Sermons on unexpected news: showing 16-30 of 143,448

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 Hope Series

Contributed by Rich Mccaskill on Jul 21, 2020

In our confusing and broken world, we can still have hope because of Jesus.

My own journey of hopelessness began when I was 15. As much as I wanted to believe in God, I could not. I could relate to Tolstoy who recounts an "old Eastern fable about a traveler who was taken by surprise in the steppes by a raging wild beast. Trying to save himself from the beast, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:24-25, Isaiah 7:14, Romans 8:18-24

A Tale Of The Unexpected !

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 10, 2006

John was shocked when the sinless Jesus asked to be baptised. Jesus identifies with us in his baptism. We identify with him when we are baptised and we too can receive God’s Spirit! Truly this is a tale of the unexpected.

The Baptism of Jesus must surely qualify as a ‘Tale of the Unexpected’! Have you ever been somewhere or seen something which was the exact opposite of what you were expecting? Have you ever been waiting expectantly for an event, only for the event itself to come as a total surprise or even a big ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Anglican

Unexpected Guests

Contributed by Eric Keller on Nov 24, 2010

Are you prepared for Christ when he returns?

UNEXPECTED GUESTS Matthew 24:36-44 I. VIDEO A. Video of people disappearing in the rapture. B. Not required for sermon II. INTRODUCTION: UNEXPECTED GUESTS A. Ever have an unexpected guest? B. You’re sitting down to dinner and you hear a doorbell (ring the office doorbell) C. What do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 27, 2022

Life is full of unexpected moments—it would be boring without them. But what happens when that unexpected moment is huge? It affects you personally, and it’s something that seems unbearable. It causes you to doubt. That’s what we find in Luke 7 with John the Baptist.

Has something unexpected ever happened to you? —you find a 20 dollar bill in between the cushions on your couch —you bump into someone at the store that you haven’t seen in 5 years —the forecast says it’ll be sunny, but it pours —the dog decides to bring you a gift from the outside world, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Expecting The Unexpected

Contributed by Kim Gilliland on Oct 18, 2000

Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again.

Do not be surprised because I tell you that you must all be born again. The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:7-8 FATHERS' DAY CARDS Last week, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Unexpected Joy

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 27, 2009

We sing and quote that "The joy of the LORD is your strength," but learning to live it in challenging service to our King is a daily "workout" for our faith (that brings "unexpected joy").

How many of us have ever said, “As soon as I get this accomplished, I’ll focus on helping out at the church?” How many of us have ever said, “As soon as I have my degree in hand, I’ll start seriously serving the Lord” or “As soon as our church finds a building (or a pastor), I’ll really get ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-10

Denomination: *other

Unexpected Gifts

Contributed by Johnny Small on Nov 15, 2002

At this time of the year we start thinking about buying Christmas gifts for our love ones. What gifts has God given to the ones that He loves?

Unexpected Gifts At this time of the year we start thinking about buying Christmas gifts for our love ones. Have you ever been given a gift that you didn’t expect? Have you ever been given a gift that you thought you could never use? Have you ever been given the surprise of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35, Mark 16:15-18

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Unexpected Messiah

Contributed by William Mouser on Jan 10, 2006

Everyone was hoping for, even expecting, the Messiah in Jesus’ day. But, he disappointed everyone, thought Messiah would come as a conqueror. Isaiah’s first Servant Song shows their expectations to have been badly misinformed.

Psalm 89:1-16, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-38, Mark 1:7-11 The Unexpected Messiah In the May 29, 2005 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a story ran concerning a courthouse puzzle. The story in that paper begins like this: “In the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where plaintiffs, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

An Unexpected Friday Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Apr 1, 2018

Of all the things that were expected to happen the Friday after the triumphant entry, nobody expected these things.

An Unexpected Friday Nobody had expected this. It was only five days ago that the people of Jerusalem had welcomed Jesus as their Messiah. For three years Jesus had travelled throughout Israel. Preaching, teaching, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. He had quieted storms and cast out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Marcos Suazo on Oct 25, 2004

God is not limited by anything other than the faith of the believer......

Expect the Unexpected Acts 3: 1-12 1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unexpected Doors

Contributed by David Dewitt on Jun 11, 2001

There are times when the Holy Spirit opens unexpected doors in our lives when we follow God

Unexpected Doors Acts 16:6-11 June 10, 2001 Morning Service Introduction I. Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." II. The Roles of the Spirit  He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6-11

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