Sermons on Unexpected Heroes:

In The Shadows Of An Empty Tomb Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Mar 23, 2005

This can be used as the third in the series or a stand alone Easter Sermon. It investigates the unexpected things we find in the shadows of an empty tomb. Life, Hope, Love, Eternity are investigated.

Shadows of the Cross Pt 3 In the Shadows of an Empty Tomb Matthew 28:1-10 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ¡V these were the women who made the journey to the garden tomb outside the walls of Jerusalem to prepare the body of Jesus for final burial. Their task was obvious ¡V ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: *other

Easter's Surprises

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

What God does is eternal -- We are surprised by significance. What God does is impossible -- We are surprised by power. What God does is unexpected -- We are surprised by joy.

I will never forget walking into the funeral home several years ago to meet with the family who had just lost a 40-year-old son and husband. He was not dressed in a typical suit, but a pair of bib overhauls and a dirty ball cap. He had died of a heart attack, but in the pocket of his ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

Christmas Paradox Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Dec 30, 2004

Christmas is a paradox. The Christmas story is filled with the unexpected—the unimaginable. And yet the Christ Child was born amidst these paradoxes; let’s for a few moments think the paradox of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS PARADOX "The Nativity" “As helpless as He was He deserved more privacy. Yet they gathered and stared, not completely understanding what they saw—just that they had to see. . . “Mary was tired and sore and a little sick. But she had heard the heralding angel and knew they would come, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Peter's Path To Power

Contributed by Ron Theis on Jul 8, 2010

Just like we do, Peter's path from fisherman to preacher took some unexpected twists and turns, yet God still used him in a mighty way.

PETER’S PATH TO POWER Luke 22:31-32, 60-61 INTRODUCTION A. Peter’s Denials of Christ 1. We have been studying Peter on Wed. nights for 5 months. a. I would hope we have learned a lot from this marvelous man Jesus named the rock b. The rock that Jesus would build His church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Attempts To Bury The Truth

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jan 21, 2010

The history of our world has demonstrated that earthly kings tend to be very vulnerable people who sit upon uneasy thrones that are subject to topple in the most unexpected ways.

Attempts to Bury the Truth Matthew 2:6- 18 NIV This past week in Canada we have seen our National Government decide to prorogue parliament. That's like the U.S. Senate closing shop for a 3 month unscheduled break. Many people are upset about this decision and see it as a blatant disregard to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:6-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deserted And Disowned Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 28, 2014

When life takes an unexpected turn, trust in God's plan and don't be faithless and desert, denounce, or disown Jesus; but if you already have, trust in God's grace.

Ivan Misner, in his book The World's Best Known Marketing Secrets, tells the story of a San Diego bank, which hired a private investigator to track down a bank robber and retrieve stolen funds. The search led to Mexico. The investigator crossed the border and then, realizing he would need a Spanish ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:43-72

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Word Of God

Contributed by Beulah Praiselin on Jun 30, 2017

When Lord breathes, he can give life, He blows away the unnecessary and His-breathed scripture endure forever. Believe in His Word and expect the unexpected

Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday today and forever. In the daily part of our life we tend to think a lot about other people and the worldly glory, Sometimes our prioritization changes according to the surroundings we tend to lower the priority to be given to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:24-25

The Surprise Of Easter

Contributed by Tim Hbc on Apr 2, 2016

Easter came as a surprise to the first followers of Jesus - and it may surprise us, too. Here we find Unexpected Events, Unlikely Witnesses, Unforeseen Grace, and an Unfinished Story.

Introduction Good morning everyone! I hope you’re having a great Easter and maybe had the chance these past few days to look around our Easter Exhibition in the lounge – A reflective journey through art and multimedia on the theme of ‘Hope in Troubled Times.’ What a timely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Guide On Novel Christian Living

Contributed by Randyll Pandohie on Feb 19, 2022

Life is unexpected, difficult and at times persons use some form of theology in their living. In this paper, we look at how Christian theology could be utilized for a novel way of living.

The life of God is difficult and by no means it is easy for persons to live it. At times people feel as though we cannot get through the day without God and without his grace. When we speak of God’s grace it is his mercy that we all have. In this article, we will speak about ways to live a Godly ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1, Philippians 4:6, Jeremiah 33:3, Colossians 4:2

Denomination: Pentecostal

#3- Larger Than Life Series

Contributed by David Mains on Sep 10, 2003

Third in a series based on the movie "John" released in 2003. Certain characteristics mark all true heroes. Jesus fits all of those descriptions, and more.

If you like the book, you’ll love the movie. Or is it the other way around? If you liked the movie, you’ll love the book. The truth is that I loved the book (or books) when I read them for the first time in the 1970s. And I loved the movies (two so far) when they came out. Now I’m looking forward ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Ordinary Guy Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Feb 20, 2006

Message 3 of 4 on the Judges. How did timid careful Gideon become a great hero of God? There was a Call, a plan, and a Gift - all from God.

The Verdict on Judges One Ordinary Guy February 19 – Gideon 120,000 Midianites came like a plague of locusts against the Israelites. Gideon raised an army of 32,000 to take them down. He cut down the number to 10,000 and then to 300. He armed them with trumpets, torches and pitchers. They ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pilate's Perplexing Problem

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 6, 2021

Pilate was convinced that Jesus was not worthy of crucifixion, but he compromised and sent Jesus to the cross anyway, and by that choice he went from a hero to a zero in the history of Christianity.

Pilate was appointed procurator of Judea in A.D. 26, which was only about 3 years before the crucifixion of Christ, but already he had so much trouble with the Jews that he despised them. When he first came to Jerusalem he discovered that it was about the only city in the whole Roman Empire that ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

The Greatest Name Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 15, 2021

Jesus is the greatest hero in history for the believer, for He was able to win a victory over the greatest enemies of man, and He gained a name that is above every name.

Here is a powerful story of a man who made a great name for himself and left a name that is long remembered. I quote another’s account: “World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his ...read more

The Birth Of Moses Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on May 3, 2022

God has his heroes of faith. They may not be household names they are vitally important to God’s work of redemption. Like Jochebed and Amram the parents of Moses.

I was once gathered around a table ready to hear a good devotional message. Instead of a message it turned out to be a Bible trivia quiz. They were questions that no one could answer. One of the questions was, what was the name of Moses’s mother. It is not a name known by very many. The answer is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Faith And Conviction

Contributed by Rakesh Sharma on Oct 25, 2024

In today's sermon, we will explore the profound connection between faith and conviction, drawing inspiration from Hebrews 11 and the examples of biblical heroes.

>> Opening Bible Verse Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation..." >> Opening Illustration Consider the story of Dashart Manji, a man from Gaya who ran ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40, 2 Timothy 4:7, Daniel 3:16-18, Exodus 3:4, Deuteronomy 34:4-5, Romans 4:20-21, Job 1:22, Daniel 6:22, Genesis 6:22, Nehemiah 2:20, Hebrews 11:6, Acts 2:14-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational