Sermons on Unexpected Results:

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Dec 26, 2007

A Christmas eve sermon that highlights God often surprises us with what He does and how He does things.

What do you expect on Christmas Day? For many years our family did much the same thing. All kids we would wake up early in the morning, even my sister who was normally a sleepy head. We expected gifts under the tree, so we’d rush out to the Christmas tree to make sure they were there. Then ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

An Unexpected Gift Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Sep 10, 2014

What is the real significance of the healing of the cripple at the Beautiful Gate?

An Unexpected Gift Acts 3:1-10 Another day had dawned. The man’s friends arrive early to pick him up and take him to the Temple. They brought the man to the Temple door. But he does not enter in. you see, he is a crippled man, and crippled men were not allowed in the Temple. He could come to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In A Way Unexpected

Contributed by William L. Vincent on Jan 5, 2013

God will often use things, people and circumstances that do not make sense to the human intellect. God will speak into our improbability and bring forth our destiny.

1 Sam 16:13 Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Orthodox

The Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 25, 2013

What do you expect from Jesus? The people, disciples, and the religious leaders had some very specific expectations of Jesus on Palm Sunday. He shattered all of them, just as He shatters our expectations as well. And that's a good thing!

John 12:1-2, 9-19 Jesus performed an incredible miracle in raising Lazarus. It made huge waves. It wasn’t the first person Jesus raised, but it was the first who had been raised after the Jewish belief that the soul had left the body. According to the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-44

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Theresa Ratliff on Mar 25, 2013

Do our expectations of who Jesus should be keep us from seeing who he really is?

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about this story that has always bothered me. How on earth could Mary Magdeline, who has been one of Jesus’s closest friends, look right at him and doesn’t recognize him? Isn’t that like…the president of the George ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: *other

Resurrection Unexpected

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 1, 2013

No one really expected the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today we focus on the expectations of two of those who first saw Jesus: John and Mary. What they expected, and how Jesus actually met them, can help your relationship with Jesus too.

No one saw it coming. No one. On the Sunday following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ no one really expected what happened (or at least it they didn’t fully comprehend it). They should have. Shortly after confirming to His men that He was the Messiah, Jesus said: Mark 8:31 “The Son of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Expect The Unexpected

Contributed by Nathan Bounds on Dec 15, 2005

Learn to expect God to do that which is extraordinary. The Unexpected!

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED John 11:1-8; 14-17; 20-46 Expect - To look forward to, to anticipate, to look forward to the occurance of. Unexpected - That which is not expected What do you expect to happen when you come to God’s house? When was the last time you came to God’s ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unexpected Guests

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jan 22, 2010

Jesus wants us to always be ready and unafraid of helping the lost come to Him.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Have you ever come home from a long day at work, just wanting to relax? Maybe you have put in many hours at the office or in the factory. • On your way home, you envision a scene where you come home and put up your feet turn on the television and read ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

The Unexpected Cross

Contributed by Ken Crow on Oct 2, 2010

Life circumstances may be so that not only do we not ask for a cross but also we may not have a choice in whether we bear it or not.

The Unexpected Cross Pastor Ken Crow Matthew 27:32 (King James Version) 32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. In our Christian life there are many crosses. There is our cross that Jesus says we must bear if we are to be his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32

Denomination: Church Of God

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

The God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by David Ward on Oct 3, 2009

An expository message from Acts 12 on how God "shows up" in response to his people’s faith, and lack of faith.

INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ Unexpected

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Mar 16, 2010

Christ was not what was expected more than two thousand years ago. His background, His outlook, His mission and His death were not what was expected. But it was all as God had planned.

Christ Unexpected 12/14/08 PM Text: John 7:41 Introduction It’s not unusual for people to be guided by expectations. Our bosses have expectations, teachers have expectations. We have expectations for our spouses, our children; sometimes our expectations may actually match theirs. The key to ...read more

Scripture: John 7:41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Expect The Unexpected Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 27, 2011

God's purposes prevail even when our plans don't.

Expect the Unexpected Romans 15:22-29 Rev. Brian Bill 3/27/11 When the unexpected happens, we’re prone to either become exasperated or to make excuses. Here are some actual unedited excuses received by a public school. “My son is under the doctor’s care and should not take P.E. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:22-29

Denomination: Baptist

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