Sermons on Unexpected Grace:

The God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by David Ward on Oct 3, 2009

An expository message from Acts 12 on how God "shows up" in response to his people’s faith, and lack of faith.

INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unexpected Defeat

Contributed by Ian Humphrey on Nov 6, 2015

Unexpected Defeat

Ecclesiastes 9 v 11 & 12 Unexpected Defeat v.11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Denomination: Holiness

Unexpected Stop Series

Contributed by Kirby Lloyd on Dec 13, 2016

This destination leaves us wondering what in the world just happened…there is often a crisis that seems to put into a spiritual tailspin

Series: Destinations on the Journey of Faith Unexpected Stop Matthew 26:69–75 Intro: Leaving for a trip getting only a few miles and having a blowout… This destination leaves us wondering what in the world just happened…there is often a crisis that seems to put into a spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Expecting The Unexpected

Contributed by Ralph Juthman on Feb 23, 2013

The greatest miracle is to be forgiven by Jesus. The greatest ministry is to bring a friend to Jesus

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Mark 2:1-12 INTRODUCTION Have you ever been invited to a party or an event for the first time? Do you recall the feelings you had when you arrived? Were your expectations disappointing or were they more than what you could have imagined. This familiar New Testament story ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 25, 2013

What do you expect from Jesus? The people, disciples, and the religious leaders had some very specific expectations of Jesus on Palm Sunday. He shattered all of them, just as He shatters our expectations as well. And that's a good thing!

John 12:1-2, 9-19 Jesus performed an incredible miracle in raising Lazarus. It made huge waves. It wasn’t the first person Jesus raised, but it was the first who had been raised after the Jewish belief that the soul had left the body. According to the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-44

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Theresa Ratliff on Mar 25, 2013

Do our expectations of who Jesus should be keep us from seeing who he really is?

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about this story that has always bothered me. How on earth could Mary Magdeline, who has been one of Jesus’s closest friends, look right at him and doesn’t recognize him? Isn’t that like…the president of the George ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: *other

Resurrection Unexpected

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 1, 2013

No one really expected the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today we focus on the expectations of two of those who first saw Jesus: John and Mary. What they expected, and how Jesus actually met them, can help your relationship with Jesus too.

No one saw it coming. No one. On the Sunday following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ no one really expected what happened (or at least it they didn’t fully comprehend it). They should have. Shortly after confirming to His men that He was the Messiah, Jesus said: Mark 8:31 “The Son of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

God Of The Unexpected

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 27, 2012

Jesus reverses people's fortunes. We're shocked that God loves us, has wonderful plans for our insignificant lives,and isn't limited by the options that limit us. In one minute, everything in this man's life changed. God wants to do it for you!

GOD OF THE UNEXPECTED John 5:1-9, 14-15 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. David, a second-grader, was bumped while getting on the school bus & suffered a two-inch cut on his cheek. 2. At recess he collided with another boy and two of his teeth were knocked loose. At noon, while sliding on ice, he fell ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Unexpected Hero

Contributed by Bret Bone on Sep 13, 2011

Ten years ago today I think we would all agree that the events that happened on Sept. 11 marked us as a nation and individuals for a lifetime.

An Unexpected Hero Slide Watch movie trailer…U-tube World Trade Towers (Nicholas Cage 2min…) Ten years ago today I think we would all agree that the events that happened on Sept. 11 marked us as a nation and individuals for a lifetime. Every American alive that day will forever ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

In A Way Unexpected

Contributed by William L. Vincent on Jan 5, 2013

God will often use things, people and circumstances that do not make sense to the human intellect. God will speak into our improbability and bring forth our destiny.

1 Sam 16:13 Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Orthodox

The Unexpected Cross

Contributed by Ken Crow on Oct 2, 2010

Life circumstances may be so that not only do we not ask for a cross but also we may not have a choice in whether we bear it or not.

The Unexpected Cross Pastor Ken Crow Matthew 27:32 (King James Version) 32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. In our Christian life there are many crosses. There is our cross that Jesus says we must bear if we are to be his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32

Denomination: Church Of God

Expect The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

There is no such thing as a hopeless case. The lease likely people in this world can become children of God, and can become leaders in the kingdom, as did this Samaritan sinner.

The unexpected is the source of so much of the joy of life. Our three year old granddaughter, Jennifer, was praying at the table a couple of weeks ago. I noticed she was going faster than usual, and she came to the end saying, "In Jesus name, amen." Then she shouted, "I win." ...read more

An Unexpected Journey

Contributed by Curtis Mathis on May 20, 2022

The reasons we journey are as numerous as the places to which we travel… But regardless of the where, how, and when, all our journeys have something in common…they provide us with opportunities to see, hear and learn new things…some expected…some not!

Introduction: Many things factor into the direction I take as I prepare my weekly messages. Foremost is the direction the Holy Spirt leads as I pray and seek God’s will concerning these words. 0ther factors like the Jewish calendar that leads us to Advent, Lent, and Easter as well as the changing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Tale Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Jan 21, 2022

Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Naomi came back bitter, but Ruth turned the negative into positive with trusting in the God of Naomi.

I. The Return to Bethlehem Ruth 1:6-9 1. Naomi has had good news from back home. a. The Lord had visited His people in giving them bread. 2. Three elements are revealed in the initial moments of the return. a. Naomi tells the girls to go back to Moab and return to their Moabites families. b. The ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-22

Denomination: Baptist