Sermons on Surprises:

Don't Look, But God's Looking At You!

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jul 8, 2012

God sees us for who we really are!

1 Samuel 16:7-But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Guy Henry tells this story…This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Baptist

Last Raps Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 8, 2018

As he concludes his letter, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us to give special care to three relationships in our spiritual lives.

Last Raps (Hebrews 13:7-23) 1. A game warden catches an unlicensed fisherman in the act. "You're going to pay a big fine for all those fish in your bucket" But, officer, I didn't catch these -- they are my pet fish and I just bring them here to swim. When they're done they jump back into the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sheep Or Goat Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 7, 2020

This is the 12th sermon in the "When Does It End?" Series. This series is from Jesus' Olivet Discourse.

Series: When Does It End? [#12] SHEEP OR GOAT? Matthew 25:31-46 Introduction: The Lord Jesus ends His Olivet Discourse with a parable about the end of The Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. He predicts the destiny of 2 groups of people- Sheep and goats. Jesus insists ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Is Learning A New Language Series

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Nov 24, 2025

Christmas is not measured by how perfectly it looks but by how deeply it is felt.

Title: Christmas Is Learning a New Language Intro: Christmas is not measured by how perfectly it looks but by how deeply it is felt. Scripture: Luke 2:15-20 Reflection Dear Friends, A few years ago, a grandmother in Mumbai surprised her family by joining their video call on Christmas morning. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20

Denomination: Other

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

The Immutability Of God Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 20, 2003

The Immutability of God Explains Why We Can Depend Upon God, and Why God is Worthy of Our Worship and our Submission

The Immutablity of God (topical) Intro 1. When it comes to matters of theology, most dictionaries do not recognize the vocabulary. 2. Take two words we will use today: aseity and immutability. Only my large 3 volume dictionary has those words. You can check yours when you get home. 3. But why ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6, Isaiah 46:10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unwrapping The Good News

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Oct 14, 2004

First person narrative on the unwrapping of Lazarus.

I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. My wife was good friends with both Martha and Mary and so when their brother Lazarus died she wanted to go out to the mourning site. We couldn’t go on the first two days because of the work in the field but we went for the third and fourth ...read more

Scripture: John 11:28-44

Denomination: *other

Forgotten Prayers

Contributed by William Mouser on Feb 28, 2005

When Zacharias met an Angel in the Temple, announcing the birth of his son, he was confronted with an answer to a long-forgotten prayer. Like him, we should be prepared to find forgotten prayers answered, and to perservere in praying for those things whi

First Sunday in Advent Luke 1:5-25 "Forgotten Prayers" Today is a day of beginnings. It is the beginning of the Christian year. It is the beginning of the season known as Advent, the four Sundays prior to Christmas. And, it is a beginning for St. Athanasius Anglican Church, because this is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Dinner To Go Series

Contributed by Marc Bertrand on Nov 5, 2004

A Narrative in five movements: Heavy Hearts, Broken Hearts, Passionate Heart, Burning Hearts, Peaceful Hearts

I. Heavy Heart – The Long Walk Home There’s a grief that can’t be spoken. There are wounds that will not heal. My eyes are blind; my heart, a stone. Somehow the sun has nerve to rise again. Somehow the clouds break to reveal a blue sky. Somehow the birds still sing. Somehow it is still ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist