to the "e" than the "f" we are in the majority. In a recent study of 1,000 churches ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ash Wednesday: A Gracious And Merciful God

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Feb 29, 2016

Sermon based on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17. The importance of turning to God, repenting. One of the most important descriptions of God in the Hebrew Bible is that God is gracious and merciful.

Ash Wednesday Yr C, 10/02/2016 Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson “A gracious and merciful God” A young employee secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered the young man was told to report to the ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Lutheran

New Hope

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 27, 2016

This leads us to a tremendous truth for our lives today. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has overcome the dark tomb of our ancient despair with the bright promise of His new hope.

Tom Lowe April 21, 2016 Title: New Hope Recent archeological expeditions have unearthed surprising discoveries in Europe—families buried together side by side in ancient cemeteries—destroying older ideas about pre-historic man in Europe. Now we understand they had some of the same ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Denomination: Baptist

Our Ever-Present Savior

Contributed by Jerry Owen on May 20, 2018

In Isaiah 41:10, the prophet describes God as our "ever-present Savior". He is with us to strengthen us, to help us, and to protect us in times of crisis.

OUR EVER-PRESENT SAVIOR ISAIAH 41:10 What is in store for you in 2018? Great victories or crushing defeats? Overwhelming joy or heart-breaking tragedies? Great health or a broken body? Great wealth or financial setbacks? None of us really knows the answer to these questions. Truly, for some 2018 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Challenges Of Rebuilding

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jun 2, 2014

This was a presentation to the Canadian Valley Technology Center near OKC) on the anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that destroyed their facilities. They are in the process of rebuilding. This was to encourage their moral in the effort.

1. Daniel and Ezekiel Webster Doing Nothing Lawyer and statesman Daniel Webster was a powerful orator who gave early evidence of his quick mind and his way with words. One day Webster’s father, was to be absent from the home. He left Daniel and his brother Ezekiel specific work instructions. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ