Sermons on unexpected grace:

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

Unexpected Hero Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 3, 2025

We are in dire need of integrity in our society, and it begins and ends with Jesus Christ and the foundation of Scripture.

Paul the Ringleader Text: Acts 24:1-9 Introduction 1. “Integrity, the choice between what is convenient and what is right” (Tony Dungy). 2. “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” (C.S. Lewis). 3. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

God Uses The Unexpected

Contributed by Boomer Phillips on Mar 6, 2022

Many times those who are underestimated and considered failures go on to accomplish great things in society. The same principle is true in the kingdom. The Lord oftentimes uses people who are rejected to bring glory to His name.

Once we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and as we come to know the Lord by spending time with Him, we will reach a point in our life where our love will overflow in a desire for service. It’s at this place that many believers come to a screeching halt. They look at themselves ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Unexpected Journey: Joseph

Contributed by Dr. Ken E. Squires, Jr. on Jun 5, 2013

A look at the Unexpected Journey that God sent Joseph on.

7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” (Genesis 45 - NIV) The Big ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:7-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Response To The Unexpected

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 15, 2024

This message is about how we respond to the unexpected events of our lives. As children of God, our core responses should always focus our attention on the One with the answer, not the problem before our eyes.

Our Response to The Unexpected Scripture: Mark 4:35-41; First John 3:21-22; Second Chronicles 20:1-29 Good morning Strangers Rest. The title of the message this morning is “Our Response to the Unexpected.” I am going to open with a story recorded in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus and His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41, 1 John 3:21-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Unexpected Jesus - Intro Series

Contributed by Raymond Perkins on Jun 13, 2001

This is an introductory lesson for this series designed for Bible Class use.

THE UNEXPECTED JESUS - INTRO Luke 4:16-21 INTRODUCTION: Maybe some of you have heard of Norm Evans. He was an all-pro lineman for the Miami Dolphins. Several years ago he wrote a book titled On God’s Squad, in which he discusses his faith, his conversion and his view of football as a result. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Unexpected Jesus - Intro Series

Contributed by Raymond Perkins on Jun 13, 2001

This is an introductory lesson for this series designed for Bible Class use.

THE UNEXPECTED JESUS - INTRO Luke 4:16-21 INTRODUCTION: Maybe some of you have heard of Norm Evans. He was an all-pro lineman for the Miami Dolphins. Several years ago he wrote a book titled On God’s Squad, in which he discusses his faith, his conversion and his view of football as a result. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:16-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unexpected Journey: Abraham

Contributed by Dr. Ken E. Squires, Jr. on Jun 5, 2013

A look at the Unexpected Journey that God sent Abraham on.

1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unexpected Journey: Moses

Contributed by Dr. Ken E. Squires, Jr. on Jun 5, 2013

A look at the Unexpected Journey God sent Moses on.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:24-27

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Gideon - An Unexpected Hero Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 23, 2001

Gideon wasn’t a natural hero, but God used him to save his people. God often uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things

Gideon isn’t exactly your Hollywood image of a hero is he? In fact he’s the exact opposite. He’s much more the indecisive, timid type. He’s one of those people who want every i dotted and every t crossed before they make a decision and even then they won’t be able to make up their mind. You can see ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Faith In Unexpected Places

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Nov 12, 2003

To encourage the people to place their full confidence in the Lord and His leading

Faith in Unexpected Places Joshua 2:1-13 Primary Purpose: To encourage the people to place their full confidence and trust in the Lord and His leading At this point, Joshua and the people of God are still on the east side of the Jordan River. Joshua sends in spies to check out the land. Some ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Habakkuk - God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 15, 2013

Hope in God, even when He is not doing anything. Trust in God, even when you do not understand His way. Worship God by holding on to what you know about Him.

We hardly hear a sermon preached on Habakkuk, which has only 3 chapters, but we do have some popular verses from this book – • 2:4 “The righteous will live by his faith” (quoted a few times in NT), • 2:20 “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Faith In Unexpected Places Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 24, 2012

In our text today, Jesus visited 2 predominantly Gentile regions, Tyre and Sidon (vs. 24-30) and the Decapolis (vs. 31-37). There He ministered to a desperate mother and a disabled man.

The Gospel of Mark #19 – “Faith in Unexpected Places” Mark 7:24-37 Intro – 1. We humans are a strange breed, aren’t we? 2. ILL – A pastor was once looking through some old church records of a Norwegian congregation which listed its membership as: “52 souls ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Unexpected Yuletide Messenger Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

n the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesth

Some of you may remember the answer to the question: ’What is green, has four legs, and if it falls on you from a tree and hits you it will kill you?’ The answer, of course, is a billiard table, though some of you may have been wondering whether the answer was ’Christmas’’, which is also green ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-2

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

How To Handle The Unexpected Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Dec 18, 2018

Mary serves as an example of how to handle life when life doesn't go as expected--a great example. We all experience this sort of thing, and we find out--life doens't go as expected all the time. How would God have us respond?

The Divine Advent(ure) How to Handle the Unexpected Luke 1:26-56 Have you ever noticed how life never seems to going exactly, or sometimes, even close to your plans? One of my favorite quotes is this one, apparently from an unbeliever: “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” And ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

Denomination: Bible Church