Sermons on Unexpected Joy:

An Unexpected Honor Series

Contributed by Diana Tyler on Jul 8, 2023

No good deed goes unnoticed.

In Esther 6, King Xerxes was having trouble sleeping so he asked that the book of the records of the chronicles be read. During the reading, it was discovered that Mordecai was the one who had told of the plot to assassinate King Xerxes from Esther 2:21-23. King Xerxes asked what honor or dignity ...read more

How To Cope With Life’s Unexpected Twist And Turns

Contributed by Paul Smith on Jan 8, 2023

We often feel powerless when faced with unexpected events, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.

How To Cope With Life’s Unexpected Twist And Turns I. Introduction Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and it can be difficult to cope with these changes. We often feel powerless when faced with unexpected events, and it's natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. II. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Psalm 46:1-3, Isaiah 41:10

"Joy Comes In The Morning.”

Contributed by Allen Crosby on Aug 21, 2023

Many times, life come at you fast and unexpected. King David wrote the Psalm we are going to look at today, during a time of celebration. It was written at the dedication of the house of David.

I. The Psalmist Anguish A. David experience renewal 1. I will extol You, O Lord… 2. I will exalt you. 3. This Psalm begins with exaltation and in Verse 12 it ends with thanksgiving. 4. Why does David Exalt the Lord and give Him Thanks? 5. Many believe that David may have experience a terrible ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 30:1-12

The Unexpected Path To Perfection

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 23, 2025

This sermon explains how God purposefully uses the trials of life to refine our faith, produce steadfast endurance, and develop us into spiritually mature believers who are complete in Christ.

If you were to take a survey of every person in this room, and perhaps every person in this city, and ask them, "What is your main goal in life?" you would get a lot of different answers. Some would say to be successful, to provide for their family. Others might say to be healthy, to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

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

Unexpected Funeral - Man

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 1, 2020

A heart attack cut this life short.

Funerals Provide: • An Opportunity to Mourn • An Opportunity to Give and Receive Comfort • An Opportunity to Honor, Remember, and Give Thanks • An Opportunity to Declare Our Hope in Jesus Funerals remind us of: a. The Certainty of Death (Ecclesiastes 9:5) b. The Shortness of life (James ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Unexpected Part Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 5, 2021

Christmas season is filled with surprises and the unexpected twists and turns that come with this holiday season. The original Christmas season was also filled with surprises from Heaven and the unexpected twists and turns from God. God loves doing the unexpected.

Video Transition: Reason for the Season – Skit Guys (4 min) Series: Unexpected Christmas Introduction: Unexpected mistake: Share about problem with the Bible reference of Mary’s Song last week – How many caught the unexpected wrong Bible reference - were you surprised? – that was my unexpected ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35, Romans 12:1-2, John 15:9-17, Philippians 2:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Blessed In Unexpected Ways

Contributed by John Dobbs on May 7, 2020

How the Beatitudes are a guide to Christian living in troubled times.

BLESSED IN UNEXPECTED WAYS: The Beatitudes as a Guide For Troubled Times The Beatitudes are found in their fullest form at the beginning of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in Matthew 5:3-11. A Beatitude is “an exclamation of the inner joy and peace that comes with being right with God. Happiness may ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Community And Joy Reside

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 23, 2024

A sermon for the fourth Sunday of Advent, year C

December 22, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Luke 1:39-55 Where Community and Joy Reside Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today we meditate on the scriptural passage known as “the visitation.” The newly pregnant ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-55

Denomination: Lutheran

Joy, Joy, Joy

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 22, 2003

The joy of the Lord is our strength. Weeping may endure for the night but JOY cometh in the morning.

My subject today is joy!! Let me at the beginning this morning take a quick survey. How many of you have ever been discouraged. I know were all saying when are you talking about this morning or this afternoon. Okay I’m preaching to the right group today. You know it’s going to be a bad day ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

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

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