Sermons on The Unexpected:

A Disillusioned Prophet Questions Jesus:matthew 11: 2-11/ Isaiah 35

Contributed by Wendy Gravolin on Dec 16, 2013

This is a sermon in a narrative storytelling style looking at John the Baptist's question to Jesus "Are you the one or are we to look for another? Dealing with the issue of our disillusionment when the way God works shocks or disappoints our expectations.

A disillusioned prophet questions Jesus On Friday night Steve and I attended a performance of Handel's Messiah at the Costa Hall. It was obvious that this was a well and truly practiced and polished performance. Each of the participants had obviously spent hours both alone and together preparing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Anglican

My Favorite Jesus - Pt. 1 - Infant Baby Jesus Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Nov 29, 2011

Favorite team. Favorite shirt. Favorite food. But a favorite Jesus? What if we miss Him because He doesn’t show up in our favorite way?

Favorite Jesus Pt. 1 - Infant Baby Jesus I. Introduction I have a lot of favorite things in life. I have a favorite pizza. I have a favorite car. I have a favorite football team. I even have favorite people. And for all of his laughable and stomach turning theology, like Ricky Bobby most of us ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

For This Child I Prayed

Contributed by Jon Daniels on May 11, 2020

A Mother's Day sermon based on Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 1:27

“FOR THIS CHILD I PRAYED” 1 Sam. 1:27 FBCF – 5/10/20 Jon Daniels INTRO – American Rifleman magazine cover article: “The Men & Guns of Iwo Jima.” Another article could be written & entitled, “The Women & Guns of Prayer” b/c I believe that the power of a mother’s prayer is arguably one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:27

Denomination: Baptist

Ready Or Not! Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 14, 2021

It is the most wonderful time of the year! But are we ready? Has it caught us off guard? How do we handle a season we which we aren’t prepared?

Christmas Is Coming! Pt. 1 - Ready or Not! Introduction It is hard to believe it is the month of December much less almost Christmas. This year at times has seemed like a lifetime while at other moments it is a blur. We find ourselves in the most nostalgic time of year. Visions of sugar plums ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-49, Luke 2:19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Do We Really Trust God Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 17, 2017

If we trust God with our eternity, why don't we trust him with our wallets? Giving is an act of Faith.

Malachi 3:8–10 Opening Illustrations: A country pastor was talking to his farmer friend, and he asked the farmer, “If you had one hundred horses, would you give me fifty?” The farmer said, “Certainly.” The pastor asked, “If you had one hundred cows, would you give me fifty?” The farmer said, “I ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-10

Denomination: Baptist

Everybody’s God

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jan 7, 2018

The story of the wise men reminds us we worship a God above political might, a God over religious complacency, and a God over cultural prejudice. Often God colors outside the lines, moving in ways that shatter our assumptions. Our God is everybody's God!

Matthew 2:1-12 Everybody’s God Today we conclude the “twelve days of Christmas,” that period of time between Christmas day and Epiphany, celebrated just yesterday. In church history, Epiphany marks the arrival of the wise men, the magi from afar bringing gifts to celebrate the newborn king. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Why The Wait? Series

Contributed by Jay Tigner on May 7, 2016

Jesus' return is imminent but He is patiently awaiting the fullness of those whom will be saved.

CONTINUING THE THOUGHT. Last week we spent our time together considering the reality of Jesus’ Second Coming and Power to Judge sin and sinners especially in light of the false teachers who were denying such among the Church that Peter was writing to. The false teachers denied Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-17

Denomination: Baptist

Grace And Peace

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 3, 2023

Paul begins every one of his thirteen letters with these words of blessing: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It’s arguably the greatest of all the biblical benedictions, but it goes mostly ignored.

Franklin Roosevelt was greeting guests at the White House one evening as they came through the reception line. He disliked this ritual, however, since everyone always spoke their rehearsed lines without actually listening to what was said. So, feeling mischievous that evening and to test his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-8, Romans 5:1

Neighborhater - Pt. 1 - There Goes The Neighborhood Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Sep 8, 2018

Neighbors. There are good ones and then those we wished would move. Have we become Neighborhaters? Can’t we get along?

There Goes The Neighborhood I. Introduction It is one of those fond and nostalgic memories. The sweaters. The shoe change. The trolley. The life lessons. Mr. Rogers’ mild manner often disguised the fact that he was dropping truth bombs on children. In fact, unknown to many until recently as a new ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Pentecostal

Experience Joy In God’s Faithfulness Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Dec 13, 2019

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news ever proclaimed - and it does bring Joy to the World!

EXPERIENCE JOY IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS Ezra 1:1-4; 3:10-13 Introduction The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news ever proclaimed - and it does bring Joy to the World! As Christmas draws nearer, we eagerly await the joyful reminder of that day. In the story of the birth of Christ we do not ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1-5, Ezra 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith And Sight Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

The Father bridges the distance between word and reality—teaching us to believe before we see, then opening our eyes to worship Him fully.

Faith and Sight (John 4 & John 9 — The Nobleman’s Son and the Man Born Blind) --- Introduction — The Longest Distance in the World Someone once said the longest distance in the world is only about eighteen inches — the space between the head and the heart. I think there’s another long ...read more

Scripture: John 4:46-54, John 20:29, Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Pretrib Rapture & Matthew 24

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 4, 2024

A church member wrote asking about Matthew 24 – if the “rapture” is the same as the 2nd Coming. The 2nd Coming has two parts – the Rapture and 7 years later, the Visible Appearing of Christ to defeat the Antichrist and set up Millennial Kingdom.

PRETRIB RAPTURE & MATTHEW 24 Mt. 24-25 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. A little 6 yr. old girl, Emily, complained, "Mother, I've got a stomach ache." She replied, "That's because your stomach is empty; you’d feel better if you had something in it." 2. That afternoon, ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mary, Did You Know? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 10, 2023

This sermon explores the obedience and willingness of Mary and Joseph in accepting God's divine plan for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Good morning, dear friends. We gather here today, not as strangers, but as a family of believers, united by faith and a shared love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here to celebrate His grace, to marvel in His mercy, and to grow in our understanding of His divine plan. Today, we turn ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Topics: God's Action

Roadside Assistance PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 7, 2024

Encourages Christians to deepen their belief, strengthen their discipleship, and share the good news of Jesus Christ's love and salvation.

Good morning, beloved family of God. As we gather here today, we are united in our shared faith, bound by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and driven by our desire to live in His image. Today, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of belief and discipleship, ready to bear witness to the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-39

Topics: Belief, Christ

To Gain The Victory

Contributed by Raymond Perkins on Jan 24, 2003

A lesson designed to show what one must do to be victorious in the Lord.

TO GAIN THE VICTORY Joshua 5:13-6:21 INTRODUCTION: Many of the present generation may not remember that Sergeant Alvin York, a native Tennessean, was the most famous soldier of World War I. Neither do they realize that Alvin C. York was a most unlikely man to become a legendary hero. York felt ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ