Sermons on Unexpected Help:

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

We’ve convinced ourselves that “God helps those who help themselves.” Many people believe that’s even in the Bible. It’s not. In fact, I can’t think of anything more unbiblical.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) What an awesome healing story in today’s Gospel! I’m not referring to the cure; I’m referring to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Feb 1, 2007

Discover the counter-cultural ethic that Jesus utilized as he ministered and saved the human race.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves Mark 5:24-34 From the Sermon Series: “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” We are in the final stages of our sermon series, “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America.” It is taken from the first six chapters of Mark. We discovered that Jesus’ worldview goes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:24-34

Denomination: Nazarene

Helping Spiritual Young Adults Help Others Series

Contributed by David Taylor on Mar 20, 2014

Making Disciples; Making a Difference Helping Spiritual Young Adults Help Others

Making Disciples; Making a Difference Helping Spiritual Young Adults Help Others Mat 20:25-28 We started this series seeing that Jesus defined the win for us as making disciples. A disciple is someone who follows Christ, is being changed by Christ, and is committed to the mission of Christ. Then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Who Heals In Unexpected Ways Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 16, 2025

Naaman’s story teaches that healing is not about status, expectations, or emotions. It is about humility, obedience, and faith.

THE GOD WHO HEALS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14 Supporting Texts: Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; Matthew 8:1-3; Isaiah 55:8-9; James 5:14-16 INTRODUCTION: Naaman was a highly decorated military general—valiant, respected, and a man of influence. Yet, behind the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The God Of The Unexpected (Part 5 Exodus) Series

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on May 12, 2018

At the Red Sea the Israelites are caught between the Red Sea and the Army. They have no Idea that God is about to do the unexpected. What challenges in your life call for you to look to an Unexpected action by God

Exodus 14:10-22 10 As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:10-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect The Unexpected When God Is In The Building

Contributed by Elder Jonathan Morrison on Mar 18, 2011

Things happen out of the norm when the Holy Spirit shows Up

Acts 2; 1-4 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Works In Unexpected Ways (Moses)

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Jun 21, 2017

The story of Moses childhood reminds us that God works in very unexpected ways sometimes. It was true for the Hebrew people; it was true with Saul, it is true of us today.

Discovering God through Moses 1 Exodus 2:1-21 Let’s start by getting the timing of this story and the chronology of it. Abraham – Isaac – Isaac – Jacob Jacob – Joseph Joseph gets to Egypt – His family lives there and grow!!! Anyone think the Old Testament is out of date? We live in a society ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-21

Travelling With Jesus: Capernaum – An Unexpected Entrance Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Mar 12, 2017

Capernaum – an unexpected entrance – sermon by Gordon Curley PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). Capernaum Facts & Trivia (2). The People Involved. • The friends. • The paralysed man. • The Scribes and Pharisees. • Jesus. SERMON BODY: Ill: • In 1885 Anne Isabella Ritchie, came up with the phrase ; • "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach him how to fish, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Brethren

Sermon On A Helping Hand

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 15, 2020

Helping those in need

Barack Obama, the former 44th President of the United States once said: “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19

“an Unexpected Hour” Series

Contributed by Charles J. Tomlin on Nov 29, 2013

A serious look at Jesus words about his coming from a biblical rather than dispensational perspective.

“AN UNEXPECTED HOUR” A Sermon Based Upon Matthew 24: 36-44 By Rev. Dr. Charles J. Tomlin, DMin Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Advent 1-A, December 1, 2013 "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour (Mat 24:44 NRS). “I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

What To Say When We Don't Know What To Say - Funeral Sermon

Contributed by Duane Wente on Jun 30, 2021

When someone passes away unexpectedly, we often are left without knowing what to say. Through the story of Lazarus' death, we can see some things we can say when we do not know what to say.

“What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say” Introduction There are not many times when I am left speechless. I’m often told that I have a tendency to not be quiet and listen — that I actually talk too much. When I first heard of Debbie’s passing, however, I found myself without words to say. ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-36, John 14:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Can I Say? A Graveside Service

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 6, 2021

What do we do or say when someone is taken from us unexpecrtedly?

There are times that we don’t know what to say. This is one of those times. ___ died unexpectedly and we are speechless. • We don’t understand why this happened. • We can speculate but we don’t know. • We are left frustrated, angry, and sorrowful. Words seem inadequate, even well-intentioned ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Help Has Arrived!

Contributed by Edward Frey on Dec 5, 2001

The Messiah’s rule is one of perfect righteousness,in which God’s people find perfect deliverance.

Most people feel a bit uneasy when they see an ambulance racing down the road. First, it catches us off guard, and, then, all other vehicles try to get to the side of the road so that the speeding ambulance has a clear path through the traffic. Those flashing lights and blaring siren send ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

God, You Want Me To Do What? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 9, 2013

This is the fourth message in a series based on Moses and shows that being God's man is never easy. This message examines how God often calls us out of our comfort zones.

The majority of us would agree that failure is quite unpleasant. In fact failure often causes guilt and ultimately shame. Guilt and shame have the ability to paralyze us, make us feel unworthy and believe that God could never use us. These feelings often cause us to respond to God in three negative ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surprise: It's Not What I Expected

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jun 15, 2018

Life does not always happen the way we plan it or expect it to follow. We have to remember that God's plan is for us to decrease so that Jesus might increase. We Look at the life of John the Baptist

Surprise--It’s Not What I Expected by Rick Gillespie-Mobley Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 Luke 1:5-25 and 1:57-66 6/10/2018 Text Matthew 11:1-11:11 Surprised, It’s Not What I Expected! Have you ever been surprised, but in a negative sort of way. Your hopes got really high for something, but when it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed