Sermons on Surprises:

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

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

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

We Don't Belong To The World

Contributed by Jim Miller on Nov 3, 2003

Jesus says there’s no straddling the fence. If you abide in him, you no longer abide in the world, and it will hate you as a result.

Last week, Steve rushed us along at breathtaking speed, covered like five verses in John 15. Want to pick up where he left off and talk little more about our relationship with the world. READ John 15:18-16:4. Wish could have gotten a clip of this quickly. “Witness,” Harrison Ford, Kelly McGinnis. ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

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

Emotional Growth In Marriage Series

Contributed by Vince Miller on Oct 3, 2019

Marriage can be a great blessing and a great challenge all at the same time. Problems often arise because we men do not invest the time we should in an emotional connection with our wives.

Marriage Is Emotionally Challenging Marriage can be a great blessing and a great challenge all at the same time. Problems often arise because we men do not invest the time we should in an emotional connection with our wives. But for most women, and I would suggest men too, the emotional connection ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:24

Denomination: Baptist

Let My People Go!

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 13, 2016

Have you ever tried to do what God has told you to do only to run into opposition? If you have, you’re not alone. Some of the greatest heroes in the Bible ran into opposition when they did God’s work.

Have you ever tried to do what God has told you to do only to run into opposition? If you have, you’re not alone. Some of the greatest heroes in the Bible ran into opposition when they did God’s work, and we heard a good example of this a few minutes ago in the reading from Exodus ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

When Conflict Lies Unresolved

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 9, 2004

The cost of unresolved conflict in our lives

PEARL HARBOR VILLAIN BECOMES EVANGELIST (See story that follows) > He chose to become at odds with his past… family… culture…just as Jesus said we must be prepared on one level not to bring peace… yet he was called to become a missionary of true peace. · Motivated by anger… to love · From a purpose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Importance Of Embracing Lost People Series

Contributed by Clinton Smith on Feb 18, 2008

This sermon encourages the believer to embrace lost people as the father embraced his rebellious son.

As Jesus moves through these stories, He is placing greater and greater emphasis upon the value of the thing lost. In the illustration of The Lost Sheep, there was 1 sheep out of 100 missing, just 1%. In the illustration of The Lost Silver, there was 1 coin out of 10 missing, 10%. In the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Finish Line - Running The Race Of Life Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 3, 2010

We are to neither run wild without direction, like a man running with poor eyesight, nor are we to look back at a past we cannot change, instead we are to live our life forward.

When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. One of the great assets we had was in the 100 yard dash, we had the kid that was the fastest kid in the whole league. His name was Andy. As ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational