Sermons on The Unexpected:

The Shekinah, The Shepherds, And Shiloh

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Dec 12, 2001

The unexpected appearance to an unlikely audience bringing an astonishing message of an unusual arrival.

THE SHEKINAH, THE SHEPHERDS, AND SHILOH LUKE 2:8-18 INTRODUCTION: CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE ON THAT NIGHT WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN? THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM WAS BUZZING WITH ALL THE NOISE AND CLAMOR OF AN OVERCROWDED LARGE METROPOLIS, THE RESULT OF A POLL TAX DECREED BY CAESAR ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Behold, A Woman Lay At His Feet! Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 16, 2011

God works through unexpected circumstances to protect and redeem his people.

Children’s Sermon Tell about time when Helen and I were sound asleep and suddenly – plop, something jumped into the bed with us! I woke, sat up, stared blindly into the dark (of course saw nothing), and laid back down thinking I had a bad dream. When it happened the second time, I was certain it ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gift Of Pain

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jul 4, 2009

Pain is one of the unexpected gifts that God can use in our lives.

The Gift of Pain Text: Luke 5:12-16 Luke 5:12-16 -- "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." "And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Power Of Earnest Prayer Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 7, 2020

God often does the unexpected when we’re earnest in prayer.

A week ago, I listened to the Voice of the Martyr’s podcast called VOM Radio and learned about Petr Jasek, a believer from the Czech Republic, who was imprisoned in Sudan for 14 months. He served as the Africa Regional Director for Voice of the Martyrs and traveled to Sudan on their behalf. BTW, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Hunger And Thirst For? Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Oct 3, 2024

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of hunger and thirst but threw in an unexpected twist:

October 05, 2024 What images come to your mind when you hear the 2 words hunger and thirst? Are they pleasant images? Probably not. • Hunger, by definition, is a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat. • Thirst, by definition, is a feeling ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Psalm 42:1-2, Matthew 13:43-46, Luke 18:18-23

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Unexpected Jesus (Sermon 4): Jesus, Lord Of The Harvest Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 30, 2024

Today, we are diving into a beautiful truth about Jesus that sometimes catches us off guard. We know Jesus as the Saviour, the Shepherd, and the King, but did you know that He is also the Lord of the Harvest?

The Unexpected Jesus (Sermon 4): Jesus, Lord of the Harvest Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT) – “He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’” Introduction Today, we are diving ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38, John 4:35, Luke 10:2, Colossians 3:23-24, Romans 10:14-15, Psalm 126:5-6, Luke 15:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Surprising Faith From Unexpected Sources Lesson 8 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 28, 2023

God uses different methods/means to give victory.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Faith is positive response to God. Why are we surprised? Why were these chosen? 2. None were Levites – God’s priests. 3. Circumstances were black, they illuminated. 4. Oppressors were light haters. B. SURPRISING FAITH – UNEXPECTED SOURCES 1. Rahab the harlot – Joshua ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-23, Judges 16:4-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Ladder

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 15, 2012

The experience of Jacob at Bethel, and what it can mean today -- God still extends his staircase down to us at unexpected times.

The story of Jacob and his brother Esau is a tangled one, filled with deceit, intrigue and animosity. Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob for a pot of stew. Jacob then deceived their father and got him to bless him as the ruler and chief heir of the family. So tensions ran high ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Methodist

Part 14 - Matthew 10:18-19 - Grasshopper, Expect The Unexpected! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 21, 2010

I remember as a kid watching the TV series called "KUNG FU" staring David Caradine. The blind Master Po (Keye Luke) calls his young student "GRASSHOPPER" to "EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED". We are not grasshoppers but we are called to BEWARE.

Part 14 - Matthew 10:18-19 - GRASSHOPPER, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! A friend of mine works as a boilermaker in Bowen, Queensland Australia. He is a big man with muscles like an Olympic weight lifter, a voice that booms and a laugh that is full and infectious. PATRICK PATTERSON loves the Lord and if ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Unlikely Faith Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 22, 2007

God can use unexpected people with extraordinary faith to do extraordinary things.

An Unlikely Faith Text: Joshua 2:1-24 Introduction 1. Illustration: A wife woke up one morning and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?” “I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Tuesday, you’ll know,” He replied. A few ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Methodist

Expect Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Feb 27, 2010

We can expect forgiveness from God: unexpected, undeserved, unearned, and unlimited.

Expect Forgiveness Faith Expectations Part 2 05/04/08 PM Reading: Luke 15:11-24 Text: Luke 15:11-32 [This lesson and this series are drawn from the writings of Tom Allen in his book “What to expect now that you believe.”] Faith Expectations This lesson is another in the series I call Faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Kingdom Like Malformed Mustard

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Mar 27, 2009

Like an unexpectedly huge mustard plant, the kingdom will grow and comfort, in unexpected ways.

Like Malformed Mustard Mark 4:30-32 The kingdom of God is like a VW Beetle. It is one of the smallest cars you will ever see. It is not very comfortable or powerful. It is not very stylish or practical. It is very cheap and not impressive in any way. There is no status with owning one. And yet, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Denomination: Mennonite

You Are Highly Favoured

Contributed by Lola Olanrewaju on Sep 1, 2017

To be higly favoured means an uncommon, an unusual and an unexpected  blessings will pursue and locate you.

YOU ARE HIGHLY FAVOURED ! I've heard people saying this words lots of times when greeting each other . Most of us even say it without realising the power behind the words. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HIGHLY FAVOURED? Favour is defined as approval, a kindly helpful act beyond what you deserve or ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lessons From The Life Of Abraham (4-5)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 27, 2022

We all have had some strange unexpected things happen to us.

Illus: A lady was walking down the street to work and she saw a parrot on a perch in front of a pet store, and to her surprise, the parrot said to her, • "Hey lady, you are really ugly," The lady was furious! She stormed past the store to her work. • On the way home she saw the same ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Losing Track Of God Series

Contributed by John Allen on Jun 10, 2025

Sometimes God does such unexpected things that we get confused and frustrated with him.

[Statements in brackets are for the preacher not the preaching. They are notes that reflect ideas based on the homiletics recommended in "Preach with No Pants" (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/preach-with-no-pants-john-allen-sermon-on-inductive-250167) which proposes an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7