Sermons on Surprises:

Is This A Curve Ball? (Advent 2009)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

This sermon is about being surprised by tbd unexpected things much like Jesus seems to have surprised John the Baptist.

IS THIS A CURVE BALL? Text: Matthew 11:2-11 I read about someone’s recollection of a performance that he (Tom Wright) had been rehearsing for on stage at an earlier time in his life. He mentions that all had been going according to plan most of the time. “We had all rehearsed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: United Methodist

A Song Worth Singing Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Dec 10, 2002

We rejoice in a God who surprises.

A SONG WORTH SINGING Luke 1:46-55 S: Prayer Th: We have reason to rejoice! Pr: WE REJOICE IN A GOD WHO SURPRISES. ?: What? What was she surprised by? KW: Decisions TS: We will find in Mary’s psalm (known as the Magnificat) three decisions by God that reflect an element of surprise. The ____ ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Baptist

"Wake Up And Be”

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Aug 6, 2009

The second coming of Christ will be a surprise to everyone

The 911 Terrorist attacks, the tsunami, more hurricanes in one season then ever before, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, the Pakistani earthquake, the mudslides in Mexico, fires in California, floods in Bangladesh and China, the war in Iraq, the Asian Bird flu, hundreds of thousands ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

The Hopeless People

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Dec 14, 2006

If there is hope for Ninevah -- surprise, there is hope for you!

My roommate in college wanted to be a missionary. He wanted to go to some distant and exotic part of the world and preach the Gospel. We both had met missionaries and had heard them tell their stories. My roommate and I had become good friends with a missionary to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Daniel 8: He's Got This Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Sep 3, 2020

Nothing is a surprise to God. God is in control.

HE’S GOT THIS—Daniel 8 Do you sometimes feel like the world is spinning out of control? The safe and secure life some of us remember seems more chaotic, less innocent, and somewhat scary. Family and cultural values are changing—not always for the better. Religious freedom is under attack in many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-31, Daniel 8:1-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect The Unexpected Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 6, 2023

Life is unpredictable, so expect to be surprised.

A few years ago (2017), authorities apprehended a group of Minnesota teens for attempting to steal a cake from a local grocery store. The teens were embarrassed, but even more so when they discovered the cake was fake—it was a cardboard display cake. The grocery store owner decided not to press ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18, Ecclesiastes 10:1-20, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Prince Caspian: Calling For Help, And The Unexpected Answer Series

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 21, 2009

God answers our calls, but not always in ways that are expected, and yet, they are wonderful beyond knowing.

Prince Caspian: Calling for help, and the unexpected answer Jeremiah 32:42-33:3 Faith is called faith because we have no proof. We believe in God and we accept His presence in our lives, not because we can say what He looks like and how tall He is, but because we rely on the evidence of our ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Holy Insomnia

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 4, 2023

God wants our major priority to be his kind of people even when he’s not looking.

This is a hard week for many of us here. I think all of you must have read of the murder-suicide that took place in our town just a week ago. By itself, it is one of the most tragic incidents to occur among our midst in quite a long time - certainly since I arrived. Two young men in their prime, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Exploring The Supernatural: How To Really Experience Life Supernaturally

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Nov 8, 2002

Surprising source of a strength for the Christian: his "thorn"

1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. 3And I know that this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Stone The Builders Rejected

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Mar 22, 2018

Sometimes we are surprised by what God does.

Psalms – The Language of Our Faith Psalm 118 – The Stone the Builders Rejected March 25, 2018 Show three pictures of baby animals. Show the baby photo and then the adult photo for three animals: 1. Baby Panda 2. Baby Wombat 3. Baby Aye Aye Nature surprises us. What seems ugly and insignificant, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Holds The Key To Human Happiness? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 20, 2024

We are shocked and horrified, but we are no longer surprised.

Palm Sunday 1964 Growing up in the 1950s and sixties, and going to Catholic schools, our Boomer generation hardly ever heard of things that are common today, and nobody knew that the Rockefeller foundation was funding researchers to reduce the Catholic population by finding a “Catholic ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Keep Watch

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 16, 2023

Frederick Bruner wrote, “Judgment will be a day of surprises.”

Keep Watch    Matthew 25:1-13 Introduction Frederick Bruner wrote, “Judgment will be a day of surprises.” In our series, we have noted some of the teachings of Jesus that come in four judgment parables. The first shall be last, and the last will be first. Many are called but few ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Child Is Born Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Apr 21, 2007

The Christmas Story is full of surprises: Surprises that reassure us that GOd uses ordinary people, is in control of history, gives us significance and accepts all people.

What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you? Is it lunch with your family? Is it singing carols? Probably not after you’ve been hearing them in the shopping centres for the last 2 months! How about Christmas presents? Are you like Garry’s wife in this cartoon? Does it matter whether you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

Falling In Love With Jesus Series

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Nov 20, 2004

Two surprising announcements. How would you react?

Falling in love with Jesus Luke 1:1-4 Part II Based on the book by the same name by: Rubel Shelly The nature of the Gospels is summed up best by John; “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Many People Go To Heaven? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 3, 2010

A look at the surprising, scary words of Christ that few will be saved.

“Everyone Goes To Heaven, Right?”: One of the most telling, surprising, shocking statements that Jesus ever made is that only a few find salvation. - Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:22-30. - You could say that this section (along with vv. 24-27) is the “invitation” of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-23

Denomination: Baptist