Sermons on Surprised:

What Did Jesus Do About Conflict In His Team? Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 8, 2009

Jesus dealt with conflict head on, yet always without sin. He did not avoid conflict. Once he dealt with it in his team, he pointed them back to His mission and their mission. He does that with us also.

What did Jesus do about conflict in His team? In their book called ’A bucket of surprises’ J. John and Mark Stibbe refer to a friend (a church leader) who said this: ’Whenever the conflict gets too much in my church I go and visit the local kennels. There’s a whole group there that’s always ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Anglican

"United Or Untied: Where Am I?” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Aug 5, 2009

Church unity requires our behaving in such a way as to not grieve the work of the Holy Spirit.

In a church bulletin, a hurried secretary typed “the church was untied,” instead of, “the church was united.” What was out of place? The “I” was! In our passage for today, Paul tells us about unity in the church. As he does, he says that the unity of the church is a spiritual reality; but also a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Awkward Obedience Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 10, 2009

The Body of Christ functions best when individual believers have an attitude of "yes" toward God.

AWKWARD OBEDIENCE (Acts 9:10-19) 1. Life has its awkward or distasteful moments. A recent Time article read: 2. "Have economic times gotten so bad that some of the dead are going unburied? Several large counties across the country are experiencing unprecedented increases in the number of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus Loves Me Just As I Am!

Contributed by David Cramer on Aug 30, 2009

A message about the past belonging in the past.

The message for today is "Jesus Loves me just as I am" Switch on! As Bible believing Christians, we are to have confidence in the strength and ability of the Lord. In Him is only perfect peace. Nothing ever worries God or catches Him by surprise because our God is omniscient. The Bible ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecostal Power Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Aug 31, 2009

This message points to the awesome power seen at Pentecost and the power available to us today. In this message I also draw an analogy between the story of the Tower of Babel and Pentecost. There are many notable differences.

The Power of a Changed Life Pentecostal Power Acts 2: 1-21 back in the OT we find a very interesting story about the building of the tower of Babel. This was early of course in history, population much smaller but the people had learned a brand new technology: how to make bricks. Now their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

A Troubled Church Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 28, 2008

Paul begins dealing with the many problems in the carnal Corinthian church

Someone: “The church is like Noah’s Ark: If it were not for the storm on the outside, no one could stand the stench on the inside.” The message of First Corinthians is written to a troubled church. Corinth was full of problems. Paul is writing to that church in order to deal with all of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Exaltation Series

Contributed by Brian Stevenson on Jun 5, 2008

Those who humble themselves will be exalted.

INTRODUCTION: There is a summer tradition at our church called the Vineyard Family Reunion. For one weekend we shamelessly throw a big party. Out of that tradition emerged something we’ve done over the past few years called the “Not So Amazing Race”. It’s this city-wide scavenger hunt that has ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Vineyard

Make Time For The Feast

Contributed by Christopher Nerreau on Jun 28, 2008

Christ has given you a daily invitation to fellowship with Him but many of us reject His invitation giving various excuses. Today we will spend some time reviewing the excuses they gave and see they are the same excuses we give.

INTRODUCTION In our passage today we find Jesus teaching a parable. A parable is an earthly story that teaches a Heavenly truth. Earthly Story - A king had decided to throw a banquette and invited all of His closest friends. In those days the invitation would go out and would be accepted or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:16-21

Denomination: Orthodox

God's Valentine To Us

Contributed by Richard White on Dec 9, 2008

Hallmark is known for its card, yet they cannot duplicate the greatest love story of all times. God’s valentine to us

God’s Valentine to Us 1JN 3:1 how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fitness Guide For The Weary Soul (I'm Pooped)

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Dec 15, 2008

Are you tired? We can find our strength in God!

“Fitness Guide for the Weary Soul” As summer vacations go… this vacation was nothing glamorous. It didn’t have the ZING of Disney World. It didn’t have the WOW of the Grand Canyon. But it was a trip that important to make. After several years away, the young family was going back “home” to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Raising The Level Of Expectation Series

Contributed by Michael West on Dec 20, 2008

realizing that God cares for us, this sermon helps to focus on how God sees us and how we should be seeing ourselves

Sunday January 9th, 2005 Sermon: Raising the level of Expectation part II Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-21 If you were to look close, we could see that God has been trying for some time now to encourage you. There have been many people who you have crossed paths with who are more successful—marriages, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Work Out Your Salvation

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Jan 4, 2009

Salvation by Faith and not by Works

Work out your savation Jesse Bennett Bible Baptist Church Galatians 2:15-3:5 Salvation is not by working hard 1) We know salvation is not by trying, but by trusting v. 16a Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works[trying] of the law, but by the faith[trusting] of Jesus ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God Loves Families!

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Oct 1, 2009

Ordinary Proper 22: Our individualistic orientation as a culture has brought many ills upon us. Among those is the deterioration of the family. This message looks at Jesus’ teaching on the intention of God for men and women and children.

Leonard Sweet, professor of theology at Drew University was the keynote speaker at a theological convocation that I attended last fall. Part of Dr. Sweet’s message focused on the rampant individualism that has become so much a part of our culture. Here is a paraphrase of part of what he said: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Took The Child In His Arms Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 5, 2009

Then they left that place and were passing through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his disciples and saying to them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three da

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was at home, he asked the disciples, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept silent, for on the road they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. So he sat down and called the twelve. He told them, "If anyone wants to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Fast Food Of Feasting? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Oct 7, 2009

I am the Bread of Heaven... Christ satisfies, sustains and saves those who eat His flesh.. World Communion Sunday

Can you guess what Denver, Orlando, Palm Beach, Cleveland, and Las Vegas have in common? They all have passed ordinances to stop groups from feeding the hungry in public.1 You can have 24 hour gambling but you better not hand out sandwiches in a park in Las Vegas. You can party like mad on the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-41

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed